Halloween Costumes (the great unveiling)

I may have gone a bit overboard on Costumes this year.

I've been trying since July to come up with a good family theme so we could all match again.

 I knew Alex was going to want to be a princess so I decided we would be George Washington and family (even though he technically didn't have any kids and Martha had a boy and girl- but I doubted anyone would call us on it). 

The dresses turned out a lot dressier than I had planned, so I did the next best thing.  Convinced Kate to let me make Archie Prince Charming.  What's one more costume right?!

 The best part was the adorable cinderella type dress we found for Annie and crown Kate made.

 Meet Cinderella, Prince Charming and the wicked stepsisters.

 I'm torn between Archie's costume and Heidi's as my favorite.

 She just looks so cute in it with the light pink, lace and the way it puffs out just right.  Adorable.

 I wonder how real princesses dealt with grass stains?

 Archie made the suit look good.  Aren't these two just precious!

 Picture Perfect.

 These two sure have their parts down.

                                                           This is a kiss.  Not a bite.

It wouldn't be a photo shoot ..........

                                                        if everyone didn't end up in tears.

Western Iron Makers

These clocks are my all time favorite!

 For the last 5 years whenever someone has asked me where Tyler works, or what his dad does for a living, I would stumble through some explanation about Western Iron Makers, throwing in words like iron, decorative, metal, western, and really cool.  Those in the family casually talk about "the shop" where just about everyone has or does work, and friends always ask what kind of store Loren owns.
People often compliment their ironwork in our home, and we always enjoy giving it as housewarming gifts because it's just so cool!  I could go on and on about it, everything they make is just awesome and I can't wait to decorate my house with all their great stuff someday.  But for now, I'm so excited to announce the opening of the USmadedecor website!!!  Now instead of botching a description of the awesomeness, I can rattle off their web address and let everyone see for themselves!

     Tyler's Grandpa Archie started the whole thing in his garage with metal sheets and an acetylene  torch and arc welder.  It then expanded, and Tyler's Dad Loren and Uncle Boyd took over.  Eventually, it grew from a couple of brothers in the garage and moved into a business shop using laser cutters with their wives in the office taking orders.
Tyler and his brothers all grew up working there, their first jobs welding or cleaning bathrooms, and even though everyone has grown up, it looks about the same.  Tyler and Ben both still work there a few days a week welding and I've even put a little sweat in, taking catalogue pictures, cleaning bathrooms and mopping floors.  I think every son, daughter, husband and wife of Loren and Boyd have worked at the shop at some point or another, it really is a family business.

    I can't say enough wonderful things about "the shop" or the people who run it, but if you are ever looking for a quality, totally unique, U.S. made, beautiful anything, check out the website.  I can vouch for the solid construction and quality work put into each and every piece- these arn't those cheap made in china, western knock offs.
   So there is my plug, check it out (www.usmadedecor.com) and spread the word!  You won't regret it!

I love these ornaments!

The skunk is my favorite, I want a dozen on my christmas tree this year!

BYU Homecoming Parade!

I really like traditions. One of my all time favorites is going to the BYU Homecoming Parade.  I can remember watching it as a kid with my family and have religiously gone every year since Alex was born.

                           
 Not only is it tradition to attend the parade, but one of the kids has to wear my old BYU sweater from when I was a toddler.  Everyone loves it, shouts compliments and throws candy.

                   The Parade was saturday, it was pretty cold and wet but wonderful as always!

 We even got Stephen to come watch it with us.  Heidi thought it was great to hit him in the head with her balloon.  Alex just sat in that chair shoving candy into her mouth as fast as she could.

                                             I think I've turned Heidi into a parade lover.

              She tried to follow the Native American float down the street, dancing to the sweet tunes.

Here is this years Parade group photo.  

I can't believe how fast our family is growing!

Some Pictures From The Past

                                                      Archie, Alex and Heidi 2010 

             Our Parade group 2010.  It was so warm last year, we were stripping off layers. 

Alex and Archie, homecoming 2009.  They were so small, they just sat in their strollers- in awe of the whole thing. 

2008 Alex, Tyler, and almost Archie's (Kate is 9 months pregnant here) first BYU homecoming.  Here we have Stephen pre mission.  Another freezing year.

Yay for BYU and homecoming!

Temples

Check out the handsome guy at 48 seconds.



(It's my little brother)

Someone taught Heidi how to throw sand

Every day I wake up and have an inner battle.  Part of me wants to spend every free second outside while the weather is so perfect.  The other part of me wants to actually accomplish things during the day.  Monday, the park won.

We had the whole place to ourselves, and after a 30 minute bike ride there, we deserved it.  I should mention it was Alex who was riding the bike, I was pushing Heidi in the stroller and the park probably wasn't even a half mile away. 

 Alex gets pretty mad when Heidi puts sand in her hair. 

 It happens a lot.

She will put sand in anyones hair. 

I'll admit I probably haven't discouraged it as much as I should have. 

This is the before picture.  

You might notice the determined gaze in those beautiful blues, and the sand in that fist.  I didn't.  After experiencing one of Heidi's sand attacks first hand, I've now sided with Alex, they need to be stopped.

 

We spent 2 hours at the park!  It was wonderful for everyone involved.

 I saw the girls getting ready to slide and I thought to myself "Kodak moment about to happen!"

 I even tried to coach them to hold each others hands.

 I'm picturing big smiles and sparkling blue eyes, sisters holding hands while racing down the slide, bright colors, sunny day. A perfect picture.

 Then things took a strange turn.

I shouldn't have been surprised.

 Although I wasn't quite expecting this.

 Heidi has entered the wonderful stage where she can safely climb the stairs, go down the slide, and only occasionally tries to throw herself from the tallest tower on the playground.

 I remember the wonderful day's when a slide was all you needed for hours of fun.  After recent awkward moments, with mommy getting stuck in the middle of the twisty slide tubes, I've realized that some slides arn't as fun when you get big.

Everyone had a great nap that day.