Busy October...

We started off the month with belt promotion testing at Taekwondo...Kai's first official testing!!! It was so cute to watch him test - and he did GREAT!! Every score he got was above an 8 (out of ten).

Proud Daddy!!
I was also super proud of Kai - its so fun that he is starting to do activities like this. Definitely growing out of being "my baby".

All three head instructors had their sons testing...pretty cute!

I also tested - just no pictures to prove it. You might notice the bright pink on my hand - its the new accessory for fall...I broke my hand doing my board break for my test (three nights before). Its my first ever broken bone - and will be my last!!! Not the funnest experience. Good news, I did break my board and no one knew I was even hurt until after my test was over - I waited to cry.

The kids, my mom, Tyler, Aubrey, Duncan and I went to Moab to support Wyatt's BIG race...24 hours of Moab. Wyatt's team KILLED their divison by a lap and 49 minutes - EXPERTS next year!!

My mom and Kai in his pajama pants - refused to get dressed, but I obviously didn't care that much.

Kai and me waiting for the race to start.

I was doing the dishes when I heard a loud crash - I followed the noise to the bathroom. Reese discovered that the bathtub is fun without water also! She is always trying to climb into the tub - we keep the doors shut now.

I "hired" Wyatt to remodel our bathroom. He has done an AMAZING job and I am so thankful to have him as my brother. Wyatt - YOU ROCK! If you want to hire him, let me know. ;)

Before - ugly, ugly, ugly (Wyatt had already ripped up the floor)

After - with beautiful tile.

Kai discovered how to save on water...pee off the back deck - no flushing! The toilet was not installed...however, Kai has tried this since then.

Reese is CLIMBING - AHHHHH!!!!

I love her face in this - Oh no...I got caught!

The computer table is a favorite to climb on.

Trying to climb through. I love her chubby legs!!

Climbing on top of stools - smart girl, getting closer to the fish (she loves to watch them).

Climbing in cupboards!

Reese is also walking!!! This is to show that she took 7 steps in a row - she is now walking a lot more than she is crawling.

Before Halloween I pulled out the big bucket of costumes for us to go through. Kai found my super woman costume from last year, when I was big pregnant. He wanted to be super-Kai for Halloween...

But he ended up being Spider-Kai (any surprise there?).

Kai has also started chores - don't know if its "too early". But he wanted to help out and so I jumped all over that!

We had quite a busy month - I also went up to Idaho to be with my mom for a couple of weeks. I had a great time up there with my family. I can hardly believe that its almost the middle of November...time starts flying at the end of the year!

Montana

We recently went on a trip to Missoula, Montana for our friend's wedding. It was so beautiful there and we were so grateful to be able to attend James' wedding. We started the 7 and a half hour drive around 4am, so the kids would sleep for most of the trip...that was a good decision! Reese thought she was hot stuff sitting in the front seat while we got gas.
This has to be my favorite outfit Kai has ever put together...a batman t-shirt, spongebob pajama pants and Spiderman shoes - Oh yeah!!!!

After arriving - first on the list, shower and get ready for the rehearsal dinner. "Thank you Aunt Kari for making my beautiful dress (it fits, my mom is just holding me weird and making it ride up), Love Reeses Buttercups".

Me and my babies!

We took a chairlift ride up the mountain - about a 20 minute ride. It was so gorgeous and so peaceful...the kids were really quiet and just looking around at everything. The only not-so-good thing...the only thing keeping the kids from falling was us, it was a bit scary but nothing happened, so totally worth it.

The Thompsons at the top of the mountain!

We went swimming whenever we could. They had a kiddie pool that was about a foot deep and Kai and Reese loved it!

I realize I look a bit drugged here...but Buttercups is so cute!! She is our water-baby.

We were actually there for the wedding...see?! This is our very good friend James just minutes before the ceremony.

During the reception the music was provided by Reese and her good friend Paxton! Again, thanks to Aunt Kari for Buttercups adorable flirty skirt!

LOVE IT!

Kai wanted to dance so badly...he asked during the entire wedding dinner, "When is the music coming?"

Congratulations James and Ruth!!! We love you tons!

The Fab 5

Ok, I'm continuing this from my sister-in-law...should be fun...

The first 5 people to respond to this post will get something specially made by me for you! Of course, there are some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make - yet, its from me, so you should like it!

2. What I create will be just for you.

3. It will be done sometime this year.

4. You will have no clue what it will be. It could be ANYTHING from a story, to an article, to something baked or sewn (yeah right), or painted! Who knows? Not you, thats for sure!!

5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

6. I will send it anywhere! It doesn't matter where you live!

The catch? The catch is you have to repost this on your own blog and offer this to the first 5 people who do the same on their blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did will when a FABULOUS homemade gift by ME!!!!

Oh! And be sure to post a picture of what you won when you get it!

What Happened to July?!?!

I can't believe that its August...and practically the middle of August - summer is almost over!! AHHHH!!!! So, what did we do in July?!?! We started off by going down to Cedar City for the Utah Summer Games. Kai competed in Demo Team competition and he got his very first Gold medal!! He was super excited and he keeps it safe in his special "Treasure Box".

Troy also competed at this tournament. He got bronze in his forms division and gold in his sparring division - I wouldn't want to compete against those long legs!! Troy is in blue.
God Bless the USA
The kids and I watched a parade that Troy participated in - don't they look super excited?! We got there an hour and a half early to drop off Troy and by the time the parade started the kids were ready to go home - hope next year is a better experience for everyone. But don't they look cute?! :)

Reese got a pretty necklace from a Princess in the parade.

Afterwards we went to a carnival and watched fireworks!

We also goofed around and read a lot of books.

We also went to Las Vegas for the Martial Arts Supershow! Troy got to meet a lot of awesome people and the kids and I got to have a great vacation!! We hit the strip and M&M World - chocolate is a favorite for the kids and me.

Troy got to meet and train with Chuck Lidell...he said it was awesome!

We went to the pool A LOT!!! The kids LOVED it and I am so happy that Kai will now put his face under water and Reese absolutely loves the water!!

Reese has also been advancing in her activities...she is standing and walking along furniture. She is standing on her own, but not moving. Her favorite place to stand is in the bathtub.

We were so busy in July, the kids slept where ever they could!! Kai is in the stroller while we are checking out of our hotel in Vegas.

I also took pictures of the kids, finally!! Reese's 6 months and Kai's 3 year pictures. I did these myself and I'm pretty happy with the way they turned out!

I LOVE this picture of the two of them together. I just LOVE my kids so very much and I'm grateful everyday that they are healthy, happy, playful kids - it makes my days easy!!