15 Minutes of Fame...DENIED!

So we headed up to Mesa this weekend to see all the family. Had a great time. One of our adventures was a trip to see all the purty lights at the temple. (side note: If you can possibly avoid taking a group of 15 people--7 of them small children--to see the temple lights on the night they turn them on, DO SO. Unbelievably crowded and nearly impossible to move. But I digress). So anyway, out of approximately 13 million people who visited the grounds that night, my sister and my two girls were singled out by a channel 3 camera man to be interviewed about their experience (see pic above). They did such a great job and the girls were so cute! He told us to watch that night at 10pm and they'd be on. Well, we went home and watched with much anticipation. JILTED! JIPPED! I guess they made the cutting room floor. Oh boo hoo. At any rate, I was glad I made the quick trip there and was able to spend a little time with my beautiful sisters whom I love so much and don't get to see very often. I love you, girls! You're the best! (Jerry, love you, too, but you don't live in another state!) Moving on...

Since I've not posted in a while, there are oh so many tales to tell and pictures to share, but alas, not enough room to share them (let me esplain. NO, there is too much, lemme sum up). So the short of it is that we had an early Thanksgiving with S's family and had a nice time and ate way too much. Also got Grandma Nancy to climb in a giant box, which was the peak of the day as far as I'm concerned!!! Took the kids to a children's holiday party at the community center, also very crowded. They got to see Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Very cool. While in Mesa, we all put on our brown shirts and got family pictures taken. Also very cool. Then went out to eat at our favorite trough: Rosa's. When we returned from Mesa yesterday, we had a wonderful surprise--snow in the mountains (top left corner pic)! Our first this season! I think that about covers all the photos here. Don't worry, though, with the holidays upon us, you know I'll be posting lots more soon!

(no, I didn't purposely leave daddy out of most of these pictures--he was working and wasn't around for all of the fun stuff! Poor daddy)

I Like to Ride on My Bike!!

No, I did not stop by my local morgue and snap some pictures. These are H's legs (and an arm, too). H recently requested that we remove the training wheels from her bike. Nuff said? These bruises were acquired in a mere 24-hour period. She's a trooper, though. I'll give her that. Only one real accident to speak of: this morning as she was riding out front and O was walking around out front, O "wasn't paying attention and wouldn't get out of the way!" Those were H's words. So we had the little talk about drivers and pedestrians and how responsible drivers always watch out for other cars and other PEOPLE. I'm sure that's the last time we'll have to have that talk. Uh-huh.

(by the way, a handful of you will recognize the song reference in the title of this post. MOM?)

Why I'm Tired: a Pictorial Essay by a Worn Out Mommy

Photograph layouts designed and executed by the artist known as Tiny L.

Goblins and Witches

We survived Halloween! Between the costumes and the hair and the make-up, this witch needs a serious massage (and pedicure), or maybe a cruise. I was quite proud of my own costume and make-up, seeing as how it was thrown together at the very last minute (thank you J.B., for the loaner!). Nobody recognized me. It was awesome! I scared the little kids, too. That's always a bonus. L was supposed to be a football player, but he managed within seconds to smear the black stripes which I strategically placed under his eyes. If he was an only child, I'd have done a do-over. But he's number 4. Who cares? And now that Halloween's finally over, I can get down to the business of what's really important---CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS WAY TOO EARLY! Hey, it's what I'm good at.
p.s. The pic of H in the tutu isn't from Halloween. I just think it's funny.

Now, check this out! This picture of the kids with the pumpkins will be one of my all-time faves, I think. Look how they're each making a face just like their pumpkins. Man, are they cute!!