Scary Stories

This week I spent a lot of time bending over my sewing machine. Zina decided she wanted to be Princess Tiger Lily for Halloween and convinced Wilson to be Peter Pan. There was NO changing their minds once they had decided. I figured I could make Princess Tiger Lily but I was pretty skeptical about Peter Pan. After a trip to the Disney Store to find out they were all sold out of Peter Pan I knew I'd have to make it. A couple friends sent me this tutorial and I figured I could make it too. Then Mark decided to be Captain Hook and of course I had to be Wendy. AHHH! I can sew a straight stitch but this was seriously testing my sewing skills. Anyways, this post is NOT about our Halloween costumes. All I'm trying to say is that I had been spending a lot of time sewing one night when Mark came in and said, "Mama, we're having a family conference in the playroom." Well, I surely can't miss that so I set my sewing aside and went to see what was up. Mark made us turn all the lights off and sit around a single candle. He'd been busy making chex muddy buddy's or "Ghost Food" You shake them in powdered sugar and he'd told the kids it was ghost powder and if they ate it they would turn into ghosts until midnight on All Hallows Eve. It was hilarious. The kids were wide eyed and enjoying every minute of being scared. We sang the classic Halloween song that even Wilson knows all the words to because they love it so much. Later that night I heard the kids whispering in their beds about how they were now ghosts because Papa had convinced them to eat the "ghost food." It was really fun, and really spontaneous. Thanks Mark for a great memory and the perfect spooky evening.

I love the looks on their faces!

More Halloween pictures to come.....

Jack-O-lantern

We had some friends over this week for some yummylicious dinner and some pumpkin carving fun. I have been feeling the need to celebrate Mark's dwindling exam schedule to only 1 per week. Thank you Halloween for coming just in time and thank you friends for celebrating with us!

Jeremy and a poor poor pumpkin.

The Hinton Family (minus Dad who might be gagging over on the couch and I think maybe Andrew is holding his breath) Ha - to funny!

Zina Zee Zizzle and her papa

Wilson and Mama Becca. Yesterday I said something about being a Mother and Wilson looked up at me concerned and said, "You not Mother, you a Mama Becca."

I stand corrected.

Madison Kate and Steph!

Mmm, kidlets eating yummy dessert which I ate for breakfast the next morning and am currently craving.

I'm allowed. I'm pregnant.

Happy Halloween!

I love Zina's scary pose in this one. I had no idea she was posing until I looked over the pictures after.

Wind

I have a confession. I love the wind. Today it is windy (or if you are from southern Alberta you might say it is a slight breeze) and it is making me happy. When it gets windy here I start to feel... peaceful? nostaligic? happy? I'm not sure how to describe this feeling, but it is a good feeling. Even when I was a kid growing up I loved the wind. I felt like it blew the cobwebs from my mind and I could breath deep fresh air straight from the mountains. So thanks windy prairies for the feelings I'm feeling today.

Family Visits & Birthday Surprises

This past weekend Grandma Judy and Aunt Marilyn came to visit bringing Kate, Ellie, Wade, Piper and Jade with them! It was such a party and we are so glad they came. Mark has been so busy that it was nice to have some company to keep us from being lonely! The little kids had so much fun playing together. Kate, Ellie, and Zina giggled and giggled all night long. Cousins are the best!

Wilson and Wade

Picnic at the Phoenix Zoo

I told Wilson to say cheese but he must have had a mouthful because this is what I got.

Ellie, Kate, & Zina playing at the Zoo splash pad.

Talk about hard work for the adults! It was a pretty good way for the kids to see the Zoo though.

Giraffes! Wilson, Kate, Ellie, Zina & Wade

It was actually a super hot day and we were so exhausted by the time we got home from the Zoo that we put the kids in their swimming suits, gave them popsicles, and put the sprinkler under the tramp and then I think we all took naps. Everyone was happy! Zina is missing because she actually slept for 3 hours after we got home!

Mmm, Fresh salsa, water fun, and 100 degrees.

It was our anniversary so Grandma and Aunt Marilyn had a Pizza party with the kids while Mark and I ate out at a little Indian Bistro. It was fun to try something different and we even had a belly dancer for entertainment.

And of course with all the hot weather we couldn't pass up the pool. Thanks to our friends at San Lagos for letting us use their pool!

Cute little Piper chill'n while we swim.

And a cute picture of Zina all decked out for who knows what.

Oh ya, and because today is my birthday my Dr. let me have an early ultrasound and

IT'S a BOY!

We are all very excited, except Zina who was pretty disappointed, but I think she's getting over it. :)

5 years

5 years, 2 1/2 kids, 9 moves, 2 countries, 4 states, and millions of happy wonderful memories.

Thanks, honey, for the roses, the jade, the yummy food, the belly dancing, and especially for being you.

Bring on the next 5.

Sunlight, sleep, bottling, baking and some catch up

Those are a few of the things I'm learning to love about fall in Arizona. The mornings may not be crisp but they are cooling down enough to go outside (hurray). The kitchen still smells like yummy canned goodness, and fresh baked bread, and the sunlight filters through the windows at just the right angle to get me feeling nostalgic for my childhood fall days. Wilson is working on figuring out "no nap" days and often looks like this...

His parents are trying to figure out how to get him to stop terrorizing his sister and unfortunately standing with his nose in the corner doesn't seem to be working. This first time we had him do this he stood there happily for 15 minutes. Every time we asked him if he was ready to not hit girls anymore he would reply, "nope," and happily stay there.

Mark made a crazy trip to Utah to watch BYU lose, but it was worth it in my books because he brought me home two boxes of apples and 17 quarts of peaches that my mother-in-law bottled for me. Yes, I love her and have blessed her name a thousand times over.

I love making applesauce. For me it is a timeless family tradition. I love the smell, I love turning the wheel on the strainer and smashing the apples down. We always worked together as kids (and now I know my mom did most, if not all, the work) and during and after would enjoy countless bowls of fresh applesauce and cream. Someday I hope to make this tradition complete by pouring fresh cows cream on the applesauce, and I'll probably name our jersey cow Rosie Junior. :) Making applesauce was one of those memories that I never want to forget and one that I love because I can give my kids that same memory.

This past weekend was a big one for me - a relatively big mommy milestone because I got my first ever real babysitter. "Real" as in 12yr old young woman from our ward. She did a fabulous job and my kids really loved her and most importantly for me is that I felt a lot of peace in leaving my kids with her. Mark and I were able to fit in a temple session and it was nice to be out with my hubby for the evening. Sat. night Mark cancelled his scheduled volunteering so I could go to dinner and the R.S. Broadcast. This is what I came home to - a little bit of bedroom football? The kids were happy to have their dad all to themselves - and I can't say that I blame them.

I'm just posting these next two pictures because they remind me of happiness and fall and home. I love the angled late afternoon sunlight coming in the playroom window, and I love that my kids are happily playing while a pan of cinnamon buns rises on the counter and I'm grateful for the things in my life that make all of this possible!

And last but not least...
This morning Zina was invited to a tea party. She was so excited to get all dressed up, hair done, makeup on, etc. She went as a fairy princess, but when we got there started to feel insecure because she didn't know some of the girls. She was very unhappy and wanted me with her constantly. I was so so happy to see that the other girls were really very sweet and patient with her and after a while she warmed up and had a fabulous time!

Rumor has it...

For those who haven't heard, I will be looking like this...

(three days over due with Wilson)

Easter weekend.