A Visit From Our Elf....

For the Past Two years, our family has participated in the tradition of having an Elf visit our family through the month of December. "Jingles" normally shows up the day after Thanksgiving and stays til Christmas Eve. Jingles job is to watch the kids during the day to see if they are being good or naughty and then report back to Santa nightly to let him know how the kids did during the day. On Christmas Eve, Santa takes Jingles back to the North Pole with him. 

This year, Jingles showed up on November 30th on our doorstep via snail mail. He was wrapped up in a brown paper package. Kaleb and Karmindy LOVED getting their package and a personalized letter from Santa! The kids have also enjoyed waking up very early see where Jingles is hiding in the morning. Jingles is always doing something a little mischievous during the evening hours.  On the first night they awoke at 5:30 a.m. to see where he was. Oy Vey. Mom and Dad were sure tired that first morning! It has been a very exciting tradition for the kids and they truly look forward to this fun memory maker!

Halloween Cuties

 Today was the annual Trick Or Treat Fest at Mark's Office at the Church Office Building here in Riverton. The office totally shuts down at 2 pm and the families of the employees come in and trick or treat to all the cubicles and offices there at the building. The kids loved the Trick or Treat Fest last year and have been looking forward to going this year for as long as I can remember. After Kaleb got out of school and off the bus at 2 pm, I got the kids dressed in their darling costumes and we headed out. The kids had a blast visiting all the cubicles and filling up their buckets. They really got quite a load, in fact, while we were waiting for one of the elevators to go home, we got talking to a family who said that their daughter got 7 lbs of candy last year! Wow! We didn't get that much because we were only there for under and hour but the kids had plenty of candy. I am pretty sure they would have stayed longer if we had let them. Karmindy really got into it this year and loved going from cubicle to cubicle. 

 The kids and Mark on the lookout for Cubicles with Candy!

 Mom with her cute little Spooks!

Dad with his lil' Munsters!

It was so fun to go and visit Dad at his work and have another Halloween activity to do as a family and make  fun memories.

On another note, the kids have been so excited for Halloween this year!! Kaleb has enjoyed changing our family Count Down to Candy Countdown and will proudly tell me each day how many more days till Halloween. Karmindy will tell me everyday that Halloween is coming and that it will be "Very Sppppooookkkyyy! She says it in her very spooky voice and It makes me giggle.

The kids have also been super excited to dress up. Kaleb chose to dress up as a Jedi Knight  this year and he is so handsome in his costume. Karmindy has been so excited to dress up in the Bee Costume that I found last year. Karmindy has loved dressing up in it and pretending to fly around the house buzzing and pretending to sting Kaleb. She has such an active imagination and it makes me laugh. I have to wonder where she comes up with the stuff she says! :)

The kids are so eager for Halloween to come and truth be told, I can't wait either! I love the whole excitement of Halloween- the weather, pumpkins, candy, yummy baked goods, decorations, and dressing up! Such Fun. It truly is one of my favorite holidays!

The Buzzy Little Bee is Off to Get More Candy!

Funny Things that Kids Say....

I haven't blogged in forever and I will catch up soon with what we have been up to...hopefully soon!!! In the meantime,  I keep forgetting to jot down somethings that I find so cute (and some not so cute) about Karmindy and I don't want to forget them. Karmindy is quite the character and I love her little gruff voice. I really need to record her speaking because her little voice brings a smile to my face. She says the cutest things and it is typically words that she knows but can't pronounce very well and I don't want to correct her just yet because I think it is darling! 

Bizzert=Dessert
Nema-nems=M&M's Candy
Chick-el-a= Chick Fil A Restaurant

- She will ask "You wanna see something cool?" (She proceeds to show us her latest trick like standing on one leg, jumping off of the furniture or running in a circle, usually anything silly).

-Whenever she is asked to clean her room or help pick up her toys she will immediately tell me she has a headache or is tired and will lie down and carry on as if she is exhausted, when five minutes earlier she was playing and was just fine.....(She has a flare for the dynamics!)

When she knows she is in trouble or gets in trouble for doing something naughty, she will immediately tell me that, "I just LOVE you mom!" I think that she says this in hopes that I will lessen her time sitting in the corner or having a time out.

This past week, as I was picking her up from a friends house from playing there for several hours, I called her over to me and told her it was time to go home, she replied, "Mom, you're bugging me. I am tired of you." (Yes, that stung a little bit and she was sent to the corner when we got home and dad talked to her about being respectful to mom and others.) Still so sassy. I am afraid of the teenage years!

Karmindy tends to tell me she "doesn't know what to do" when she gets overwhelmed by large groups or when she is uncomfortable or in a new situation. Mark and I both think she gets like this because she has a lot of anxiety in new or uncomfortable situations.

Even though Karmindy is quite the Little Miss Sassy Pants we LOVE HER and wouldn't change a thing about her and we are so happy to have her as a part of our family!!

Look Who is in Preschool!

I can hardly believe that my baby is starting her last year of Preschool this year! I am a little sad but excited for what is in store for Karmindy. She is such a special little girl and I am so proud to be her Momma! Karmindy's first official day of Preschool was held today. She was so excited and couldn't wait to go to school. It was hard for her to watch Kaleb start school a few weeks ago. She desperately wanted to be like her big brother. I would find Karmindy wearing her cute cupcake backpack throughout the day prior to starting school. It made me smile when she would do this. The day finally came and off to Preschool she went! Karmindy is LOVING her teacher, Ms. Gaylene and looks forward to each Monday, Wednesday and Friday so she can wear her backpack and go to school to learn about something new. She loves Show n' Tell and having her Best Friend, Emilia Pidcock, in her class. I can't wait to see what you accomplish this year Sister, you are one amazing little person!!

Look Who's Going to 2nd Grade!

I am in denial that I have a 2nd Grader! I can't believe Kaleb is in 2nd Grade this year, where is the time going? I say this every year but I feel like the days are long but the Years go by so Quickly!!!  

Kaleb is growing up to be such a wonderful young man. I am so proud of him and the special person he is becoming. He is truly a Good Boy. Kaleb was so excited for school this year and was incredibly excited that he got his teacher of choice, Mrs. Goodman. We have been fairly lucky with getting good teacher the past two years and are grateful. The year round schedule truly stresses me out because good teachers tend to jump from track to track so I always feel like we have to outguess the system which I hate. No fun!! Especially for a Mom who is a super duper anxious person anyways!

On the first day of school, Kaleb was up and going before me! He was excited! He looked so handsome in his new Clothes and was on his way to face the day. Kaleb asked me to drive him to school that day and I figured I will do that until he asks me not to. I hope he always wants me to take him and be there for him. When we got to school we quickly went to where his new classroom was going to be and were able to catch his teacher really quick for a photo op. 

We then headed out to the play grounds to line up with the rest of his class. It was hard to leave Kaleb this year, because he is such a huge help to me at home and truly helps me with his sister. Karmindy had a hard time saying goodbye too. She loves/idolizes her brother. Needless to say, it was a long day waiting for Kaleb to come home from school. The instant he came through the back door, Karmindy raced over to him and gave him a big hug and told him she missed him. It was precious. Believe me, I wasn't too far behind Karmindy to greet Kaleb. 

I am so thankful that Kaleb's first day was a good one!! Cant wait to see what is in store for him this year!

Father's Blessings!

Each year, the night before the new school year begins, we take the kids out to eat as a family. This year the choice was "Training Table." After dinner we headed home for Baths and to get ready for School for Kaleb. After Baths and laying out brand new school clothes and back packs, we have the tradition of Mark giving the kids a Father's Blessing to help them out with the upcoming school year. Mark gave each of the kids a beautiful blessing, which makes me so grateful for the priesthood, and especially for Mark for living his life accordingly to be able to hold the Priesthood. Mark blessed both of the kids to have a good year, to choose good friends and to do well in their studies. I hope all three come to pass. 

I worry probably a little too much that the kids will have positive experiences and to also to choose good friends. I want nothing more for my kids to be successful and to make good decisions. I am truly so proud of both Kaleb and Karmindy. They are each both remarkable little people and I know that they have so much good to accomplish in their lifetimes. They truly are special little Spirits and I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has entrusted them to me and Mark. I hope thatt I can Make my Father in Heaven proud and raise these two right!! One thing that I want my kids to always know is that I LOVED THEM DEEPLY and that I am so PROUD of them. 

Hello Zoo!

For one last hurrah before school started, a few neighbors/friends decided to head to the Zoo one afternoon. The Hogle Zoo has a new Polar Bear exhibit. We kept hearing wonderful things about it so I was eager to take the kids and check it out. It was really cool to see the Polar Bears Swimming around. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any pictures because it was so crowded and busy that day at the Zoo. It was, well a "Zoo!" The three of us had a great time checking out the new exhibits and being with friends. It was a  lot of fun! I took a ton of pictures that afternoon of the kids but apparently none with them and too many animals. Go figure?

 Kaleb with his friends Winston and Jaxon.

 Kaleb and Karmindy enjoyed hanging out in the hallowed out logs! The were really something to see and especially to lay down in.... Guess you have to try it out for yourself! :) Karmindy in the next picture was hot and tired! I think if I would've let her rest for too long, she may have just taken a nap in there.

 Kaleb riding on one of the Polar Bears!

Little Miss Animal Lover herself had to jump on the Baby Polar Bears back for a picture.