Halloween!!

Carving the pumpkin...

Costumes:
Stinger Bee and Mario



BOO!
Trunk-or-Treat, Friday night at the Church...
Brinley the Lady Bug!

i LOVE fall in Virginia!

a couple weeks ago, before the leaves really started to change... i was thinking about my favorite 'fall' sights... and i got to thinking about how much i LOVED watching the Aspen trees in Utah... change to YELLOW... and it got a me a little 'home sick'.... I believe this was Heavenly Father's way of tell me he's aware of me... because this beautiful tree is in my back yard!!! (it's not an aspen,) but it's such a beautiful sight to behold... and a total surprise... being our first FALL in this home!!
Nothing i LOVE more than taking walks or going for a run on a BEAUTIFUL fall day... This tree was along our path...

It's MARIO time...

Fall Fun

Will's buddy Jacob let him borrow this sweet Excavator last week... he had a good time picking up acorns and dirt...



Brinley enjoying Will's tricycle...


Clair, Sydney and Caitlin: BFF!

Stinger Bee Goes to School!

Happy Halloween!

Quick and EASY Tortilla Soup

This is one of those last minute soups that taste like you've been slaving away in the kitchen all day long! It's one of my favorite cold wintery weather dinners!! Start by picking up all these canned ingredients and just have them on hand 'for a rainy day'.

Ingredients:

• 1 roasted chicken, (like the one from Costco or Sam's Club.) or Shredded or 2-3 chicken breasts cooked and shredded. (I like the roasted chicken flavor best, and it's SO easy, bring home and shred!)
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 8 oz package cream cheese*
• 1 can whole kernel corn, drained
• I can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 4-5 green onions, chopped
• Fresh cilantro leaves, chopped (to taste)
• Tomatoes, Chopped (I like chopped canned tomatoes)
• 2 teaspoons Cumin

Directions:

Heat chicken broth, cream of chicken soup and cream cheese in a large pot. Stir with wire whisk until smooth. Add chicken and all remaining ingredients. Heat through and serve with cheese, avocado, salsa, chips, or whatever you like!

*Note- if you don't like creamy soups, leave out cream cheese and this is still a delicious soup!

Good News....

We got a new camera! It's been nice to be able to take pictures again! and good thing, FALL is her in VA and it's AMAZING!! We settled on this cutie:

And... here's your joke of the day...

How do Camera companies make money??

A: They sell cameras to people who have kids... (yeah, it was funnier when Justin said it!)

and why do i feel like I've already written this blog post... Ohh, because i have. Click HERE

So, you probably wondering... After 3 or so weeks of not having a camera what's the first thing you take a picture of??

My handsome husband.... yah! BrUsh ThoSe TeEth Baby!
On Sunday we had the kids Primary Program... my MOST favorite Sunday of the year!! My friend who's the primary chorister, asked me and another mother to sing a song to start off the program, (Janice Kapp Perry's "Remember the Children".) While we sang the children walked in from the primary room to their seats up front... It was really sweet how reverent they were and you just couldn't help but feel the spirit! They 4 year old sunbeams are always halarious to watch... because they are so wiggely. and Will's teacher had her work cut our for her... but i can't tell you how sweet it was to have will stand and sing the final song... "I Know That My Savior Loves Me" at the top of his lungs. I was in bawling-my-eyes-out-city! I tell you Folks... there is nothing MORE satisfying than parenthood!! Love my little babies!
Here's a pic from the Saturday's practice...


I almost forgot to mention the kids parts in the program:

Will class told ways in witch they knew Jesus loved them...

Will's resonse: "Because he gave me Chicken Nuggets and Flowers"

Caitlin's class told in ways they could follow Jesus' example...

She said she will "Be Honest!"

Fun with Grammy!

Last week when my parents were here the kids did a lot of fun things with Grammy! She helped Caitlin with here homework every day by reading her lots of books!

They played ball together!
Watched movies together... we rented "How to Train Your Dragon!"
We painted spooky Halloween things...
Caitlin's creations:
Will's creations:
We also painted these cute bird houses...
Will and Mommy's, Grammy's (for Brinley) and Caitlin's
We decorated cupcakes for Sunday dinner!
Monday we went to the pumpkin patch to get some pumpkins!!

Then we painted them!!
Here are Grammy's:
Will and Caitlin's painted pumpkins...
We had so much fun... We LOVE you GRAMMY AND PAPA!