Playing Soccer in the Rain

 It's not always fun to play soccer in Washington.  Our season starts in August but keeps going into the middle of November, right in the midst of the rainy season.  And SOMETIMES it's rainy AND cold. 

 Fortunately our kids love the game, even when it is wet and cold.  In the picture below Hyrum is trying to warm up his ears!

Looking like a linebacker with his thick coat under his jersey!

Hyrum's Baptism

 In the beginning of October Hyrum was baptized.  It was a very special day and everything went perfectly!  Both sets of Hyrum's grandparents were able to fly out for it, and we had so much fun seeing them!

My Mom, (Grandma Francis) gave a talk, and a relative of the other girl gave the other talk.

Hyrum was so happy, and the program was wonderful, you could feel the Spirit in the room.

 Later we ate lunch and went to Chuck E. Cheese to play games (Hyrum's favorite place!), then Hyrum had a soccer game, in the pouring rain!  That evening we went to Ivars for fish and chips with Russell's parents, Heidi's parents, and the Muglestons.  It was a great day!

Russell's birthday

 Russell's coworkers went all out decorating his office for his birthday!  And they gave him lots of candy and delicious cupcakes!

That evening we took the whole family to Red Robin, and Russell opened his presents from the kids.  That's about as festive as we get for adult birthdays!

My birthday

On my birthday Russell came home from work three hours early, with my favorite flowers, and told me to go take a nap.  He knows what I like!  Best present ever!!

For my birthday I wanted to go to the Members-Only  night at the Zoo.  Here you can see us petting a possum!

Birthday Party!

Clara and Hyrum had a combined birthday party.  The theme was Puppies and Kittens.  We rented out a pavilion at a fun playground so there was lots of room for dozens of kids to run!

First all of the kids picked out a puppy or kitten stuffed animal to adopt.  Then they filled out an adoption certificate, collected things for their pet, and made a collar and license.  The pet items were:

Puppy/Kitty food: cocoa puffs and kix cereal

Puppy/Kitty water bowls: filled with pale blue candy-coated chocolate balls

Yarn balls/Tennis balls: large gum balls

And then they filled up their own plates with scooby snacks, goldfish crackers, swedish fish, "pup-corn", and dog food (whoppers).

Picking out their pets.

 Opening presents.  We always have the gift giver sit next to the birthday kid while they open the present from them.

 The cupcakes weren't fancy.  They were tuxedo cupcakes, the cupcake was half vanilla and half chocolate, with a chocolate frosting, because the kids really like those, and because I got a nifty tool that lets me make two flavored cupcakes (half and half down the middle).

 There were so many kids, and little Sammy was running around everywhere, that it was hard to take pictures.  However the kids all had a wonderful time, and Clara and Hyrum really enjoyed their party!

School Days

The first day of school!!  For us school began on September 9th.

 Brielle is in 4th grade this year.

 Hyrum is in 2nd grade this year, and has the teacher that Brielle had in 2nd grade.

Zoo

 Yet another post of us going to the zoo!!  I try to go a couple times a month, it's my favorite place!!

Our zoo has incredible breeding programs, so we always have new baby somethings.  Baby otters, baby lions, baby jaguars, baby gorillas, baby sloth bears, baby porcupines, baby giraffes, etc....so many babies!!

I'm pretty sure being able to stack lots of blocks means your kid is a genius....  ; )