Halloween

Yes I know that it is almost Christmas and I'm just now blogging about Halloween, but I had to show some of the fun we did over Halloween. The Saturday before we went to Cornbelly's at Thanksgiving Point, it was our first time going there and it was so much fun! They had so many things for the girls to do. On Halloween we had a neighbor BBQ on our driveway we used one of our neighbors fire pits so we could all stay nice and warm. Then we combined all our candy and took turns who handed it out. We have the best neighbors and we like to get together often and have bbq's and parties. I however was lame and didn't take any pictures of it. Also on Halloween Olivia got to wear her costume to school and they do a Kindergarten parade and all the kids walk by in their costumes, there was one little boy who didn't have his on and it was so sad, poor kid. Olivia was Rapunzel this year, of course and Sophie was a cow, she had a sign saying "Eat More Chicken" like the Chick-Fil-A ads but would not keep it on. Okay that is a quick wrap up of our fun filled Halloween weekend! Sorry for the picture overload, there were just to many cute ones to choose from.

I love these girls SO much, they are so darn cute!

My cute family!

Love this photo!

My hand looks huge in this photo, weird camera angle.

Such a cheese ball!

Wouldn't be a ride if Olivia didn't get scared at some point!

Maze fun!

Jumping on these huge pillow bounce things!

So they had these forts all over and you could by them.  They had boats, airplanes, truck, helicopters, they were really neat!

My kids are obsessed with face painting and we have to do it every time!

Carving our pumpkins, Olivia only did it for about 5 minutes and then was done.  She hated the feel of the guts!

Posing with the pumpkins

The cutest cow I've ever seen!

Look at all the kids dressed up so cute!

Here's Rapunzel!

Virginia

Well when we finally made it to Virginia, we were so excited! It was great to see Betty and Oscar and meet my newest niece Iris. We spent a few days at Emma's and Steve before heading down to Williamsburg VA for our family vacation. By that time the rest of the gang had flown in. We spent a week in Williamsburg and did lots of hanging out and swimming. Since we went in July the heat and humidity were pretty bad. We had fun though all being together and watching the cousins play.  Olivia had a great week learning how to swim, I was SO proud of her watching her swim across the pool, takes after her mommy!  It was a great vacation and even though the drive was long to get there, I would do it again tomorrow.  I wish we lived closer to my sister Emma and her family, we love being with them!

Doing some yoga with Auntie Megs

No vacation is complete without a ride on Grandad's back!

Silly girls!

Look at her go!

Betty practicing swimming with her mommy!

Group shot, minus Steve, Oscar, Iris, me, and mom and dad

Olivia in her colonial hat

Oscar hanging out in the stroller.

Family picture outside D.C. Temple

Nauvoo, IL

Nauvoo was probably my favorite stop we did on our trip across country. The spirit in this town is amazing, and some of the stories I heard while there is something I will soon not forget. When we first arrived at Nauvoo we thought we would just spend a few hours in the town and then be on our way. After arriving there though we soon realized that we needed at least a day there to make it worthwhile. There is so much to do there in the summer months that you could easily spend 5 days there. We were lucky to actually know a Sister Missionary who is serving in there right now, she is from my dads ward. So we looked her up and she gave us a personal tour.  Some of my favorite moments from our stay there, was hearing Olivia after seeing the Nauvoo Temple for the first time exclaim how that is where she is going to get married. Going on three different wagon rides and each time Sophie would fall asleep, they were the best. Then on one wagon ride they asked if there was any Welsh decedents, which obviously we are, seeing how that is where my parents grew up, they than asked us to sing them a song, funny, good thing my dad and I have good voices, lol.  I'm so grateful we were able to stop there along our way, I left with an even greater appreciation for all that the pioneers did and sacrificed for us.

After Nauvoo we drove about 20 minutes and stopped at Carthage Jail, where Joseph Smith was martyred. It was a very spiritual, reverent place, unfortunately my children were not being so well behaved at that stop. It probably isn't the best place to take a 5 and 2 year old too. I am so very grateful for all that Joseph Smith did for us, and I'm glad that I was able to go to the jail and pay my respects.

After we left Carthage Jail we then drove for about 15 more minutes and stopped at the house of one of the missionaries who taught my parents.  I had never met him before and it was great to be able to thank him for teaching my parents the Gospel.  It was fun to hear him and my dad catch up and talk about people they both know.   
I highly recommend that if you ever get the chance you must stop in Nauvoo and do the tours.  It really is such a neat place. 

Nauvoo Temple, where Olivia wants to get married.

Olivia with Sister Miller, waiting to go on a wagon ride.

The mansion house where Joseph and his family lived.

This must have been before Sophie fell asleep, not long before though.

John Taylor's home

Statue of Joseph and his brother Hyrum outside of Carthage Jail

The window that the Prophet Joseph fell out of

The original door with the bullet holes

Carthage Jail

First tooth and First day of Kindergarten..

So far this week we have had a quite the eventful week.  On Sunday Olivia lost her first tooth and then today she started Kindergarten.  I was a nervous wreck about her starting school, more I was nervous for her to ride the bus.  True to Olivia fashion though she did great.  I repeated many times what bus she needed to get on to come home and to make sure that she sat by Reagon her neighbor friend.  She had a great time and is excited for the next day.  All day today Olivia was asking me if I was going to cry, well I was doing good until she got on the bus.  Then the tears came.  I just can't believe that she is old enough to be in school.  Now she will always be in school.  No more spontaneous road trips, everything will have to be planned around school breaks.  Today I definitely feel like a grown up.  I'm not just a young mom with young kids, I now have a kid in school!  She loves that she is old enough to go to school.  Oh and you bet after she got on the bus that I drove to the school to make sure she went to the right classroom!

Outfit all ready to go the night before!

Getting ready to go to the bus stop!

Going on the school bus!

Walking to her classroom!

Big smile for her first tooth to fall out!