Halloween '09

Our Halloween weekend was filled with fun and family! We spent the weekend with Uncle Jef, he arrived from Cody on Thursday and left this morning! While he was here we ate yummy food, went to the SLC Zoo and even fit in a UW Football game against U of U! The football game was on Saturday (Halloween) night so the boys didn't get to go Trick-or-Treating but they, meaning Blake, wanted to go to the game instead! So being the good mother that I am I still made the boys put on their Halloween costumes for I guess for "tradition" purposes and got some pictures! Blake was a Basketball Player and Kyle was a Scarecrow! Blake had already worn his costume to his Pre-School Halloween party on Thursday and got candy there so I think that helped in the missing Trick-or-Treating category! Here are some super cute pictures of the boys if I do say so myself!

My Ball-er and Scarecrow!

Kyle giving his signature grin!

Blake heading to his Pre-School Halloween party!
He even slept with his new basketball the night before!

Blake doing the traditional "High School" basketball picture pose!

His personalized jersey!

Here are some pictures of our trip to the SLC Zoo before we headed to the game! This time the zoo was a lot less busy and so the boys were able to enjoy seeing all the animals more up closely than our last trip! Blake was excited to tell Uncle Jef about all the animals! We really enjoyed having Jef join us for the day! He was a really good sport and posed for all the pictures I wanted to take and even took turns pushing Kyle in the stroller or holding Blake's hand! He is a great Uncle and Blake and Kyle are lucky to have him as one! One of the highlights of this particular zoo trip was that we got to ride on the TRAIN! Blake could hardly contain his excitement!

Here is Blake waiting on the train platform... he just spotted it coming around the corner in this picture!

All the "boys" waiting for the train!

And finally we made it onto the train! Blake was trying to give a thumbs-up when I took the picture! That means he was having a great time!

After the zoo we went downtown for some good Indian food, Blake and Kyle both loved it, and then we took the UTA TRAM up to the U of U football stadium for the game! Blake got to ride two different trains in one day! That always makes for a fantastic day! I wish I had some pictures from the game but I left my camera in the car... we had awesome tickets! We were right at the 50 yard line and only about 20 rows up! Soon after we got seated Jef noticed his first mission president sitting only 4 rows in front of us! That just proves what a small world it is after all! The game was fun, especially the first half when the Cowboys were wining but they ended up losing by about twelve. This was Blake and Kyle's first college football game and they had fun cheering on the Pokes! One of the highlights for Blake was when he got to give the U of U mascot a high-five... I was a little less thrilled because he messed up my hair since I was cheering for the opposing team (while sitting in the middle of U of U season ticket holders... it's all about who you know and Nick knows somebody from work!!!)! Hey, you just have to laugh it off! I'm just glad that Blake wasn't afraid of this human size bird wearing a football jersey coming at him! All in all we had a GREAT Halloween and are already looking forward to Halloween 2010! We are also looking forward to having Uncle Jef closer to us when he moves to Utah in just a few months!

Pre-Halloween Weekend!

This past weekend we went to Grand Junction, CO for a fun filled, Halloween themed, weekend with my parents and sister, Mindy! We had a great time and the boys had a blast! My mom and sister planned out little activities for the kids to do and my dad got the pumpkins he had grown in his garden ready for his grandsons to carve! They even helped the boys put on a spook house for Nick and I to go through! Blake loved that he got to "spook" us! Nick and I made a spooky dinner for everyone on Saturday night and we just played games and enjoyed each others company the rest of the time! My mom even went as far as to coordinate her shirt with her witch hat! The biggest hit when it came to the craft projects was when the boys got to make spider and skeleton cupcakes! The boys each made one of each! The process went a little like this though, "one m&m for the spider's eye and three for me!" They loved having so much chocolate at their disposal!

Here is Blake assembling his Spider!

Blake showing off his masterpiece!
Love that grin!

Kyle working on his Spider... I think he was going for the Black Widow look!

One of the Skeleton cupcakes! I think they are too cute!
(Use a mini-marshmallow for the head)

The boys discovered this pirate hat in some of my parents costumes! They each wanted to take turns wearing it! Blake would put it on then walk around the room say, "Arrgh, Matey!" And Kyle would make the funniest expressions when he had it on! Hey, cheap entertainment!

For dinner Nick and I kept it pretty simple, but still fun! We had Snake Pizza and Mummys in addition to fun appetizers, and yummy salad that we served with Skeleton salad tongs! And for drinks we had witch's brew (food coloring and 7up) served from a cauldron with dry-ice!

The Snake pizza is "S" shaped french bread hollowed out then filled with pizza toppings and then you use green olives for the eyes and bell pepper for the tongue! It was a big hit with Blake! And the Mummy's are a twist on pigs in a blanket but you leave some of the hot dog showing and then draw on ketchup eyes! We actually got the boys to eat a hot dog (they would never eat one before)!

On Saturday afternoon we carved the pumpkins that my dad had grown specially for his grandsons! We did only one for both the boys since they were such huge pumpkins! We worked on the face design together and then I did my best at duplicating it! I think it turned out so fun! The teeth are my favorite part... they are chopped almonds!

These are just a few of my favorite pictures of the weekend of the boys! I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family! I really appreciate all the work that my parents and sister put into planning the weekend and for a husband that goes along with all my corny ideas and who pretends to be having a good time when we are doing them too!

One of those days!

Last week on Thursday Kyle was on a roll! He just was getting into everything and really pushing my buttons! While I was still getting ready for the day he was with Blake in their play room and then I heard him calling for me. I wasn't too concerned because it wasn't one of the those, "I'm hurt" Mommy calls it sounded more like, "he took my toy" Mommy calls so I just kept on getting ready! Then he called for me again so I put down my mascara wand and this is where I found him! It reminded me of all the stories I have heard about Nick as a kid from all his family! I guess he was a real climber too! I'm still not sure how he climbed up on top of the TV! I think some things are better left unknown!

Then later that afternoon while I was helping Blake finish picking up his room Kyle climbed onto our computer desk and found a marker! When I came out to the computer this is how I found him! He slightly resembled a SMURF! I took all the advice I have heard from my other Mom friends and in stead of blowing up I grabbed my camera! Not to worry though, he still learned that we don't color random objects with markers... hopefully the lesson is learned and this will be the only "learning opportunity"! I just wonder what our parents did before there were washable markers... they probably didn't have them accessible to little hands!

His lips were already blue from a blueberry sucker he got from the bank teller! Not the marker!

Our computer screen!

Blake was into playing photographer last week and so I had a lot of random pictures of our floor, walls, and other indistinguishable objects! But when I was downloading the pictures from my camera to my computer I discovered this one! I think he did a pretty good job! Maybe he has a future behind the camera!

Jump On It... Jump On It...

You know the song, "Jump on it... Jump on it...", well that is what I thought of the first time I heard about a fun and unique business concept that is here in Utah! The reason I think of it probably is because the business name is Jump On It! It is a big warehouse that has 30+ trampolines in it that are all connected and surrounded with netting to prevent kids from falling off the tramps! There is also an arcade area and even blow up slides for the kids to play on when they need a break from jumping! It is a super fun place! My friend, Robin, that I grew up with in Colorado who now lives in Utah, just on the other side of the point, invited me to tag along with her and her play-group! I'm sure glad she did because both Blake and Kyle had a BLAST! (It wore both of them out so much that they both took naps this afternoon!) We went for "Mommy and Me" bounce time, they offer it every Wednesday morning from 10am-11am! I pretty sure we will be making the drive to Lindon again very soon (especially with the cold weather setting in... indoor activity = FUN!)! I know that the pictures I took of the boys don't do our amount of fun we were having justice but here they are for your viewing pleasure anyway!

Kyle posing for the picture!
I love how he has started to take pictures with such a mischievous grin! He was in heaven with all the different balls they had to jump with!

Blake claimed this basketball as he own first thing and I don't think ever let it out of his sight!

Here is Kyle trying to figure out how to get the ball he was holding into the basketball hoop (you can see the bottom of it at the top of the picture)! I forgot to mention that they also play basketball on the trampolines!

Two is always better than one!

Blake "crashing" at the end of our jumping time! What a handsome little man!

*And just to answer the question you are all wondering... yes, I even did some "old school" trampoline tricks from my childhood! I might just even try a flip next time!!!

I pledge allegiance...

One of the things that Blake has been learning about at Pre-school is the United States of America flag and along with this he has learned the Pledge of Allegiance! It is a pretty neat accomplishment for any three year old to know the Pledge of Allegiance so here is a little video of him reciting it!
PS Sorry about the quality of the video and don't mind the little bruise on his forehead... he had a run in with our dryer door and the door won! Thank goodness for photoshop because he has school pictures tomorrow!

Super Saturday... at the Wilson's!

On Saturday we had a family fun day! We got up and enjoyed taking our time getting ready and planning out our day! We, meaning I, first decided that a Gandolfo's Empire State sandwich was a necessary for lunch! So we headed over to Draper to enjoy one of the most incredible sandwich's I have ever had the privilege of eating and then it was back to our house to watch the UW Cowboys take on the NM Lobos! And yes, the Cowboys came away with a big fat W! Then we decided to venture out to see what some of the fun and exciting new things that our new town has to offer and we found a pumpkin patch not too far away! We took the boys there so they could pick out their "perfect pumpkin"! Blake picked out at least a dozen "perfect pumpkins" before deciding on one! At the pumpkin patch they also had a collection of old tractors that the kids could play on and a corn maze designed just for the little ones! Blake LOVED the corn maze and wanted to keep going through it again and again... it only took about two minutes to walk through and there was only one path to follow so there was no way he could get lost! I even got the boys to smile for a couple of quick pictures!

My boys with Blake's Perfect Pumpkin!

Me and my little men!

Kyle working on his tractor driving skills!

What a handsome little boy!

Blake was so excited when he discovered that this tractor was named "Oliver", just like one of the trains that works with Thomas the Train! Blake has taken a new interest in Thomas thanks to his Aunt Stephi! He had to get a picture with "Oliver"!

After the pumpkin patch Nick took me on a date... with the boys for dinner! Hey, isn't it always considered a date when you don't have to cook? We went to yet another one of my favorite places to eat, Texas Roadhouse, and over indulged in warm rolls and cinnamon butter! SO good! After we were too full to move we headed over to the mall, yes... I said the mall, to walk around and do some window shopping! Some how we did leave with some bags (everyone got something but me... I'll have to cash in later)! This was just a simple day but it was spent with the ones I love and that is what made it so special!

Welcome Home Elder Wilson!

On Wednesday, September 30, 2009 we welcomed Elder Jeffery M. Wilson home from the Texas Houston East Mission (T.H.E. Mission as he likes to refer to it)! He arrived at the Billings Airport a little after Noon! He looked just the same... well maybe a little more grown up and you could tell that he was a true missionary, having the Spirit with him! He gave everyone hugs and the little boys were so excited to see their Uncle Jef! Blake kept telling him that he was in a picture and now he is here! I think Blake thought that it was some kind of magic trick! I was anxious to see what Kyle would do since he had never met him... in fact the same week that we went to the MTC with Jef was the same week we found out that we were expecting Kyle... but Kyle went right up to him and gave him a big hug and one of his signature smiles!

Here's Blake with his sign! He wanted it to have an airplane on it so we got a little creative!

Here's Kyle with his sign... he kept trying to give it to random people as they came down the stairs in the airport while we were waiting! Silly boy!

We are so happy that Jef is now home but we are even more proud of him for all the service and dedication he put into the last two years in the service of our Heavenly Father! We know that Jef made sacrifices but that he was blessed, as were we too, for all that he did in building our Heavenly Father's Kingdom! These blessings will also continue through out his life because of his decision to serve a full time mission and that he did it whole hearted! We love you Uncle Jef and can't wait to spend more time with you! Welcome Home!!!