Sat Oct 31st

Happy Halloween! We spent the morning cleaning the house, then we carved pumpkins and ended the evening at Dave and Marie's house. We had a fun time trick or treating with them. Sian, Steve and Will came too. 

Ella was dancing around pulling off the leaves on the trees and says "I'm helping out fall" haha. Ella you're so adorable. 

I'm an Asian for Halloween:) I'm wearing Lisey's Mulan wig and the Chinese jacket Ammon brought me home from his mission in Hong Kong. 

Lisey trying on a spooky to make herself into the spookiest witch of all time! 

Partners in crime. These two boys were working together to sneak into the fridge. 

Sonic candy princess haha. 

Hot chocolate after trick or treating. We figured the kids could use more sugar😉

Lisey loves Auntie Marie! Everyone needs a Lisey. She's good at making you feel loved and good about yourself. 

I love Halloween! I'm sad it's over, but it sure was fun!! We have a TON of candy. 

Thurs Oct 29th

Doesn't Link look like a little explorer? Captain Baby off to explore the land of sister's room. He begged to go up there and did not want to get down. Little adventure boy! 

Went for a run then Lisey had her Halloween party at school. 

Lisey and her teacher. Lisey is going to be a witch for Halloween but today she wanted to be Mulan. 

During preschool I took Link to Walmart to finally buy milk and a lot of other things. Link was a crank.  He has been very unhappy lately. I think it's because he's getting his molars. Poor buddy and poor mommy. Just practicing my endurance skills. 

Thankfully Nick came home later in the afternoon and we all went to Costco together. I'm so glad Nick's home. I've missed my friend and partner parent.  

Wed Oct 28th

We were watching frozen, when prince Hans came on the screen. Then Lisey says "he is not a nice guy", in a very cute but intense voice. 

This morning I watched Bonnie and her brother Johnny so their mom could go to the dentist. I missed my run which I'm feeling now. I haven't been out all day which is making me feel a bit antsy and irritable.  I did fold 2/3 of the monstrous pile of laundry while Lisey, Link and I watched Cinderella and Frozen. 

We have so much laundry! Maybe it's time to become brilliant and get rich so I can hire a housekeeper. Wouldn't that be lovely? I suppose my kids would miss me... At least after awhile. Maybe. Only two things are certain in this life; death... and laundry. 

Nick comes home tomorrow and I can't wait. He's had a pretty successful trip which is great, but I miss him and I miss his help. Single parenthood is definitely not ideal , not in the least! 

After school I took the kiddos to the mall to trick-or-treat. 

They had a fun time getting their custumes on and going for a pre-trick-or-treating adventure. It was chilly but we all had a good time. I got the kids to bed pretty early and then I takled the rest of the laundry. 

Wed Oct 14th

The kids and I went down to Provo with Nick. Nick needed to pick up some stuff from work then we went to this Indian food buffet. 

It was delicious and even with the kids it still felt like a mini date. 

Mon Oct 12th

I took the kids to the curiosity museum after school. We all had a blast. 

Link really wanted to climb the jungle this time so I took him up. He is a climbing machine!!

The kids loved the hurricane simulator   

And just playing and playing and playing. 

Sun Oct 11th

It was a nice restful Sunday. It was just great being with my family. 

Lisey and I just being silly. 

Sat Oct 10th

We went down to Redmond for Emmit's baptism. I don't know why I always forget how much the spirit is present at baptisms. I could feel it very very strongly today and it felt wonderful. I need to make sure I'm doing things that allow me to feel the spirit burn more often. 

After we had dinner and all the kids played. Lisey was very interested in playing basketball with everyone. I wish I took more pictures but this is the only one I got. I guess I was too involved in chatting and visiting. We had a great time. It was wonderful seeing Ashlie. It's been way too long. I've missed my good ol' college buddy. 

Sun Oct 25th

Exactly 2 months till Christmas!! I love this time of year. The only bad part is that when it's over it will be winter and I do NOT like winter. Church was good, although I did feel a sense of loneliness... A common consequence of constantly moving. 

I took a nap. While Nick took his nap, I took all the kids for a walk to the park. Link was a crazy acrobat. He climbed the stairs and went down the slide all by himself. What a big, tough boy! 

Sat Oct 24th

Nick had a meeting all day today. So I took the kids to HeeHaw farms with the Sedas'. It was the best patch we've been to. It had these huge slides, animals to pet, pumpkins dropping from the sky, a corn box, a mini maze, an animal train, a hay ride and so much more. We had a great day!!

Wed Oct 21st

We went to nicks work so Ella could sell stuff for her school fundraiser. A lot of people were already gone so we're coming back tomorrow. Even so she still got 9 sales. 

After we went to Cafe Rio in Provo. And guess who we saw?

One of the actors from Studio C. Nick was gutsy and asked if the kids could get a picture with him. He was super nice about it. Our own little Provo Hollywood. 

Thurs Oct 22nd

Lisey had preschool and I cleaned the kitchen. After school we went again to Nicks work and Ella sold stuff for her school. All the salesmen were impressed with Ella's sales skills. :) 

After the kids were in bed, Ammon came over and we played games and watched shark tank. Good times. 

Fri Oct 23rd

Lincoln came in my bed at 2 AM. Then he was restless at 4:30 or 5 AM and I realized he had peed through his jammies. So I brought him out of my bed and changed his jammies and diaper and then rocked him back to sleep. He even miraculously l went back into his own bed and I got to sleep in my own bed with no baby till 7:30 AM. When link woke up again he was poopie. I fed him in my bed for his morning snack and held his hand because that is what he really really wanted to do--Drink milk and hold his mommy's hand. So sweet and cute. I treasured the moment, even though I was tempted to be efficient and use the time laying there to read my scriptures. But instead I just stared at my little boy and enjoyed holding his hand and cuddling. 

Lisey and I are playing tea party and Lisey is feeding me soup out of a tiny bowl and a little tiny spoon because I'm a sick baby. She tells me "I am a mommy, mom" in her little tiny voice. 

We are finally done with our monster house we did as a fun project put on by the library. We're going to turn in today to have it displayed there. I feel like it turned out really well and the kids had a blast doing it. 

This evening nick and I went to the DishOne banquet. 

We got all fancy and had a nice dinner. And listened to a lot of talking (salesmen haha). But we had a fun time being together and having free food :). 

Some funny photo booth pics Nick and I took at the banquet. 

Tues Oct 27th

Link was up at 3 this morning. I finally got Link back to bed by 4am thanks divine intervention I'm certain (I was praying hard hard hard). Then he slept in till 8am

I went for a 6.5mile run this morning along the Jordan river trail. It was great being out in the beautiful scenery. Link took a mini snooze and Lisey did too! Unfortunately I couldn't wake her up to go to preschool. She was out cold and had to skip it today. 

I've attempted to tackle a plethora of laundry today. I got most of it washed, but none of it folded. Oh well, tomorrow it is. 

This evening I went to a dyslexia conference to learn more about dyslexia and helps that I can get for it for Ella. It made me feel very motivated to get some help for her especially seeing the kinds of negative effects it can have on people. I don't want Ella self esteem to fall because of her dyslexia and I want her to be able to read and write well even with this complication. Ella can do it. She's very very smart and with the right learning tools in her belt she'll be able to accomplish great things even with this hardship. 

Fri Oct 16th

Ammon came with the kids, Will and I to the Scarecrow festival. It was really fun seeing everyone's creative scarecrows. It was also just nice being outside in the sunshine. They also had inflatables with the kids loved too.  

 We went to the scarecrow festival today! Chewy was our favorite. The Gardens at Thanksgiving point are beautiful and almost magical. It was an awesome place to spend the afternoon. Especially with uncle Ammon for help and company. 

The kids loved climbing this hill and rolling down it. Link climbed it like such a kid. 

The coolest fountain at the gardens. So architecturally awesome. 

The secret garden. 

It's raining... umbrellas? 

I had a great time hanging with my bro and am very very grateful for his help with the kids. He even wasn't feeling well and came anyways. I would have probably had a much more stressful time without him and maybe a nervous breakdown ;). Besides the inevitable whining we all had a great time. 

We were trying to decide what to watch for family movie night and there was some debate between watching the new Cinderella movie or Aladdin. Ella wanted Aladdin and lisey wanted Cinderella. Then lisey says "I know! Jesus!" Oh my Lisey girl. She's always thinking about her best pal Jesus. 

Tues Oct 20th

Lisey wanted to put some mascara on. I said "let me help you Lisey" and Lisey says "Jesus helps me" in her cute tiny voice. So sweet :) It's also so cute when, after I've told her that she needs to stay in bed or something like that, she says "yes mom" in a tiny solemn voice. Lisey makes the greatest faces too. She has so many different expressions. When she smiles it isn't only with her lips, but her whole face lights up like the sun. She's started to understand more things and a lot of times if I tell her she can't do something because it's the rules she stops. 

Fairly uneventful day. Lisey had preschool and I cleaned my room. Link was a very good boy so I could do it. He just played up in my room while I cleaned. Link is a really great boy, so easy going and hardly ever sad (as long as he and I are together). 

In the evening the girls and I had a Girl glamorous sunglasses party. I'm so glad I have girls and I'm glad to have a boy too :). 

Sun Oct 18th

Lisey did not want to go to primary today, which is very unlike her. So I let her sit on my lap during singing time. It made me realize how much I miss being in primary. It definitely was tough but it was also great singing the primary songs and seeing all the funny things kids do and say. I thought while I had a few minutes before relief society started I'd write my testimony down. 

I know that my Savior lives. We sang that song in sacrament meeting and its words rang true in my heart. I know my Savior lives. I know that the Book of Mormon is a true record of people who lived here in America and contains the fullness of the Gospel. I love to read the Book of Mormon. I love how it makes me feel and I love the stories contained in it. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I'm so thankful to be a member of His church. 

Nick is home from his trip! These pics were just us messing around with the GoPro and the selfie stick.  I can't wait to go on some adventures with the GoPro! 

Link is so darn cute! Ella took all these pictures of him. Not bad photo job Ella baby! 

Mon Oct 19th

Last day of fall break. Sad. I've had so much fun with the kids just playing and playing. 

We went with the Sedas' to a fun trampoline, foam pit jumping place.  It was super fun for everyone. Nick and I got to chat with Emmanuel and Janelle and the kids got to play play play. 

Afterwards we went to the Slab for some delicious pizza. The Sedas' and Ammon came with us. The best was the Tye chicken. 

I'm going to miss Fall break,  but at least we used our time wisely for fun.