Girls Weekend

Happy Birthday to Joan-e-joan! Joan came in from Pittsburgh just to celebrate with us (sorry Chad, either you have to send her to us or we come to you, you never get her to yourself on her birthday!). This is a cute flower cake Chad sent her on her birthday. It was such a cute and fun surprise. My kids were obsessed with it and wondered if we could eat it (it even had candles in it).

We of course had to go get pedicures!



We went shopping, ate at cheesecake factory, ate TONS of candy, watched girl movies, and enjoyed a great weekend without kids! And yes I did eat my entire dinner there.



We ended the weekend at the cemetery to visit Joyce. Joan bought her this cute bouquet of birthday balloons. We stayed there for a while and had a few more laughs and tears. Their birthday will always be a favorite of mine! I get to spend it with my best friends, and I know Joyce is there too! There's no way she'd miss out on a fun sister's party. I always feel like where ever Joan is, Joyce is there too!

Halloween & Fall Stuff

A huge thank you to Sara! She did Amber's hair and makeup. She brought over her big bag of supplies early Thursday morning so we could get Amber ready for her school parade. What would I do without good friends? Honestly, Sara is a champ and I was so grateful for her. Amber was so excited to look pretty. Sara pulled out a can of hairspray from her bag, and Amber said "What's that?" Is that sad or what that my 5 1/2 year old daughter has never seen a can of hairspray!!!!

Doesn't she look awesome? Seriously I think Sara should do hair and makeup professionally!

"Iron Man" was being a little camera shy and wouldn't wear his mask.

Amber looked so beautiful as a "Halloween Fairy." This is Amber with some of her school friends.

We finally convinced Parker to put on his mask. Aubrey wanted to pose with her brother and sister. She is such a copy cat and does what ever Parker and Amber do.

This was my attempt to re-create Sara's look. I couldn't do the hair, I tried and tried and ran out of time so we had to leave it down...but she still looks beautiful!

Parker had made up his mind at least a month ago he wanted to be Iron Man. He sure looked cute. I saw quite a few other Iron Man's out there...Spencer for one, and Jake a friend from Preschool and Jackson Loveland too!

Aubrey was obsessed with her costume. I told her it was a ladybug, and she said "EW" because she doesn't like any sort of bugs. But as soon as I showed her how cute she looked in it, she wouldn't take it off. She kept saying "hold you" when it was off, which was her way of saying "put it on please!" It was so cute. We went to get family pictures Saturday morning. When she saw her costume out, she started screaming "HOLD YOU" and freaked out because we wouldn't put it on! What a way to start picture day!

Halloween was such a joke this year! We had planned to meet up with friends around 5:00/5:30. So we were ready at 5:45 and headed up the road. Just as we got to our first house, it started to pour rain! Matt got called in to work so I was on my own with the three kids and our dog, and it was literally pouring! We made it to two streets and called it quits! Aubrey was soaked through and through. Matt caught up with us and we headed straight for the car. We went to our friend Abby's mom, Marsha Roger's neighborhood, so we could "meet the witches" and then hung out the rest of the night with Abby and her family. It was fun at that point because we were indoors, eating yummy food and watching the U game. It ended well! The kids had a great time eating candy and playing with friends and we enjoyed it for the same reasons. So although it rained hard and we got very little candy, we still had a great time and enjoyed the night.

We went for a drive a few weeks ago to admire the fall colors. We tried our best to get some pictures of the kids, however just as we got out of the car it started to rain (not to mention we had to wake Parker up) so we didn't get one of the three of them, but did get individual pictures. It was such a beautiful drive! We went up Payson Canyon and saw where Matt spent his summer scouting for Elk (and where he eventually got one). The colors were all so beautiful and bright. I wished the weather would have cooperated more so we could get more pictures.

Goodbye Elder & Sister Morgan!

Of course this is what Parker looked like after a few brownies and lots of fun in the dirt.

It is strange how much our family will change in the next two years (not by numbers, by height and age!). Aubrey will be Parker's age! Hopefully she'll have hair by then.

Tomorrow Mom and Dad leave for 2 years to serve their LDS Mission to Nauvoo. They will first go to the MTC for a couple weeks, and then return to pack up their car and off they'll go! It has been the best day today and yesterday. I have loved having all the family around! Last night we stayed up super late just laughing and laughing.

I can't believe the time has come for them to go. I hope the 2 years goes by quickly. I will miss them so much. We moved in about five weeks ago and have loved being here (I speak mostly for myself but I don't think it's bothered Matt too much). It has been such a great month. Spending this quality time with my mom has been the absolute best. I have tried to take as many mental notes as I can of all the fun we've had together and all the memories we've made to avoid taking any moments for granted. We've made six batches of pecan logs together, we've done a ton of shopping, we've hung out 24-7 and watched fun movies. I could live with her for the rest of my life and never get tired of it (although I really don't know where she gets her energy! She goes and goes and goes!). I feel so grateful to be able to stay here and take care of their home while there gone and know they will be such a great influence to those touring through Nauvoo.

We have felt Joyce's spirit here on many occasions. The Spirit was so strong at their Sacrament Meeting today. All the siblings and grandchildren sang I'm Trying to be Like Jesus. It was really tough to get through, especially looking out to all our family and friends and ward friends who were there to support my Mom and Dad. It was a weekend full of fun and tears, all for the good. We will miss them so much, more than I can ever express but are so grateful for the example and for their willingness to serve these next 2 years. We know they'll be watched over and the entire family will be blessed while they're gone. Thanks for the good example Mom and Dad!

Parker's First Day of Preschool

Parker found a potato bug and of course wouldn't take any more pictures without it. Isn't he so cute though? So curious!

Parker was so excited to start school. He got this backpack weeks ago and is pretty much obsessed with it. It goes with us a lot of places...church (but stays in the car luckily), Grandpa and Grandma's, rides, the store, on errands, pretty much everywhere. One day he brought it downstairs and I could tell it was packed full. I opened it up and found all his socks and underwear were packed inside. I guess he had plans to be gone a while!

I had to include this because it's just so typical. This was my first attempt to get a picture, and of course the finger heads straight for the nose!

Parker wanted to be sure his backpack made it in to the picture, so he asked me to take a picture while he turned around. Amber decided she wanted her backpack picture in it too, and then Aubrey of course soon followed.

Parker had a great first day, and is so fortunate to be able to go to his Aunt Mandy's for preschool. She is amazing (she has a website www.notjustcute.com that you should all check out!). It wasn't too much of an adjustment, as he spends many hours a week there playing! It probably is more of an adjustment for Mandy to get Parker to not feel so comfortable and in a school environment rather than "at home."

Parker took the snack today, and it needed to start with the letter "P". He was give all sorts of ideas (candy, cookies, donuts...) I had to give him a little help in determining the snack, and finally he decided popcorn! He loaded his gigantic backpack full and off he went. I know he'll love this year of school.

First Day of Kindergarten for Amber

We sent Amber off to Kindergarten today! She was so excited last night in anticipation for the day. She set all her clothes out along with her backpack just as I used to do. We went back to school shopping together on Saturday and I let her pick out everything. I wanted to buy her things she'd actually wear! So she wore her favorite outfit today and my guess is she'll want to wear it first every time I wash it. So far day one was good. I wish she'd tell me more (all she's said is it was good and it was someones birthday today).

She was a little nervous and wasn't too excited about meeting new friends (she told me she's shy of meeting new friends). I'm sure that will change soon. She is lucky to have her cousin Spencer in her class and a friend from church, Jaxon, and a friend Beckam from soccer, so she isn't all on her own luckily. It's fun to enter this new phase in life of school each day. I just said last week it is time to get back to school. We were getting a little bored of our routine at home.

Mt Olympus

Last Saturday the 24th of July, Matt and I were able to take a hike with my niece Brooke. Brooke is here visiting from Texas and wanted to do a hike while she was here. She chose Mt. Olympus. The last time I hiked the trail was my senior year of high school with Stacie. Matt and I climbed the west slabs several years ago, but it has been over 12 years since I had done the trail! It truly is a great hike with such great views.



I was amazed at how well Brooke did. She is used to sea level, and made it up to the top with out any problems and didn't need to rest at all! Her lungs were wheezing a bit at the top, but it didn't slow her down (just made her laugh!). It was such a fun morning and it reminded me so much of how much I love hiking! We don't do it enough! There is nothing better then summiting a mountain!

Seriously, look how beautiful those views are!

Matt and I have many many summit pictures together, however we look much much younger! We ran in to some other people summiting the mountain. I thought they looked familiar and one of the guys told me he went to Skyline, so I asked him when he graduated and he said 2005. WHAT?! I am seriously SEVEN YEARS OLDER than this "kid?" I thought we looked the same age (:

More Cabin Fun!

Another week at the cabin has flown by. We spent another great week at the cabin, filled with great food, great company, lots and lots of visiting, great memories, and more inside jokes (ex. "Secrets are either 1) not to be told to anyone or 2) told to some people" and "sorry about the table Roger and Susan" and "backseat drivers", and Mom getting nervous about her "acting parts" in Nauvoo).

Everyone was able to come this time, except Chad, Stu, Celia and Jake.

24 of 25 grandkids! It was the most crowded the cabin has ever been with the Vern Morgan Family there. We had a total of 39 people staying the night!

This was one of the crafts the kids made. Parker made me a few miniature dumb bells and asked me if I wanted to use them when I exercised. He had me put them in a special spot so no one else would use them when they exercised. The kids enjoyed watching us do our P90X dvd's each morning. We looked like quite the freak show (I speak for myself mostly) but the kids had a blast trying to keep up with us and show us what great shape they're in.

A typical day, consisting of dirt, dirt, more dirt, calamine lotion to cover stinging nettle, occasionally face paint or chalk, and then more dirt. Complete with bare feet, sticks, and pockets full of rocks.

Even after seven months Aubrey still adores Molly. She gives her loves multiple times a day and often lays on top of her.