More Fall updates 2010

The kids really enjoyed riding in the lawn mower wagon this summer. Each time we started to mow our field they were in the wagon. A few times they had snacks, sometimes they took naps but most the time they just squinted their eyes so avoid the dust. We went on a little drive up the mountains and saw down into the copper mine. It was an incredible view, and I am grateful we all made it back into the car safely. And last is Sabrina at the Great Salty Lake.

Erda has beautiful sunsets. This one topped them all this summer. Sabrina finally was very successful in getting potty trained. So in our family it is a huge deal, so we had a pooping party. The cake was very tippsy, but she loved it anyway. Our biggest accomplishment this summer was growing a garden. We grew tomatoes, carrots, squash- that produced for nearly 4 months,green peppers, a handful of peas,corn on the cob, and pumpkins. It was a enjoyable for the whole family especially come harvest time and the kids would pick the veggies and say, "look what we found".

More photos

These are pictures of Ike and Autumn just loving one another. They are the best of friends. Ike at the Great Salt Lake, and his first day of First Grade. My cute girls dressing up... still a daily affair. The last is one of Ike's great cousins Katie who we live next door to. They play together every chance they get.

More updates

So these pictures are in random order as well. We have spent a little time getting to know the great Tooele valley while living here. When we first arrived Isaac decided that cowboys were in style. He even made up a cute song and played his guitar to anyone who would listen. We visited the Great Salt Lake one afternoon. It was salty to say the least but they kids loved it, and even attempted to swim in it. And we visited the Tooele Valley Railroad. The kids enjoyed seeing the trains and learning a little bit about the Tooele Valley from the sweet lady who was our guide.

Updates

It has been a while since I updated and with day light savings today, I was afforded an extra hour. So here are a bunch of photos from the past six months in somewhat of an order, hopefully I will do better the next six months. We have had a great summer and are now well into fall and enjoying it.

This is from our camping trip on the 4th of July. We celebrated by going to the Provo parade with cousins and then went camping. It was a blast. The kids were tired just after the parade, but perked up when we set up the tent.


Early in the summer we also went hiking with Grandma and Grandpa Huff, Aunt Stacy, Uncle Kurt and Aunt Kristie. It was a short hike so it was perfect for the kids.

Grateful for Change

So I have been meaning to update our blog for sometime. Okay for about 4 months, but we have been busy. As you have noticed our blog look as changed. So has our life. This is an update, my next posting when I get all of my pictures downloaded will be updated with pictures. But as for now, you should know we live in Erda, Utah as of about three weeks ago. We sold our gym in Seattle, and we left the apartment management job (yeah!). We miss all of our wonderful friends and "family" who live in Seattle but are grateful for the fresh start and the open space in Erda. Erda is about 25 minutes west of Salt Lake City, for those who have no idea where it is. It is the hometown for Ben and his parents have graciously allowed us to stay in their "garage" house until we get back on our feet. For now it is where we call home and we love it!

Christmas, Birthdays and more

It has been so long since I have posted. But I had so much to be thankful for these past few weeks, that I thought I better update before I forgot!! Christmas came and went so fast although my kids had Christmas opening presents at least four times. Once at Grandma Huffs, at Grandma Gordon's, when they got home from their trip from Utah Santa had left a few gifts and then all the gifts from Utah that we shipped home got to be reopened. Gratefully we have now received all packages! We had a great time in Utah this Christmas. We loved spending time with so many aunts, uncles, cousins, grandma's, grandpa's and all other relatives. Thank you to each of you for feeding us, letting us sleep at your house, and for letting us borrow your shampoo, towels, washing machines and for taking care of us. Our highlights included the Gordon reunion, spending a few nights with the Rindlisbacher's and going to the park, Caroling on Christmas Eve to Mom and Dad Huff's neighbors, Christmas day at Grandma Huffs and seeing all the cousins and Great Grandma and Grandpa Downward, seeing Aunt Charlene, shopping with my Mom and crazy sisters for shoes, spending time with Grandma and Grandpa Gordon and learning about their mission to the Philippines, playing in the snow in Erda, going to Temple Square and safely returning home despite the long ride back to Las Vegas to spend an extra day in Utah again. How loved we are, and how grateful I am to know that we are a family forever because of the sealing powers of the temple.

What a beautiful night it was to go to the temple although, it was very cold!

Ike in the snow and looking nice for picture at Temple Square! He loved the snow in Utah!

Autumn is growing up, she lets me put barrettes in her hair and today she took her first steps on her own!! I can't believe she will be 1 next month.

Autumn's favorite Christmas gift is a tent and tunnel that she likes to hide in and pretend to sleep in. Ike and Sabrina are very fond of it as well. Ike even took a nap in it today.

Monday was a holiday, we talked Daddy into going to the park with us. It was the first clear, beautiful day in Seattle in a long time! I couldn't believe how well we could see Mt. Rainier.

Ike on his bike. He figured out later that he could run faster than he could ride it!

Autumn and her Daddy!

Last Saturday was Sabrina's Birthday! We spent most the day celebrating it with a sweet lady in our church who turned 90, and our ward had a party for her and her family at our church. Sunday we celebrated it with Daddy and Grandma and Grandpa Meldrum and Tiff and Mike (friends from our ward). She was very surprised by her Care Bear Sunshine Cake.

Sabrina was very anxious to taste the frosting. Ike was very eager to help her blow out the candles.

My little 3 year old! She loves to dance, and wants to be a ballerina one day, she loves to dress up in crazy outfits (note: the purple tutu, very short top, and beads with the Dora pj's that belong to her sister), she can be very intense at times, but yet she loves to be held, rocked and loved on her terms. She can make you pull your hair out because of her independent personality of getting into anything that pours, squirts, gels or squeezes. But she is very adorable and loving when she wants you to read her a story, play ponies with her or have a tea party. She can make your ears ring when she screams, but she can carry on a very intelligent conversation with you as though she is five. We love Sabrina and I can only wait to know what a beautiful girl she will turn into when she is 16!

Sabrina's New Puppet theater! Thanks to my Sister Kristie's help, advice and posting I was able to make one for Sabrina's Birthday.

It turned out great and the best thing of all was when Sabrina said "Impressive!" when she took one good look at it! Hopefully it will turn out to be hours of fun!

Super Why! and Halloween

SUPER WHY! And his WHY WRITER!




Yummy Halloween Candy!!






Alpha Pig!! Isn't she cute!


Super Why! and Princess Presto at the Party!

Check us out! The costumes were a bit crooked in this picture. And I don't think I will ever attempt to make gloves again.

Isaac and Sabrina love a PBS television series called Super Why! It is a great show for kids teaching them about nursery rhymes and how to read. They both wanted to be Super Why! characters for Halloween. So Ike was Wyatt or Super Why! and Sabrina was Princess Presto, and because we had a pig costume Autumn became Alpha Pig. I think the best part about it was seeing the excited anticipation of both of them waiting to see their costumes when they were finally made and ready to wear. The downside, not too many people were familiar with who Super Why is. Isaac was a bit disappointed especially when people kept asking him who he was, and wondering if he was a Ninja Turtle. Definitely an honest mistake. Isaac has already announced to me that he wants to be Spiderman next year. But if you are interested in knowing who Super Why is check it out on pbskids.org/superwhy.

Ike Loves Halloween and more..

This is our Cambodian Family: Uncle Hap and Grandma and Grandpa Mey. They are a big part of our lives, so I thought I would add them to the blog.


This was a picture of our Best FHE ever!! The kids did so well, sitting and listening and learning. I had to take a picture, so that we could remember the occasion. Like Elder Bednar said, consistency is the key. I guess if 99.9% of our FHE's are nuts, then it is still okay.

The leaves are beautiful right now in Seattle. We stopped after school today at a park, and picked some up for leaf rubbings. Ike is very much a leaf man. He picks them up at recess and puts them in his coat pocket to show his music teacher. In music class, they sing a special "Autumn" song which he loves. The teacher let him pass out his collection a few days ago during the song. He was very proud of himself.

"I Love you Sabrina!"

Ike loves Halloween! Ever day after school this week, he has wanted to make a Halloween craft. He wanted to post the skeleton on the blog which is why I am posting tonight. He said that Grandma would like to see it! (so here it is!) He was very funny this morning. I said, "Ike why do you like Halloween so much?" Response: "Because even if I am good or bad I still get candy?" My response "what?" Ike: "well, at Christmas if you aren't good you don't get presents, but at least you still get some coal. I could put some coal in my train set." Me: "oh" "well, if you are bad, I am the boss, and you won't get to go trick-or-treating." What a thinker I have.

Ike's Little pumpkin from school. He carved with Daddy's help the minute he got home.

My cute kids!

Sabrina in regular clothes, not a frequent thing at our house.

Look at Autumn's red hair!

I was looking at pictures tonight trying to sell some stuff on craigslist and saw some cute kids and thought I would just put their pictures on the blog. My kids are all super funny, and so very entertaining. Ike loves to get dressed for church each Sunday and will wear his church clothes until bedtime. He always makes sure to have a tie on with a tie pin, a pen in his pocket, and the Strength of Youth pamphlet. On the way to church this past Sunday I asked him why he always brings his pen. He said, "I want to be just like Daddy." I think that made Ben's day! Sabrina is still my fairy, tink princess, or anything else she can find to dress up in. I think she changed clothes 60 times this week. She has been a great pal to have around, always helping me in kitchen. And little Autumn is a growing personality. She sticks her arms out to be picked up, and am afraid that she is going to learn to walk before she rolls over. Isaac was helping her tonight, telling her "you can do it!"