Lots of painting!!

Justin & I decided to rip down all the wall paper in the front room & paint the entire upstairs. living, dining, kitchen, halls. Getting the wall paper off was probably the hardest part, but once we figured it out & had my parents help we got it all off & scrubbed down in about 2 days! Carter was such a good helper the one night, he stayed up til about 11:30 helping us get wall paper off. He stunk like vinegar so even though he was exhausted he insisted on getting in the tub- which lead to this -

Everywhere else was luckily just white. The only bad thing was the trim, base & crown molding in the living room was all tan before, so I painted it all white. But then of course the whites through out the rest of the house didn't match. so for about 3 days, I spent them painting the trim- the only nice thing was I didin't have to tape, {besides along the carpet} Once I got the trim all painted. it was onto to the walls, which is mainly Justin & was lots & lots of painting... It took us maybe a total of 3-4 days {not full days, just nights when Justin got off work} its a good thing we kept each other motivated because painting gets old quick :) but the upstairs is all done!! & it looks much much better. amazing what some paint can do! Now onto the downstairs...!!

Dance Performance!

This cute little thing had another dance performance {same dance} the day after Thanksgiving at the Strictly ballroom building. I tried posting the video for family who isn't close enough to come watch, but it won't load.

 She did such a great job. I think she is getting burnt out of doing the same dance, but she is really good at it :) She dances again on December 13th for Christmas & then I hope they learn another new dance! After she danced we walked around the boutique for a little bit.

After her dance performance, Carter wanted his picture by this deer :)

 My mom took the kids home with her,Wendi & Dani, for a sleepover- so Justin & I could work some more on painting. {we've got the whole upstairs painted-now to decorating-the hard part} I think we are going to start on the downstairs now, I don't know what we are thinking but once we are ALL done it will be worth it!!!

1st Snow & Sledding

 On Novemeber 16th we got our first snow, well enough snow to go sledding on & we haven't gotten hardly any since. But as soon as my parents left {wiring a plug & helping us take down wall paper-thanks tons!} the kids went out with Justin to sled. They were beyond excited. Carter finally spent his birthday money from uncle Justin & aunt Wendi at Cal-Ranch & bought them both a sled {they insisted Tenley needed her own :)} So off they went...

Trying to skate board :)

Justin was pushing them down our front hill.

BLAST!

Loving the snow!

They both tried to go backwards plenty of times, it usually didn't end well :)

I am not a cold person, so I sat & took pictures from the window. Once it warms up & there is enough snow for the rhino pulling -then I will go out :)  We've found some pretty nice sledding hills now that we've lived out here thru 1 winter. Maybe a little dangerous. But the kids love to go out & sled. They are finally to the age where they will stay out longer than 5 minutes, before they come running back in froze!  I've never liked winter, but we do what we gotta do to make it fun!!!

1st Dance Performance!

On November 16th Tenley had her very 1st dance performance. She was so excited to be able to put real make up on & dance in front of everyone! *She doesn't always love going to dance on Wednesdays-only unless I stay there, but she loves picking out her dance clothes & getting ready to go* So I usually have to sneak off, & then of course she is fine. She is getting use to going & the routine now, so I think she likes it a lot more than she did at first. {at first I thought it might be a waste, bribing her to go} I didn't really know what to expect since this was her first time in front of everyone-

Mom putting mascara & makeup on! {had to cover her black eye}

she's got some long eyes lashes & using an eye lash curler on someone else is HARD!

She got nervous about me leaving her in the hall when they were getting ready to come out, but once she got out on the floor-she was ready to get her dance on :)

Walking out-right when she spotted us watching her-! I was so proud of her, she seen where we were sitting but still watched her teacher & did the dance!!

posing after she had danced!!

Carter & santa. He told him he wanted a skate board, don't know where that came from ?! I don't think a skate board would end very well on our steep gravel drive way :)

Tenley did awesome during her dance & we were very proud of her {besides chopping her gum, which was my fault for giving it to her & forgetting to take it out!} She is always wanting to practice her dance at home {I recorded her at practice, so we could get the moves down} Afterwards she begged to go see Santa but insisted she would only go if Carter went with her. When we got over there, she was terrified & wouldn't even get close. She wouldn't even hold my hand while I took pictures of Carter because she thought I was going to take her over there :)!! I thought this year she would like him, but nope- still wants nothing to do with him. "where does santa come from" -"is that just a guy dressed up like santa?" She seriously cracks me up- the stuff that scares her...I hope Christmas night she isn't terrified again, poor girl!
She is quite the little dancing queen & really gets into it. I hope she likes soccer as much as she does dancing :) We will see. Proud of you Teners!!!

Ten's Black Eye!

Of course the day before her very first dance performance- Tenley comes running in with a scraped eyed {fell off tailgate of truck}! At first it was just white , like she had barely bonked it but then as the day went on it was looking like a pretty good one!

Right when it happened!

Later that day

next morning

4 days later!

 She still has a black eye, but it isn't going to leave any scars- She is one tough girl!!

Gymnastic Ten

Tenley is into doing headstands, cartwheels, flips, leg stands... Anything that makes her not hold still :) haha.

Shes a pro at headstands & can get up all by herself now.

She thought she was hilarious sticking her tongue out at me while doing them...

Dancing moves!

We were teaching her how to show us she is 3. & its so funny because she could never do it, & every time she tries she gets this concentrated face because it is so hard for her. Shes got it down now, yay!!

She is quite entertaining & always on the go, she is definitely the total opposite of Carter. I'm glad she is starting to like Doc Mcstuffins, even if it only lasts 3 minutes at a time {when we turn cartoons on for her, we have to remind her to sit still & watch them, so I guess it is a good thing she isn't hooked to the tv)!! Love you crazy flipper!

Fishing / Grandma & pa's

(Nov. 9th-10th) Last weekend we went fishing as a family while it was warm (one of the last warm days) before me & the kids were heading out to my parents house to spend the weekend with my nieces & nephew!

my biggest catch of the day!

Carter's biggest catch {I still think mine was bigger :)}

Dad's catch of the day!

Me & the kids out on the big rock, it didn't last very long & then they were both wanting down!

When Tenley gets cold & the boys aren't ready to leave we go out & sit in the car. This time we had packed "girl toys" so we painted her nails, while we waited :)

We caught some pretty good sized fish & it wasn't as cold as we look (all bundled), I keep telling Justin he needs to pick a new fishing spot, that's in the sun :) ...Then it was off to grandma & grandpa Buppy's- My dad had piled all the leaves up on a huge tarp, they played in them for awhile & then before it got dark my dad decided to pull them all back into the pasture. The kids thought being pulled was the funnest thing ever!

starting off with the lawn mower but the kids were fatties--so he had to use the rhino!

genius Taycee put her shoes in the huge pile of leaves, so the kids spent about 30 minutes looking for her shoes. My dad said whoever found them would get 5$ a shoe, so it was worth their time. Tay found one, & my dad found the other!

Carter with the boys kills!

Taycee loves to drive the kids around out in the fields in the rhino, so almost the entire time that is what her & Tenley were doing- Sunday morning the boys went out pheasant hunting & came back with 2! Carter loves being with Dac & my brother, & would rather go hunt, than hang with the girls ;)

Halloween Night!

Halloween night we started off by going up to see Shae & Dylan at grandma & grandpa Skippys...

4 grand kids. Ten, Shae, Dyl, Cub

 Then we were off to our wards Trunk-or-Treat!!!

Packers player {AJ Hawk} & a Bumble Bee

After the Trunk-or-Treat we rode into town to let the kids Trick-or-Treat a few blocks with some of their friends. It was a little chilly but Halloween isn't the same without at least going house to house up a few blocks & of course homemade donuts, I think that was Carter's favorite part of the night!

Carter wasn't scared this year at all. There is one house on the block we go up & down that plays creepy music, has smoke & all. He was the first one to go up there all by himself. I was surprised

Going door-to-door

Each house they went to they would always find something fun on the porch!

Tenley fell asleep on the way home-but we ended the night by hitting a few of our neighbors houses out here, who are always so welcoming & wanting to chat :)! The kids got of course way too much candy, but we've enjoyed sneaking some out of their bags nightly! Hope everyone had as fun of a Halloween as we did!

Halloween Parties!

Carter & Tenley both had a party for Halloween. Pre-school & Dance. So we found an easy "craft/treat" they could both make for their treats to hand out.

Carter is so into making things, so this was perfect for him. He was able to do them all by himself.

 Tenley just wanted to eat the suckers, not make the ghosts-she did draw the faces on all by herself though.

Carters class

Tenleys class

 They both came home with lots of treats & couldn't wait for Halloween the next day!!!

Carving Pumpkins!

We went out to the patch in Fair view to get pumpkins & they weren't "open". The kids were super bummed, they had already picked out their pumpkins...So off we went to Stokes to pick out pumpkins since that was our only other option & they insisted on getting pumpkins that night.

poor Tenley, still sick.

A few nights later in the week, we carved them! We let the kids draw faces on all 4 of them & then dad got to carving. I don't love carving pumpkins {but Halloween is only once a year} so I usually just help the kids get the guts out.

family night

gut hands!

Tenley was hilarious. Every time she would reach her hand in to get some guts, she would gag. She didn't like the smell at all, so after about 2 minutes she was done. Carter was anal & we had to sit & make sure every gut & seed was out of all 4 pumpkins :)

Hotel!!!

On Oct. 18th & 19th  my mom took us all to the Holiday Inn in Logan for a hotel get away! I think all the grand kids & even my mom look forward to this little outing. The kids always have such a fun time together, it's so fun to watch the 4 of them {5 counting Dani :)} interact! Our room was right across from the pool which was so convenient, so we spent almost every second swimming & in the hot tub!

Tenley jumping to Dac & Tay. She was hilarious, she would plug her nose, but right as she jumped she would unplug it.

Dac & Tay were seeing who could stand up on the rope the longest. It was actually harder than it looked, I ended up getting in the cold pool & trying it!

All 5 of the grand kids!

Dac & Carter. Carter tells me quite often that Dac is his best friend. I'm glad Dac is such a good example to him!!

All 4 of them swimming

kickin' their feet!

Carter was hesitant to get in the first night, but the next morning he swam the entire time & then of course didn't want to leave. {he is known for this}

Carter went to bed Friday night with a fever, poor kid.{Tenley was on antibiotics for throat infection, so we started him on those} He woke up feeling better, & swam all morning. I'm glad Wendi & Dani stopped by for a little while-Carter & Tenley LOVE Dani.- grandpa even stopped by to say hi too! The kids are already asking when we can do it again!! Thanks mom for the fun weekend!!!