Pumpkin and Pie

This month Ethan has learned a lot about Fall, the seasons, the leaves changing color, and of course about pumpkins. He knows that a pumpkin becomes a jack-o-lantern once we carve it and that is just what we did last night. Ethan wanted his to be a mad pumpkin so we gave it a scary face. Tanner did his with Nana and they made a sweet little face. The boys enjoyed helping and eating pie at the end. We put the pumpkins on the porch and lit them so we could see them glow and so daddy could see them when he came home from his long night at the hospital. We love the holidays!

Tanaka Farms

This was our third year at Tanaka Farms. We didn't go as early in the season this year since we don't live down the street anymore so there were not as many pumpkins as we were used to. But the boys still enjoyed exploring the corn maze, jumping on the hay bales, and running around all the pumpkins.

This year in school Ethan will have a little class party on Halloween but the school is doing their big Halloween carnival on Sunday. I don't know why a school would do it on a Sunday, especially a public school. We of course will be missing out but will be going to the ward Trunk-or-treat on Saturday.

On Halloween we will go trick-or-treating around our neigbhood. I'm excited to see the excitment of the boys this year. I think once Tanner gets passed the fact that he is having to wear his costume to get candy he will think it's quite fun. It will be a first having two boys get to enjoy in the Halloween fun.  

18 months old

This last month Tanner has really started to turn the corner from a baby to a toddler. He is saying more, and really is just coming into his own. He is still so baby to me though and is the sweetest thing. He is sweet to give you hugs and kisses and lay or sit on my lap throughout the day. At night right before bed he lays his head on our shoulder while we sing him church songs and holds tight to his blanket. His blanket is still his favorite thing and he must have it so he can suck on the tags while sleeping. At night as we say our prayers with Ethan, Tanner now runs in and kneels down just like Ethan does, starts making little chattering noises, and says amen and gets up. The boys then play hide and seek together and run around the house as we play chase. He has started to minic Ethan and one of his new found words is "no, no, no!" The way he says it is so cute and as he says it he is smiling and knows he is the cutest thing. He is still in love with dogs and when he sees a dog he starts barking while running after them. He is very soft while petting them and loves to give them kisses. It is still so hard to get him to eat and he is very much a milk baby. He has started nursery and thinks it's ok. He gets pushed over from time to time from the older kids.

Coloring, Travel Town, and a Birthday

Tanner loves coloring and will walk around with some type of writing utencil throughout the day. He will get out a color pencil from the drawer and say, "color." When Ethan does his homework Tanner is right there ready to draw with him. He LOVES dogs! He is so sweet and loves to hold and kiss his stuffed animals.

Ethan is growing up by the day. He loves to play what we call, Good and Bad questions. I ask him a question about the church and he answers with a yes or no. I will say, "Do we smoke? Are you going to go on a mission?" I will also ask him questions about the church like, "What age do you go on a mission? What is the Holy Ghost? Who is Nephi and what did he do? Where was Lehi and his family going and why?" Ethan's answers are almost always right on and so cute. I asked him what the iron rod was the other day and he said, "You hold it to get the delicious tree." He is a crack up!

We went to Travel Town so our little conductors could ride the trains. Ethan is quite an experienced train conductor and Tanner is a conductor in training. Ethan yelled, "All aboard!" while Tanner said, "choo choo."

This week Jared started two weeks of nights in the ICU. It's gone pretty well so far but it's quite busy. Nana has been so kind to come up a few nights to sleep with us while Daddy has been away. Last weekend we went down to Tustin. We went to Disneyland and rode some of our favorite rides. I love Disneyland this time of year. The boys got to hang out with Grammy and Grandpa on Saturday while I got my hair done, went to the temple and did some shopping. It was a busy weekend but that's how we like them: full of family and fun! Sunday we went to church and celebrated Dad's 62nd birthday. I am so grateful for my Dad and all he has done and still does for me. He is one of the best men I know and I look up to him. I love you Dad! Happy Birthday!

I love...

...staying home with my children and being able to teach them.

...how Tanner comes up several times throughout the day and sits on my lap.

...how well the boys play together at bedtime; it's so cute, if only they would do that more during the day.

...that the holiday season is upon us.

...to stay busy with activities for the boys.

...being a member of the church - life is so much more meaningful because we have the truth.

...evenings at Disneyland with my family.

...a good Chinese dinner.

...that I have a husband who works so hard for our family and then comes home and loves jumping into the action.

...going on walks with the boys in the wagon and listening to Tanner bark with the neighborhood dogs.

...that Ethan loves learning, preschool, reading books and being on the go.

...cool, crisp mornings.

...life.

Relaxing weekend

This weekend we enjoyed watching General Conference and I can say this is the most we have heard in a few years. We got to hear every talk and fully take it in. Conference with kids can be hard but Ethan was very involved in listening for both the Saturday and Sunday sessions. During the Saturday session Elder Eyring was conducting one of the sessions and as he got up I asked Ethan who he was. After he had been up a time or two I asked Ethan again and he said, "Everytime the man with the little face comes up that's Elder Eyring." We got a laugh out of it. He loved singing the songs he knew with the primary children and as the Prophet got up he kept singing "Follow the Prophet." I was very impressed with Ethan's desire to listen. It also helped that he was trying to find Grandpa and Grammy on the screen since he knew they were at conference. As the choir sang he would say, "There's Grandpa! I see him. Oh no, that's not him." I enjoy hearing from the Prophet and Apostles and the counsel they have for us. We had a nice relaxing weekend.

It's been raining today which has been a fun change. I love Fall weather. At preschool Ethan is learning about what Autumn and Fall mean. Yesterday we went on a nature walk to find different colored leaves and see what treasures we could find along the way. He is learning so much and loves it. This preschool is such a blessing and I don't think we could have paid for a better preschool. Mrs. Glucksman is amazing with the children.