Gobble Gobble!

Happy Thanksgiving! We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We have had such a fun week here at our house! Grandpa and Grandma Monson and Uncles Jon and Dave came and we have had a blast! Thanksgiving was delicious. My Mom and I spent a lot of time in the kitchen getting the dinner ready and it was great to learn from her how she makes all the traditional Turkey day meals. The boys have LOVED all the attention, and have had plenty of spoiling! There have been lots of games played, trips to the park, late night movies, lots of wrestling and a trip to an old western town with a stunt show and a yummy cowboy dinner. Grandma and Grandpa bought a early Christmas present for Thatcher and Taggy, it is a mini-jumping castle for the backyard! (Thanks Mom and Dad!) They LOVE it. It is so fun to watch them bouncing all over the place. The other night I was severely out numbered as the testosterone took over and all the 'boys' had a wrestling match in the living room. I will say that I beat my 16 year-old-football-playing brother at a arm wrestling match...looks like carrying 25 lbs. babies around all day does pay off! It has been such a fun little vacation and it will be hard to get back on schedule next week, good thing will still have two more days to spend playing and enjoying every ones company! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for all the fun! It has been a blast!

Thankful Tom

It was a tradition in my family to make a shoe box turkey (called Thankful Tom) and 'stuff' him with little notes of what we were thankful for. Then at Thanksgiving dinner my Dad would read all the notes and we would guess who wrote them. It was a fun tradition. Well last night for FHE we had a little lesson about being thankful and then made our Thankful Tom. Thatcher has been having a hard time letting go of the whole Halloween concept, so I have been talking about turkeys a lot lately, but I don't think he knew what a turkey looked like until last night! He now is going around saying, 'ahhhh scary turkey!'...I keep having to remind him that turkeys are not scary and Halloween is over! I told him that turkeys are not scary, they are funny...which he replied, 'no mommy, turkeys are not funny.' Alright, I stand corrected. We are excited to stuff Thankful Tom with all things we are grateful for!


Thatcher having a 'gobbly' time!


Todd helping Thatcher color a picture of what he is thankful for...


The finished product.

You know you are too young to get married when...

...the groom suggests to do this...

Hillarious Videos....

For all you moms out there who have Nick Jr. as part of your day....this is for you...


You know you are LDS when...

This is Halloween, This is Halloween!!!

We had a great Halloween! This year was so fun because Thatcher understood what was going on. All I have heard for the past couple weeks is 'I want Halloween!'. He was VERY into all the decorations and kept asking me about 'scary pumpkins' and 'ghosts' and 'witches'. He was so excited to carve jack-o-lanterns! It was really cute. This year Thatcher and Taggart went as Nemo and Squirt (the turtle) from Finding Nemo (one of Thatcher's favorites). I know I am a little bias, but they were so cute. Our Halloween festivities started Tuesday with playgroup at Lacey's house. The kids all dressed in their costumes and went trick-or-treating inside to various doors where the moms were behind passing out candy. On Halloween we went to Story Time at the library where all the kids were in costume and then had a little parade and party. Last night Thatcher was SO excited for trick-or-treating and had a lot of fun getting candy. Taggy was really good the whole time, just hanging out in the stroller (he was probably wondering what the heck was going on!). It was a fun filled day! Our ward Halloween party isn't until tomorrow night...so Halloween isn't even over for us! Thatcher is so happy!

This video isn't great quality, but it is really cute.

Pie Social

For Elders Quorum Todd had decided to throw a Pie Social at our home every month for the new members of the Elders Quorum and for any others who want to attend. We did it for the first time on Friday night and it went really well. We had some new couples as well as old over and had a good time getting to know each other better and of course eating pie! I really do love our ward!


The spread...


Todd and Chris happy about eating pie!


Sara and baby Kyle...all the little babies were sleeping.


Sharla and her new little guy Tanner...


It seems like just a couple years ago parties were all about mingling with the opposite sex, now after being married for a few years we are back to middle school mentality, boys on one side...girls on the other!






The kids playing in the playroom

Stake BBQ

Every Fall our Stake throws a big family bbq. It was really fun! They had jumping castles and games for the kids, yummy food and it was a big hit. Thatcher wasn't feeling too well so he slept most of the time in the stroller, but Taggy loved it!


Todd carrying the two boys.


Thatcher and Lacey.


Thirsty kids...


Todd and Taggy.


Cute little Taggy...such a smug look.




Taggy in the jumping castle.


Taggy LOVED the sand box!




Poor sick Thatcher. He wasn't feeling very well.

Brotherly Love

Thatcher feeding Taggy some cheese cake. Don't ask me why both of my boys love to run around the house shirtless.

Happy Anniversary!

Okay so it isn't our Anniversary, but it is a special date that we always remember. This day six years ago Todd and I both entered the MTC. I loved my mission and it was really the jumping board of everything good in my life, so I consider this date very special. Also, I met Todd that day, who I then called Anziano Bishop. Not every wife is lucky enough to be able to say that she watched her husband grow from an slightly awkward boy to a diligent dynamic missionary. But I did. I am so grateful that I am able to share the memories of this most special part of my life with Todd. I am so grateful that I met him and eventually fell in love with him. He is a great man, and I am honored to be his wife. That day I also met a friend who I just love, Jill Carter Hollyoak. Sorella Carter and I became instant friends. We went to different missions in Italy, but we wrote each other often and I was so grateful for her support. She is truly my kindred spirit and I love her very much. I know we will be friends forever. Auguri per sei anni! Sono grato per voi nella mia vita. L'amerò per l'eternità!

"I've just wasted 5 minutes of my life"

Once I wasted 5 minutes of my life watching Space Jam. Just a second ago I wasted 5 minutes of my life taking this "who are you more like" quiz from The Hills. Two things here...1) I love the Hills (yes I am 27 and still love teeny bopper reality shows about rich snobby girls who live in LA and have a ridiculous lives) and B) I am so glad I turned out to be Lauren, and not Heidi-who is crazy and dating crazy possessive Spencer who sometimes really scares me. Or Audrina who is a little strange and is also dating someone who really scares me, Justin Bobby...who I also love just because he gives me so much material to make fun of. If you also want to waste 5 minutes of your life go here...let me know who YOU are.

You know you have too many kids when...

...you have to get one of these. Okay I am just teasing. But c'mon now. A TRIPLE jogging stroller? Wow. I didn't know they made these. Until this morning. I was out on a walk with the kiddos and I saw a lady turn the corner with one of these bad boys. After my jaw dropped and I quickly got off the sidewalk for this beast to pass, I started thinking...

First of all I applaud the person who thought of making a triple jogging stroller. They are probably making bank on Mormon moms who have three under three. But why should people who have triplets or a single and twins be excluded from the wonderful world of the stroller.


I always tell people the best purchase we made for our kids was our double stroller. I LOVE this thing. If you have two itty bitties , or you will have them...you better get yourself one of these. It is a great sturdy stroller that has tied down my rambumcious little 2 year old and my 1 year old while I have done multiple activities that I know I couldn't do without it. I take this puppy to the mall and strap the boys in. Target trips could not happen without the double. How am I suppose to keep Thatcher in the back of a shopping cart sitting down? No. Doesn't work. Just the other day I took the boys to the park and let them play and play and play. It was a little warm outside and when we got to Michaels and I strapped them in the double stroller they fell right to sleep. I enjoyed strolling down those isles for an hour and a half while they took their naps. Going for walks are a must to get out of the house to get some fresh air, not to mention exercise. Got to love it.

So this post is dedicated to that person who invented the double, and triple stroller. To give Moms the ability to do errands, shop, and get exercise while their little ones are little.

Blog Stalkers

Lately there have been a lot of posts on peoples blogs about "blog stalkers". I guess the definition of a blog stalker is someone who reads another persons blog without really knowing that person. I will admit, I am a blog stalker. I like to "blog surf" as I call it, going from a friends blog to a link on their blog and so on and so on. Sometimes I get so far into the blogging hole that I have to click the back arrow almost 10 or 15 times to get back to my own blog!

So I am calling out all the blog stalkers of my blog. I know you are there. Come out come out wherever you are! I dare you to leave a comment and let me know who you are. Just for fun. Or if you come to my blog a lot or just don't leave comments...leave some! That is the dare for today...expose yourselves blog stalkers!

Family Sleep Over!

Sticker Time

Ever since Thatcher was little I would put stickers all over his face. So now he obviously thinks this is normal behavior. I can't wait to see him in kindergarten putting tape and stickers all over his face. Poor kid.

Thatcher's New Toy

Thatcher's new favorite thing to do is take pictures with our digital camera. He loves to take it around and take pictures of Rorey, Taggy, and his toys. He always says, "let me see!" after I take a picture.


Rorey...taken by Thatcher.

I Love That Dirty Water...

So it is fall. I am reminded of this only by the date. October 10 (It is also double Ten day, lucky day, if you are Chinese or have any Chinese connection...it is also the date that I want to have a child in the future 10/10/10...wouldn't that be a cool birthday?) Anyway...I hate to admit this but I do miss the seasons. It is still hot here, even though the mornings and evenings are getting cooler. I feel like I should be making pumpkin bread, and breaking out my sweaters, and decorating with pumpkins and corn stalks, but technically if I wanted I could still go to the pool everyday.

I found the above picture online and it made me miss fall in New England. I don't think there is another place on earth that has more stunning fall colors. I love the falls there. And summers there. And springs. And winters...basically I guess after all this time I am finally admitting that I really love New England. I want to move to BOSTON! Boston is so homey feeling to me. As most of you know Todd applied to MIT for this upcoming June and if we get in we will be moving all the way across the country to Boston. We are keeping our fingers crossed. I want my boys to see and play in the snow. I want to go running in the crisp fall air. I want to eat cannoli and walk down the south end. I want to go to a Red Sox game. I want to see people who knew me when I was 14. It would be like going home. When Todd married me, he asked me if I was attached to New England...I told him that I didn't' have any attachment there, it was just a place that I lived for six years. I guess I am realizing now...I lied.

Paul Potts

I just heard this story today and when I heard him sing the first time it literally gave me chills! What a fantastic story!

The Next Best Thing Since Sherri Dew!

I have heard that a lot of women didn't appreciate (and that is putting it mildly) Sister Beck's talk...see for yourself. To listen to the talk go here
So after hearing this you know I've gots to put in my 2 cents and stand up for Sister Beck!

I LOVED Sister Beck's talk. I thought it really hit home. I loved her theme of "mother's who know". I think she stood up for the LDS mother. She stood up for having children (and yes dare I say it? not postponing them after marriage). She stood up for nurturing and as she says nurturing is another word for homemaking (gasp!). She says that as women "who know" we should make sure that our homes and family are clean, presentable, and orderly. She said that LDS women should be the best homemakers in the world. She said by doing this we will create a climate for spiritual growth. She said that women should pattern their homes after the temple. She goes on to say that mothers who know are leaders, they teach their children any way they can. They prepare their children to be missionaries. They do less...they choose carefully where they want their time and attention. She says we cannot have it all. She tells us that we will raise the generation that will take the gospel to all the world. She says that the LDS women should EXCEL at all these things.

Well...after this talk and all of the responses I salute Sister Beck. I am not the best homemaker around. I dread cleaning bathrooms, and doing the laundry. But even when I don't want to, I do it. Not for me but because I love my family enough to hopefully make our home a place where the spirit resides and feels comfortable to be in. I have been taught by goodly parents that a clean home is a godly home. In a world where housework is made out to be degrading Sister Beck stood up for homemakers. As I have been cleaning my home and taking care of the physical needs of my family I have often felt the spirit confirm to me that what I was doing was noble and good. I have felt the approving love of our Heavenly Father as I have labored to be a homemaker. In a world where women claim that they are "just a housewife" I have confidence and know that I am doing what my Father in Heaven wants me to do. I have often felt that more then anything my goal was to raise righteous missionaries. I want my sons and daughters to serve worthy missions to help bring the gospel to all the world and to help them set a wonderful foundation for their own lives. There are things that I took from her talk that I know I need to do better at. I was reminded of my purpose and my goals and have since set more goals to be a better mother. I want to be a mother who knows.

I thank Sister Beck for giving such a great talk. For helping me know what I should be doing better. More importantly, Sister Beck is called of God. She is God's choice for the Relief Society General President and I have full confidence that she speaks inspired words. I have a testimony of a living prophet who receives revelation, so therefore I know Sister Beck is what we need at this time to give us the women of the church, advice and councel.

We had a great General Conference weekend! I absolutely love this time of year when we are together as a family, watching General Conference. Like Todd said yesterday, there is just a nice feeling during this first weekend in October and April. Conference was so good. I loved hearing all the talks and hearing all the advice and support. I loved Elder Hollands, Nelson's, Oaks and Bednard talks as well. They were all so good. I really loved how all the talks "laid it out there" this conference. They certainly didn't beat around the bush! I know I have gone out on my soap box but I have always felt a strong desire to stand up for what I think is right. What a nice weekend...I look forward to getting our Ensign so I can study these talks more in depth.

Story Time

Today we went to the Library for Story Time. It was really really cute. They read books, play little games with bean bags, and sing songs. At first Thatcher was pretty shy, I was surprised. But after he saw all the kids really getting into it, he did too! He LOVED it. I think we will make this a weekly tradition. After we went to the ward playgroup at the park. Nothing like an event filled day to put two happy boys to sleep for long naps...and that makes for one happy mommy!


Thatcher loved the bean bag time!


Kyra, Lacey and Thatcher playing with the bean bags.


All the kiddos listening to the story.


Taggy (I know, I know I am going to break him of the binkie by 18 months...) playing at Story Time.


Thatcher and Lacey coloring their little duckies

Being a Mom...

Even though I haven't said all of these things yet...I can relate.