Zach's 9th Birthday

Well today is Zach's ninth birthday. As is tradition we went to the Mayan for dinner. The kids always pick this place to go eat on their birhtdays. It has a diving show that the kids love to watch. As usually we went wtih Kim and Jeff and their kids because they also have some December birthdays to celebrate. So we get them all at once. It is easier to do them all together than have 4 different birthday get togethers...especially with the Holidays. The pictures I have included are of Zach, Spencer, Carter and Amanda standing on chairs while the workers sing happy birthday to them.

The festival of Trees

As is the tradition every year we attend the Festival of Trees. Usually we like to go the last night and see the Salt Lake Scotts perform. This year Anna and Kayla performed at the festival of trees with their dance group the Leapin lizards. They were so excited to be taking dance this year. The festival of trees was their first performance. They were fun to watch and they looked like they were having a good time. Both love to be the center of attention.

Graham Cracker Houses

The annual building of the graham cracker houses was done the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The kids look forward to this every year. I have to say mom is a good sport about letting us come to her house to build these. This year we had 8 kids building house plus Kris and Mike and Jarom and Liina. Needless to say the kitchen get a little messy. Of course we had the usual collapse from those who ideas were a little bigger than a graham cracker can hold. Anyway with a little help from Craig and I, All the houses were completed and made it home safetly. We have set up a little village of the houses in our home. The candy provided Mandy with a little snack. When every she thinks I am not watching she will go and pick a piece of candy off one of the houses.

Pinewood Derby

Last night Zach had his first pinewood derby. He was so excited about it. Craig helped him build his car and I have to say it was one of the best looking cars there. Zach's car didn't fare as well in the races. He got 3rd in the first race of four cars then he got 4th place the next 2 races. The last race he got first place but that is because he was the only car racing. Let just say some of the dads there take this race a little more serious than we do. One dad ordered special wheels off the internet for $40. Another one took his kid's car in to this place that will have it weighted exactly. Who can compete with that? Anyway Zach is excited for next years race

Moab

We decided we wanted to take a late fall trip somewhere. We decided to go to Moab for the weekend. Personally I felt this was too late in the year to go but we went anyway. It was beautiful down there but very cold. So we didn't do much beyond just short little hikes to lookout points.

The day before we left Craig had a tooth that was really starting to hurt. So the morning we left before we left he went into the dentist. Turns out he had an abscessed tooth and needs a root canal. The dentist drilled it out and drained it. Needless to say Craig was not feeling very well and his mouth was so swollen it looked like he had a golf ball in his cheek.

The kids had a great time seeing the arches and playing in the red sand.

Halloween

Well I finally decided to start our family blog. Actually it was either that or clean the house....Obviously I chose to start the blog. I have been meaning to do it for months but just haven't had the time.

We went for the Disney princess and Starwars theme this year. Everyone was very happy and excited for Halloween except Mandy. Mandy we had too force into her custome and make her go trick or treating....she wanted to go to bed because she was tired. She finally got into it when she realized they were giving her candy.

This is Mandy's picture face....I don't know how many pictures we have of her making this face. This is her at the school Halloween Parade. She was so excited to be Cinderella this year. For the last week we have had to call her Cinderella or Princess.

Zach wanted to be Anakin Skywalker last year but we started looking for a custome too late and couldn't find one. This year I got out early and Zach got to be what he wanted.

Kayla alway wants to be a princess. Lucky for me she wanted to be the same thing as last year...Sleeping Beauty.

Anna wanted to be Princess Leia. We looked everywhere for a costume but they were $40 bucks. Of course I didn't want to spend that much on a halloween costume so I decided to make it myself. 33$ and 3 days worth of sewing later she had a great costume....Although I think It looked better than the store bought ones (and I got lots of compliments on it) next time I think I will just pay the $40 dollars.