Birthday, Birthday Everywhere

\As I said in an earlier post we have 3 birthdays this month. We had a big cookout yesterday with a bunch of friends to celebrate all 3 at once. We had a great turn out and a lot of fun! I also made a huge dinosaur cake (at the request of Madi) for the celebration. Here are a few pictures of the cake and shindig. . .
The cake consisted of 1 1/2 strawberry cake mixes for the center and 1 1/2 chocolate cake mixes for the head, tail and legs.

What a SUPER "Super Saturday"

We had our "Super Saturday" craft activity on Oct 17th. I think it went great! I made to toy roll-ups. One for each kid. I made a drawstring backpack for Madi and I also etched our last name on a casserole dish. I was there from begining to end and enjoyed myself the entire time!

Drawstring Bag

Cal's Roll-up

This one has 6 pockets. We use it for Matchbox cars.

My mom had a piece of fabric she put a little road map on a long time ago. I went ahead and made it into a mat to roll up with the cars.

Madi's Roll-up

This one has 4 pockets. We use it for a collection of toys . . . Little people, fairies, and My Little Ponies.

Halloween Costumes

Since I fear not having the internet to post our costumes this year, here is what I have done so far. I'm a little sad to spoil the final project for those that will see them in person, but I want my parents to be able to see at least this much.

Beware the Brigade for Elephants!

Quiet Book

My mom started making a quiet book when she was pregnant with my oldest sister (in the 70's). I happened to find it when I was at her house this summer. I asked her about it and she said I could have it. Mind you, I'm no where near the sewing guru she is. In fact, I'm an Dopey (for SnowWhite) and she's Einstin when it comes to sewing. Anyway, I added a few pages and put the entire book together. Here is my finished project.

Quiet Book Cover

(I bound and covered the book)

Numbers Page

Each pocket has the corresponding number inside.

(I made this one)

Hair Page

You can do the girls hair. Hair ties and bows go in the heart pocket on her shirt.

(I made this one)

Cowboy Page

The cactus comes off.

(mom made this one)

Apple Tree

Apples come off and can go in the basket.

(mom made this one)

Lace up Girl

You can lace up and tie the girl's dress. Also, the bird comes off.

(I just added the shoe lace)

Horse Page

Both the sun and horse come off.

(mom made this one)

Egg Page

The chick can come in and out of the egg.

(Mom made this one)

Bear Page

This page has 2 pockets. One for pens and one for paper.

(Mom made the bear, I just added the ribbon)

Flower Page

You can remove the watering can and the flower petals.

(I just added the buttons)

Mailbox Page

You can put letters or pictures drawn into the mailbox.

(Mom designed it I just cut out the peices and put it together)

Street Sign Shapes

Each sign can be removed and put onto another page with a road map.

(mom had the stop sign done, I did the rest. I want to write the shape name under each one. Still not finished I guess)

Fishing Pond

Each fish can be removed from it's pocket. It has a magnet attached to it's mouth and also a magnet at the end of the fishing pole.

(Madi loves this one. It was all me)

Road Map

The cars come off and can go into the garage. There are random velcro spots for street signs or cars.
(mom made the road and teplates for the cars and garage. I love this one)

Best Campout Ever

A group of about 5 couples went camping last weekend. We were lucky enough to be invited. We went up north, by Prescott. It got pretty cold at night (freezing to Arizonians), we didn't get much sleep, I got a little sunburned, feared the rath of a skunk who kept wondering into our camp, and I came home completely beaten up and wiped out.

It was the best time ever!

We got to know people in our ward better, shared hillarious and embrassing stories, ate fabulous food,

rode quads (not me due to prego),

hung out relaxing,

the kids played great together,

(Yes, that is a tooth you see in Cal's mouth. He went from 0-4 in a month)

and even did a little shopping.

I don't know about everyone else that went, but Carson and I had a GREAT TIME! and can't wait to do it again.

Thanks for the fun!

Life Without the Internet

I thought our internet was turned off the other day & we were finally going to have to live without it. However, today,1 week later, it worked again. We are however going to be losing our internet, so if you don't hear from me for a while, or you email me and get no response, then it's happened. Internet no more.

Since we were without it for a week. Here is a little catch up to what we've been doing. . .

Peaching It Up

I recieved my annual 32lbs of peaches this year. I made some into jame and the rest into pie/cobbler filling. One word . . .

YUM!

Birthdays

We also have been celebrating a month full of birthdays! Carson, Cal, and Madi all have a birthday in October. I decided instead of trying to make 3 parties, we would have one big cookout of all three. Besides, Cal turned 1, Madi turned 3, and Carson turned 31, so I only need to get a #3 and a #1 candle. Sweet!

I still felt it important to make the actual birthday special, so I made Carson a birthday dinner and a blueberry pie.

We actually went camping on Cal's birthday(see the "Best Campout Ever" post). So he got a store bought cake when we got back. Don't worry I'm making a huge dinosaur cake for the cookout (as per Madi's request)

Grammy also sent presents for everyone. Here they are enjoying them. Thanks again, Grammy!

If we still have the internet, I'll post pictures of the dino cake and Madi's actual birthday, but who knows when it will go.

(not our actual stairs)
Today Cal climbed the stairs. He went from not being able to get on one, to climbing all of ours in a few minutes. (I think we have around 15 or so) I was working on our halloween costumes (I'm excited about them) and realized he had disappeared. I found him 3/4 of the way up the stairs. I let him get to the top before I took him back downstairs to play. He was pretty happy.

Marathon Man

(Taken at the park before the race. Hence, the smile.)

We just got back from a trip to Utah and Idaho. The main reason for the trip was that Carson ran the "Top of Utah" marathon on Saturday. It's up in Cache Valley, Utah. I can't express in words how proud I am of him.

I dropped him off at a park at 5am. From there he caught a bus up Blacksmith Canyon to the starting line. I wasn't able to see him until around the 14 mile mark. (that's when they came out of the canyon) I actually didn't see him until around the 16 mile mark. I had to walk down about 1 mile with both kids to try and find him. (and of course I forgot the stroller.) We cheered him on and jogged by him for a few yards. Then I had to stop since I'm pregnant and was carrying Cal on my shoulders. I told him we'd see him at the finish line.

Madi and Cal were pretty wiped out from walking in the sun all day and not getting enough nap time. I bought Madi a soda at the finish line to try and cheer her up a bit. This is the face she made when I told her to show me her soda.

Cal was also pretty wiped out. He only wanted to be held.

My sister came up from Wyoming and sat with the kids for me. Starting at the finish line, I walked the runners path to find Carson. When I caught up with him, he told me he didn't stop running for the first 20 miles. At mile 21 he stopped and asked the first aid for some Icy Hot for his leg. Once he got that on, he got up to keep going and feel over on their truck. They immediately told him he was dehydrated and made him drink a bunch of gatorade and water. At the next drink station he drank a ton of water and couldn't get himself running any more. He ended up walking the rest of the way in. His time was roughly 6hrs 58min. I'm very proud of him and look forward to the day we can run a marathon together.