WITCHES HALLOWEEN

This Halloween the girls really wanted to be witches. They were so excited about their witch costumes that I bought on clearance clear in June. It really is a rush when you get great deals. Now the question was what were the rest of us going to be? It didn't take long to realize that every witch needs a black cat, bat, and a spider to be an actual true witch. I found Jace's cute costume but didn't get the great deal I was hoping for but I already had the cat costume and made Daddy's costume to make up for it.

We did our family rounds of trick or treating and then this year I stayed home and gave out candy. I put on a scary movie and ate some of the kids yummy treats. I actually really enjoyed it and the kids had fun tick or treating with Daddy and the Costleys.

Halloween Party!

Lasts years Halloween party was so fun we decided to do another one. The only rule is you have to come dressed up and have lots of fun. One of the best parts about having the party is we clean our garage which seems to always need it. We had lots of fun playing games, dancing, getting messy and eating lots of yummy soup and

treats that everyone brought.

This year I think the costume

award goes to the best dressed

couple Jakki and Kyle!

My Favorite Photo!

Ok this is my favorite photo and I don't have to

explain why because it is obvious.

I just love love love those kids.

I can here them laughing just looking at it.

More Family Photos!

It is very difficult to get a picture that is perfect. With three kids, wind blowing lots of hair everywhere, someone who blinks in 90% of all pictures (that would be me), and many more frustrations it's amazing we all survive. Taking family photos isn't alway pleasant but this time we really enjoyed most of it besides the cold. These are a few pictures that I also liked.

Family Photo Time

Well as usual the year starts to get close to ending when I start thinking we haven't taken a family photo yet. We just came home from our trip to Disney World and of course there isn't one picture that has all of us in it. In fact I have to tease my family that I am never in any pictures with them because I am always taking them. (Although it's funny when I am in a picture I don't usually like it anyway :).

My sister Sunnie was coming for the weekend so I knew it was probably our last chance to try and get one done for Christmas cards. It was a very very cold morning but we went to the Park Way in Ogden and Sunnie did a great job taking our pictures with frozen fingers. It is so nice to have such a talented sister and she doesn't cost a dime, (at least she doesn't yet)!

Our frozen toes and bodies were worth the effort of getting a picture I really love of our family together. Thanks again Sunnie!

Disney World in October

I can honestly say I think I like Disney more now than I when I was a kid. Watching my children's faces light up at the sight of their favorite character or the laughs and giggles that come when they ride their favorite rides. It truly is priceless and I am so grateful for these memories. I am watching my children, (Josie is turning ten, Kate just turned seven, and Jace is turning five soon) grow up too fast and wanted to do this one more time before they got any older. It took a lot of convincing and hunting for good prices to get Casey to agree to book this trip. He always loves it when we go but sometimes doesn't get as excited about the idea of spending our savings on vacations as I do. I probably love traveling too much. I can remember being a little girl, sitting on a big rock in our front yard watching planes in the sky, wondering where it was going and wishing I was going there. I still get butterflies even now when I hear a plane fly by and I am always dreaming up the next trip in my mind. I think it is that part of me that doesn't want to grow up either.

Sneaky Snake!

Since we have been in this house I have never seen any snakes until this summer we have had a couple garden snakes. I don't want the kids to be afraid of snakes so I am happy when they will hold them. Jace had no problem holding the snake. Josie wouldn't do it and Kate was nervous but still held it. I kept telling her "don't worry Kate it won't bite you..." so she would hold it. Not a minute later the scream I heard proved me wrong. Yes that darn snake bit her. She was squeezing it really tight around it's head and it bit her. I really didn't just tell her it wouldn't but I really thought it wouldn't. I probably lost a lot of future trust from my kids now. I guess the lesson learned is to never say never.

SHE's SEVEN!

I can not believe Kate is seven years old already. The time has gone so quickly. The girls have been riding their bikes to school a lot and so Kate kept saying she wanted a new helmet for her birthday. To her surprise she got a new helmet and a new bike! (She never got to ride this one because it was broken.)

For Kate's birthday we went to dinner at her favorite restaurant "Sonora Grill". She always orders a chicken quesadilla with lots of sour cream. We also went to the movie "Dolphin Tale". Little did she know at the time that in just a couple weeks we would be visiting the real Dolphin in Coldwater Florida.

The Night of The Great Pumpkin

This was the first year we actually made it to the opening of the Weston Pumpkin Patch. Our neighbors grow a big field of pumpkins and sale them to raise money for their three young boys to serve missions when they get older. The first night they have a party and play the movie "The Great Pumpkin", eat donuts and hot chocolate and the kids have a great time. Josie had to go to dance so she missed out that night. She picked out a pumpkin another day and carried it all the way home. It was kind of heavy.

Tennis Anyone?

Last year I started playing a little tennis with some friends. This year Angie Fisher asked a few of us to be in a tennis league. I thought she was crazy but she insisted we could do it. I won't lie at first I was really out of my comfort zone. I even had to play against Paige N. who was the state singles champion when she was in high school. She served so hard I just had to make sure it didn't hit me.

Later in the year we started up the City League and I started feeling a little better about things until I played an old lady that was probably in her 70's and she about beat me. Don't judge a tennis player by their looks is all I have to say.

The crazy thing is we were a team of almost all beginner players and we found ourselves in the final championship game. We even beat the Ogden Athletic team who were the champions last year.

We ended up taking second place only by two matches but we felt awesome about ourselves and now I have this very beautiful statue to set out for my family to see :)!

No More Training Wheels

Jace did it! He was so excited and so were we. Daddy had spent many mornings with Jace practicing while they waited for the bus to come. Now all Jace wants to do is ride his bike all the time. Every time we get off the bus or get out of the car he grabs his helmet, his bike, and rides in a big circle on the driveway over and over again. His Daddy couldn't be happier about that :).

Mud Bloods on the Run!

The Mud Run at Soldier Hollow is a 10k full of mud, mud, and more mud! It was really fun being a kid again and working through ponds of mud, climbing over and under walls, sliding down hills of mud and all kinds of crazy obstacles. Our team was called the mud bloods because of Harry Potter fans on the team. Not being a Harry Potter fan I wasn't even sure what one was.

We did so well through the whole run until the big slide. I told Jakki we would race down our lanes. At the very end she made one last jump not realizing the slide ended. She jumped and landed on her back on a hard piece of ground. She was hurt bad. She couldn't breath, and was making an awful moaning noise that I have to tease her about now. It really scared me though. She slowly walked out but ended up breaking her back and had to wear a brace for over a month.

After our crazy run the kids lined up for a one mile mud run. Kate came to be apart of the fun and had so fun. I was really proud of her, she did awesome!

Soccer Boy

Jace was so excited to start soccer out this year. He played really well. Sheila Taylor is the coach and Daddy helps out sometimes. At first Jace would almost dance around everyone getting excited but not getting in the game. Soon he wasn't afraid to get in and kick the ball. He likes to play with his shirt and shorts a lot and we get to see his belly through out the game which makes us all smile. Its fun to watch them learn how the game works. For example, stretching, cheering, and congratulating the other team.

LOTOJA weekend!

It's hard to get a good picture as fast as he is riding :) This is Casey crossing the finish line. I didn't take many pictures this time. Last time I took probably 200 pictures and made a video for Casey. This year I just enjoyed watching him and all the other riders work incredibly hard. Josie and I were Daddy's crew. I thought Josie would really enjoy watching but I couldn't get her nose out of a book or DS the whole way up. I kept saying "look up and see how beautiful it is". This year he finished close to the same time but he felt good after so I think that was a big accomplishment.

Labor Day Weekend in Flaming Gorge

I can't think of a better way to spend labor day weekend then taking work off for some last summer sun time. We took the trailer up and spent the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa at their new little home on the lake. It is like a little community of weekend house boaters that like to relax and visit with their houseboat neighbors. They put on a boat parade and many of the boats get decorated with lights. It is pretty cool. There is a lot of drinking and parties and I had to cover the kids ears a few times but we enjoyed our time out on the lake a lot.

The Funnest Back To School Party Ever!

Sometimes I just want to be my kids for a day. Josie had a back to school party with many of her friends. They started in the conference room ate pizza, watched "Soul Surfer", and made candy leighs. After they did the Flowrider. I was really impressed with all the girls. Many were scared but not only did they all try it they all kept doing it. I was afraid we would have some sit out but they all loved it. Girls just love to have fun!

First Day of School

Well another school year is starting. I really was sad this day came. The summer flew too fast and I was not happy the kids had to start back up.

Josie will be in 4th grade and has Mrs. Vanmeetren, Kate is in first grade and will be in school for a full day. She has Mrs. Nelson. Jace is going to preschool but this year it isn't at Plain City School it is at Canyon View on 12th Street. I think I am most sad about that. He really liked going to the same school as his sisters.

The school year begins and so does our busy lives. My life as a TAXI mom has started. I have to say the part I love most about being a taxi mom is that it gets me out of the house.

I love my silly kids and am sad to send them out into the scary world!

Tubes = Fun

This year we planned to go to Flaming Gorge for a Hansen family reunion. Unfortunately we had to change plans because Grandma Nielsen died. So instead we had two great days of fun out at Willard Bay. The kids had a good time even though we had to cancel the trip. I had a blast on the tube. I don't think I laughed that hard in a long time.

Camp took place in Grammy and Grumpy's back yard.

Shelby Shines

Kurt Bestor donated a private concert and Peggi and Gary bought it at the Jaynie Nye Memorial fundraiser. I really didn't know how Kurt would be in this type of envirement but he did amazing. The highlight of the night was when Shelby played his own music and he watched her. I don't think to many people get an opportunity to do that.

24th Traditions!

Well the 24th of July just wouldn't be the same without the Rodeo. Every year we go at least a couple nights. Peggi and Gary get great seats through sponsoring it that we have been really spoiled. Parades, Rodeos, and crowds are all apart of our July traditions.

Hop Into Fun!

When I grew up I loved my Hoppidy Horse...(that's what we called it). It is fun to see your own children enjoying the same things you once did.