Halloween 2011 Begins :)

We started the Halloween festivities last night with our ward party and then tonight with carving pumpkins at Nana's. Skylee has wanted to be a tooth fairy for months so thanks to Nana she turned out to be an adorable tooth fairy. Jaston... was kind of last minute but hey, he's a pretty cute little guy no matter what he's dressed in right?

Staheli Farm

So tonight we decided to take the kids to Staheli Farm. The kids adored it. I think we could have spent hours and hours there although Sky wasn't feeling great so we kept it short and sweet. Here are a few of the (way too many according to Jeff) pics I took. And I had to add in a pic of the kids cleaning up in the tub after cuz they are just too cute I have to post more pics. :) Sure do love those kids!!

Update...

Nana gave the kids these cute beanies. Had to take pics of them the other day on our outing.

Skylee got to go to a princess tea party and borrowed this adorable dress from her sweet friend Lydia. She got the gloves and the hat from the party where Ariel came and visited. (Her favorite princess). She was so excited she wanted to pose (A-Lot)for some pics.

Nana invited us to her school carnival (she is a third grade teacher). The kids had so much fun playing all of the games, riding the horses, jumping on the bounce house, cupcake walk, fishing, pin the nose on the witch and some other fun games. We also got to watch Nana's class do "Dem Bones" dance. Katie and Emily got to come with us too. The kids love Katie and Emily!

It's official!

Jeff is done with all of his schooling to become a Nurse Practitioner. He took his boards/licensing test today and PASSED! SO we are done! I am so proud of him and all of his hard work and SO grateful for our Heavenly Father's help through the last several years. Now he has to apply for his license by getting fingerprinted and turning in his Master's transcripts and etc. Then he should receive his license in a few weeks. Wahoo! The next step.... get a job....

Fall Weather

Emmett and Skylee wanted to play outside today and it was a bit more chilly than they were used to so they thought they needed some big jackets to keep them warm. So they got all bundled up and Jaston had to bundle up too. That lasted about 2 min for the boys and then they decided it wasn't that cold. :) It is cooling off here though, and for the first time in I think my entire life I'm actually enjoying the cooler weather. Not sure how I will feel in a few months but it is nice to have a little relief from the heat. I love this time of year and am SOO excited for the holidays!

I did put shoes on the kids I promise... but as usual that lasted 2 seconds. :)

Glad Tidings of Great Joy

This weekend was General Conference and what an amazing general conference it was! I have been really thinking about my testimony and my perspective on the gospel. I feel like every conference just gets better and better and I learn so much more. I think what it is is I'm starting to lose the attitude of "I have to sit for four hours ..." to "I get to hear incredible servants of God speak to me on how to improve my life for such a short time every 6 months." and I cherish it.

What an amazing opportunity it is to hear these incredible men who work so closely with our Heavenly Father speak to us and tell us what the Lord wants us to know. It is so powerful I love it! That being said I was reading my scriptures this morning and found a scripture that I felt described conference really well and wanted to share. It is in Alma chapter 13: 22-25

" 22 Yea, and the voice of the Lord by the mouth of angels, doth declare it, that they may have glad tidings of great joy: yea and he doth sound these glad tidings among all his people, yea, even to them that are scattered abroad upon the face of the earth; wherefore they have come unto us.
23 And they are made known unto us in plain terms... we are thus highly favored, for we have these glad tidings declared unto us in all parts of our vineyard.
24 For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory.
25 And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming;for the time cometh, we know not how soon. Would to God that it might be in my day; but let it be sooner or later, it it I will rejoice."

Wow, isn't that a powerful scripture and SO true. Conference is given to us through the Lord by angels and plain and simple terms to everyone all over the world. I dunno it just hit me hard this morning what an amazing privilege conference is. I think my most favorite (favoritest?) talk was President Uchtdorf from the RS broadcast. SO good and such a good reminder.

For me I got so many things but most dominant for me was to cherish my time and use it wisely, improve my prayers- make them sincere and a tool to help me through the trials of life, rely on my Heavenly Father more and "Look up." I need to go back through my notes and see the rest but just from memory those were the main messages I remember. If you didn't get an opportunity to listen to conference whether you are LDS or not I encourage you to look it up and and watch them again and again. I know everytime I listen/read them again I am inspired in different ways. To see/hear the conference addresses go HERE. I promise it will change you.