Too cute to not take a picture

We figure that Elody at 5 1/2 months old is the size and weight that Jileigh was when she was a year old. These clothes are 6-9 month clothes. I finally figured out how to have healthy sized babies.

Elody is 5 month old with her bear

Words cannot describe how much I love this little girl. I can't seem to take enough pictures of her to show how adorable I thinks she is. On Nov 7th she turned 5 months old. After she nurses in the early morning hour, she likes to snuggle in bed with me instead of going back to her crib, and like a sucker, I let her. I love it as much as she does.

My three little kids

I have three little kids. I have had three little kids for 9 years. lol!

Halloween

Halloween, my most "favorite" holiday. If you know me, you know that is far from the truth. I personally wish to take it off the calendar; but since I am near alone in my belief, I comply to the minimum.

Jaren brought home the 3-D puzzle from school and Jileigh put it together. It was rather complicated. He also brought home a coupon for a free pumpkin at our local store. So we went to the store, he picked out a pumpkin, drew the design he wanted and Matt cut it out for him.

For Halloween night, we went to Dave and Aaron's house for a family party. Jileigh was a wizard, Talon was a burglar, Angelique was a girl Dracula, Jaren was batman, Safia was sleeping beauty, Beauchene was Lightning McQueen from Cars, and Elody was a Christmas candy cane. They had a good time with their cousins and managed to sneak a little candy into their bodies. I was just glad it was over when we got home. A couple of days latter, Jaren came down with the flu and Beau and Angelique got colds.

More apples

Matt's dad brought us some apples that he picked from an orchard. I already did my applesauce so I decided to just can them like I do peaches. On Oct 24th we canned 22 bottles of apples.

Also on that day, Safia decided to put one of her old dresses on Beauchene to make him a sister.

Washing machine overflowed

On Friday, Oct 23, I was doing laundry. I put the last load in the washer and then left to take the kids to Candy's house to play. I knew Matt would be home in about 10 minutes and told him where I would be. Well, the washing machine "fill-sensor" decided not to work. It filled my machine and laundry room and Jileigh's room and the garage with water. Matt, bless his heart had it all cleaned up by the time we came back home. It didn't do it all the time after that but then the turn thingy wasn't turning very well either. So we decided it was time to get a new washer. I love it! It is somewhat of a bigger capacity than my last one and now I can put my whole pile of whites in one load in the washer. Jileigh took the first picture and the second picture is of my new washer.

Jileigh and Talon's choir concert

October 22 was Jileigh and Talon's choir concert. They made a poster for a contest about one of the songs. They got 2nd place for their poster. Grandma H came to the concert too.

Funny Elody

Angelique was holding Elody and Elody was trying to let Angelique know that she was hungry. We all got a kick out of this.

Neighborly kindness

A friend of mine Inger that has a child in Safia's preschool group heard that I have sick kids. So she brought over dinner today, broccoli cheddar soup with brocco-flower and baked potatoes. That was so incredibly thoughtful.

First it was Angelique, then Talon, then Safia, and then Jileigh. Jileigh only seem to have the flu symptoms for one evening. The others have had it for 3 days.

Farewell to Bugsy, Jileigh's guinea pig

Jileigh bought Bugsy in April at 3 weeks old. She has loved her dearly.

Monday morning Jileigh said that she couldn't find her. That evening we looked in every nook and corner and finally found her dead. Jileigh was so heart broken. She called her grandma H who has been through the experience with guinea pig for some comfort. Matt buried her in the back yard.

Goodbye Bugsy. We loved you.

More canning

Last week we got a box of pears and bottled up 17 quarts.

Back on Labor Day when Matt went to his grandma's house, he brought home two boxes of old 2-quart canning jars. I didn't know what to do with them, so Matt stuck them in the garage. I finally came up with the answer. Beans. Candy has a large pressure cooker, so I borrowed it and have been canning my beans in these jars. I have 4 jars of pinto bean and 4 jars of black beans. I still have the kidney beans and the small white beans to go, but Candy needed her pressure cooker back for a little while.

Temple day

Friday morning I decided that I was going to meet Matt after work and we were going to go the temple to do some family names. So I had Jileigh watch the kids right after school and headed off. I barely made it in time but all was well. Then afterwards we headed home and Nate and Candy's kids came over and we watched their kids while they went to the temple. I kept these two babies happy sitting outside with them watching the other kids play.

Crazy hair day

Jileigh and Talon had crazy hair day at school. Talon insisted that we buy some black and red hair spray. My little kids don't look so sweet and innocent.

Elody's 4 month old pictures with her bear and duck

She rolls over and she scoots. She tries to a sit-up the whole time that I am changing her diaper. She likes to stand too. She likes to bite on my knuckles. She sleeps most of the night through, nurses and then sleeps some more. Most days, she will take a 3 hour nap. Those days she doesn't are really hard on me to be able to get anything done. She still likes to be held a lot. We all love her tons!

Peaches!

On our way up to the Ranch we stopped by to get some raw milk at our local polygamist town. They had boxes of gorgeous large peaches for $14 a box. We picked up a box and headed on our way. Last night my parents and brother came to stay with us over night and then head up north today. I ask my mom to stay for a little while and help me get my peaches bottled. So, with my Dad holding Elody, my Mom and I got the peaches done. I even had a few spare to eat. Yum!

Elody cut her first tooth!

At 3 1/2 months old, Elody cut her first tooth. She was biting on my knuckle like she usually does and I felt her bottom tooth. Amazing. That is the youngest I have ever I a child cut through her first tooth.

(I am not going to be able to get a picture of her tooth yet, so her tongue will have to do!)

Angelique's and Grandma H's birthday at the ranch weekend

This past weekend we went up the Ranch again. It is the weekend that is after the temperature drops below freezing which makes the leaves change colors. We also celebrated Angelique's and Matt's mom's birthdays. Most of Matt's siblings were there as well. The kids had a ball horseback riding, riding on the 4-wheeler, playing in the sand and going down the zipline. Even some of them, not mine, braved the cold pond. Sunday after church and lunch, we went to see the leaves and take family pictures. After dinner we had the birthday party. Angelique received Barbie and the Three Musketeers, a small hymn book, a necklace with matching rings, some sour cream, and Nutella. Then we packed up, cleaned up and headed home.

I took a candid picture of Matt's mom holding Elody while talking to Matt's sister Esther. Chienne is right there begging for attention.

Elody and Hannah were cute together on the blanket. Unfortunately just after I took this picture, Hannah reached out and scratched Elody. Ah, babies.

Talon really like the different colors of the leaves and wanted me to take a picture of him with the mountain in the background.

Beau had his first go-down on the zipline. He was excited about it until Matt let go of him. Then he was terrified. (I don't blame him!) Talon, on horseback, brought him back up to the top.

Jileigh loved horseback riding. She said that was her favorite part and she hopes she gets to go again.

Applesauce time

I drove out to our local plig town to get some raw milk and found that they just got in a shipment of apples. They were spotty from a hail storm, so they were only $8 for a 50lb. box. I ended up getting two boxes. With Matt's help and the kids holding Elody, we put up 21 quarts of applesauce. I Love it!

My poor dog

Something got to our dog. I think she got stung and scratched herself. Matt seems to think that a cat got to her. I don't know, but her snout looks awful. I am not even sure what to do about it. I poured hydrogen peroxide on a few times the first couple of day. Now, I just don't know what to do.

Who likes his Cheerios?!

Beauchene loves cereal. He will eat other things of course, but he has cereal about 3 times a day. His latest favorite is Honey Nut Cheerios. We pour raw milk over it, so it is somewhat good for him. One spoon just isn't fast enough, I guess.