Little Tooth...

I have been trying to get a picture of that little tooth forever... Gabe is not to cooperative! He is constantly moving so it's a little blurry! Teething... usually one of the first big milestones and a little change to their look, sadly- but I just LOVE baby teeth- especially the two little teeth on the bottom- they are my favorite!

Halloween Party!

Last weekend we drove up to Logan for the annual Murray family

Halloween Party!!

We look forward to this party every year and especially this year because it had been awhile since we had last seen our family and good old Logan! Evan and Eli wanted to dress up as "army guys" again this year- luckily the costumes still fit! Glen was a basketball player and I was the referee! Gabe was the cutest little pumpkin (thanks to Sunny for the darling costume) My favorte part was the stem! (I spray painted his little mohawk green!) We had a great time enjoying all the traditions.... Costumes, baked potato bar, fish pond, mummy game, bean bag toss, donuts on a string etc... Not to mention relaxing at my mom and dad's house over the weekend with a much needed hair appointment, shopping , and date night for me and Glen with free babysitting... and that's not all! Saturday we were able to go to my cousins wedding while great grandma and grandpa Murray babysat- the boys were so excited! They played games, told stories, built swords, and ate treats! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!! I was so happy to learn that North Logan was having the annual Pumpkin Walk over the weekend while we were there! This is one of my favorite fall traditions in Logan. Several organizations, groups, and even private families decorate scenes with pumpkins! They were very elaborate this year! the theme was "those were the days." It was really fun to have my brother Steve and his boys join us! We ha d a busy weekend, filled with lots of fun!!! We are so thanful for family and the wonderful memories that we continue to make together!

A Little Getaway

The boys had their "Fall Break" from school earlier this month which gave us an extended weekend to be together. Glen's territory for work extends from South SLC to St. George. Normally he flies to St. George once a month for a few days but since the boys were out of school he planned some work towards the end of the week in St. George and we drove with him to enjoy a little getaway! St. George is one of my favorite places! I have lots of memories from my childhood "vacationing" (a.k.a. dad's annual work conferences) in St. George! The warm weather felt so great compared to the chilly wind here in Lehi! I love the RED mountains that look like Swiss cheese and are shaped like mushrooms! (sounds like I'm hungry, right? but these are actually two of my least favorite foods!) Anyway, we had a great time hanging out in the hotel- swimming, watching movies and playing video games until Glen arrived in the evenings. Some of the highlights of the trip for me were; Hiking at Pioneer Park (the big rock with "Dixie" painted on it), watching Glen stealthily sprawled on his stomach over a giant rock, stick in one hand -while Evan and Eli stood as "guards" nearby trying to coax a lizard out of its hiding spot, driving up Snow Canyon with the windows down, playing around and digging at the sand dunes, Take Out for dinner every night, watching Gabriel enjoy his first time in a pool, shopping at the outlets, watching Eli and Evan master the vending machines in the hotel (they LOVE treats and just happened to bring along their "own money" they couldn't spend it fast enough!) and visiting the famous Blue Bunny ice cream parlor! It was just nice to be together doing fun things. I think it would have been a really long weekend otherwise! The best part of the entire getaway was just that... Getting Away!!

Taking a Dip!

Evan and Eli are like little fish, they love water and so it has been fun to have a hot tub just out the back door! All summer long we didn't heat it- so it was a perfect "pool" for them! A few weeks ago Eli was out of school for the afternoon, due to a field trip earlier that morning. It was a beautiful day, just a bit nippy. The hot tub was nice and warm so I asked Eli if he wanted to get in. He was so excited and it got even better when Gabriel woke from his nap and was able to join him for a dip!...

Run Racoons!

Last week the school held its annual "Ridgeline Run" to raise money. This year the school is trying to earn enough money for some snow removal equipment so that the kids can enjoy recess even in the winter!! So each student asks for donations from family and friends per lap that they run! It is pretty motivating for the kids and is a good way for them to feel like they are helping their school! It was a chilly day, but no rain- so the race was on!.... It took place on the field, just behind the school. They had huge speakers set up and a DJ was there playing some good songs with a beat! He and the PTA president kept them motivated via the loudspeaker! Each grade ran seperately and had a 1/2 hour to get in as many laps as they could! The students had numbers on their shirts (Evan was excited because it was just like aunt Debbie's when she did her race!) and each time they did a lap they had to pass a line of parents or teachers who "marked" their number to indicate a lap! There were cones and banners set up to mark the course! It was really well planned and my boys looked forward to it for a few weeks! I bundled up Gabe and we went to cheer them on!! They both did so well and ran almost the entire time!! Go Raccoons!

Time is Precious...

I can't believe how much Gabe changes from day to day. Evan and Eli pretty much stay the same... Why is it that when they are the sweetest with soft tiny parts, sweet breath on your neck as you cuddle, grins that melt your heart... Why is this the time that goes so fast? Sometimes I wish I could make time stand still. Gabe does so many cute things lately and yesterday I discovered a sharp little tooth poking up- His first tooth!! Time goes so fast and I thought I better share a few of the precious things he is doing right now...I don't want to forget... He kicks his legs whenever he gets excited about something, especially when he see's his bottle or his brothers! If you hold him while your eating, he opens his mouth too, hoping you'll share! he smiles and ducks his head whenever someone stops to says hello. He ALWAYS laughs for Eli. He arches his back in protest everytime we put him in the carseat. He can squirm out of his bumbo chair. (yup, completely out...) He loves to kick and splash in the bathtub. He likes to suck his bottom lip in. The bottom of his feet and his little armpits are most ticklish. He loves to be outside. He has a favorite blanket he holds it up to his face and rubs the silk edges in his little fingers, he doesn't sleep without his binki. He loves rice cereal. He likes to watch the"baby's first moves" DVD by baby einstien, He squeels in different ways to let us know what he needs. He rolls around on the floor and plays with all his toys- he has a favorite toy- it's a bug with crinkly wings. When I put a hat on his head he's a nut and holds his breath for a minute. I love his many expressions, his big eyes, his laugh, his soft hair... he is so precious.... this time is so precious...

Cuddling with his Favorite Blanket

(thank you aunt Debbie!)

Sucking that bottom lip!

all bundled up!

Fall...my favorite season!

Last Sunday was one of those "perfect Fall days." Sunny, with a little chill in the air. There is just something in the air that makes fall smell good!... We decided it would be a perfect day to take a drive up the canyon and enjoy the changing colors. We love living so close to the canyon and have been wanting to explore all that it has to offer. On the map there is a place called Silver Lake. I was secretly hoping that this could be my Lehi version of Tony Grove (my favorite place in Logan canyon.) So I convinced Glen to follow the map and take us to Silver Lake. The drive was beautiful, the colors were breathtaking. We stopped a few places along the way to take some pictures. the camera really does not do the scenery justice! We finally made it to the dirt road that would take us to Silver Lake. After a really long and bumpy ride we turned the corner and there... was Silver Lake.... To my disappointment it was more of a watering hole than a Lake! I guess the water is really low this year, or maybe it always looks that way? I don't know? Oh well, The rest of the trip totally made up for it. The boys loved looking for the perfect walking stick and stomping their feet to make the leaves "crunch." They collected one leaf of every color and some "special rocks"too!! It really was a Perfect fall day!

Beautiful Baby Boy...

Sportday...

The boys finished up soccer just in time to start Flag Football! We had some neighbors putting together a fall soccer team for the kids Evan's age which was scheduled for the same time as football! Evan was excited to get to know the neighborhood kids better so we decided to sign him up for that team too... thinking and hoping that most of the games would not interfere with each other. It has worked out for the most part...It just makes for a long sportday- I mean Saturday-Evan and Eli both have an hour long football game Saturday morning in Lehi, and fall soccer just happens to be an hour long on Saturday mornings also... AND... it's in Draper Needless to say we are doing a lot of juggling... driving, cheering, assistant coaching and did I mention it's a long day?... I was complaining a little one morning to Glen. He smiled and said gently (with a hint of sarcasm)- "we have 3 boys Emily this is what we are going to be doing every Saturday for a long time!"

Go Gators!

Fall Soccer!

Head it, Boot it, Knee it, Shoot it... But don't use your Hands!!!!!

Moving into a new place, one of our first priorities was to get the boys involved in things so that they could quickly make friends and stay busy! We signed them both up for soccer. The season started about the same time as school started and ended last week. It was Eli's first time playing and he did really well. I'm sure having an older brother helped- He has watched Evan play, He has kicked the ball around with Evan and Glen, and being the little brother- He has had to be a little more aggressive! It was so fun to watch him play...He is fast and really good at figuring out where the ball is going to go. At the first few games we noticed him kind of holding back from "the pack" (all the players on the field surround the ball completely, just hoping to get a kick in... it's quite a sight!) So Glen was telling him "Eli you gotta get in there and get that ball!" Eli looked at him and said "Daaaad- I am waiting for the ball to pop out from all the kids and I can take it down and score a goal!" We never thought of that! It was a pretty smart strategy! Eli had the best coach that we have ever met. He made it so much fun for the kids and was really enthusiastic! Eli loved soccer and he especially liked the treats at the end of the game!

Eli and "Coach"

Yeah Wolves!!!! Go Evan!!! Awooooh!!!!!!!

Evan loves to play soccer! I know every parent thinks their kid is the best on the team.... but Evan seriously is!!! He is the only player who had total control of the ball while kicking it, He has great foot work! He is fast, and tough, and smart about the game! He scored lots of goals and made us proud!

Farewell Summer

Saturday was so cold here in Lehi! It rained most of the day -and here- it's not just regular fall down from the sky rain- Oh no!!... there is usually at LEAST a 10 mph wind blowing everyday, and when a storm kicks up- the wind increases in speed! So on Saturday rain was coming down in every direction!!! That was bad enough ...and then it started SNOWING!!! It looked like December! I know it is officially Fall, but now it really feels like it! ...So... Farewell Summer... We had a really great Summer filled with lots of change, lots of family, and lots of fun! Just wanted to share some of the highlights....

We moved into our new place from Logan to Lehi the first weekend in June (Gabe was just 3 weeks old!) My mom stayed with us for two weeks and helped us get completely unpacked. She is amazing! She took care of the boys, bathed Gabe everynight, got up early in the morning with them so I could sleep in, cooked dinner, and got my house completely organized! I cried the day she left- ALOT!! ...But just a week later we went back to Logan to celebrate the fourth of July! Both of my sisters (Sara and Julie) came into town with their kids for the summer. We all had babies within 6 months of each other and it was so much fun to see them all together! We blessed Gabe on Sunday July 22nd- the weekend they arrived. Then we all headed up to Logan to stay at mom's for about 4 weeks! We stopped at the "This is the place" monument in SLC on our way to Logan and once there we celebrated Pioneer Day (the kids dressed as pioneers and marched in the North Logan parade), Evan and Eli took Swimming lessons with my sisters kids- Claire and Grant. We went on many picnics to the local parks, enjoyed the beautiful canyon, went to Tony Grove, had lots of extended family BBQ's, went to the Logan Aquatic Center, rode all the rides at the Cache county Fair, and were able to get together with some friends too! I can't believe we did all THAT...together 24/7 with no husbands, all our kids, and three babies!!! And we all still like each other!!! Seriously- We really did have a blast- We counted down the hours until bedtime for the kids, looking forward to some "girl time"...when it finally came- most nights we were so exhausted we fell asleep as we sat around talking! I love my mom and my sisters so much- they are my best friends! We were also able to see most of Glen's family at some point during the Summer which was great! We had some fun outings at Thanksgiving Point (Glen's parents gave us a family pass!) and were also able to do a little exploring of the new area! It was one of the best Summer's ever! and also one of the hardest to see come to an end...