Costumes, Pumpkins and Candy, oh my!

Ok, where to even start?!?! First, let me start off by saying I feel like the most free, stress relieved, happy girl right now. I have just been through two and a half weeks of projects, assignments, and so much "busyness" but this morning, my many responsibilites officially ended with Ethan's classroom party. Life has been full of Halloween things, projects I have been making (staying up late until 2 and getting up at 5am so I don't have to do it when the kids are awake!!), volunteering in the kids classes (I LOVE THAT PART!!), planning Ethan's school party, baking treats, teaching preschool, etc. I feel great!! I can breathe...which is a good thing, because while I start my "stress free" month, Ammon is on his...this will be a very intense month in the ER/interviews/and Lifeline call for him. I am glad I can be more free to help him this month. He has been such a great help to me all of October. He does get to go on an his first interview in two weeks (fingers crossed for him!) and ride along with paramedics for a day. He's looking forward to that! Anyway, now that I have a little bit more time on my hands, I have some time to post pics and stuff! P.S. I haven't been on here much lately...sorry...I have really been enjoying having some fun time with our kids....

FALL IN OHIO

A week and a half ago, we went as a family to our ward Halloween party. It was so much fun, and by prayers and a miracle, Ammon and I together created six pirate Halloween costumes from piles of red, black and white fabric in two hours. We were literally finishing the touches as we pulled up to the church. It is SO NICE to have a husband that can do it all...;) He really helps me with so much. He did half the sewing on all the costumes. Women, teach your sons to sew. I am so glad Ammon's mom taught him!!!!! I will be posting pirate family pictures tomorrow...I want to get a family shot tonight...so you'll see them tomorrow. I was actually proud of us... we made costumes for the first time, and it was so fun!! It was a family effort, and I think we actually pulled it off...stayed tuned for those...

[Thursday] Thursday, the 25th, Brynlee had her dance performance. They have a theme each month and this month was Storybook. They perform their mini routine for the parents during the last class of each month. She was so cute (I'll include the movie...but she does get a little shy and she is the youngest by far) and her friends in her class dressed up for Halloween. It was really cute. Ammon was even able to go to her dance classes with us this month, because he was off some Thursday mornings. He even likes all this girl stuff!!! I am so grateful for affordable programs for the kids...we are lucky that even families like us get to do things like this...

Brynlee with her teacher Rachel and class friends....(she wore her costume from last year)

[Friday] We attended the rec. center party. The kids wore their costumes from last year (it was nice to get another use out of them). The rec party was a lot of fun, with a cheesy magician and all. It was fun to let the kids teachers see them all dressed up and to get to dress up in more than one costume.

Our little crew...That lady bug costume has got some serious use in the past four years!! ;)

[Saturday] We went to Ethan's last soccer game until the spring. He has changed so much, and loves the sport just like Ammon. Last year he was a little of a dandylion picker (I say this with as much love as possible), but this year, he goes after the ball and because of his small stature, he can wiggle his way into the circle of kids on the field, and get the ball. It really is fun to have a boy and have sports games to go to..

The after game tunnel...they love this!

The team... Coach Doug and Coach Becky (he is in Ammon's med. school class) and they are in our ward.

[Saturday Night] That night, we went to our neighbors big Halloween bash. It was a lot of fun, and so new for us to be social!! Ammon and I are such homebuddies but it was really fun to get to know people beyond those in our ward. Our neighbor outdid herself with decorations, games, food, etc and we enjoyed ourselves. The kids had so much fun as well. Ethan was in heaven playing "boy things" with the other kids. Ammon and I will have to try to be social more often!! It was our first experience though with alcohol at a party. We went to grab sodas, and then we watched as everyone else grabbed pumpkin flavored beers, etc. Ammon and I looked at each other, like, "How are we suppossed to act"...but we tried to be as nonchalant as possible, and it went ok. We politely refused and kept to our waters and diet Orange sodas. I know that we were watched and it was a little out of our comfort zone, but it was our first eye opening experience in front of friends. I don't know if this makes sense at all or makes us sounds weird, but I am grateful for our standards, and that we can have just as much fun at a party even without drinking. Our neighbors were gracious and respected us and we left "to get the kids to bed" before it got too late. It really was a good time getting to know all the parents of the kids in Ethan's class that live on our street. We have found three other kindergartners that live three houses down from us.

[Sunday] Sunday night we went to our closest friend's eldest daughter's baptism. This is a picture of her...It was wonderful and such a sweet experience. It had been years since we had been to one, and this was the kids' first experience. They loved watching and were entraced by all that was going on. It was a special evening, and I had the wonderful opportunity to gift the talk on the Holy Ghost and create a baptism box for Emily. She really is a beautiful, sweet girl and reminds me so much of myself at eight. I was nervous to give the talk, but it went ok and I was pleased with the baptism box as well. The Bowen Family also invited some of Emily's teachers, one being the kids teacher at the rec. center and it was so special to have her come and experience something with all of us "Utah Transplants" as she calls us. She really enjoyed herself and it made me thankful the Bowens were "brave" enough to invite her. They are examples to me on really living the gospel and inviting non-members to live it with you. I will really have to keep that in mind when it is our kids turns to be baptized...Now when I tell the kids they need a bath, Hailey says "need to get baptized"...we have a couple more years to teach her...;)

[Monday] Monday was spent raking lots of leaves and watching the kids jump in them. The kids LOVE the leaves that our covering our front yard. Ammon has raked piles up to my waist for the kids to jump in. The trouble is trying to get them to come inside!! Here are some pictures and a video we got too... (I'll add the video to the next entry...it won't let me add two!) :)

I told you it was also a time of making projects...here is one of them I did for my visiting teachers...it is SO EASY and really a fun way to give cookies or a treat to someone...Here is a picture of it...if you ever want to make one...let me know. It is made just out of a square piece of paper, scored into 9 equal squares, etc. You fold it up, add a handle and wala! There you go! Ok, well there are a couple more steps, but really each box took about 10 minutes to make and I added half a dozen cookies to each one, and that was it!! You could try this for anything...Christmas, etc.!! I have some more projects coming up that I'll show in the next month or so. Let me know if you need directions..:)

Wow, this is getting SUPER long...I told you we have been BUSY! How am I managing to blog in the middle of the day you ask? Ethan said, he's in charge for lunch and made everyone easy mac and cheese for lunch (in the microwave). I have only had to go in there twice! I could seriously get used to this! J/K. What a big kid...he really surprised me with how much he knew how to fix. He has done a super job...but the girls keep asking for water, and he keeps running to the bathroom to fill up their cups, than looking at me and saying "Are these girls ever going to let me eat"and sighing....Heehee...he is getting a taste of my life!! We'll have to try this more! :)

[Tuesday] Ammon didn't have to be to the ER until 5pm (his shift was until 1am), so we had a lot of the day together....We decided to carve six of our seven pumpkins....someone asked me if the seventh is because I am pregnant....Um definately not....It is just because Ethan went to the pumpkin patch with this class earlier in the month. :) The kids gave their requests and we did our best to comply!! Ammon, the surgeon, made an incredible pumpkin for Brynlee...she wanted a ballerina and he found a picture on the internet...drew it free hand on the pumpkin... then used a surgical razor blade and created if for her... what a talented dad!! I did my best on the other pumpkins. Let's just say that I'll stick to crafts....It was warm enough to do it outside this year too! It was so much less of a mess!! I enjoyed it the most this year!! I'll include the glowing pics tomorrow with the costume pictures!

The ballerina before she was cut...

Getting her

ready...

The finished product....;) Ammon really did a good job...Brynlee was thrilled...

[Wednesday morning] Ok, well here we are. The girls and I went into Ethan's class this morning and helped with his party. I am a room mom and it is so fun! I love elementary school life and I am seriously going to enjoy this "phase" of motherhood. The girls were really good and Ethan enjoyed himself. After all the planning, the party turned out well and I am grateful that I can do stuff like this with the kids. It is a special treat. Here are a couple craft ideas too. I stole the rice krispy treat one from another mom but it was cute. It is a rice krispy treat pumpkin witha candy face....(the stem was originally a tootsie roll) and the pumpkin was what I came up with for the kids.




Well, I didn't realize I had so much to show, type and tell but I guess so! I guess I really do feel less stressed. November is all about enjoying time with my kids. I saw the movie, "No Reservations" and it hit hard....good movie and I plan on more forts, picnics, etc with the kids. We love you all! I hope everyone is enjoying the Halloween season....Have fun tonight and stay tuned tomorrow for PIRATE pictures!! Happy trick or treating!

Fresno Interview

As of 1:00pm today, Ammon received his interview for:

(UCSF) Fresno, California!!

It is one of the two we have been hoping and praying for and we got the invitation a couple of minutes ago. We are so excited and I am proud of Ammon. This is indeed good news!!!

Ammon is very excited!!!

Love you all, Kirsten

For the Beauty of the Earth

I just wanted to share some pictures of the beautiful trees around our neighborhood. The kids and I went for a tree hunt, to find the most beautiful trees. All these were found within five minutes from our house. Lucky us!

For some reason I am entranced with the colors and because it was a little warmer until recently, the colors seem even more brillant than any year before. Maybe it is because I am trying to really enjoy it in case we aren't here next year. There might be some of you that don't get to experience fall (my favorite season!!) the way we do here in Ohio, so I thought I would share a little bit of fall from my eyes. These don't even compare to the real thing, but you get an idea. The last one is how our house looks as of this morning: the yard 100% covered in leaves. It looks like yellow snow, and it is absolutely heaven. I am feel so blessed for a beautiful place to live. I am so grateful for views like these:

Lane Rd (by the park)

Mountview

"The Fire Tree" as the kids and I call it...Nottingham

The tree in front of our house four days ago...when it was still sunny...

Our house as of this morning...it has been pouring for hours but I got this under the umbrella. Leaves everywhere....our yard is golden and beautiful (even though it looks dark).

Parenting 101

We have had some interesting experiences lately where the kids are teaching us how to be more wise parents. Here are some of the examples from the last week:

1. "My little pony" stickers are great to cover up Mommy's face when she has an embarrassing blemish! (Brynlee said to me, "Here Mommy, this will fix it, and tried to put it on my cheek". Oh the embarrassment!

2. Gunny sack (sp) works really well, only when you actually act upon threatening that gunny sack will come! Many times we have told the kids if they don't clean up, gunny sack will come and collect all the toys that are left out. Well, due to laziness on my part, or lack of time, gunny sack never really came...that is, until last Thursday night...I asked them to clean up the tornado of toys in the playroom about five different times, and they just looked at me (like I was kind of nuts) and kept giggling, and making an even bigger mess. Then, I finally did it...a big black bag came out (which obviously looks like a garbage bag for trash!) and I started collecting toys left and right. Oh boy did chaos really start!!! The looks on their three faces went from joy and laughter to shock to screams as they watched dolls, trucks, dollhouse pieces, etc go into gunny sack. I am sure the neighbors thought we were hurting the kids because their screams got louder and louder. It was almost too much for me to keep going. All four kids were crying (Karli was crying cuz the noise was scaring her) and I was trying not to laugh and give into them all at the same. I didn't actually think it was that funny, but I finally found something that works!!! ;)

Ammon came down to try and encourage them to clean, but instead of cleaning up their toys, they started handing ME their toys to put in gunny sack. It was like they were punishing themselves. I did feel bad about that.... The playroom got cleaned really quick, and for the next couple of days, they had to help or do nice things to "rescue" toys from gunny sack. I recommend gunny sack in an emergency entirely!

3. What goes around, comes around. I was finishing up a scrapbook project yesterday, and Brynlee came to the doorway of the craft room and said, "This mess is horrible. I think gunny sack needs to come in here", and walked off to go and find the black bag. I guess if they are suppossed to keep things clean, SO DO I!!

4. Games really do make cleaning go a lot better. I have so many times harped on the kids for not cleaning, and to "please clean up", etc and nothing seems to work. (It could be that they are five and younger and cleaning really isn't that fun!) Then I tried some news things...being a little creative and making games and incentives for them. I told them for each five toys they picked up, they got a play coin. When they collected five coins, they got to "buy" a sticker, etc from me. I didn't promise them food, or candy, it was other things, and it worked. They loved it!! They found containers to make piggy banks for the game, and had a blast. I guess I am going to have to get on the ball and get a little more creative so that things stay a little more orderly around here. If anyone has "game" suggestions, please tell! :)

5. This South Beach thing has been not only good for Ammon and I, but our whole family. (Update: Ammon and I have each lots five pounds...I owe it ALL to him) Ammon decided to start doing it with me last week, and it has made a world of difference in our progress. Not that he has much to lose at all but we have heart problems in both our famlies, and the healthy aspect is enticing. It has been wonderful having him participate with me. We are doing it together, we eat the same, and I don' t feel left out at meals anymore, because everyone eats that way. The other food just isnt' in the house anymore. I have learned from the kids, that things really run by good examples. They have watched us not snack as much, and treats are for special occasions, etc. We don't say absolutely no junk, but we limit it. They grab apples and carrots for snacks now, and I have had the same box of fruit snacks around for two weeks!!! I used to go through at least two in a week. It is wonderful and I love the change! Someone remind me to keep this up. Not to mention that it is really good doing this around Halloween. It is hard, but very nice to say "no" to the candy, instead of trying to have one, and eating five. When we go to social church events or at Ethan's school, we all stay far from the food table and enjoy the entertainment. I just hope this lasts! I get excited about doing things but when that fades, I lose my motivation. That is why I am blogging it! That way, people will check up on us!

6. The central aisles of Target makes great "slip and slides" when you are 5, 3 and 2 and your mom is shopping. Yes, the kids really did go run and slide on their tummies while I was looking for a couple outfits for Brynlee who was down to one pair of pants, and one shirt that fit. They also managed to crawl through the carseat boxes to the aisles on the other side and made a game of it until Hailey went the other direction and her voice got very faint. Needless to say, when Ethan found her and tried to drag her over to be (gotta love what he puts up with!) she screamed so loud, and got down on the floor, flat as a pancake and kicked up a storm. Never, ever going to that Target again...ok, well maybe not for a little while at least! Or at least with all four....that is the only option these days.

7. When you want something from another room, assign one of the kids, don't just randomly ask or there will be a brawl. (This is constant between Brynlee and Hailey...and yes, shrill screams usually follow by the one who didn't get to the room the fastest!)

Ok, sorry for the rambling, but I am very grateful for the kids, and what they teach me daily. They are so impressionable and we teach by example. It makes me realize how strong the duty we have as parents to live right and make good choices that our kids can follow.

Families Can Be Together Forever

This is Ammon writing again, and this time I am in a much more serious mood than my birthday blog entry. I have spent much of this day on my cell phone talking with various members of my family in different cities and states. I have thought and reflected about what is important and what I value in life.

Tonight I put Ethan to bed and then the girls were still awake so I lied down between them in their bed and sang some of our typical songs. I started with our traditional Japanese lullaby and proceeded with some other primary songs. I started to sing "Families can be Together Forever" and the words had special significance to me.

I have a family here on earth. They are so good to me.

I want to spend my life with them through all eternity.

Families can be together forever, through Heavenly Father's Plan.

I always want to be with my own family,

and the Lord has shown me how I can.

The Lord has shown me how I can.

I am so blessed to have four beautiful children and a wife who is a great love an support to me. I can think of nothing that I want more in life than to be with them forever. Through the restored message of the gospel I know that we can be sealed on earth for time and all eternity. I am sealed to Kirsten, and each one of our children has been born in the bonds of that temple covenant. I love my children so much. They make me smile, and laugh and brighten my day-most of the time of course. Sometimes it isn't as rosy and perfect as it can/should be, but we are a family and we love each other.

I feel the same way about my own family. My parents have done everything that they can to build a celestial family. They have lived faithful to their temple covenants and have taught each one of my siblings and me about the truths of the restored gospel. I love each one of my brothers and sisters and I am grateful to be bound to each one of them through temple covenants. I have faith and hope that we will all be together, bound in love throughout all eternity. I love my family, each and every person.

Circle S Farm

It has been a while since I posted (Ammon did the last one) so I thought I would take a second. Life is good...really good actually. We have been so blessed with "breathers" over the past few years. It seems like every year of medical school has worked out very well with our family circumstances, especially with the pregnancies and births of our three girls. They really have been born during relatively quiet times over the past three years, and we also have been blessed with four well behaved, good kids. It seems that every time we have had a rough or hard month or series of months with Ammon's schedule, it is followed by "breather" period right after. It helps keep us sane and lets us "take a breath" before another busy month(s) starts. Heavenly Father has been looking out for us, and right now we are in the middle of a "breather" month. Ammon's schedule has been really laid back and it has been so fun having him home a little more often this month (he'll be on crazy ER hours next month). I am enjoying this a lot and treasuring it.

We were able to have him join us on our annual trip to Circle S Farm to pick out our SIX pumpkins, eat donuts and cider, play in the maze and the hay barn and take the tractor ride. We look forward to this family outing every year and this year was fun and memorable as well.

We might actually have to look for a new pumpkin patch next year if we move!

I decided to only post a few pics from this adventure since it seems we are flooding this blog with pictures!! :) Anyway, I love October around here and the beauty of fall.

One more Birthday Closer to Death

I haven't ventured to write in this blog but you gotta start sometime I guess. I turned 29 years old yesterday and I can feel 30 approaching my old and tired bones. OK, I realize that I'm really not that old, but I guess that I can remember my dad turning thirty so I am a little scared of getting into my thirties. Not that I don't want to be just like my dad- because I do- but in my mind I'm still a young kid. You would think that I would have had to face some facts of life with the births of each of our children, and maybe I have in a small degree, but I still can't believe that Ethan is in Kindergarten and my next birthday is the big 3-0.

So this year I decided to put myself on call for my work on my birthday. Why would anyone choose to work on their birthday you ask? Well, I have to squeeze 100 hours of call in someplace in the month and I thought to myself, I'll "take one for the team". You can ask Kirsten how happy she was when I told her that I had signed up for my birthday. Yeah, lets just say it is a good idea to discuss work schedules ahead of signing up for them. We usually plan things out before hand and I won't make that mistake in the future. Actually she wanted to plan all kinds of fun activities for me which of course couldn't happen with me on call, but she was very understanding and we celebrated on Friday instead of Saturday. Our good friends watched our children while Kirsten and I went out to the dollar theatre and then out to eat. I recommend EVAN ALMIGHTY as a good movie that you can probably rent or buy on DVD by now. Also, we have eaten at TEXAS ROADHOUSE for the last 4 years on my birthday and I recommend their food which is tasty and even more satisfying with a coupon that seems to come out before my birthday on an annual basis. So Friday was fun and Kirsten and I enjoyed the time together without our lovely but somewhat time consuming brood. Yesterday rolled around and we waited for a page for my work, but nothing materialized. We had decided to go to COSI if I didn't get a case, so we left, fighting all the traffic for the BUCKEYE football game all along the way. It was a fun day at COSI with a display of Bob the Builder and of course the Kid's Space that we always play at. We made a little house with big plastic blocks and had the kids destroy it, and then built it again just for fun. I still did not get a page so we came home at a wonderful birthday dinner of leftovers and Kirsten made a delicious ice cream cake and we just relaxed. When I'm on call I always have a hard time feeling at ease because I expect to be called. Especially over the last year it seems that being on call means working at least once. Anyway no calls yesterday and no calls today even though I was on call also. I hate being on call Sunday, but since I didn't have to go in, we were able to go to church together and have a day pretty much as usual. The only bad thing about not getting called is the money factor. I'll just have to pray they call me next time. Anyway I had a wonderful day and I was able to talk to many family members which of course brightened my day. Wow did I write a lot. Thank you to everyone who helped to make my birthday special for me and to the Cougars for pulling out another win to brighten my day. (Sorry Liz) This blogging stuff is actually kind of fun. I'll have to write again sometime.

Kirsten and I before our date

Our Traditional "Ammon Birthday Dinner Place"

Bob the Builder at COSI

Brynlee driving us to the hospital in the Kids Space

Hailey needed a turn too

Just like her daddy

Guess who is inside

This is a sideways video 'cause our camera is like that

Too much Fun

You can't fall off this tight wire act, but it is a little unsettling at first

Kids and me with Kirsten's cake creation (it was delicious!)

Again I had a great birthday thank you to everyone

-especially my sweetie Sheverstie-Koodles