BEST COSTUME IS ...................THE UGLY ONE

Todd and I went to an awesome costume party last night, with a "Victorian" theme. Of course we waited until the last minute - literally- to put something together. I ended up looking a little like Mary Poppins. Todd, however looked like......an ugly pirate? He ended up wearing some bloomers that were used for dress up and just laying around. He borrowed his mother's black knee highs and dress shirt. And... it gets even better. He threw on a wife beater left over from our cruise "dress up" and a dollar sign necklace (because isn't that what pirates wear?)Add some brown boots, my scarf around his waste and Tyson's play sword and batman cape hanging off in the back. U...G...L...Y!!

This would have been a great costume, had it been a pirate party - but it wasn't....... at all! Somehow we walked away with best dress (me - only because we are a couple and him - must be the fact that he didn't follow the theme and was wearing some of his mother's wardrobe)

notice - the pager sticking out through his waste band. He was on call last night and I can't help but wonder what would have happened if he would have been called to the hospital. Can you imagine someone showing up to work on you looking like this?

WHAT IS GOOD FOR SOME...... MAY NOT BE GOOD FOR OTHERS (me)

Now that I am entering my third ( AND FINAL) trimester, I thought that I would highlight some of the positive things about this particular pregnancy. Oops, there aren't any..... Okay.... on to the negative.

1. major water retention
2. bloody noses
3. bleeding gums
4. excess weight gain, despite consistantly working out
5. congestion every night (4 months on a $100.00 prescription for stuffy noses just so I can breathe
6. severe back and hip pain
7. restless legs while trying to sleep
8. insomnia - big time
9. nausea on and off - still
10. varicose and spider veins - they disappeared with Jaisa and I hope they will leave after the arrival of this one
11. headaches - ALL the time
12. THE END

We spent another fun weekend in Idaho Falls. However this time....... Grandma and Grandpa were both out of town. We had to improvise and make our own fun.

We did A LOT of reading to each other......

Hung some Halloween decorations on Grandma's front door (notice the small window next to Tyson). Pulled out all of the grand kid toys that Grandma has in her secret "playhouse" under the stairs.....

Laid in the basement next to the fire for hours at a time watching t.v. (fun for the kids - not fun for mom) Made funny faces for the camera.....

And....... we saved the best for last. When Grandpa Weston got home from his business trip on Saturday night, he took us to dinner and got in the jacuzzi with Ty.

HOURS OF FUN WITH SOME BUBBLES AND A JET TUB

SWEATPANTS DO THAT....... REALLY?

I bought Tyson some sweatpants while at the store the other day. I figured they would come in handy during his soccer and baseball games, now that it is getting cold. What I didn't know is that they "turn you into a secret agent". Tyson was so excited to put them (he has never owned a pair of sweatpants for some reason), and was "climbing through the "forest" * imagination required* looking for the bad guys". Hmmmm..... maybe I should get a pair for myself.

So, this is how we left church today. Jaisa could only take the first half, and decided that she was well past a much needed nap and let everyone in the building know it. She proved that being lady-like isn't important when you are tired..... thus, she was slung over her dad's shoulder to prevent too much kicking and slithering away. Ahhhh.......the joys of an 18 month old.

HOLIDAY CHEER

Holiday cheer started around here a couple of weeks ago, with the opening of my first can of pumpkin puree. I LOVE to cook with pumpkin - breads, muffins, cookies, pies etc....... The cookies I made first, were great and stayed soft until the day they were gone. The recipe I used can be found right at http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Iced-Pumpkin-Cookies/Detail.aspx. But I was so excited when I was on someone's blog the other day, and read that they had made pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. They sounded so good and I had a half can of already opened pumpkin puree, so I thought "what the heck"! I have included the recipe for all those who dedicate themselves to pumpkin treats as much as I do during these next couple of months. Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins:

• 2 c. butter
• 3 c. sugar
• 6 eggs
• 1 T vanilla (mix together)
• 1 Lrg. can pumpkin
• 1 t. allspice
• 1 t. nutmeg
• 1 t.cloves
• 1/4 t. ginger
• 1 T. cinnamon
• 1 t.salt
• 4 1/2 c. flour
• 1 T baking powder
• 1 T baking soda
• 3 c. chocolate chips

Bake at 350 deg for 15-20 minutes. I did closer to 15 minutes and let them sit in the pan to cook a little longer inside. I also only had a 2 sticks of butter (it calls for 4), so I used a cup of oil to replace the butter that I didn't have, and they still turned out perfect. This recipe makes about 4 dozen muffins, but they are great to freeze and eat later too.

I JUST HAD TO MARK THIS DAY AS AN IMPORTANT ONE

100 DAYS (AT THE MOST) UNTIL THIS PREGNANCY IS OVER!!!

Jaisa found her new "resting place" today. As I am trying to prepare and get ready for the upcoming arrival of baby girl in a couple of months, I had the infant seat and some other baby things out. As soon as Jaisa discovered the baby seat, she made herself at home along with her blankets and continued to watch her show... I have a feeling that she is going to be one bitter little girl come January.

OUR FIRST SNOW

Tyson knew right what to do when he woke up on Sunday morning and found the ground covered in snow!

He and Todd went straight into attack mode when I walked out to say "hi". Lucky for me, I'm not too big to dodge flying snowballs being thrown by my son and husband. (sorry guys, mommy's too quick) Jaisa....... definitely needed a lesson in snowball making. She was absolutely shocked when she saw all the white and had a very confused look on her face. 5 seconds later - confusion gone and excitement set in. Tyson tried to show her how to make a snowball and throw it. The problem was that she didn't want to let go. By the time I got her to drop it, her hands were frozen solid and she was reaching for another. Maybe some gloves would be nice for the next time it snows?

We had so much fun in Idaho Falls, I had to post more pictures. We went to the park across from the Temple in downtown to feed the ducks. The Snake River runs along the park and is home to hundreds of ducks and geese.The kids loved feeding and chasing the ducks, though Tyson got assaulted 2x by the one above. No stitches needed - thank goodness! Jaisa wanted to go swimming in the River. She was attempting to get in any way she could. We stopped at the playground down the street from my parents. My mom and I stayed in the car and had Todd and my dad take the kids on the swings. We looked out the window and noticed that Jai was sitting on Grandpas lap, not restrained and was going faster and faster on the swing. They were both laughing hysterically and looked like they were having too much fun. The problem was - my 1 year old was sitting on his lap as he held onto the swing - with both hands! How would a 1 year old not know that her life depended on balancing on Grandpa's lap and not leaning forward? I jumped out of the car to save my little one and when I got there..... I found this. I guess this is how you do it, Grandpa style.

Tyson would wait for Grandpa to come home from work everyday so they could play again. It was so cute to watch the kids sit on the front porch, watching for him to come down the street, so they could race his car to the garage.

BEAR WORLD

This weekend, Todd and I decided to take the kids to Idaho Falls to visit my parents. We found out that 15 minutes from their town, is a park called Bear World. You pay a fee for the car entry and then drive through a small park with several dozen bears - grizzly, black and brown. I was a little nervous, even though we were in the car the whole time. The car just in front of us treated a huge black bear to a rear window wiper. The bears come right up to your window and are literally inches from your face.

Tyson and Jaisa loved the bears, but were even more excited for the petting zoo and children's rides. JJ's animal of choice ...... a nasty pig. She walked right up and started pulling his hair and laughing in his face, taunting him. No Fear - which she does not get from me. Tyson liked the goat because he was "so soft and cute", (and scared to death of my children).

Finally, we all loaded into the back of a big truck and were given instructions on how and when to feed the bears. They provided us with white powdered donuts and bread. Each stop, a dozen huge bears would approach the truck and either sit and wait for the food, or try to climb the side of the truck. I was close enough to smell the bears breath - yummy!

FEARS CONQUERED THIS YEAR: 3

*My lifetime fear of alligators - our tour through the Everglades ended with no fatalities

*My fear of sharks - the cruise around the Western Caribbean proved to me that sharks will NOT attack the cruise ship and come directly for me

*My fear of bears and wildlife - Bear World... thank you. I will not be camping or hiking anytime soon, but I now know that it is okay and safe to be in a suv (with the windows up), among several at a time (in a very well secured area)

"KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL"

The faces of determintation......... We decided, against our better judgement to put Ty guy in soccer again. This is definitely not the sport for him - we know that! But, it was something to do. He is too young for basketball and football (Todd's sports of choice - since he and his dad played at BYU) and I don't think that he will be able to play rugby for some time either (my sport of choice, since my dad played at BYU) So, we went for t-ball. And......he is actually quite good. With a little help from the dad's in the outfield, it is such a fun and exciting sport for these boys to play. They get instant gratification each time they are up to bat and hit the ball -unlike soccer where he didn't get much time with it. Todd has come up with a little fun way to practice with Tyson. He attaches a water balloon to a string and hangs it from the basketball hoop in the backyard. Ready...........set...........swing (preferably, not with your eyes closed like in this pic) And whoosh! I really think that this method has worked. He is about 90% for his hitting off the tee and almost the same for being pitched to. What kid would not want the satisfaction of hitting a water balloon directly at their dad - and not get into trouble:)