THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE!!!!!!!

My visiting teachers brought me these cute pumpkin cupcakes the other night. They have this very, very fine glitter on them and I LOVED how sparkly they were (not to mention delicious!) I just wanted to share. Thanks Jennifer and Lisa!

LOSER MOM FORGETS CAMERA....NEWS AT 11:00

Ok, it's bound to happen occasionally.....but me.....REALLY?!? I was so excited for Asher's green belt testing last Friday. Problem: Couldn't find my camera! What was I to do? I had a picture and video of every breaking technique so far. I couldn't stand the idea that I would mess up so soon.....so I brought the camera to the next class. And then asked Instructor CJ if he wouldn't mind posing for a picture and if he wouldn't mind recreating Asher's breaking technique as well. Now, imagine yourself as a 10 year-old boy.............I know EMBARRASSING!!!!!!!!!!! Well, that was his reaction....but Mom got her way (big shock). So please enjoy the reenactment of Asher breaking his board (notice: 10 year-olds get a thicker board!).

WARNING: THIS IS ONLY A REENACTMENT!!!!

THE "YLER" BOYS

Kyler's best friend, Kevin, shares a birthday with Asher. At one point in Kevin's party they were playing HULK, HULK, SMASH! (duck, duck, goose converted to fit a Hulk party) and I looked over at Kyler and saw this. The "yler" boys - Skyler, Tyler and Kyler!

WHAT AM I TEACHING MY 10 YEAR OLD!

Asher's 10th Birthday!!! We always let the kids choose what food they would like for the day. Asher wanted to eat at IHOP (a Stock Family Favorite). Mita, Tony, Asher, Kyler and myself went to IHOP for lunch to eat breakfast....got it. Only problem...after a 2 1/2 week fall break, school had started that day. Asher and Colton have never spent their birthday at school before, and Asher certainly didn't want to start now. So we let him ditch and have fun with Kyler (I'm sure that the fact that Colton still had to go to school didn't influence Asher's choice to stay home!) Happy 10th Birthday Asher!

FRIDAY MORNING CONVERSATION

Kyler and Tony are the only ones awake when Kyler starts the conversation:

Kyler: "I know why I'm in this family"

Tony: "Why?"

Kyler: "Because Mom really, REALLY wanted me"

Tony: "She did! When she told me we had a chance to get a Kyler I said SIGN ME UP!"

Kyler: "And when I was born I saw you and said - Hey Dad! and you said - WHOA!.............He knows my name! and I said - I knowed because I was supposed to be in this family!"

CONFERENCE WEEKEND

I had a crazy idea this weekend.....I decided that all of my children could be present (in the family room) during ALL four sessions of conference. I had my conference packets printed out for everyone (Colton was offended) and they could be on the carpet or at the table. I wasn't forcing them to watch, just be in the same room with me as I watched. Can we all guess what happened?!? I got about as much out of Conference as I do in Sacrament Meeting! I couldn't tell you ANY detail with either Sunday session. Just trying to keep them quiet took all of my energy! (Notice I included the picture of Colton and Asher "watching" conference....Colton's even taking notes......this was a fleeting moment Kyler did enjoy coloring the ties of the general authorities. Well, Mita did what she does best....SLEPT ON THE COUCH!) The priesthood session was the best.....Colton and Tony were gone and I took Asher and Kyler and a couple of friends to meet more friends at the park. No complaints!!! The weekend wasn't a total bust though....we had yummy food the whole weekend - including the muddy buddies that Colton helped make - and Asher, Kyler and Tony got the winter lawn in between Saturday sessions! I can't wait to see that beautiful green carpet in the front and back yards soon. Sunday evening we visited with lots of family at Uncle Chris' and then a fried turkey dinner with friends. Now, back to the drawing board......how to keep three kids quiet and get the most out of conference in April......IDEAS?????