Happy 40th Birthday Scott!!!!

TUESDAY
Today I took Scott some doughnuts to work for his birthday (I took plenty so he could share with everyone). I have been warned and forewarned on several occasions to NEVER, I repeat NEVER, to make a big deal of Scott's birthday to anyone. One year I teased him that I would go to work and decorate his toolbox with lots of balloons and streamers for his birthday and I totally got the look and lecture of death--so I have never done anything at work for his birthday. So, this year, being his 40th Birthday, I thought I should do SOMETHING. I came up with the doughnut idea and I didn't receive the LOOK or LECTURE OF DEATH (so far so good--maybe next year I can do a little more--hum???).

Scott decided he wanted to go camping one last time this year for his birthday. We repacked the trailer and had everything ready (that I could do) when Scott got home from work. We made reservations at Crystal Hot Springs up in Honeyville and it took us about an hour and 15 minutes or so to get there--we didn't arrive until 10:30 p.m. Unfortunately, I hadn't really studied the campground map very well on-line before we left so it took us about 20 minutes to find the camp site we had reserved (this search involved Scott getting out of the truck, hiking around the premises with a little dinky flashlight). Scott wasn't a very happy camper when we finally drove to our campsite (there were two or three other trailers in the whole 115 site campground)!!!


Mallory, Hayley, Brittney and I did the final preparations of a little birthday party for Scott when we arrived at our campsite while Scott was out stablizing the trailer (or whatever he has to do). We hid balloons in the shower and a chocolate cake in the oven before leaving home and we strung a "Happy Birthday" banner in the trailer. (If you look at the clock on the wall, it was really 11:20 p.m. when we were setting up the Birthday Party!!)

Decorating

Scott getting ready to open his birthday present.

Opening Present #1--a new flashlight set (this really would have come in handy about 45 minutes earlier!!!) (A little side note: about one week ago Scott was trying to fix something in the dark and made a quick comment about how all he wanted for his birthday was a flashlight that #1 Worked and #2 One he could find--I did hear the comment and I got the hint--we found a Maglit set with a big flashlight and a small one with a mounting bracket so he can hang it in the garage so he can ALWAYS find it--as long as he puts it back!!!!)

Scott was grateful for such a USEFUL gift!!!

Scott also received some new Levi's (he gets new Levi's every year--Sorry for such a boring gift--but they are always so needed!!)

Hayley and the balloons

WEDNESDAY
We went for a walk/bike ride/wagon ride around the campground after breakfast and had some fun picture taking moments and a lot of good laughs!

Mallory and Hayley dancing on the tables

Erin, Brittney, Scott and Hayley (picture taken by Mallory--I cut out all the grass on the hill)

Hayley riding down the steep hill on her bike

Mallory cruisin down the hill

Hayley--HERE SHE COMES!!

Scott and Brittney coastin down the hill (Notice the look of sheer terror in Brittney's eyes and the knuckle white grip on the wagon!!)

After our walk, we went down to the Hot Pools. We stayed in the pool that was about 96 degrees--we poked our hands in the hotter pools and they were way too hot!! Here's Mallory drinking her juice (I was really worried about dehydration so I made everyone drink ALOT!)

Hayley and her RED cheeks

Brittney playing "Peek-A-Boo" with Scott

We had a great, relaxing day!! All was going so well until WEDNESDAY NIGHT! At around 10:45 Hayley woke up and was sick and throwing up. Then about 30 minutes later I was up and sick! We had the STOMACH FLU and it was not good! I haven't felt that sick in a LONG, LONG time. We headed home Thursday morning (as planned) at 8:15 a.m. so we could get Mallory to her Preschool Halloween party.

Primary Program

Mallory participated in her first Primary Program this year. Since I am in the Primary presidency, I had the choice opportunity to write this year's Primary Program. Well, I had a wonderful idea (and it did turn out wonderful) to have each of the Primary kids write their own speaking part/talk. We (as a Primary presidency) wrote 40+ questions around this year's theme and each month's topic and assigned each child a question to answer. It really turned out very nice because each child's speaking part was in their own words and it was their own little testimony on their assigned topic. We encouraged the kids to write their parts with their parents help (if needed) during Family Home Evening. We receive many, many positive comments on how well the kids said their parts, song the songs and the messages each child shared.

Mallory's speaking part was "Before I came to Earth, I choose Heavenly Father's plan so I could get a body and make good choices." Mallory said her part without missing a beat and there were A LOT of people at church that day. Here is a picture of Mallory before we left for church (we also had to take Hayley's picture because Mallory was having her picture taken).

Mallory's Preschool Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Black Island Farms with Hayley's Playgroup

Today was Field Trip Day for Hayley's Playgroup. I was in charge of arranging the outing and I am so glad we were able to come today because the weather was perfect (originally we were going the day after the big snow storm last week and it was sooo cold that day). We went to Black Island Farms in Syracuse. I was able to call and arrange for us to get a very discounted rate but I had to find 15 kids who were over the age of 2 to come along. I was finally able to find enough people and the kids got in for $4 (instead of $10) and the adults were free (we were the CHAPERONES)!!! I found some additional friends in our neighborhood to come as well as my sister in law Liz and her friend. We had a great time!! Here are pictures of a few things we did: Brittney, Mallory, Ashley and Hayley jumping in the BIG PUMPKIN!!

Hayley

Brittney (woo-hoo I'm finally out of my stroller!)

Mallory and Hayley racing ducks



Hayley, Erin and Brittney on the Hay Ride to the pumpkin patch

Mallory, Brittney, Erin and Hayley with our pumpkins in the Pumpkin Patch

Hayley--such a cutie!!!

Mallory jumping away

Mallory and Brittney on the Cow Train (Brittney was screaming the entire ride!!)

Mallory posing for the camera

Mallory sliding down the huge slide

Emma and Brittney hanging out in their strollers

First Snowfall of the Season

Today was quite the day! We woke up early to get ready to go to Kevin's Homecoming and snow was falling everywhere! Mallory and Hayley were soooo excited for the snow! We left pretty early so we could get a SOFT seat at church in Hooper. When we arrived, there were only about 5 other families in the chapel--we totally had our pick of seats (and yes, we did get a SOFT bench)! Kevin's talk was wonderful! I especially loved it when he threw in a Spanish word or two here and there because I could totally understand him (yes, even after 12 years of being home from my mission--WOW time flies).

After Kevin's homecoming, we walked out to the truck and there was 5 or 6 inches of snow that had fallen in the 1 1/2 hours we were in the church. We went over to Larry and Dawn's and Scott helped the girls and I into the house (he then took off for his meetings with the Young Single Adults). We ate lunch and visited for awhile before I packed the girls up and we were on our way again.

We headed over to Larry and Diane Davis' home. Brother Davis was the Branch President of the Hooper 9th Branch were Scott and I met. He and his wife just returned from a mission to New Zealand. I didn't even try to go to their sacrament meeting because it was right after Kevin's. I knew my 3 little girls WOULD NOT make it happily through two sacrament meetings (and I knew Scott would not be there to help on the second one) so we just went to their house afterwards. It was still really snowy and icy and we made it to the Davis home and I was able to get all three girls and myself in the house without anyone falling (plus a bowl of Chocolate Chip Cookies). I was so glad we went!! I was able to see several friends which I have not seen for many, many years!

We loaded up again and this time we headed for home so Brittney could have her nap. Mallory and Hayley wanted to go outside sooo bad and build a snowman. I had to convince them we would go out after Brittney woke up because they (and I) needed a little quiet time. When Brittney woke up, we all got bundled up and headed outside. Brittney was not content to sit in her stroller and watch us build a snowman, she had to sit on the ice, cold cement and eat snow!!

Brittney eating snow!!! YUM! YUM!

Brittney, Mallory and Hayley eating snow! YUM! YUM!

Scott arrived home from church just as we were getting started on our snowman. He made it outside just in time to start piling our snowman together!

Mr. Snowman Ropelato

Erin, Hayley and Mallory

Hayley, Scott and Mallory

Becca, Joe and Wesley's Special Day

My youngest sister, Rebecca and her husband Joe went through the temple on October 11th and then they were sealed together and then sealed to their little boy, Wesley in the Manti Temple. It was such a special day and I am so glad I was able to go (thank you Scott for staying home with the girls and holding down the fort!!). We are so excited for you two!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

It started to snow while we were outside the temple taking pictures-so we didn't get many. Wesley, Joe, Becca and Dad

A Miraculous Photo Opportunity

David, Leslie, Aleece, Jared, Sarah, Rachael, Erin

Rebecca, Mom and Dad

Another wonderful thing happened today too! Mine entire family was all together in one room! We couldn't remember the last time all of us were together---so we had to take a picture (it has been at least a year and possibly two). We just didn't have Scott, Tera and all the grandkids and granddogs to take a complete family picture--that will be for another day!

Mallory's Preschool Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Mallory's Preschool went to Black Island Farms for a field trip. I got to go along and we had a great time with the kids in her class and I got to know a few of the Moms. McKinlee and Mallory at the top of the slide. (Mallory never did go down this long slide. She did have fun standing up there and watching everyone else. I think she didn't want to get her pants wet because the slide was wet when we first got there.)

Mallory going down the bumpy little slide.

Mallory and her preschool friends on the hayride to get our pumpkins-- (left to right-starting with the green preschool shirt--Jantz, Brett, Mallory, Conner and McKinlee). Here are five of the eight kids in her class.

Brett and Mallory (Brett's dad is in the Young Single Adult Bishopric with Scott so she and Mallory have become really good friends this past year.)

Mallory and her pumpkin

Mallory on the Cow Train Ride (I guess it should be a Pig Train Ride because Mallory rode in the pig.)

Mallory Learns to Ride a Two Wheeler

Mallory never ceases to amaze me at the things she can do. Today, while we were waiting to go get her haircut, she asked, "Mom, will you take my training wheels off my bike?" I told her no(I pretend I'm not as good with a set of tools as Scott is) and she kept begging. Finally, I gave in and told her that I wouldn't be able to put them back on so she would have to wait for her dad to come home from work to put her training wheels back on. I took the training wheels off and held the seat while she climbed on her back and off she went--she totally taught herself to ride a bike. She fell once or twice but she always jumped right back on and would take off again.

Way to go Mallory!!! It's a good thing she has her elbow pads, knee pads and helmet on!!

Off she goes!!

Here she comes!!
(Hayley wanted me to take hers off too but I gave her a definate "NO"--at least for now.)