Halloween

Poor Brooksie woke up not feeling well on Halloween. He progressively got more sick as the day went on and started fevering and had a tiny cough. My mama heart broke to tell him he couldn't go trick-or-treating because he was sick. Brooks, and the kids, have been looking forward to Halloween all month. Instead of keeping him home, we decided he could come if he wore a mask and stayed in the stroller the whole time. We went trick-or-treating for him and gave him candy under his mask to eat. And Stockton was happy to sit in the stroller the whole time as long as we kept feeding him candy too. It was nice because the boys were strapped to the stroller and we only had Hallie to keep track of. As always, we went trick-or-treating with our friends and neighbors, the Naylors, and some of our other neighbor friends joined us as well. It was a fun and not too chilly night!

Hallie

Hallie is just the best. Best and sweetest little girl. I love that I can trust her to make good decision and make the right decisions. She is mature beyond her years and also smart beyond her years too. She has so many friends at school and loves playing "wall ball" at recess with mostly boys. Soccer this fall has been challenging her in ways it hasn't before. But in true Hallie fashion she is quickly adjusting and it doesn't take long for her to catch up. Junior Jazz is also starting up and she is pretty good at that too, definitely the best and most athletic girl on her team. She is the perfect balance of "girly girl" and "tom boy." She has a natural ability to succeed at everything life throws at her. I love that she is my oldest and my boys have her to look up to as an example. 

Halloween at school.
Leo Boman, Sailor Blocle, Madison Barker, Hallie

Halloween parade at the ward party

Hallie is so thoughtful, creative and a great problem solver. She made this sheet for Brooks to practice writing his letters, complete with arrows to show him exactly how to write the letter. She never ceases to amaze me!

Nickle Halloween Party

My mom always puts so much effort into all the parties she throws. It was fun to get the family together!

Back: Elsa, Bre (Where's Waldo? :)), Justin
Middle: Hallie, Stockton, Drew, Brooks, Lachlan
Front: Xander, Zeke, Mia, Pratt and Jensen

Brooks loves Jensen! Jensen is so kind and patient to play with Brooks. Brooks calls Jensen his other "dad," which we all find pretty funny! Ironic that they both dressed up as Spiderman. 

Stockton seems to always be getting into things he shouldn't. Luckily, this time, the knife was fake. Haha!

Kids

I am so full of love for my kids! Maybe it is because I am blogging this while on a vacation away from my kids but I just love and miss them so much right now. I can't believe Russ and I have created 3 beautiful babies! They are each so unique and special and complete our family in the best ways. 

After soccer practice one day I took the kids (along with Addison and Nova) to Cold Stone for some yummy ice cream. 

Now if this isn't the cutest picture you ever saw then I don't know what is. Hallie is so good with Stocko! 

Brooks

I am so proud of Brooks and the steps he has taken this year to get out of his comfort zone and trust himself a little more. He is going to primary without a problem, loves going to school, loves going to Shelli's, is learning his letters and the sounds of his letters and how to write his name. This year has been a big year of growth for him. He is gaining more confidence and courage and I love watching him develop his bravery. He is such a sweet boy and loves a good snuggle, usually with Russ even though I beg to have him snuggle me. He is my cutest little raspy voice, missing tooth, hat loving, takes everything literally boy and I wouldn't trade him for the world!

Of course he will wear his costume when it's not Halloween. Haha!

Preschool has brought a whole bunch of germs into our household and Brooks and the rest of us have been sick so much already. And it isn't even winter yet! Brooks must bring some germs home, he gets sick for a week, and then the rest of us take our turns being sick. Poor buddy!

Swaddled up watching Hallie's school Halloween parade. It was freezing and windy!

Kidstopia

Going to Kidstopia is always a risk. Only because I know it is a germ infested place and my kids will likely be sick from going a few days later but you also have to experience life and let them enjoy it too. It's a juggling act to not go to too many places so we aren't sick all the time but when the weather gets cold you just don't have many choices.

Stockton loved playing in the balls and Brooks was having fun roaming around with friends and going down the slides! Stockton wants to be a big boy so much and it won't be too long before him a Brooks will be off together getting into who knows what. 

Jazz Game

Russ and the older kids went to the Jazz game with tickets provided by Hallie's junior Jazz team. They were excited and had a good time despite the game being a little long for the littles to sit through. It will be nice when Stockton is just a little older and we can all go together as a family. 

Stockton

It is finally our turn to start speech! It has been a long wait! Stockton still isn't saying any words but I feel like he is understanding more and more everyday. I am excited, and a little skeptical, to see what speech therapy does for him. He is a stubborn and independent little dude. He sure knows what he wants and how to get it all on his own. He loves nutella toast for breakfast and his milk but other than  that he doesn't eat much. He sleeps soundly from 8-830 and naps for a few hours during the day. He loves sleeping with his burp cloths and stuffed animals. He is starting to really like cars and of course would prefer all the cars Brooks is playing with at the moment. There are multiple fights between Brooks and him because of it. I'm still obsessed with his tiny and chubby feet and his dimple smile never gets old. His determination and grit will get him far in his life. I love watching him grow up! I love you a million times a million my Taco baby! 

He still loves climbing in Rosie's kennel

Russ

I had to take a picture of Russ snuggling up in my snuggy. He was cold after his bowl of ice cream one night and it was pretty funny to watch him squeeze into my snuggy sweatshirt. Haha!

Rosie

Oh Rosie, I'm so glad we got her! I am obsessed with my dog. She is such a good and sweet little dog. She is now sleeping in our bed at night, which I vowed I would never do. But man she is so snuggly and just wants to be right next to me. And I love it. And Russ tolerates it. She snuggles right into me and wants to be touching me. I told Russ the other day that nobody loves me like Rosie does and he just rolled his eyes. But really, she is such a lover. Sometimes she will go and snuggle and sleep with Hallie at night and I get a little jealous. I want her to sleep with me. Haha! She's about 9 lbs. right now.

I love this picture so much. This is exactly the sweet face she makes when she wants to be with me but can't. I was up playing in the playset with the kids and this was her face as she waited for me to come down. I love that little face!