Fall Fun!!!

A few weeks ago we went to the batting cages one night with daddy.  The boys had a blast (ok I did too I actually love batting cages) and Cash did awesome - hitting almost every ball that came!  So much fun! Yes he is a lefty!

 Griff needed a little help from daddy!

 Watching daddy and Cashee

 Best hit of the night!

 Looking so cute!

 The other day I watched Sofia so her mom could go to the Dr. - the kids had a BLAST with her, and here they were all eating some snacks - s'mores snacks - altho not microwaved so to avoid the ooey gooey mess.  It was still delicious! Cash kept saying it was so fun having Sofia over and was so cute with her. He tried to entertain her the whole time, which was awesome because then I was able to make dinner and lunch and be done all by 10 am.  Yeah!!!  They were all so cute and she was a doll and so easy!  We welcome her anytime. Also, she showed up wearing the exact same leggings as Ivy - so cute!  They have quite a few of the same little outfits!

 Can't believe Ivy is so big to be sitting at the table - she always wants to join the big kids so figured we should let her! (altho choc got on those white pants so maybe not best idea:(

 When we go pick up Cash from school I can barely keep track of this little one -she is a climbing running machine!  She is so fast and wants to be everywhere...always on the move!

 Peek!  Hanging off and getting down all on her own!

 We went and got some crafts and projects last week to do at Joanns - here the boys are having fun painting the witche's hat  - then we are gonna glitter and glam in up - stay tuned for our finished projects - also working on our yarn candy corn crafts!  Love the willingness and teamwork here!

I made a fabric chain so we don't have to make chains every year and it turned out so cute - a lot more work than I would have thought but super cute and I am glad I did it!  Here Griff is holding it for me - he is so skinny you almost can't see him - and we are in the potty training mode still so excuse his undies and no clothes!

 So glad Britta posted hers and gave me the great idea!  Turned out darling!

This weekend has also been our LDS church conference and it has been fantastic.  So many good talks and things to think about.  I can't even pick a favorite because so many have been applicable and I have felt like they were for me.  My bishop once gave advice to come to conference with a question, and if you pray and come and listen it will be answered.  I really was trying that and feel like it was answered.  I am grateful to be a member of the LDS faith and to have the gospel in my life.  I look forward to listening today to the 2 sessions and learning even more!  The church is true.  If you would like to hear or watch it go to LDS.org and you can see it too.  Great inspiring words from faithful men and women! You won't be disappointed!

Have You Ever???

Seen a guy driving around with a bird on his arm?!  An unusual siting we saw one Sunday when we went for a family drive.  Totally not SO unusal for LA!!!

While Cash is at School.....

These 2 kids rule!!!  My world that is!  I love their cute little funny personalities and getting to hang out every day at home with them.  This past week I have called my mom a few times frustrated and upset with my poor parenting, lack of patience, frustrations, etc.  Some days I feel like it is a miracle we made it to bedtime, and I don't feel they have gone very well or been very productive or that I have been a very good mom.  This past FHE we had a family night on service and talked about ways we could do better about serving each others.  I committed to my kids that I would try to be more patient with them, yell and get angry less, and love them more!  I am trying, and although will never be perfect I have found that when I get up and play a hymn or listen to a talk or read my scriptures early, my days do go better.  I also have really been hit strongly with the words of a primary song that Cash sang 2 weeks ago in his program - I find myself thinking of the words often after I am upset, and it is a good reminder of what I need to be.....The song is titled...."If the Savior Stood Beside me!"  The whole song is amazing and but the lines that really stick out to me are the very first ones in 2 of the verses: "If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?"  and from the 2nd verse: "If the Savior stood beside me, would I say the things I say?"  I find power in these and often I am reminded by these lyrics when I am in the moment and use them to help me decide how to respond.  I am trying, and I find that with motherhood we go through periods we feel we are doing great and it's pretty easy, and times that are harder.  Right now with one of my children I am finding it harder to be patient.  I am trying and need a new way of helping him because my current choice isn't working.  

I am so grateful for each of my kiddos, however, and how different they are and for getting to be entrusted with each of them in my care.  I promise them I will do better!  On good days tho (which we do have plenty I am not trying to sound like such a debbie downer) they are SOOOO fun and great and the most rewarding job I could ever ask for!

These 2 are like 2 peas in a pod - they are wild and crazy and giggly and just funny!  I love them to pieces!  Here they are sharing their doritos on the stairs - not a care in the world!

This little girl is SO determined all the time to do everything herself - little miss independent!  She has never really let us feed her very well from the time she started solids, moving from feeding herself with fingers to using a spoon around 10 months and still refuses much help.  It is mess, and sometimes frustrating she won't eat if I am helping, but I am embracing her little independence and it is so cute watching her spoon this yogurt into her mouth (or all over the place as it may be!)

 She is also a girl who LOVES accessories and is SO GIRLY and I am absolutely loving that - and hey - only in Cali can you wear little strap dresses with a hat and it be fitting for fall weather!  Awesome!

 This little Griffy is a tease.  He is funny and cute and hard!  But he is a sweety and loves his siblings and his mommy and I have to not get so upset that he has regressed in his potty training (any ideas on helping him go #2 in the toilet would be much appreciated by me) and pushes my buttons all day long.  I can't deal with him the same way as I do with Cash and so I am having to learn and it hasn't been easy - if you can't guess he is my hard child right now.  And I need to be better and figure out better what works for him!  After all, I can't help but look at him and love him so much - even if he did just color on my walls, spill bubbles all over my floor, etc etc.  I really do love him and when he and Ivy are playing good together - there is nothing sweeter (or funnier!)  They giggle and giggle and it is so contagious!

This little sass-a-frass brought me her bow and said "bow, hair!" and put it (or tried to) on her head.  She loves shoes and necklaces and already seems to have an opinion on what she wants. I LOVE dressing her up - and fall clothes right now are SO CUTE for little girls!

 The kids LOVE going to pick up big brother Cash from school and are so cute and adorable, climbing on everything when we are there - it is a little scary, but also so fun watching them move and run and interact with the other little ones there.  Ivy has taken to hanging on the bars everywhere and is actually pretty strong.  Griffin has also taught her to climb on the ones he is on! (a mother's nightmare!)

 My little BYU fan all in her uggs that she found and wanted on one morning - blurry but so cute as she brought the pants and shoes to put on her!  A fashionista in the making!

I just got home from the gym and no one was awake (miracle) yet so I got to sit and write this in peace, and it makes me excited to go and be the best mom I can today!  Here's to a day of NO YELLING! I am promising I won't!  Also, I get to help out in Cash's classroom today and he is SO excited - which makes me burst with joy as I know he probably won't always be excited or want me to help in his classroom (although I hope he does!) He told me we needed to tell the class what they should call me - and after I suggested how bout Professor McGonagall and he said no - he told me I should just say "miss Stephanie" so that is what we are going with.  He also told me I get to wear a sticker and is excited about that - ahhh the simple things!

Now I hear the kids so have to go, but here's to a great mommy day!

Have a great Wednesday!

Boo! Boo! It's Halloween SCARY month!!!

A couple weeks ago Ivy  took a dive out of her stroller and landed on her head on the cement!  It was SOOOOOO scary - and left this massive BOO BOO on her head!  I was so worried she had a concussion, and was crying right along with her as I tried to console this sad little girl!  I kept saying "poor baby, poor baby" as I was hugging her and then she started saying - "owie baby, owie baby" looking up at me with these very sad tears coming down.  It was not a fun mommy moment and I am so glad she is ok - however she still this week has little dimples in her head where the marks were, and I am hoping they will go away sometime soon and aren't permanent indents!  She is tough and so I know when she screams she is really hurting. It was so scary that when it happened I screamed and the car driving past our house that was at the stop sign reversed to make sure she was ok - the sound of her head hitting the pavement still haunts me and rings in my ears.  I hope she doesn't try this again anytime soon (and also I will remember to strap her in on both sides, not just one so she can't climb out as easily - altho she has already done that too before!

 While trying to console her the UPS man dropped off these costumes and came to the back door and witnessed screaming baby and sad mommy - he even asked if he could do anything to help!  How nice is that?!  Anyhow, she was ok not too long after and Cash really wanted her to put on the costume with him - Harry Potter and Hedwig!!! (Dobby not featured yet!)

 She was back to herself the next day, altho pretty sure it was hurting her a bunch then cuz in the afternoon she became pretty upset and clingy!

 So of course we had some cuddle time and lots of hugs and kisses!

 Ivy is my climber - and she climbs on EVERYTHING, and is always scaring me!  I can't even figure out how she gets some of the places she does and the piano is no exception. I heard her playing one day after Cash had finished his lesson and I was on the computer so not thinking much.  Cash kept yelling to stop her and that she was too loud and he couldn't hear his show.  Finally he decided to do something about it himself and so he came in to get her off.  Then he yelled, "mom, you gotta come get Ivy - come see where she is! She is playing the piano with her toes!"  I didn't know what to expect but was definitely surprised to find this - what?!  I was inclined to scream and rush to get her off but after seeing the humor in it knew I had to snap a pic and told her to just stay still!  Not sure how she planned on getting off but glad we caught her first!

She is so silly and keeps us always on our toes to make sure she is ok - and also has begun to speak in sentences (2-3 word phrases and says SO many words!)  The Dr. asked at her last checkup if she could say 10 words - I started counting and got to about 30 just really quick off the top of my head and the Dr was super impressed.  I hadn't thought much of it but after the visit came home and have been writing them down so I could really count how many she says on a frequent basis.  I have over 50 and need to write them down on here soon - hopefully I can get a few videos of some of her funniest things.  ANyways, if she is so fun even if she is constantly scaring me to death with all her climbing shenannigans (she also loves to hang on things and can do so for about 20 seconds at a wack - it's quite amazing....she got this strength from the Brown side for sure!)

 I LOVE FALL food and October is one of my favorite months that I start using pumpkin!  YEAH!!!!

Pumpkin smoothies, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin chili - you name it I love it!

Anyhow - I have started this thing back in September where every Monday is Soup and Sandwich/Salad night and it has been so great!  We have the soup and then it usually has enough left over for the week of lunches etc.  I was initially making the soups I knew and that I always make but the last few have tried new recipes and it has been SOOOOO awesome!  I did a cauliflower/potatoe bisque that was delicious, a chicken enchilada soup, and then yesterday a white bean chicken chili (below!)   They have all been so good, sooo easy, and soooooo healthy!  Love it and my kids do too!

Also, I have lately become obsessed with caprese salads and the one below is a delicious one of tomato, cucumber, red onion, feta cheese, olives, and a little olive oil and red wine vinegreitte and salt and pepper!  It's scrumptious with a bagette cut up from sprouts!  Loving it!

 Also the kids and I have been busy today getting Halloween set up and making pumpkin cookies to deliver to my visiting teachees!  Yummy Yummy fall!

The Boys Visit the Dentist!!!

On September 26 the boys had their first ever visit to the dentist!  We had heard great things about this place and it didn't disappoint!  It couldn't have went better.  As we were leaving both Cash and Griffin asked when we could come back and were saying "thanks mom for bringing us that was so much fun!"  It was hilarious to me - as they have no idea how fun the dentist can really be;)  But since they didn't have cavities, got to put on the cool headphones to watch the movie on tv, got cool little pouches with toothbrushes, floss, little cover for their toothbrush, and other goodies they had a blast.

I'd say this place was definitely a 5 star office.  

In fact the only problem I found with it was that the dentist told Cash all these things and he listened EVERY SO CAREFULLY and then was ready to LITERALLY follow everything.  He is so obedient, and is a pleaser who tries so hard to do what's right all the time and follow the rules.  So upon her saying to him that he should only have sugar and candy on Saturday, and no juice or soda except for Saturday either, he was ready to 100% follow her!  On the way home we had to stop for an errand and due to the lack of AC being on in the back he had got a little queasy.  He got out of the car and was looking pretty sick.  I told him to eat a Mamba I had with me and see if he felt better.  He then said "mom, did you not hear the dentist? I can't have that except on Saturdays!  I can't eat that now!"  Oh boy, I thought as I tried to convince him  that it is nice to try to follow what they say, but ok if we don't totally follow every little thing - but he was not listening.  It took me about 10 minutes to convince him to have the mamba.  After we were better and could get back in the car and go home we arrived and the kids wanted a snack.  Cash asked for a pop tart and I (teasingly) told him that if he was following the Dentist rules that he couldn't have that because it was sugary.  Then he didn't even fight back just said "ok mom I'll have some cheese and yogurt - she said those were ok right?!"  Who is this kid.  I figured it would not last long but to go along with it and so I did for the rest of the day.  Then after school we were at the playground and his friend had a treat and he was asking what they were and found out they were little graham cracker cookie things - he wanted one and once again I told him if he wanted to follow the dentist exactly then these were not ok and he couldn't have them.......at this point he looked up and said "mom, I think you are right.  We should smile and nod and say we will do our best to what she says and then do what we want!"  Well, it had me and his friend's mom chuckling and he went about the rest of the day not so worried and concerned over every thing he ate.  He did, however, stick to only having juice and soda on Saturday and for that I am just fine!  He is a good boy!

And speaking of good boy I have to just write down this hilarious thing that happened in the primary program last week.  Before we left I asked him what his part was and he responded with "mom, I know my part I don't need your help.  Don't help me!"  I asked him what he was supposed to say - he responded with "Heavenly Father built the atonement unto me!"  WHAT?!  I was sure this wasn't his line - as it didn't make much sense and I tried to help see if we could tweek it a bit but he kept saying he knew it and didn't need help!  Well, he got right up in church and grabbed the mike like a rockstar and gave his line very clearly (and fast!) and sat down.  After the meeting the girl helping those at the pulpit came back and said - "well Cash did great at speaking his line but he didn't give the line he was supposed to - obviously someone gave that to him, but it wasn't me and I am not sure where it came from!"  Chip and I laughed as we realized somehow Cash created his own line and said it....not sure where he got it and he said his teacher told him it but somehow there was a mishap and it got lost in translation - his actual line was "Jesus Christ is an example unto us by.....???" (can't remember the rest) but definitely NOT Heavenly Father built the atonement unto me!  HAHA he is too funny!

We chuckle and guess we will have to watch him in the future from making up his own stuff!

Oh yeah and one more thing about the dentist-  in their little pouches were timers to turn over and for how long they should be brushing for each time - GENIUS!!! Cash loves to use it and brush his teeth for the full amount of time the hour glass is emptying - what a great idea - enjoy the pics!

Cash checking out his loot while Griff waits his turn!

 Ready to for his turn!

 Cash was great at telling Griff he was doing a good job and how fun it was so Griff wasn't scared!

 Waiting for the dentist to come check him out!

 Forgot to take pictures of Cash when he first had the dental assistant working on him - but got them with the dentist!

 She was great and the kids loved her!

Have a great week!