Leaf Peeping Pics

I realize that it's now December, and Christmas is just around the corner.....I'm just a bit behind on my blogging. I know no one likes excuses, but seriously, I had swine flu for the first 2 and a half weeks of November, and now I'm finally better and still playing catch up! So, here are a few of our family leaf peeping pics from October! (Where has the time gone!)

I absolutely LOVE fall in Connecticut! It's totally worth living in New England, just to experience the gorgeous fall colors and fall events each year. Leaf peeping, pumpkin putches, fall carnivals, apple picking etc. Oh, the simple beauties of Connecticut!

Halloween

Clara wore her super cute Halloween dress to school this week. She looked adorable and was a big hit in her class!

Clara as Snow White - marching in the Kindergarten Halloween parade!

Family pumpkin time - carving our jack-o-lantern. The only requirement was that everyone had to put their hand in the pumpkin to touch the goo. James loved it!

This pic is turned side ways (and I don't know how to fix it). Anyway, we hosted a little Halloween party on Halloween night, complete with spooky food. Here are the "mummy dogs".

This was probably the favorite..."Bones and Blood". The kids thought it was great!

Our last spooky main dish was "Mummy pizza's".

All the kids ready to go trick-or-treating! What a cute group!

The morning after trick-or-treating! Clara put her candy in piles and then pretended to open a candy store, selling each piece for $3......what a business women!


Emi organized and counted all of her candy. The winner candy was 15 packages of whoppers!

James put his candy into rows (like a parking lot). Gee, playing with all of this candy is soo much fun!

Super!

"Super Girl" and "Super Boy" to the resue!

Conference!

About mid August, I recieved a phone call from my Mom. She informed me that she had just been asked to speak in the October General Conference! Of course I couldn't miss it! Jim and I talked it over and decided that just I should go, since our entire family had attended the previous two conferences. He graciously volunteered to man the home front while I went off to Utah for the weekend.


Now here's where things get interesting! Just two days before I was to leave for UT, my Grandpa called and informed me that he had business in the east the following weekend....so why don't I just stay in Utah for an extra couple of days after conference and then return to the east coast with he and my grandma? "What a fabulous idea!" said I. And a glorious nine day trip was born! Poor Jim was now tied into being Mr. Mom for a much longer time. Nine days of tending the kids is at least six months in what he and his friend termed "Dad years".

This pic is out of order....for some reason I can't get it to move to the bottom of the page! Whenever my Grandpa comes to CT to visit us, he stays in a specific Marriott hotel. He stays there because he knows how much my kids LOVE to go swimming at the pool when he comes! He is an amazing Grandpa!

My Grandpa had church business in Nauvoo, Kirtland and in New England. This was our first stop, the Nauvoo temple. Absolutely beautiful! I have never seen such exquisite beauty! It was such a privilage and blessing to tour the temple. I absolutely loved it! To think of the extreme sacrifices of the pioneers who built and left this beautiful temple is truly humbling. I am grateful for the legacy and example they left for us!

Outside the Nauvoo temple. It was cold and clear...a beautiful autumn evening in Nauvoo. We attended several missionary meetings and then a cultural performance that night. It was great!

The next morning it was on to Kirtland. We toured the Kirtland temple, the Whitney store, the school of the prophets and other various sites. Then a meeting with the missionaries. Next, on to CT. We spent the evening at the hotel enjoying swimming (see above pic) and being with Grandpa and Grandma.

At home after church, posing with Grandma Ann. Grandma and Grandpa could only stay in CT for less than a day because Grandpa had a funeral to speak at and more scouting meetings to attend! But we gladly took advantage of every minute we were together!

James and Grandpa! The kids love their grandpa so much! Grandpa brought the kids our favorite treat.....Cummings chocolates. They loved talking with him, singing with him and looking at Chicken Calendars with him! What a wonderful visit!

Bosotn

A couple of weeks ago we enjoyed a great Saturday in Boston. It was ward temple day, and the youth of the ward volunteered to babysit younger children at a nearby stake center so that parents could attend a session. What a wonderful act of service! It was neat to have Emi, Clara and James prepare and drive the two hours to the temple with us. Usually they're home with a babysitter, so this was a welcome change. They had a great time....and so did Jim and I! After our session, we enjoyed walking around the temple grounds and admiring the temple.

After spending the morning at the temple, we took the kids to the Boston American Girl store!

Emi and Clara were sooo excited! They dressed their dolls special, just for the occasion. They loved everything in the store (it was really neat!). Every girl's and mom's dream store! Even Jim and James enjoyed it!

Emi and Clara were thrilled with their purchases. Glasses for their dolls and trading cards for themselves.....plus they enjoyed making their Christmas lists! :)

After shopping, on to the Cheesecake factory! Jim and I have a tradition of always going out to eat at the Cheesecake factory after we attend the temple. The kids loved eating out and Emi and Clara thought it was extra special to bring their American Girl dolls to the restaurant!

"Big Boy"

The other day, James said to me "Yesterday I was small, but today I am a big boy!"

Another James moment this week:

We had just gotten back from a bike ride, and I said to James "Good job riding your bike, James!" and he replied:

"Yes, I exercise. I am getting BIG muscles!"

Sometimes they say the cutest things!

Back to School

The kids have actually been back in school for two weeks....but quite honestly it's been a very difficult two weeks! So, now I'm finally getting around to posting about school.

Clara absolutely LOVES Kindergarten! She has a wonderful teacher and has already made some new friends in her class. She is thrilled with her Princess backpack and loves to choose her outfit and accessories before school each day. She goes in the afternoon and James is really sad when the bus comes and picks her up for school. Every day I have to explain that he cannot ride the bus until he is five!

Emi coming off the bus on the first day of school. It is hard to believe that she's in third grade! She loves it!

At the bus stop after the first day of school. Everyone has a happy face.....that's a good sign for a great school year!