Afton's first Primarry Program

Yesterday, Afton participated in her first Primary Program. She did a great job sitting quietly (and helped shush the kids who did not), speaking her part ( I can share with others) and singing every single song. She was especially pleased that she did a great job with the sign language with one of the songs. We practiced her part at home for two weeks so much that Abel was saying it too. After Afton said her part, Abel said "Good dob , Atin!"

I had tears in my eyes every time I caught her eye, seeing my baby so big and doing such a great job. Plus Primary songs just do that to me!

And here is a quick shot of 75% of the family, with Abel unhappy to be forced into stillness. Soon he was on the go again.

weekend update

We have been having a great run of luck with Patrick being home! He had a day off in the middle of the week and we enjoyed a family day at the children's museum, he has had almost two full weekends off and lots of early nights!

We did the ward Halloween party, our own pumpkin carving and tonight attended the coolest bash at his work. The kids are already loaded with candy and it's not even Halloween yet!

Here is the picture fest of our fun week:

Afton's favorite thing to do at the park is dig.

Abel has recently developed his single fear: slides.

So in love and loving a day together.

The Medieval Maravilla's

field trips from the past

I forgot to post these great pictures from recent little outings we have had. First the Denver Children's Museum:

Afton the rabbit and Abel the hiding mouse

playing in the vet clinic

firefighting is serious business

Abel fulfilling a lifetime dream of pushing a cart

And now NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research) sound boring I know but it's FREE and has some science stuff. Plus it is at the foothills of the Rockies so the drive and views are amazing.

clouds

Patrick has a thing for clouds...which means I notice clouds a lot. And take pictures of them that I don't end up doing anything with. Thank goodness for blogs to make the 3600 photos I have vaulted in my computer worthwhile. Even the ones of clouds.

light and fluffy

pink

eyeball

We made our first family trip to a real pumpkin patch this weekend. Afton and Abel had great fun picking out their pumpkin, almost as much fun as Dad and Mom had. Of course, the pumpkin patch couldn't just have pumpkins so the kids got the pet animals (which Afton bravely did and Abel had to be tethered back from doing too much), ring loud bells and beg to go on the rides, bounce house and get cotton candy. The parents held firm though (very aghast that pumpkin farms must have carnival attractions to ruin the fall splendor of choosing a pumpkin!) and we only did the season appropriate (aka free) things.

back in business

I'm finally getting around to posting some pictures of our adventure in Colorado Springs last week.

(cool aunt liz let the kids paint their faces like clowns, then go in public)

(afton got to experience caring for a pet...liz confirmed she never wants one!)

(afton officially learned to pump complete with the jump at the end)

(abel learned to love jumping on the "boing boing" ot "gopoline" and afton perfected her chicken jump)

(when visiting the other set of cousins, we stopped by twice to check out the EXTREME HOME MAKEOVER house...supposedly a bowling alley will be in the basement)

funny funny

No pictures with this post, I'm out of batteries and cannot locate my battery charger. Arghhh the pains of moving!

Afton has said some really funny things lately that I can't pass up posting:

Since Patrick bought a truck, Afton is always trying to spot matching trucks. On a drive this week she thought she spotted a Ford Ranger and told me so. I told her it was a different truck and she twisted her lip into the thinking position and said, "Actually Mom, I think it is an..... F150." Her Grandpa will be so proud.

While talking about Joseph Smith after church last week, I mentioned the part of the First Vision where Heavenly Father and Jesus appeared. Afton quickly said, "No no Mom, glorious beings appeared. We sing about it in Primary."

Afton was working on her awesome sticker book a few days back, the dinosaurs stickers to be exact. She was naming the meat eating dinosaurs... "T-Rex, Stegosaurus, Fur-Lobster-Raptor..."

A random comment last week was : "Mom some people speak Spanish. And other people talk...normal."

Abel has a funny bone too, mostly because he is picking up phrases from his big sister. My favorites are:

"Yeah Mom, I know."

"WOW"

and less funny but still cute "don't like it" to anything I give him to eat that was not a direct request (which is most everything since his usual requst is waffles.

missing vacation

Boy have I got the travel itch! Late September is the time of year when I travel to see my family. For the last three years I have been able to spend two weeks with a one or more of my sisters and I am so sad that I am not doing that this year. So today's flashback is some of my favorite shots of our fall family visits.

at Lake Erie with the Ashworth's

Abel and Haven getting clean

Afton, Ciela and Toran's crazy faces

sharing a kiss with Nana over some delicious lunch at Beaches

cousin kisses: Cabes and Afton 18 mos

smelling roses with Papa in Great Grandpas garden

reading with Grandma


Pria and Afton mastering the stairs (oh look how little those girls are!)

insight into my soul

laugh and cry with me on my personal blog. i had a very enlightening experience today.

holding on for dear life

Summer just won't end! I am officially ready to pack up the kiddie pool and swimsuits and break out the sweaters and cocoa. But temp's near 90 just don't allow that. The kids are having fun with the extended warmth though.

Afton loves her new (target clearance!) watering can

Abel figured out how to push his "bike" forward with his legs but he still prefers the push mode

Oh look! A shot of me with my kids not taken by me or by kids!

It did get breezy on Sunday

So we walked around the neighborhood checking out the few changing leaves

And then came home to a freshly baked (and homemade to boot) apple pie.

flashback

I've been meaning to make this flashback a weekly thing on this blog. It makes me feel like I am using the 3500 plus photos on my computer!

mom and baby afton '03

afton on the computer '04 (17 mo)

abel starting to eat and sit up, '06

cutie pie with cutie hair ( i should bribe her to cur it short again!)

bedtime cuddles

Tonight Abel wanted to climb in bed with Afton and snuggle before getting in his crib. He laid pretty still and enjoyed some lullabies with his favorite person. I love that my kids love each other and love to play with each other all day long.

And see Afton's awesome pink bed! I'll get a full shot and post it soon.