Weekends.

We've been busy the last few weekends doing amazing things.

But before I get to that, I forgot to post these pictures a while back. It was on the day the boys went to Patrick's clinic so they could watch the BYU football game. All three of these boys have my whole heart.

Oh, and on the day Maylie had such a high fever, her little "Baby Whisper" laid with her all day. It was very sweet.

This kitten cracks me up every day. He chases Flashlight around the house and she hisses at him and paws at him then takes off running since she's so scared. But it doesn't faze him...he's off again, chasing after her tail the second she starts running. And one day I even found him here:

Easton's been my handsome boy all grown-up lately:

A few Saturdays ago Patrick had an all-day conference to attend, so the littles and I made a list of all the fun things we were going to do. We had a dance party, played outside, played monsters just like Nana and Papa did with them, played a few rounds of Spot It Jr. and Fairy Tales Tell Tales, and finished the evening watching a movie. I absolutely LOVE being a mother. It is the best job in the whole entire universe!!!

Last weekend we made applesauce all by ourselves for the first time ever. We bottled 2 bushels.

The next morning we traveled down to Grandpa and Grandma's house for a little girl's tea party. Grandma put on such a cute little party for the girls. We had lunch with Colbie's tea set and then we made hair bows and ribbons. After the party Mom helped me make stockings--or should I say she practically made them? Sewing is not my favorite thing to do nor is it my forte. But I love how they turned out! I will post pictures when I finish them.

Then yesterday we had a super spectacular family day.

We went out to lunch at Winger's and our waiter was being so sweet to our kids. When we were leaving all the kids said goodbye and Maylie told him she loved him. I think it made his whole day.

After that we went to "Meet the Mormons." I've already been once with the Young Women's so I really wanted to take my family to see it too. Maylie was a little wiggly, but all in all she was very good. During the missionary mom story, I was crying. I looked over at Easton who was sitting beside me and saw little tears in his eyes. I leaned over and whispered in his ear how much I loved him and how much I will miss him someday when he leaves on his mission. He told me he loves me too and gave me such a sincere smile. In my eyes he is the best 7 year old there ever was. I can't really think about what I will do when he leaves on his mission. These years are just so precious....

After the movie we went to a local corn maze and weaved around and around until we finally found our way. We dropped sunflower seeds just like my family did when we were little--so we could leave a trail of where we'd been.

We finished just before dark. It was a fully and satisfyingly wondrous day. 

I can't even express how much I love my family and how much I cherish the memories we make together. Life couldn't be any sweeter...

This Week.

Pumpkins, field trips, rocket launches--this October has been wondrous for me.

Monday was the school rocket launch. While the boys waited in line, Maylie and I played on the playground. She slid down the slides and we made a little restaurant counter where we ordered hamburgers and ice cream. A few other little girls decided to join our fun.

The boys' rocket is the 3rd from the right. Tate's was destroyed as we were making it so they had to share Easton's. It went several hundred feet in the air and parachuted down slowly. We followed it across the field and into a neighborhood but lost track of it as it disappeared behind a rooftop. We spent the next half hour wandering the neighborhood with other children who had lost theirs and never found it. Easton was sad so we continue to check the office every day for any rockets that have been found.

Tuesday we went down to Perry to pick up our last CSA share. We received a half bushel of apples and potatoes and onions and peppers. It was a nice drive. We all picked out our pumpkins that evening as well.

Easton has especially enjoyed our Halloween countdown and likes to update it for me daily. Maylie asks nearly every day if it is Halloween yet so she can wear her Cinderella costume. We're getting so excited!

On Friday I was privileged to go to Easton's field trip to Hill Air Force Base. I had these four cute boys in my group. I honestly have never had more fun on a field trip in my life! They were all so sweet and fun to be around. I was especially grateful I was with boys for this particular field trip. I didn't have to fuel their excitement in the slightest. They loved every minute of every helicopter, B-17, cannon, and machine gun.

They each made their own rocket and launched them.

They also decided they needed at least a hundred pictures by the planes doing cool poses.

While we were gone, my sweet mother came to watch Tate and Maylie. She brought over her new "Magformers." These magnetic blocks entertained for hours. We were both astounded at the creativity the boys demonstrated in building unique structures. The extent of my building skills was constructing a tiny pyramid. I should have taken more pictures of their unique and amazing creations!

Whisper.

This is our new playmate. He is adorable, soft, and the sweetest thing ever.

I realized the other night as we were eating dinner that we have 1 dog, 2 cats, and 3 children. My hands are full...of blessings, that is. We are loving our life together.

Life is so wonderful. I couldn't ask for it to be any better.