Finn

Nora's my biggest helper when it comes to raking leaves this year.  Okay, Isaac is actually my biggest helper, but Nora is the most eager.

She also really likes to play in the leaves. 

And then she heard the neighbor's dog...

And speaking of pets, we got one.  Welcome to our home Finn.  He is a beautiful Betta fish that I'm hoping we can keep alive longer than a month.

The kids all love him.

Nora's only crying in the next picture because she was super unhappy about sharing a chair with Isaac and Ben.  She's a bit territorial, that one.  And really good at tantrums.

And so Fall Begins

Fall began for Nora with a finally finished baby quilt.  Happy way belated 1st birthday cute girl.  I really like how her quilt turned out even though I wasn't sure I would.  It's especially cute in her room with her wall decor and crib sheets.

And Ben needed to document his cuteness with his sleeping bag.  He and Isaac got to go camping with dad, the last campout of the season.

And another day...more pictures had to be taken because her eyes begged me to.

And so did the single curl that forms at the neck.  her hair is coming in well but you still can't see it in pictures.  She is seriously SO blond.

I still had to document the obsession with shoes.

And she likes to spread her obsession with others.  She brings me my flip flops at least 3 times a day.  Somedays more.

But her happiest place is outside.  I don't take her out enough so when she gets to go out with her brothers she is in heaven!

The leaves on our tree have started falling early this year.  So early they were mostly green at first.

More excploration in the back yard.  I love this hand me down jacket from Grace.  She looks (and acts) like such a little toddler.

Bonus: how handsome and big is Ben getting!?!

And Isaac too!

But you are never too big for your superhero cape and mask.

I think Nora looks so cute in her pretty navy blue dress.

"round and round the garden goes the teddy bear.  One step, two step, tickle you under there!"

Open houses and Rocky Mountains

My computer has been having problems and these photos feel like forever ago.  But I guess catching up is better than not documenting anything at all.

Nora LOVES shoes.  She particularly loves these shoes of Ben.  She put them on and wore them around the house for a full week and then cried and threw a tantrum when Ben went to put them on for church.  She was yanking off her Sunday shoes and grabbing and tackling Ben to get at his.  It was hilarious.  She also loves ice cream.  She climbed up on the table one Saturday and commandeered Ben's ice cream.  Which produced shrieks and tears from Ben.  Nora had grabbed his scoop of ice cream in her bare hands and was chowing down.   Oh boy!  She can sure hold her own against her brothers.

And these pictures remind me a little of Ben.  Ben would cuddle up with his bear on stairs.  Nora cuddles up with a book and then gives herself a rest on the stair.

These cute boys made a train out of our chairs and the old hose reel.  They played there for a long time.

Ben is also super funny these days.  His imagination is taking off.  He told us instead of killing bad guys he'd send them to outer space in a rocket that he could control by a remote controller.  

He also says the funnies things.  Shortly after we had finished singing "Scripture Power" he asked dad if Sid was a bad guy?  We both looked at each other wondering what he was talking about.  I started reviewing the lyrics in the song: "Scripture power keeps me safe from sin."  Oh...sin.  Not Sid.  Super funny.  We explained sin again and had a good conversation.

I also Love the way Ben says a few words:  yours= ores, theirs=uhms

Ben can also ride his bike without training wheels now!  So big.  I was taking a walk the other day and seeing both he and Isaac from the back on their bikes, Isaac slightly bigger and taller, Ben holding his own behind him, I wished I had something to take a picture so I can always remember that moment.  It was one of those good moments as a mom when you are just so pleased with your kids and everything is right with the world.  It was happy and adorable.

We had Shannon's family for a visit over Labor Day.  We went to the Fort Collins Temple open house and then headed up to Rocky Mountain National Park.  It was a day of adventure.

Aubrey was so cute hugging the statue of Christ.

Jeremiah was a good sport to hang with my boys.  He and Isaac thought it would be awesome to keep the slippers as a souvenir.  Super silly.

Isaac stood watching this lady play the harp for a while.  He really is fascinated with music.  

Some other cute things about Isaac:  He can be such a good helper and I love hearing his "okay" said with such enthusiasm and inflection when he is excited about what I've asked him to do.  He is reading super well and I like hearing him read to Ben.  He is LOVING school.  He seems to be mellowing in a lot of good ways.  I was watching him in our primary program last week and he was sitting more reverently and calmly than years past and it dawned on me just how much older he is.  He did start speaking a little loudly in the microphone for his part and stopped part way through to give an "ughhhhh" when he realized how loud he was.  Everyone laughed.  I guess even with the increased calm he is still "that" kid in the primary program.

So excited for this temple to be dedicated and operational!  What a blessing.

And to the mountains we go!  It was a beautiful afternoon.  We hiked around Bear Lake and then up to nymph lake.  The kids were troopers.