Happy Halloween!

Cauley is a very creative person! He has been thinking about and planning the boys' costumes for a few weeks. He knew he wanted to make them Lego men costumes, but had to come up with the "how". Well, I think he did a fantastic job! He made the heads and hands, I made the bodies. Both done through trial and error, but in my opinion they turned out great! The boys won most creative at our ward trunk or treat. They got a TON of compliments out trick or treating on Halloween and even had to pose for several pictures together from random people. One problem was not being able to see their feet very well. If something was in front of them at their feet, like, say, Halli, she would just get run over. The other two problems were getting stuck together in doorways and not being able to knock very well. Cauley's creativity also showed with his costume as he was a pile of dirty laundry for our trunk or treat. He cut a hole in the bottom of a laundry basket, put it around his waist, filled it with clothes, and threw a few around the top part of him like a shirt over his head, a sock dangling through his glasses, etc. He's awesome!


The girls were not quite as creative this year. Tyli found a costume she just had to have- a pink batgirl costume from walmart. Halli just wanted to be a purple butterfly- her wish since June! You can't see Halli's purple leggings in the picture and she also had purple glow necklaces and bracelets. Tyli wore her costume over her jacket, and didn't let me restyle her hair. Oh well! They had a blast!

I swore I would never!...

 Seriously! If you would have asked me a year ago, I would have laughed in your face! Whenever someone would say anything about running, I would answer "I ONLY run when a child is in danger!" I lived by that motto! (Did anyone notice I said "Did"?) I hated running! Then someone said "You can't hate something you have never tried." So, I took them up on that. Cauley bought me my first pair of running shoes, I read a few things I found online, sought out advice from friends who run, and then I did it. I ran jogged. I literally felt like an elephant tripping down the street, but I made it 1 whole minute before I let myself walk for a minute. Then I repeated this process. I am sure people kept muttering how stupid and awkward I looked, but I did it. 8 times! And then, I did it the next day! And then I gave myself a break, because, lets get real here people- I couldn't move my legs even to get up and down the stairs! But the next day I passed the same houses, and then the next. By the end of the week I found myself still hating to run. So, the next week, even though my body didn't want to, I went again, only longer. I have kept this up for a few months now, and honestly, I am finally at the point where I can truly say that I LOVE to run! Since then I have added to my runs so that each time I go a little farther or a little faster. For now I am only up to 5 miles, but I am still increasing every week. Um, did I mention I get up at 4:30 just to do this? Yep. I have to because Cauley leaves for school ("A" hour) no later than 5:30 every morning, so I have to be back before then. Otherwise I have to wait until the kids are in school and then push the stroller with Halli in it. After getting stuck in a field with thick dirt and rocks with the stroller, I just get my lazy bones out of bed and go by myself. It is definitely worth the sacrifice!
   I have had a hard time staying motivated so I did what my friends encouraged me to do- I signed up for a few races! The first one was just a fun run. (FUN being the big key-word!) It was on October 20th. It was called the Neon Splash Dash and it was the first one in the Phoenix valley. We had a team of 13 of us, all in the same ward. Our team name was "Run Like A Mother" which was on the back of our shirts. The race started at night (7pm) and it was only a 5K. We all started out together but maneuvering through that many people in the dark, not seeing your footing, nor the person next to you very well, made it impossible to stick together in a big group. At each K(kilometer), they shot at us with glow water/paint. There were black lights in various places that we could see the paint glow, but otherwise it was completely dark! My friend Kim and I stayed together. My first race, first finish (it wasn't timed), but definitely NOT my last! Yikes- I feel like now I have to do well as I have made my running public, but maybe that will motivate me better to get out of bed more often! I have 2 more races to finish by the end of this year- the first is a 10K on Nov. 10th, and the 2nd is on December 15 called the 12K's of Christmas. Excited and nervous for both, BUT those are just stepping stones before my first big test- my half marathon on March 2!

My team at the finish line. My camera wouldn't pick up the black light very well but gave us all an orange glow!

This is the back of our shirts.

Cauley took this picture of me before he'd let me shower. I wish it showed better all the paint all over me!

Football 2012

I love the football season- I really do! There are a few things I would like to change about it, like maybe turning the heat down outside through the first 6 games, but other than that, I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR! This year was fun because my kids got to be a little more involved. Cauley went back down to freshmen football this year but this time he got to be an assistant coach so everything didn't fall on his shoulders. The team was made up of great kids- many of which are LDS. (some we know personally too!) There were a few very frustrating games, but overall, the team did fantastic this year! Dallin was the ball boy. He LOVED this job! He would always be behind the line judge (ref) and either throw or run the ball in (whichever needed done). He also got to catch the PAT balls that were kicked. He was adimate that he had to wear his cleats, under armor shirt, and navy shorts to each game. He did awesome!

 

Dallin squatting next to Cauley while wearing his "uniform" of under armor shirt, navy shorts, and cleats. This is Cauley's thinking position that Dallin also did a lot.

Dallin standing on the sideline before the game began

 McKade also got to get involved at the end of the season and got to be the water boy. He was really funny to watch as he was lugging out so many water bottles at a time which probably equaled what he weighs. He insisted on doing it though. He drank constantly so I had to go get him and make him take a few bathroom breaks, but he thought it was cool drinking out of the water bottles and camel thing. (I have no idea what that big tank is called!) See if you can find McKade in the 2 pictures below:

this one is during a time out. Cauley is out talking to the defense and McKade is standing next to him.

during halftime McKade carried over some water and then hung out with daddy for a moment.

 Tyli didn't get left out of the fun. (She wanted so badly to be the water girl, but I wouldn't even consider it!) The freshmen cheer coach is a friend of ours who also went to school with Cauley. Her daughter and Tyli are friends and hung out during the game. They got to play with the cheerleaders signs and actually got the crowd to yell for them, even though the cheerleaders weren't cheering. It was pretty funny!

Tyli and Prestley pumping up the crowd.

Cheerleader in the Making!

Tyli attended the Higley HS football cheer camp this year and had a lot of fun. Cauley took her to the camp as he also had practice at the same time. She practiced all week and did a great job performing the entire 1st quarter! They started off by standing with all the HHS cheerleaders for the National Anthem and then lined the field for the Varsity team to run through. Then they went over and cheered- 4 different cheers they kept repeating and a dance to the band. Tyli did awesome! Thanks to those who came to watch! (By the way, Higley won!)

 

Look carefully in the middle of the picture between the 2 cheerleaders to find Tyli! (waiting for the team to come through)

"H-H-S Ya!"



"Higley Knights!" (she's making a "K")

Doing the dance...

?

A little bit of attitude...

My beautiful and tired cheerleader!

Cookies for Homecoming 2012

I got a call a week and a half before Higley's homecoming asking me if I could do cookies for their refreshments for their homecoming dance. I jumped at the chance! It was a bit stressful as I have never done "shaped" cookies before, but I think overall they turned out great! (The Theme of the dance was "Come Sail Away With Me" and so I was asked to do a nautical theme.) I ended up having an anchor, lighthouses, sailboats, life savors, and just red and blue filler circles. They asked me not only to make the cookies and decorate them, but to also decorate my table. (The rest of the gym where the dance was held looked AMAZING!!!) I got lots of compliments all night long, mostly, surprisingly, from the students who were at the dance. I do have to say, I could not have pulled off these 550 cookies and the decorated table without two of my greatest friends ever, Charai Allen and Carrie YoungerHoward! (Thanks again you two- I LOVE you!) (We did not paint the lighthouse behind us- it was already there.)

Charai and I after setting up our table. I just love her to pieces!!!

"sailboats, anchors, and life savors"

"lighthouses and sailboats"

"anchors and life savor"

I got to attend the dance where I made sure the cookies kept getting eaten. At first all the kids were afraid to eat them because they thought they were just for decoration, but it didn't take long before I was busy restocking the plates until the end of the dance. There were only a few cookies left over, which made me feel good because they were BIG cookies. I had a blast watching the StuCo kids next to me try and serve the cotton candy! The music was L-O-U-D!!! And, in the end, I was EXHAUSTED, but it was definitely worth it! I am now looking forward to Prom!

One year older and wiser too!

McKade turned 7 this year in August. This was his year for a party and he chose to make it a water party. He invited 4 friends; Davis, Vincent, Dallin A., and Dustin, and all of his cousins who live here in AZ. The kids had a great time paying water games in the backyard with sponges and sprinklers. Everyone ended up SOAKED! We then moved into the garage where the kids ate hot dogs, chips, and watermelon, and then opened presents before brownies and ice cream.

Being silly while waiting for the cousins to show up...

 

We love McKade! He is so fun, easy going and smart! He LOVES to sing- and LOUD is his only volume. He loves playing with his brother and sisters, and is a good sport about playing what his sisters want, usually girly stuff. I am so thankful I get to have this boy be a part of our little family!

 

 

1st Day of School! 1st Day of School!

To say we've all been waiting for this day for a long time now is an understatement! Other than Tyli waking up at 5:00 a.m. screaming from a nightmare just after I took off for my morning run (yes, you read that right- more to come on my new adventures later!), this morning went very smooth and without a hitch.

"D-Man" 4th grade. He has Miss Arnold- who is WONDERFUL! AMAZING! FANTASTIC!! (seriously, EVERYONE at BFCS Crismon Campus wants and usually requests her. Dallin just lucked out and got her!)

 Oh and, check out his braces smile!!!

"Kado" 1st Grade- Miss Snow. She's a brand new teacher this year having just graduated from ASU. He also was up late last night, wiggling out another tooth before his 1st day of school.

"Ty" or "Ty Ty" Kindergarten- Miss Goff. This is also a new teacher, but not to teaching- she's taught for 7 years but this is her first year at BFCS. She seems really nice!

This is how Tyli spent a good portion of the morning recess- playing in the sand. She isn't cleared to play on any kind of playground equipment or anything yet for another week and a half so she played in the dirt with this cute girl, Claire.

Look familiar? (McKade did the same thing last year!) Same pic, different kid!

Tyli decided to go play by pushing other kids on the swings. She was literally pushing them off, which was funny! I'm happy to see her finding a way to play and make friends. :)

heading over to their 1st ever BFCS Flag Ceremony!

Her class size (height of her class) is SO TINY! Seriously folks- I know Tyli is very tall, but look! Here she is standing next to her good friend, Lissa. Almost the ENTIRE class is Lissa's size! (only like 2 others who are just shorter than Tyli!) The parents all kept laughing saying "I am so glad- I thought my kid would be the smallest, but they aren't!" No joke. My 2 year old is taller than a few of them! Sweet little Lissa is probably the average height of the class.

California Vacation Day 1

 We decided to change things up a bit this year and go on our first Clark Family- family vacation! We have always only gone to AZ or ID and back- to visit family, but felt we needed to get out and PLAY- and see some other places. So, after not much debate from the kids, we booked our hotel and destination- Southern California! My parents met us there, driving from Idaho to Vegas to Cali.

We woke up early Monday morning and drove to Carlsbad, California. Our first stop was getting gas, which just happened to be where the navy seals were gassing up their trucks and boats. Their truck were HUGE and they let us take a picture by one...

Then we met my parents who were on their way into town at Taco Bell for lunch before hitting Lego Land. We were very excited!

Can you find Halli?

 Luckily, Halli was able to ride quite a few rides seeing as she was 34 inches tall. (Not all, but some.) Tyli could ride most, except for the ones with water and roller coasters because of her broken arm. The boys could ride everything!

Like I said- Tyli couldn't ride some of the rides because of her arm so when we went on a roller coaster which she and Halli couldn't ride (Halli was much too short!), Grandpa Ruth took the girls over to get their faces painted.

Thanks Grandpa!

Mom, you are looking a little sunburned- even though it was mostly overcast! Just waiting in line- something we did most of the day. Good thing my kids are patient!

I'm pretty sure this was Halli's favorite ride! She kept saying "I go up, I go dowm. I go up, I go dowm." (down)

The kids all earned their drivers liscences- except Halli- she was too little. 

McKade did have a small issue with road rage after someone cut him off. Pretty funny! He threw his hands up in the air like "what do you think you're doing!?!" We all laughed at him.

The boys favorite display- Harry Potter.

This is only a small fraction of the pictures we took. I'm having a hard time loading the others. Anyways, we headed out and to dinner before going back to the hotel and crashing for the night- everyone was exhausted!