First snow!

It snowed on Friday and Saturday, and our girls couldn't wait to get outside and play. Michaela and Payden made snowmen, and Ava made snow angel after snow angel. It was nice and quiet in the house! I just loved watching them play out there. There is something nostalgic about watching your kids play in the snow.....it just screams childhood to me. Next time I will join them!

Maybe there is a self help book for this type of thing...

I have a confession to make....I don't know how this happened, but I am completely addicted to guitar hero. I'm not kidding. Jason got it for his birthday two weeks ago, and I have played it almost nightly since then. I keep waiting to lose interest in it, but I love it! What makes this so strange for me is that I am not really in to video games, usually I can take them or leave them. And when I do play them, I get tired and bored with them quickly. But every night after the kids go to bed, you can find me parked on the couch, jamming away to classic rock, for at least 20 minutes or so. Then when I go to bed, I can still see the notes coming at me! There are lots of things I could be doing instead of this, but there you have it. A guitar hero addict. A white, female, 31 year old mother of four guitar hero addict. There is something wrong with that picture.

Memories

Memories
I have seen this on others blogs, and thought I would try it. Although it may be a little premature, sine only two people routinely comment on my blog so far!
1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2.Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses.If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog then you are a party pooper...remember, every party needs one and that is why I invited you! Again...no pressure :)
This would require those of you who I hope are reading my blog but not leaving comments to actually comment. I won't name names Mandee, PJ, Jackie, Dad, Aunt Lauren, Nichelle, Lisa,ok so I will name names. Where are you guys?:)

The Things I Love About Fall

I love any changing season, but I think fall is my favorite. Here's why:

1. Buying school supplies with the kids, and needing to buy myself at least one crisp, new notebook.

2. Changing colors.

3. The smell in our house the first time the furnace comes on.

4. Hot chocolate for breakfast.

5. Jeans and favorite sweaters.

6. Having a daily routine again.

7. Crisp mornings.

8. Hot chocolate in the afternoon.

9. Baking apple pies.

10. Apple picking.

11. Picking the very best pumpkin in the field.

12. Hot chocolate while we watch tv after the kids go to bed.

13. Our annual famlily picture in the fall leaves.

14. Anticipating the upcoming holidays.

There are lots more, but this is what I can think of for now. I wanted to post a picture with this, but we haven't done our fall family picture yet. Maybe later!

The Great Outdoors

We went to Yellowstone this week, and did all the normal things, Old Faithfull, Painter pots, Lower Falls. The best part of the day, however, was when we stopped for a picnic lunch by the river. We took our time, didn't rush, and enjoyed the moment. The weather was beautiful, and the girls loved being outside and exploring. They were actually captivated by what they were sure was bear poop, but I am certain was dog poop. Either way, their imaginations were in action and we all had fun! There was a big crow or raven in the tree above us, talking to us while we ate lunch. Michaela and Payden took lots of pictures of it!
After we ate lunch, we explored some and the girls waded in the river. There were some tiny fish in there, and Payden and Michaela were trying to catch them.

The water was cold, but that didn't stop them. Even Ava put her feet in. What a nice day!

I am a little sad..........

My brother, Paul, who I call PJ, was just in town with us for a week. He has been living in Washington for the last few years, and is on his way to Tennessee. He and his wife, Jackie, are moving there so she can get her PhD. I was very sad to find out he was moving so far away, and will be there for 5 years! They will come home for holidays, and we hope to make a trip there at least once, but it is still so sad for me to have him so far away. He is my only sibling, and we are very close. Little Corrine won't really get to know him until she's 5! We will have to be very committed to correspondence; writing, pictures, web cam, and email, so we can keep in touch. During his visit, we went to Yellowstone, went on a couple of bike rides(my longest yet since the baby) and just hung out, enjoying each others company. The girls just adore their Uncle Paul and he was pulled in all directions; they all wanted to play with them at the same time! We all loved having him stay with us for a whole week. This morning when he left, there were a few tears. We will miss him and Jackie very much, and wish them well in their new adventure. Have fun guys!

Is it a Halloween decoration?

We were up at my mother's house, which is about 7 miles outside of town in the mountains, so to speak. She gets a lot of wildlife on her 3 acres, and this is no exception. Payden was playing in a room, and she came out HOLDING this, asking if it was real. Apparently, this tiny bat flew into my mom's house at some point and died there. Payden found it hanging upside down on the side of a desk! We determined the yes, the bat was very real, and very dead. Payden was immediatly instructed to wash her hands, and now Batman, as it is now named, will be making the rounds in two lucky classrooms next week. Then the girls want to bury it, next to where we buried the mole that died in our window well last year. We can't be the only family with a growing pet cemetery in their yard! It is tiny, only about 3 or 4 inches long. You can see its teeth through its lips!