MTC

Elann's youngest brother entered the MTC about 2 weeks ago I tried to post earlier but have been having issues with blogger and my computer.

Anyone else remember the little red dots

Scott is going to the Mexico, Cuernavaca Mission

Alex and Ben got to go to the MTC and see him off they were very excited

Dancing with the Stars?

After a long night dealing with a sick 1 year old I awoke to find that Ariana had gotten herself dressed and ready for a day of dancing.

I had to put some music on just so she didn't get dressed for nothing. Unfortunately the camera man forgot to turn the camera on. So sorry no video of the dance just picture a little girl in a purple outfit dancing to Pet shop boys and UB40.

Night on the Town

I was informed at work that I had to use my vacation time or loose it by the end of the year, for Lowe's that is the end of January. So I put in my request for a week off and started making other arrangements. I managed to get a hold of Becky and last Friday after I got off work Becky and Ryan came down to babysit my kids. I had talked with a coworker and found out his wife worked for Holiday Inn Express. Without informing me he arranged with her to get a room overnight for us. It was the first night in 10 years that we have had no kids (not counting when Elann was in labor). I can't say thank you enough to Ryan and Becky for babysitting for us we really needed the night off.

This isn't our hotel but it looks just like it. We went to a movie and dinner for those interested. We saw Paul Blart : Mall Cop a very funny movie.

December rundown

Many things have happened over the last month and I keep finding myself unable to keep up with the updates so here is a final post for December just showing some things that happened this month.

Ben had a choir concert for Christmas

We had a Family Portrait taken

The kids got new Sunday clothes for Christmas and wanted to show them off

We took a trip to Grandma and Grandpa Barlow's for the Honey Christmas party and Ben showed us all how nimble athletic he can be.

Christmas

Here is pictures from our Christmas morning.

The Project

For the last 2 weeks or so I have been working on a "project". This project quickly became bigger and bigger as it developed. Anyway here is some pictures of it as we started going.

Obviously I had some assistance with this. Here is Chris doing his best to figure out our roof pitch so we could cut it and put it on.

This was after we finished for the night and had the basic structure built.
After getting it home I use a can of primer that I used to coat the whole thing.

This is the completed upstairs (Kitchen and living room), Our couches had feet at one point but they refused to stay on. I figured the shag carpet made up for it.

The bedroom, this was going to be a nice beige carpet but I miscut it and had to use another one.

This is the bathroom. I originally wanted to build all of the furniture but had to give in when it became apparent that I was never going to finish. ( I also couldn't figure out how to make a toilet)

This is a view of the whole house I didn't get a picture of the sides but they are a light green and the roof is a dark green.

This is my pride an joy. I spent more time than I should have on this fireplace but I think it turned out very well.

I should mention that this has also been wired for lights. That would be the copper tubing that you see in the bathroom and on the ceiling of the living room. There is a small switch on the side of the house to turn them on and off. Ben saw this before I finished and the first question out of his mouth was how do they get downstairs, Apparently I should have installed a set of stairs.

Ben Award

Ben recieved a special award in school for being a good citizen. This is the second time he has gotten it.

Here is a picture with the principle

And one with his teacher

Cenna 5

I know it's late but here is a picture from Cenna's 5th Birthday

Riddles 2

Chris got most of them right however he borrowed 2 answers from Becky. Here are the answers no one guessed #3.

1. The third room. Lions that haven't eaten in three years are dead. That one was easy, right?
2. The woman was a photographer. She shot a picture of her husband, developed it, and hung it up to dry (shot; held under water; and hung).
3. Charcoal, as it is used in barbecuing.
4. Sure you can name three consecutive days, yesterday, today, and tomorrow!
5. The letter E, which is the most common letter used in the English language, does not appear even once in the paragraph.

Hope you enjoyed I'll do another later

Riddles

I found these riddles and had fun with them so I thought I would share. Leave your answers in the comments and I'll post the answers next week.

1. A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven't eaten in 3 years. Which room is safest for him?

2. A woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him under water for over 5 minutes. Finally, she hangs him. But 5 minutes later they both go out together and enjoy a wonderful dinner together. How can this be?

3. What is black when you buy it, red when you use it, and gray when you throw it away?

4. Can you name three consecutive days without using the words Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday?

5. This is an unusual paragraph. I'm curious as to just how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it. It looks so ordinary and plain that you would think nothing was wrong with it. In fact, nothing is wrong with it! It is highly unusual though. Study it and think about it, but you still may not find anything odd. But if you work at it a bit, you might find out. Try to do so without any coaching!

Cassidy

Just some fun pictures of Cassidy

What a Smile

A fun video of cassidy dancing in her chair to christmas music.

Birthday turning 3

Yea exciting times Ariana Turned 3 on December 1st we celebrated while we were in Mt. Pleasant for our second thanksgiving.

The Cake it took 3 try's to get all the candles out. One blow for each candle.

She got a new book from grandma Barlow and Grandpa was happy to read it to her.

Here she is with her books and her finger puppets.
Both are presents from grandma Barlow.

Here she is trying to unwrap her presents.

Ariana gets to celebrate again on Sunday down at grandma Romney's house.

Thanksgiving Barlows

We got to have 2 thanksgivings this year the first was at grandma Romney's house. It was a lot of fun but we were so tired that day that I forgot the camera and spaced it that my phone had a camera on it. So I have no pictures of it. The second one was at Grandma Barlow's and I did get some pictures.
This is Cassy after an afternoon playing and laughing

After dinner we had reading time Ben and Grandpa read Frog and Toad, one of my favorite series when I was younger.


Grandma and Cenna read the No David book, All of our kids have enjoyed this book, of course some of the words get changed to No Daddy.




We had a singing time also that was a lot of fun for the kids after having watched Grandma and Grandpa's videos over and over it was entertaining to watch it all live.

Jazz time

Elann's brother Miles works for KJAZZ and happened to have some Jazz tickets that he wasn't using so we got to go to a Jazz game again, this time we were able to take Alex and Ben with us.

This was the view from our seats

Interesting story about Okur the Jazz Center. Elann managed to get his Autograph at a Maverik, if you want to hear the story e-mail her to post and she can tell the story.

This was just a cool shot that our camera managed to take. Alex and Ben had a fun time and we hope to take them again later. (wink wink uncle Miles)

Temple square

We went with grandma and grandpa Romney to Temple Square this last Sunday

It was a fun trip and the kids really enjoyed it. Ben kept asking question after question. We decided we would have to go again when they turn the Christmas lights on, Maybe this time I'll remember the camera and won't have to use my phone.

Ariana

Ariana was running around with these wings on. I asked her if she was a fairy

and this is what she responded. I found it quite funny. Hope you all do to.

Halloween 08'

The Elementary School had their annual Halloween Parade.

This year Alex and Ben picked their own costumes.

Ben as a Warrior
Alex as a Pioneer

Cassidy is a Pumpkin this year.
Every one of our children have worn this costume on their first Halloween.
This is the last year it will be worn.

All of the kids just before we left to go trick or treating.

Alex the Pioneer is holding Cassidy the Pumpkin, Ariana is a Lion next to Ben the Warrior, and finally Cenna the Pig.

A friend of ours had these Lion and Pig costumes from previous years that she gave us for this Halloween. They fit Ariana and Cenna perfectly.

We all had a fun time trick or treating and even managed to fill up their buckets this year.

Weekend at Barlow's

We spent the weekend at Grandma and grandpa Barlow's last weekend and had a very enjoyable visit.

Cassidy took a nap on Grandma

Cenna went looking for Atticus.

Ariana and Ben did some puzzles with Grandpa.
Alex was there also, she spent some time playing dress up and picking a costume for Halloween, She made an interesting discovery that led to a Becky mystery being solved. For more info call Mom, she may have already told you the story.