October is My Favorite!

Growing up, I always thought summer was my favorite season. 

As an adult, I've realized that my favorite time of year is Fall, specifically the month of October. 

I love the cooler weather and the way Mother Nature shows off all month! 

We live in such a beautiful world!

The dogs thought they had died and gone to Heaven! They loved playing in the stream and exploring!

Special

I often wonder what my life would look like without kids. 

Boring, uneventful . . . I'd definitely be richer, but not nearly as blessed - or entertained! 

I am so grateful to be your mom!

Kool Mom = Kool-Aid

 I wasn't a big fan of the whole "Pinterest" thing when it first started.  

That's all I needed . . . more cute things to make and try to keep up with . . .

more ways to compete and be out-done.  

NO THANK YOU! 

Then one day, I got sucked in . . .

and it all went down-hill from there.  

I saw this really fun idea for girls hair.  

Dye a piece of hair with Kool-Aid.  

Fun, trendy, temporary . . . at the least the first two were mostly right.

I offered to be the "Kool" mom and let Carsyn and Belle try it.  

They looked at me like I was nuts, and then jumped on board.

We picked RED.  It would show up so cute in their blonde hair . . . 

that was already sun and chlorine damaged.

We followed the instructions word for word.

We soaked the ends of their pony-tails for 5 minutes. 

 It looked so cute - and was sure to wash out within two weeks!  

So, we did Camryn's later that afternoon.  She REALLY likes blue.  

Blue would be really pretty in blonde hair too.  And it would wash out pretty quick as well. 

Are you sensing the sarcasm yet???  

This is Camryn's hair - 2 months later. 

Not so cute anymore, not washing out . . . just fading to a nice . . . greenish color? 

"Kool" mom + Kool-Aid = 6 inches of  hair being cut off one daughter's hair, 

and 4 inches being cut off the other's. 

 And one daughter that was too smart to let her mom try it on her in the first place! 

Little Mermaid

Camryn and Carsyn participated in their first play at the Lehi Arts Center this summer - 

The Little Mermaid.

 It was so cute! 

We were so impressed with everything that this little theater offered as 

opposed to other theaters we've been involved with.

It was such a positive, great experience all around! 

Carsyn as a fish

Belle, Camryn and Carsyn as flamingoes.

Some of the cast

The girls were so happy to have so much support from everyone they love so much! 

Auntee T!

My favorite munchkins! Reese, Tate, and Whit

Grandma Sal

Papa and Grams

And the best part - doing something you love with your best friend in the whole world!

More Alice in Wonderland

My darling friend took these pictures of the girls during the play!

I am so grateful to have such great pictures of such a fun event!

Alice in Wonderland

Camryn and Carsyn joined an acting class this year with a group
called "Up With Kids." They have worked hard all year and
just recently put on the play "Alice in Wonderland."
They did a great job!

Each child in the class is guaranteed a role in the play, which is a
huge confidence booster for those involved. They sing and dance and
learn to speak in front of others in the process.

We talked our cute friend Bailey into joining them in the class,
so they got the roles of being school girls, cards, and chess pawns.

Getting ready for their first performance!

"Eleanor, Isabelle, and Adele"

Unfortunately, my lens doesn't zoom in enough to capture much of the moment,
but you get the point!
Good job girls! We are so proud of you!

R.A.D Kids!

R.A.D. Kids has got to be the greatest program invented for kids! For those of you who have never heard of it, it is a personal empowerment safety education program for kids . In other words, it is an amazing program that is offered through our school that teaches our kids how to be safe and informed in "various types of assaults, abuse, and attempted abductions." If any of you ever get the opportunity to put your kids through this program, don't ever turn it down! Camryn has been able to go through the program twice now, and Carsyn got to for the first time this year. I am so appreciative of the instructors who sacrifice their personal time to make a difference in our childrens' lives! I guarantee my kids will have a completely different mindset in a dangerous situation because of the dedication of the people involved in R.A.D. Kids!

The coolest part of the whole program is the R.A.D. Kids graduation. On this day, all of the skills and things the kids are taught are pulled together and actually challenged by a police officer who acts as an abductor. These policemen are awesome! They put on a huge red suit to protect themselves and encourage the kids to hit, kick and scream just like they would in a real situation. It gets my adrenaline and emotions going just watching them! As a parent, you want your kids to fight and fight hard! It is really neat to watch the kids in the program think about and use the skills they've been taught. I am so grateful that this is part of our lives!

I am including the R.A.D. kids website because I'm sure everyone will benefit from the information! http://www.radkids.org/ If you get a chance, please look at it!

Camryn - fighting off her "abductor"

Camryn -running to get help and get away

Carsyn - practicing some of her physical skills

on "Dummy Dan"

Carsyn - fighting off her "abductor"

The R.A.D. Kids class!

Back to School - Already?!?

Where has our summer gone?! I can't believe it's time to send my two cute girls back to school already this year! Camryn, who just turned 8 is going into the third grade this year, and Carsyn, who just turned 7 is going into the second grade. All you have to do is blink, and they really do grow up! It's hard not to be happy for them though when they are both so excited! Love you

girls!