Mariah's Birthday

Mariah is 7!!! Mariah and I spent a little time looking on Pinterest together to find just the right cake idea to reflect her personality (and stay within my limited decorating skill set). We finally decided on this crayon cake, since she loves arts and crafts. It turned out so cute! She also chose her birthday dinner--homemade chicken and noodles with mashed potatoes and peas. YUM!  Mariah is such a good girl and such a joy to have in our family. She is excited to be 7 because now it's just a year until she can be baptized. 

Halloween

It seems like this Halloween was basically the same as last. I missed it because I was gone to Regional Volleyball, but I made up for it by taking the kids to the pumpkin patch, which they think is the greatest thing ever!  The kids also loved their costumes and getting to dress up for school. This year, Connor was batman, Mylie was a zombie bride, Mariah was Cruella deVille, and Brady was Mike W. from Monsters, Inc. 

2015 Family Photos

This year, we traveled to Laramie on one of my few Saturdays off from coaching. We went to a football game, and then got ready for our family photo shoot with Michelle. On the way there, Lewis was screaming, Brady fell asleep, and Mariah started feeling sick, and eventually threw up. I was sure it was going to be a complete disaster, but looking Michelle did a great job, the kids did a great job, and looking at the photos, you would never know it was so close to being a complete disaster! Oh, and afterward, we were locked out of our van for a couple hours until we could get a locksmith to come. What a day!

Connor is 12!

Somehow, Connor is 12 already, which doesn't make any sense, since I'm still 29. ;) 

Of course, turning 12 is a huge milestone for him, as his dad ordained him to the office of a deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood. It is wonderful having not one, but now two priesthood holders in the house.

I decided to try my hand at cake decorating this year for Brady's birthday. His bulldozer cake was such a hit, and so fun to make, that I decided to give it another shot, and made this pole vault cake for Connor. Once again, so fun to make, and he loved it!

Back to School

Summer flew by way too quickly, like it always does. Luckily, the kids like school, too. Connor was exited to start middle school this year, Mylie is in 4th grade, and Mariah is a big 1st grader. 

With the big kids back at school every day, it means that I have lots of time with my little boys. Brady and Lewis love the ranch, so one day I brought the camera along as we explored all the things they love most.

Although they would love to, we can't really spend all our days outside. There is plenty of inside play, too.  Here are a few fun pics of the boys playing this fall.

Mom and Mariah's Zoo Trip

By the end of summer, Mariah was feeling like she had been left out of a lot of the things the big kids got to do. So just before school started, she and I found a day to get away on a mommy-daughter date to the zoo (her choice.) We were twinning that day with our pink shirts. We had a great time together! I sure love my Mariah girl!