Inspiration from my Kids

Marcus and I have decided to give the kids each a dollar every two weeks for their allowance - whenever Marcus gets paid. Landon's Grandma Simons paid him for babysitting a few months ago and was thrilled to pay tithing on it. So every Sunday he wants to pay tithing. I figured it would be a great way to show kids how to pay your tithing and also savings. Anyways I gave them a dollar and showed them how to break it into change and pay 10%. Then I told them it was a good idea to save half of the money. So we saved 50 cents in a cup.

Then I pulled out the tithing sheet for them to fill out and send to the bishop. Landon got to looking at all the other things that you can donate to and really wanted to. So he gave money to temple construction and Kylie of course needed to get on board so she paid into the Book of Mormon fund and also Temple construction. I have to say I have never donated money into another fund but Tithing and Fast offerings. So today I turned over a new leaf and donated into the Ward missionary fund. After looking at them give so much of there money to the church I felt very humbled. Kylie only had ten cents after she was done. I love my kids so much and am grateful for the lesson they taught be today. Truly the widow's mite is worth more than the rich man's gold.

Big Eyes

Kylie is notorious for not staying in her seat while she is eating. She is such a little wiggle worm and can't hold still. She is constantly getting up and bugging everyone else, or just standing by the table. Last night for dinner I finished my food way before her - of course. I grabbed Tannen to change a diaper. As I was walking down the hall I turned around and told Kylie to go sit down and eat her dinner. Kylie came back in and told Marcus "I was trying to sneak up on Mommy but she turned around and told me to eat dinner with her big eyes." I thought it was hilarious.

Tumbling Class

Landon's back straddle roll


Kylie's back straddle roll


Landon's bridge - I caught the picture at the wrong time


Kylie's bridge - she really improved on this one from the first time she tried.



Balancing Act - Star, besk, table top, slope

We put the kids in a eight week community tumbling class together. They went every Tuesday night for 45 minutes. And love every minute of it. They haven't done a sport or activity like this before and were thrilled about it. They would love to come home and practice and show off the moves they learned.

The Monday before the last performance, where the parents were invited to see all the moves they learn I had the kids practice what they had learned. When they got to the cartwheel Marcus was so mad because they were even worse after the class. So he spent about 15 minutes reteaching them how to do cartwheels. For some reason it really cracked me up. Marcus wondered why he paid someone to teach them cartwheels and they got even worse. But that aside they learned lots of tumbling moves, and I am interested in putting them in the next class come January.

The class was for 5-8 year old but she let me stick Kylie in because she was able to keep up with the bigger kids, and she will be 5 at the end of the year. But in the pictures she does seem a lot littler then the other kids. We had a great time this Tuesday watching the kids, I hope you enjoy the pictures and the videos (even if they are a little dark).

Landon's Cartwheel

Landon had a great time tumbling as well. He did a great job on his cartwheels. He was extremely competitive in the class, but loved it just as much as Kylie did.

Kylie's Cartwheel

Kylie in her tumbling class. It was the last day and the parents were invited to see everything they learned. It was so fun to watch. I have lots of video of the kids, but I really love this one because you get to see how bouncy and excited Kylie was. Plus I love her little bow at the end. She would do that after everything she did. Really cute.

Lion, Witches, and Jedi OH MY

Landon and his spider cookies - what spider actually has two eyes may I ask


Kylie and her spider cookies

We have had a wonderful Halloween this year. I tried to have fun things during the week. We had a great time. On Wednesday we made spider cookies. The kids had a great time. We also let them make them on Saturday too.

Friday Landon had a school parade and the parents were allowed to wait in the gym and take pictures. Landon was so excited this year to be a Jedi. Rochelle on Monday drove all the way to Downey to meet me there and let me borrow her Jedi robe. Landon was so delighted he wore it everyday until Halloween.


Landon's teacher Mrs. Ballom


Landon in the parade. I wasn't sure if they would let him have his light saber but was pleasantly surprised when he came out with it.

On Thursday we carved pumpkins. We bought three little ones and let them decorate them with markers and then three big ones and carved them. The kids got to pick out what they wanted from a book we have and Marcus free handed them on the pumpkins.


Fun family event


Kylie working in hers. She ended up not liking getting dirty, so I gutted her pumpkin.


Landon had no problem getting all dirty


Landon and his spider


Kylie and her bat. She also colored the outside with markers - hey whatever makes her happy.


All three on the porch lit. My flash is a little bright so they don't really glow - but it was really dark outside.

On Saturday we had a great day. We cleaned up the house so we could play that night. We got Papa Murphy's pumpkin pizza - it was just easier and fun. Then we got the kids all dressed and they went out around 5 that night. It must not be the popular time to go because no one else was out. But the whole family got to go because we weren't worried about missing our trick or treaters. We went to a few townhouses and the kids did pretty good. I didn't want as much as last year at trunk or treat because I ended up throwing out candy after the kids were on sugar highs all day long. Then we came home and cooked our pizza. The kids watched a movie and had a great time having other kids trick or treat at our door. It was the most kids we had since having our old house. I loved it.


Tannen our little Lion - getting his treat.


Isn't he just so cute


Kylie my little witch - she wanted to be something scary this year. Not a princess


Loved the warts and all.


My very serious Obi-Wan Kenobi


Oh wait he cracked a smile


All three of my little monsters


I dressed up as a witch again this year. What can I say - it's fun. Aren't we cute?

Marcus and I stayed up late and watched Transformers Revenge of the Fallen. It was good and I had a great time hanging out with him.