Happy Birthday Ryan!

Yesterday was Ryan's Birthday #8! I think he had a really great day. We had treats at school and went out to dinner for pizza. I had forgotten how exciting it was to play "heads-up-seven-up" as a 2nd grader. It is hard to believe that he is already eight-years-old. He sure has grown up to be a kind, fun, hard-working, loves playing, loves football, silly sense of humor, and loving kid. Life would just not be the same with out him. We are lucky to have him.

We love Aunt Kallee & Aunt Ashley!

My boys have the best aunts. They are fun, kind, loving, usually gift-bearing, and go out of their way to come and visit as much as possible. Thank you Kallee & Ashley. We love you guys!

Go Boise State Broncos!

Last Saturday, we all bundled up and headed out for the Boise State Football Game. True to themselves: Shawn went early, Ryan did not want to leave, Alex begged to leave after the first quarter and then counted down the minutes until half-time, and Nick clapped and cheered whenever the people around him clapped and cheered. It was a cold day, but luckily no rain drops fell. As for the forehead tattoos - Ryan wanted to wear a Bronco tattoo and he put it on his forehead. Once Nick saw that Ryan had that on his forehead, he also wanted one. He LOVES Ryan. Go Broncos!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! We had been anticipating Halloween for a long time for two reasons: 1) Mario & Luigi an d 2) Kallee & Ashley.

Kallee & Ashley flew in on Thursday night for a visit. The boys were so excited! I even let them wake up the aunts before we left for school on Friday morning. My mom & dad also took the day off from work and came up for the day on Friday. It was also Ashley's Birthday and we went out to lunch together before preparing for a fun night of trick-or-treating.

Ryan and Alex were super-excited because they were planning on dressing up as Mario & Luigi. This provided a bit of a challenge for me as their mom because I have always been of the thought that "buying is better". (that belief has been reinforced after the hectic days of trying to "make" a costume). However, their costumes turned out great. Kallee furnished the moustaches as the final touch. Nick was a traditional pumpkin and he loved his costume. He has worn it frequently around the house since we brought it home a few weeks ago. Being born on Halloween, Ashley couldn't resist the temptation to dress up and made a great she-devil. Once we were all dressed, we headed out around the neighboorhood. Nick lasted to the first house only. He got scared once a stranger opened the door, ran back down the driveway, and wanted to go home. Ryan & Alex trick-or-treated until their buckets were full and their feet were tired. It was a very fun Halloween night.

99 THINGS

99 Things

*Copy and paste this post into your blog. Then highlight the things that you have done and de-highlight the things that you haven't.*

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (side note: very embarrasing moment from college!)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee