Alissa's 4th birthday

Alissa celebrated her birthday on Oct. 8. She chose to have a butterfly cake which she enjoyed decorating herself (with help). We then had a little family party where she got to open her presents and eat her beautiful butterfly cake. During the weekend, she chose to celebrate by having a special date with Mom and Dad. She wanted to have dinner with the animals at the Rainforest Cafe, where she wasnt too sure about the sparkler in her ice cream. But the birds and fishes were great! Afterwards we went to Build-a-Bear workshop, where she picked out and stuffed her new furry friend, a very cute puppy; which she named cuddles. She topped off the night with what she does best, falling asleep on the way home. It was a big success!

Pumpkin Patch Party

Zack Katelin Madison Alissa

Here we are at our ward activity at the Pumpkin Patch. We ate chili and cornbread and went on a hayride...a dark hayride, through the corn field. It was really cold, even the "Hot Cocoa", but the kids had a blast! They especially loved picking out their own pumpkins to take home. What good little Monsters!

Checking out the animals while it was still light out

Katelin & Alissa trying to keep warm

Relaxin on the hayride

Zack with his pumpkin

Our First Big News!

Well, as the start of our family blog we would like to announce the most surprising upcoming event of our life...a new baby. Thats right, baby #5 is on the way and expected to arrive mid December. Believe me, this was as big a shock for me as anyone, but after many months of thought and reflection about the whole thing, I have finally started to become more accepting and excited about welcoming another little person into our family. Katelin has taken full responsibility for this one, since she claims she "wished for it" with the blow of a dandelion. Therefore, I am putting her in charge of all the night wakings and whether she likes it or not, the dirty diapers!

So our family has been shaking things up in preparation of the big day. We have been in the process of buying beds and re-arranging bedrooms. We have been trying to figure out how to fit yet another car seat into the Montero, or be able to afford a much hesitated necessity... a van. Yes, I said it, Im giving in to the whole van way of life. Im finally tired of climbing over the seats to buckle seat belts, and trying to stuff the groceries into any available nook and cranny I can find. My convertible will just have to wait, I need more room! Zack has also surprisingly eased into staying in the toddler bed at night. He was climbing out of the crib anyway! And as always, Ryan has been on the lookout for better paying positions/jobs to be able to accomodate. So thats the biggest life changing news for us right now.

After all, doesnt everything revolve around a new baby?!

Heres a look at #5.

Madisons 9th birthday

Madison celebrated her 9th birthday by having a Hannah Montana party with her friends. They made necklaces, painted fingers and hair, and put on temporary tattoo's in preparation to 'rock the house'. Then they each took turns singing Hannah Montana songs separately, and as a group until cake time. Madison received 4 new Webkins, which she loved. I think they had a blast, and they all looked great!
Here's some pictures of the fun!

blowing the candles

The whole gang with their "rock poses"

Madi, singing Kareoke

McKenzie, Mauri, Madi & Lauren rockin it

Her favorite new Webkin

Everyone dancin to the music

Thats our boy!

Zack makes up for being the only boy, by being ALL boy! His favorites include:

Putting all the trash from the garbage can into the toilet, and taking it back out again: thus creating a soggy wet mess all over the bathroom floor.

Moving whatever object he can stand on to wherever he needs it, to climb higher and get into more fun and dangerous objects.

Dumping all his food onto the floor in an effort to save it for later.

Playing in the mud.

Getting thrown as high as he can, especially during trampoline time with Daddy.

Writing on the couch and walls with markers, crayon or pen.

Eating cat food, and making it mushy by putting it into water.

Hiding behind curtains, and under blankets.

Taking off all the heater vent covers and dropping other objects down the vents.

Yard work; including mowing the lawn with Dad, shoveling dirt (with a taste here and there), raking, and squishing bugs.

Pulling out all the pots and pans and pretending to cook and make noise by banging on them.

Recently, aside from catching him on the counter with a knife in each hand; he was found with an open bottle of red food coloring. It looked liked he had been tasting it, and also practicing his fingerpainting on the kitchen floor (thank goodness it wasnt on the carpet this time)! Its a good thing I found him with the bottle or I might have called 911, since it looked like he was covered in blood!

Heres some pictures after I cleaned up most of the food coloring. Hes pretty proud of himself!

First Day of School

The girls started 1st and 3rd grade on Sept. 2. They had what they wanted to wear picked out a week in advance and they both had to have ribbons in their hair. They came home happy that day with lots to tell us, and Alissa surprised them with cupcakes. Here are a few of the poses that Daddy took of them.