October Randoms

I actually harvested something from my garden this year!!  We got one bushel of grapes so my dad came over and taught me how to bottle the juice.  I had never done it before and learned it was much more simple than I thought it was.  We got a total of 8 quarts of grape juice.  I love grape juice and can't wait to have it lining my shelves, but for now we are rationing it to last at least through the winter... maybe.

Found these two after church taking a snooze.  I'm pretty sure Tye drooled all over Nate's shirt!

Kaden brought this home from school.  I thought it was sweet to include the unknown sibling.

Halloween 2011

We started the Halloween festivities with a party at my parents house.  Most everyone dresses up, we eat yummy soups and play games with the kids.  This year the kids were:

Rachel- vampire

Kaden- ninja

Tye- Obi Wan Kanobi

Haley- fairy

Eliza- monkey

Nate and my bro-in-law had sweet costumes this year:

Donut eating contest:

Carving pumpkins at Grandpa and Nana Bishop's house:



Halloween night:

Ummm... Kaden needs to take a chill pill I think!

Tye wilted during a neighborhood chili dinner and took off his costume when we got home.  He said he didn't want to go trick-or-treating. He stayed home with me while Nate took the kids around, but he decided to go after Nate got back and I was taking them out for round two.

Eliza was a pro at trick-or-treating.  Nate said she stayed in the stroller for him, but when I took her out she wanted nothing to do with it.  She walked to each door saying "trick-or-treat" the whole way!

Crazy Hair Day

I think this was the first time my kids participated in Crazy Hair Day at school during Red Ribbon week.  Please don't judge.  I'm not very creative and I tried to do what they wanted.

Tye wanted one side up and one side down.  Easy enough.

Kaden's really just looks like half the boys at school on regular days, but he likes his hair down so this was wild and crazy for him.

Rachel's was supposed to have wires in it, but she threw a fit so she was left with floppy braids.  She had a smile on her face, though so off to school she and her brothers went.

Cheer

Rachel did a little cheer leading clinic for three weeks then she got to cheer at a few flag football games to show off the cute cheers she learned.  Lucky for me she cheered at two of Kaden's games... two birds with one stone.  She did a great job and really enjoyed it.  She's been taking gymnastics this fall, too and is really liking it.  We were having a hard time finding something she liked so I'm glad to see her having fun.  We'll see how long it lasts.  Too bad her mom isn't and never was a dancer or gymnast.  Sometimes I have no clue what to sign her up for or how to help her practice at home.

Flag Football

Kaden and Tye played flag football this fall.  It made life a bit crazy at times.  Especially since most of the games were on days Nate was gone.  Kaden was on a 3rd/4th grade team with a couple of his good buddies.  Orange Crush was their name.  They went undefeated (I think).  He LOVES it.  He's still learning the game, but did so much better this year than last.  I, of course, always missed getting pictures or videos of his awesome plays.  Figures.

Tye was on a 1st/2nd grade team.  They called themselves the Manila Vikings.  It was Tye's first year playing.  He didn't love it.  He liked it fine, but it interfered with his plans of playing with friends a bit too much.  His coach was a bit intense, too.  He expected a lot of these little boys.... sometimes it was good, but often it was just too much for them to understand and process.  Tye could handle the ball so good at practice, but not so much at the games.  I think he still did great.  He recovered all his fumbles and ran.  Only once did he run the wrong way.  The other team pulled his flag before he made it to the end zone, but as soon as he realized he had gone the wrong way he burst into tears.  Poor kid.  I think he rocked!!  He was very proud of his team's undefeated title.  I hope he'll give it another shot in a year or two.

Pinewood Derby

Kaden participated in his first Pinewood Derby.  His final placing was 11th (out of about 30 kids).  Not bad for a first timer.  His car won the sportiest car award.  He had a great time building it.  In fact, he used some of his allowance to go buy another kit to mess around with.  Great job, Kaden!

Busy Little Girl

Haley is still a busy little thing.  It has changed from pure curiousity to just wanting to do a specific thing.  Once she gets a thought to do something... she does it!  Eliza is her little shadow most of the time.  I keep reminding Haley that she needs to make good choices because Eliza watches EVERYTHING she does.  I'm not sure that really matters to her, though. :)  I guess we'll just keep working on it.

Anniversary, Florida & Other News

September 18, 1998.  Where did those 13 years go?  It seems like yesterday we were just newly weds with hardly a care in the world.  It, of course, didn't feel like that at the time, but looking back it was a very carefree time.  I remember cleaning our condo because it was Saturday, not because anything was dirty.  Nate and I worked all day or he was traveling.  Who was home to make a mess?

Our first Christmas... nice sweater, Jilleen!

13 years of marriage and it just keeps getting better and better!  I am still so incredibly grateful that Nate's motorcycle accident didn't take his life.  I still have the love of my life to share more memories with.

We didn't do much celebrating on the big day.  We went to church and had dinner with my family, but we had a Florida trip planned for a week later that was counting for it.  Although it was really a company retreat... I'll let Nate off the hook this time, but next year I might hold him to separating the two. ;)

We went to Mexico Beach, Florida again with Ryan and Shelly (sister), and Rick (brother) and Carly, September 25-29.  My mom so kindly watched my kids.  We stayed at the same little beach house we did last year.  Not much had changed.  It was not as hot and humid this time.  The first day the weather was perfect.  The second day it was sunny, but windy.  The third day it was overcast and a little rainy.  We ate lots of fresh seafood and just enjoyed relaxing.  I didn't feel very good so I can't wait to go on another trip and fully enjoy it.  I forgot my camera so I was relying on everyone else to send me pictures, but I only got my sister to send me some so far, but I am letting this blog get away from me and can't wait any longer for more pictures.... but I'd still love them... ahem.... Rick. ;)
 

Dolphins came every day.  The first morning we were there me and Shelly were out on the beach and they were surrounding the schools of fish and scaring them up out of the water.  Like 50 fish came jumping out at the same time.  It was so fun to watch.  We had no cameras with us that time, of course.

Our sweet, awesome ride.  Thought the orange was noteworthy.

 What a nerd!

Oh look!  Another nerd.

Nate and Ryan chartered a boat and went fishing the first morning we were there (Rick wasn't feeling well so he didn't go).  They had a blast.  I'm not quite sure I knew I was marrying a fisherman 13 year ago.... actually, I am quite certain I didn't.  He has all of a sudden appeared the last few years.  I think it's great.  He loves it, but doesn't take it to an extreme level.  (Which keeps his wife happy.)

In other news, there will be a special delivery to our home near April 27th!

Yes, I've been sick, but each week I can tell a slight difference.  I'm just over 13 weeks.  Heard the heartbeat the other day for the first time.  Such a great day.  Nervous? Yes.  Feeling inadequate?  Definitely!!  Excited?  Of course, and totally in love with him or her already!

Fathers and Sons Alternative

Instead of going to our ward's fathers and sons outing for various last minute reasons we had a movie night with our neighbors and the dads and kids got to sleep out in the garage/vehicles.  I slept just fine in my bed. :)