Grateful Tree

We got this idea from Aunt Bess. I cut out the tree and then we cut out a whole bunch of leaves so that we can add to them throughout the month. We just write something that we are grateful for on a leaf and then place the leaf on the tree. Corbin had a hard time with it because he thought he should just write his name and then put the leaf on the tree and to continue to do just that until the tree had enough leaves. That's why his first leaf said "letters". Mia's was "Music and Singing", Karli "Cheerios", Chase's "Mom", Dad "Family" and mine talked about having a worthy priesthood holder in the home to give blessings when needed. I still can't stop being grateful that Denver was here and able to give me a blessing on Halloween when I was so sick. I didn't think I could take it for another second and when he came in the bedroom to ask if I needed anything I knew exactly what I needed. Without that blessing, I'm not sure what I would have done, but the comfort and relief that it brought me was instantaneous. We are so truly blessed to have the Gospel in our lives and the power of the priesthood restored to us here on Earth in these times. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much and has so much to give us if we would only let Him. I know that The Dalton Grateful Tree has already reminded me of how blessed I am personally, and I hope to keep up with it this month and help my kids to see how blessed they are as well. So thank you Aunt Bess for being so smart and sharing such great ideas with the rest of us. Maybe you should swing by and see our tree in person...

Happy Halloween

I love Halloween. My kids are just getting to the age where they really get into it. We've had a ton of fun making decorations and getting ready and even making the costumes. Since the littles are still young enough to be open to suggestion when it comes to picking a costume-we had a themed costume for the whole family. Welcome to Dalton Zoo!

You can't see our name tags, but mine says Head Zookeeper and Denver's says Assistant Zookeeper.



The elephant.

A tiger princess and a zebra.

A Mac Daddy Zebra. One that makes stripes look cool...

Another zebra? Oh wait, just mommy messing around with Daddy and snapping pictures while he's too busy to protest.

"Rrrrrroooaaaaaalll"

We went to our ward's trunk-or-treat and I have to say that Mia's costume was a huuuuge hit. It's either that or the precocious little way she'd walk up to a car, tilt her head, put on her most bewitching smile, and then politely say, "Trick-or-Treat". People just couldn't resist and kept giving her candy. On the way home, we were considering taking the kids to a few houses around the neighborhood but then I got sick. Quite sick. And it was before I'd even eaten a piece of candy. Still, the kids had a ton of fun and Corbin loved handing out candy to the few trick-or-treaters that we had. Can't wait for next year!

Pumpkin patch fail

I was so excited to go get pumpkins this year. I finally felt ready to attempt a pumkin patch with the kids. Every other year it just hadn't worked out but I was determined to do it this year. Silly me. I checked the forecast and so I was expecting rain, but I wasn't going to let it stop me. Unfortunately, the kids didn't get the memo because they were cranky. That and it seems every other family in Oregon had the same plan to go on the day we did because the first place we stopped at was so full we couldn't even park. When we left the house, the skies were a light gray and there was no rain. By the time we got to the farm, it was pouring, the kids were already miserable and I decided we'd just choose a pumpkin from the ones they had out front. Maybe we'll make it next year...

Of course they were fighting over who got to hold the umbrella.

Chase was trying so hard to get the other kids to smile for the picture, but this is the best we got. At least they're not screaming like they were in the other ones.

We had to put Mia in time-out in the truck twice because she kept running off. I'm sure all the other patrons enjoyed watching me struggle with her kicking and screaming into the truck both times. Still, she did settle down long enough to pick out a pumpkin and I managed to load the little kids into the truck while Denver and Chase paid for the pumpkins. I snapped some pictures of the kids on the way home and I think they adequately illustrate what the trip was like.

 Once we got home, I dragged the kids off to bed for naps. And when they woke up, they had transformed into happy, docile creatures and the pumpking carving was actually an enjoyable experience. In addition to having fun jack-o-lanterns, I had a new tool that helped the kids behave for the rest of the month because I was able to remind the kids that only those who behaved would be able to light their pumpkins that night.

 

 

 

 

Can't wait to see what next year brings!

Crafters Anonymous

Been a busy month. I've been enjoying being home and have been getting things in order and making the little things I've never really had time for. First thing I started was organizing my closet. I got a curtain rod and shower hooks and hung up all my purses and then I made a board with drawer handles attached to hang all of my scarves and jackets on-I LOVE it. I'd looked everywhere for something with enough hooks but was unsuccessful, so I made my own.

 

 

I also love making headbands and things for the girls, so here's a couple I made to match their outfits.

 

I got a sewing machine this month too and I made drawstring bags for my first project. We needed some at work and I made 13, but forgot to take pictures of them. Still, I got a couple of shots of the first ones I made that I gave to the kids.

 



Halloween. It's just around the corner. I love having kids around the holidays. I love them all the time but I it's especially fun during holidays. They get so excited about everything and it's all magic.

 

I sewed the costumes and made the tutus for the girls. I'm hoping to be able to keep up with all the crafts now that I will be starting full time work again. It's been hard with Denver's funding changing all the time, but I know that it will all work out in the end. And when they really needed me back at work, I agreed. I know it will be hard to balance it all out, but I am determined not to give up doing all the fun things that I've started doing. It may just take me a little longer to complete them.