Caterpillar, anyone?

Today the kids had a jolly ol' time hunting caterpillars with their neighborhood friends. The hunt wasn't too challenging since they were EVERYWHERE!





I stole these cute pictures from my bloggin buddy, Kristin. Thanks for always having the camera ready!

Uno - Dos - Tres!

Today Ashton lost his 3rd tooth. This was a MAJOR feat for him. The only part he likes about having a loose tooth is the potential for some moolah when it's all said and done. We tried for DAYS to get this tooth out with no luck. Then Ashton decided to visit our next door neighbor to seek some help. She has been the only person who can get his teeth out without a major panic attack. Once again, she was successful and the tooth came flying out. She is now 3 for 3! Thank you neighbor!

Service Day Part I (In the Beginning)

For Stake Service Day our ward decided to organize a food drive for the local food pantry, The Amen House. They asked each family in the ward to help participate. Our assignment was to deliver bags with flyers attached to a number of houses in our neighborhood. A few days later we were asked to go around to the same houses and pick up the filled bags. The boys had such a wonderful time participating in this service project. It was a great experience. We even received help from the neighborhood kids in helping deliver the bags/flyers.

Here are a couple of pictures of the boys delivering the bags.

Service Day Part II (The Collection)

Today was the day we were to go pick up the donated bags of food/toiletries. We began on our street only to be met by another family in the Ward. They obviously wake up much earlier than we do on Saturdays and had already completed their assigned streets. The kids had so much fun doing this service project. Once our streets were completed, we drove over to the other side of the neighborhood and met up with one more family from the ward. With all 3 families working together we were able to knock it out lightning fast. It was really fun watching all the children working together to get the job done.

Once we gathered all the food we drove it all over to the church where they separated it into different categories and got it ready to deliver to the food pantry.

Thanks to all who participated - whether by helping organize the routes, print the flyers, deliver the bags, picking up the bags, donating the goods in the bags, sorting, etc. It was much appreciated.

"To serve others willingly and unselfishly should be one of our greatest virtues. It is not even a matter of choice. It is an obligation, a sacred command.... "Therefore, let us serve one another with brotherly love, never tiring of the demands upon us, being patient and persevering and generous."
-Ezra Taft Benson (Thirteen President of the Church)

Halloween 2008!

Happy Halloween! Matt took the kids around the neighborhood while I handed out candy with a couple of my neighbors. The kids scored, like always! Ethan was Sebastian the Crab (from Little Mermaid), Ashton was a Clone Trooper, Ryan was a Leopard and Brinley was Tinkerbelle. The weather was fantastic. It was a perfect night.

Neighborhood Pumpkin Carving 2008

Today a few of my neighbors organized a fun pumpkin carving event. I was not too excited about it, but it turned out to be a fun time. Of course the Moms were stuck cleaning out the pumpkins (yuck!) and just a few of the kids were able to carve their own pumpkins. Some of the other Moms provided yummy treats for the special occassion. Good times, for sure! Stephanie (the one holding the pumpkin seeds) took all the pumpkin seeds and made yummy pumpkin seeds for us. They were DELICIOUS!!