Achievement Days Sleep Over

We had an Achievement Days Sleep Over at Valerie Nordquist's house on the 30Th, and Oh the fun we had! We ate a pan of brownies,ingested a lot of soda, and chips, made 2 music videos, watched the Parent Trap, The Haley Mills Parent Trap, and played the Wii. We stayed up late and slept in late. The girls were so fun. I just love them all so much. They each bring their own flair to the group. I think it shows in the videos. This was Bethany Lamb's last activity, and it was her Birthday, bonus for her. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETHANY! We are going to miss you.
Thanks for a fun time girls.

All that Christmasey Stuff

This may have been the best Christmas of my Adult life. The kids were so excited and filled with wonder this year. Emilie still believes in Santa. Ivy was a crack up as usual. I kept finding her in the living room counting and organizing her presents. Addie was just as sweet as she could be. I had to re wrap several boxes this year because of her. She is a present unwrapping pro now. I think having her birthday so close to Christmas is what contributed to that.

My parents were able to come this year to join in our celebration. It was so great having them. I really think they had more fun than the kids did. What with all the fudge making, and gingerbread house decorating and all.

With them came snow this year. Only one other time have we had a White Christmas, and Ivy was too young to remember it. I never thought it would happen in Texas. I even gave all our baby snow boots to our niece to wear while she was in Idaho this year, never thinking we would need them. I think the kids had more fun with the snow than they did with their presents. We built snowmen, had a snowball fights, and drank lots of hot chocolate by a roaring fire.

Yes, I think this was the best Christmas ever.

It wouldn't be Christmas without a trip to the ER.

What would the Holidays be without a little drama, and trauma. After church today Jason was running full speed down the driveway and tripped. He did a fantastic face plant, scraping his knee, jamming a finger, and splitting his chin wide open.

Luckily, according to the Dr. He just ripped through the fat on chin. "Not that he's Fat!" He got 4 stitches, and will have another lovely scar to carry through life. Now in years to come he can look at his chin scar and remember this Christmas, always.

bubble art

A few weeks ago we created some bubble art. It was so much fun. The girls made some really cool pictures. Adelaide even figured out how to blow through the straw to make the bubbles, but not before sucking up a little green water/paint.

We really had a such a fun time.

HOORAY FOR THE TWOS!!

Happy Birthday to little Adelaide. She is so precious to me. I am so glad we have her in our family.

Her birthday was the 28th, but we celebrated on Thursday while the family was here for Thanksgiving. Its always more fun when more people are around. She opened her presents, her favorite of which seems to be her little red tricycle. Though she spends more time pushing it around than riding it just yet.

We put candles on the pumpkin pie and sang to her. A little unconventional, but fun just the same. Last night we bought Birthday cake ice cream from Braums to have for dessert so we could at least have some birthday cake flavor.

Happy birthday Little One!

THAT...

Wash and fold laundry (about a week behind on that)
Clean bathrooms ( about 2 weeks behind on that)
Sweep and clean the floors ( Not too far behind on that)
Vacume carpets ( Not sure when I last did that )
Clean the carpets (Have I ever done that?)
Dust all surfaces (Another week behind on that)
Paint the base boards ( Really need to do that)
Paint a wall (Just wanted to do that)
Cook Thanksgiving dinner (Looking forward to that)
Black Friday shopping (who wouldn't want to do that!)
Finish writing Art History paper (Do I have to do that)
Prepare oral presentation ( Don't really want to do that)
Carve a plaster sculpture (Not sure what to carve for that)
Help Sister in Law make digital calendar( Having fun with that)

Still have time to sleep ( Not so sure about that!!!)

Now for the challenge...
Do it all and make it all seem like no big deal (Don't know if I can pull off that)
Luckily, I have a wonderful man to help me with all of THAT.

Ninerific

Happy Birthday to my most adorable nine-year old. Emilie is the sweetest, most wonderful child. I am so glad that she is my first. She is an amazing big sister to Ivy and Addy. Today she taught Addy how to climb the Jungle Gym, as well as how to hang and drop so she won't hurt herself. Now that's some good big-sisterin.
In some ways I wish I could have frozen her in time. I just loved her at age 4. I think that was my favorite year. She was so funny. I loved watching as she tried to make sense of the big crazy world around her. This year has been an interesting one.
I have been struggling with letting go of my little girl, by letting her be the big girl she has become. I know that's just going to keep getting worse this year too. But I remember being in third grade and feeling so old. So big, and wise, and I see her feeling that way too. I just hope as she gets older and more independent, that she remembers how much I love her, and how much I need her.

Happy Birthday Big Kid!!

Halloween

Thanks to an Art History test and an incredible dirty house, I am very late at posting our Halloween pictures. But I say better late than never.

We had a great time as usual. Adelaide Trick-or-Treated like an old pro. She even got a few extra candies for sheer cuteness. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I think the flower costume really helped the cute-factor. Ivy and Emilie had a so much fun. I let them run ahead of Addie and me this year. I think they enjoyed the little bit of freedom.

Ivy and I had a little costume battle of the wills. She insisted I make her a Pink Witch costume, which I happily spend about 4 hours making for her. Then, the day before Halloween she insisted that she wanted to be a fairy instead. I was afraid I was going to have to drag her kicking at screaming in the witch costume. However, once she saw me all made up in my Witch Costume (sorry no pictures) she was ready to play ball and be a cute little pink witch.

Emilie cracked me up the most this year. She decided to be "Fast Girl" this year. A super hero identity that Jason created for her. I had fun putting her costume together. Jason made an awesome looking tornado for her shirt and we ironed it on her shirt. You see Fast Girl had Tornado power, a very important power to be sure.

Now without further ado... The Pictures.

Halloween Party 10/16

Costume Parade

Playing Twister, waiting for the next call

dividing up the Booty from the Treasure Hunt

Costume Parade

We like to throw a Halloween Party for our kids and their friends, and we just had it on Friday. It was so much fun, and once again Jason was the Man of the Hour. I make up the planning committee. I plan it, shop for it, prepare for it. Jason executes it, and he is amazing. The kids have so much fun playing the games and listening to his non-scary ghost stories. I have fun just being in the midst of all the chaos. I run the food, and make sure no kids are getting left out. I am so glad we do this. My kids look forward to it so much. As I have stated before, Halloween is my favorite holiday. Thanks to all who came, we had a fantastic time!

Once again the Photography Major forgot to take a lot of pictures. I am always so busy at our parties that always forget!!

$$$

Why does everything cost money! Why can't we all just switch to a barter system. I'll give you 10 car washes if you give me.... Why does it feel like there is more money going out than coming in. Maybe because the washing machine is on the fritz. Ivy needs to go to the dentist. Emilie needs braces. We need a new door knob on our font door. Emilie's birthday is coming up. Halloween costumes need to be made. Tires need to be bought. And at this point I could really use a massage, or at the very least a girls night out that doesn't include a 3 hour night class.
I'm really thankful we have the money we need, but golly I really like the idea of saving it, not spending it!!


I would now like to apologize for my rant. I just needed to get that out.

Chalk Art and a Big BooBoo, or what happens when you hang out outside.

On Friday my friend Kaaryn, and I were talking about how people never hang out outside in the evenings anymore. As a result of that conversation, and wonderful weather, our little Poyfair clan spent the evening hanging out in front of our house.

Upon hearing that a family is hanging out outside, one might ask oneself, what comes of this kind of activity. Well, I'll tell you. A lot of sidewalk chalk art, and if you do it right, someone will inevitably get hurt. That is exactly what happened at our house last night. And I have the pictures to prove it.

Adelaide and her first big boo boo

Her boo boo right after it happened,

luckily I had my camera in my hand

Ivy getting her painting on

Emilie and the chalk version of herself

Autumn in all its Splendor!

I would like to officially welcome Autumn to 2009. I am so happy it is finally here.

Autumn is by far my favorite season. If I lived somewhere with trees and mountains I would be watching each day as the colors of changing leaves slowly move down the mountain to the valley, until the whole town is awash with color. I don't miss much about Utah, but that is one thing I really do miss Great Autumn color.

I love that the baking desire in me comes to life each September. Time to make pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, baked apples, apple crisp, and all things yummy. I love chili and scones, beef stew, and chicken soup. Time to make use of my crock pot again.

Halloween is just around the corner, and Halloween is by far my favorite holiday. I loved going to the fabric store as a kid and looking at the pattern books. I would sit forever deciding which costume I would wear that year. Then mom and I would decide which fabric would be best for my pattern choice. I loved watching how the flat piece of shiny pink fabric transformed into a Petal Princess. I get so excited just thinking about making costumes for my kids, the way my mom did for me.

I love corduroy, and sweaters, and jackets. I love hot cider, and Halloween parties. I love cooler days, and cooler nights. I love the smell of lit jack-o-lanterns.

I love Autumn!!

Rain On Me.

So it has been raining here, I believe, since last Thursday. I must say the rain is wearing on us. Today Emilie asked if it was ever going to stop because she misses riding her bike. The excitement of all the rainy goodness has worn off. However, Saturday was the height of rainy fun for our family. Here are a few cute pictures of when the kids liked the rain...

Ivy was so stoked to wear her pink boots. She wore them all day.

BYU BUNCH

This weekend we had a tailgate party and Spirit contest to celebrate the BYU V. OU football game. The Poyfairs are crazy 'bout their BYU football. It was fun to see the rivalry between Nikki and Dane. Those 2 are so stinkin funny. Thanks Grandpa for a fun time, and thanks BYU for winning one!

Spirit Dane, Garrett, and Josh

Spirit Nikki

Sharee, Brandon, Josh, and baby Luke



Grandpa Poyfair

MASTER OF SPIRIT





Emilie, Cougar Kid

The Spirit Contest

Congrats to Brigham Young, I mean Garrett for winning!!