I'm so thankful...

for our "Mitchell Family Vacation" in St. Augustine, Florida this year!


And for a beautiful sunrise!


I'm thankful for barefeet in the sand and relaxation.


For pretty mermaids,



sandcastle builders,


and a good moat that keeps the water away!


I'm thankful that Jeremiah found his legs! :)


I'm thankful for cute little seashell collectors,


freckles,


and even bare bums!


For brave boogie boarders that make me laugh with their sounds of victory as they catch a "good ride!"





I'm thankful for skim boarders who make it look oh so easy,




and don't laugh at me - but with me - as I attempt to skim across the cold water... and keep my sweatshirt dry!


I'm thankful for heated pools when the ocean just becomes too cold!



I'm thankful for some good tree climbing,


sweet nieces and nephews - and one on the way! :)



I'm thankful for fun and yummy family dinners, activities (games, turkey treats, paper making, spin art, shopping, movie going - 11 of us at New Moon - so fun), sight seeing, ice cream cones, etc.)


and birthday celebrations!


Oh, and yummy grilled pineapple is the best!


I am so thankful for my family. And I am so thankful we are friends!


Thank You, Tim and Linda, for yet another great year of Thanksgiving memories!

Really?

My conversation with Karlee before school this morning:

I say, "Karlee, you have to put a shirt under that, your belly is showing. And no high heels to school."

She says, "But..."

I say,"Sorry."

After eating her breakfast and going back upstairs to brush teeth...

I say, "Did you brush your teeth?"

She says, "Yes."

I say, "Is your bed made?"

She says, "Yes."

I say, "Did you put your jammies away?"

She says, "Yes."

I say, "OK, let's go to the bus."

Only to find this when I come back home...





Hmmm, Really?!?

I'm also kind of thinking that maybe my tooth video didn't motivate her tooth brushing, either.

And yesterday, Kavan got home from school only to realize he had forgotten to take his PJ bottoms off.

I say, "Didn't you go to the bathroom all day?"

He says, "Well yah, but I pull my pants and underwear (and for that day his PJ bottoms) at the same time!"

Hmmm - laugh!

Halloween Consequences!

So here they are ready to collect the loot!



Everybody looked so great and really played into their "character."
Cade cracked me up! Cade and Ali were the cutest little mummies I have ever seen. But Cade assured me that he was the "scariest mummy" that I had ever seen!



I love that picture!! Pretty scary, huh? :)


This is the day after and let me tell you - there was some serious candy trading going on here.



So, do I get after my kids a little bit more right now about choosing to take care of their teeth? Well, like with all choices, there are consequences!





Please, brush your teeth! (You could also use some floss, Listerine, maybe even some home fluoride.) Thank You!

What time is it?!?

The pumpkins are carved.









(Kyler thinks pumpkin guts are just gross!)













The cupcakes are made (and eaten).



The games have been played.





The candy is bought.



Layne is home - Super Hooray!




So... it must be trick - or - treating time!




Happy Halloween!

By the way...

What does a ghost get when he blows his nose?
"Boo-gers!" (hee,hee -thanks mom!)

All "riled" up!

So, Monday night our FHE was all about teamwork (especially since daddy is out of town - it works best when we act like a team). The lesson included a "Scripture Treasure Hunt" - the final prize being a trip to Sonic for a treat (I love a lemon-berry slush for $1.00!). It was so exciting! And the kids were so great - until we got home. They had showered earlier (yes, they went to Sonic in their jammies), so all they had to do was brush teeth, have prayers and get in bed. Not hard, right?!? Well, you'd think. But what was I to expect! I mean really! I got them all excited and I gave them sugar. I was the one that "riled" them up, and naturally, there are consequences!
Anyway, I ended up getting after Karlee to the point that her feelings got hurt. She was upset with me because I was "blaming" her. It was dramatic. So long story short -she got in bed, we chatted about making good choices and using appropriate behavior during prayers, I made sure she knew just how much I love her, we hugged, we kissed, and we said goodnight.

Later, I looked in on Karlee and this is what I saw.



She had gathered all of her stuffed animal friends and put them together in her sleeping bag for a good night's rest! In the morning, I found out that they were part of her team! :)

Oh, that sweet Miss Karlee Ann!

It's Fall and...

I am once again falling behind.

But first things first...

Kavan had a birthday on October 16th. My "KavanMan" is no longer a baby, He's 6!



We had a fun family dinner at McAllister's Deli, picked out pumpkins for carving, and came home for some birthday festivities. This year, Kavan just wanted chocolate cupcakes with "the good white" (that would be cream cheese) frosting, colorful sprinkles and ice cream.

He made a wish,



blew out the candles,



and his wish came true!



Glad you had a Happy Birthday, Dude!