Where in the world is Carmen SanDiego?

Does anyone remember that show/computer game. I used to think it was very cool. Anywhoo... I don't know where she is, but I do know where we have been, in case anyone was wondering. The biggest reason I haven't posted is because my computer crashed a couple of weeks ago, and while I was lucky enough to have everything backed up, it's taken me a while to set up my computer again. And just when I think I've got everything back the way I like it, I try to do something and discover it's not there anymore or the setting aren't the way I like them. I think I am finally back up (crossing fingers). We've also been very busy. With four active children, we seem to find very few evenings when we are not doing anything. So let me sum up the past few weeks for everyone.
We've been loving the fall weather. It's finally cool enough that going outside feels good. We've even had some lovely rain that has helped with the fall feeling. Izzy has enjoyed riding her scooter as we take "long" (usually just to the next street and back) walks.





Izzy has also been enjoying "cooking". Her current favorite thing to do is cut out circles from her coloring books and color on them to make pizzas. Which she then serves to the rest of the family.


She also has been liking TV much more lately. While this often causes big fits when she's not allowed to watch, it does make it easier for quiet time when she sits through an entire movie. This is one of my favorite pictures of her while she watches TV

Now you would think this beautiful princess would be watching princess movies or Care Bears or something equally girly, but no, she was watching her favorite show which happens to be:


Yep, the X-Men. Go figure.


Izzy also decided that it was time for a change and, taking matters into her own hands, ended up with this


Luckily we have a good hair stylist and he was able to make a scissors mishap look really cute. Her biggest concern when I told her that we were probably going to have to cut her hair short, was whether or not it would now turn brown. I do really like it and I think it fits her personality great





Jack is busy going to school and doing his workbooks and reading. This past weekend he was very glad that it was Saturday so he could stay home all day because he was tired. I'm not sure what he had done this week that had tired him out, but he sure did need a lot of sleep. He is loving his piano lessons and becoming better and better on said piano



Riian finished up her soccer season two weeks ago and expressed remorse that she had to wait all the way until January before she can do another sport. I told her until then she can practice her pitching in the back yard for next years softball season, and that seemed to cheer her up a bit. She and another friend were the only 4th graders on the team, and they had also played on the same basketball team last year, so they worked really well together and made quite a few goals between them. She is always so fun to watch play sports, and it makes me excited to see her play more.






Riian also had to make a Utah shaped cake for Social Studies. They use this cake as an end of unit test. The teachers asks them to label the mountains, rivers, deserts, etc... in Utah and they do so on this cake. It is a favorite thing of all 4th graders and Riian was no exception




Cole has been busy growing up. He is in the communities production of Annie Jr, so he has rehearsals Monday and Thursday evenings and Scouts on Tuesday. This past week he had his first experience with a friend being seriously injured. On his way home from Scouts his best friend fell off his bike and the handle bar went through his leg, tearing a gash down to the bone. Cole came running into the house yelling that his friend had torn up his leg and you could see the bone. Nate and I though he said "tore off his leg", so we ran faster that we've ever run before to go help, his leg was still attached but it was still pretty gross. I ran and got his parents while Nate calmed down the boy. Cole the whole time was employing everything he had ever learned in Scouts and suggesting they get rags to tie around his legs, elevate different things and so forth. At least we know he can keep a cool head in times of emergencies.



Nate and I are just trying to keep up with the kids. Nate is writing a book at the moment so most evenings are spent with him on his computer and me on mine happily working on our different projects together, listening to music. It may not sound very exciting, but it makes us happy.