Good times with Melissa and Cody

Melissa and Cody came to stay with us for a week in October. It was so fun to have them here. Easton and I got to enjoy hanging out each day with them. Some of what we did was just regular life stuff, like running the boys around to all of the things they are involved with. But, it was fun to have her to go with me. We took the little boys to the park one day and picnicked, went to Dallon's band concert, football games, and Melissa and I got to go out and see a chick flick. That was fun. We carved pumpkins, ate out, played Just Dance, and made cookies. (Oh, by the way... you do not want to compete in Just Dance against Melissa. She rocks! The only one of us that could even compete any where near her level was Dallon, if you can believe that). One of my favorite things we did while she was here, was more something she did. I had asked her to bring some of her favorite recipes and we could cook them together. Our family is sick of eating the same things over and over and I was excited to try some new food. She made some delicious healthy meals. It was so fun to learn to cook new things, and find some new family favorites. We also checked the boys out of school one day and spent the day at a pumpkin patch. That was lots of fun. But the pictures for that will have to come in another post. Thanks for coming to see us Melissa and Cody. We love you, and we are so glad we got to spend that time with you.

determination

These are my favorite pictures of Dallon this year. This was one of his very first runs as a running back. I can't even begin to tell you how much joy it brought Aaron and I to watch him run the ball like that. Last year was Dallon's first year to play tackle. We had no idea there was a weight limit you had to be under just to run the ball. When Dallon weighed in, he was just a few pounds over it last year, and was unable to run the ball all season. He played line and still loved it, but every kid wants to run the ball. Last year coach had told him all season that he has amazing hands, and shared how much he wished Dallon could have run the ball. Coach encouraged him to make weight the next year. He set a goal at the beginning of the summer to be under the weight needed to be able to run the ball. He asked me for help to be able to reach that goal - as he knew I was already working on my own personal fitness goal too. We worked all summer on making healthy choices with food, and going to the gym together. Over the course of the summer he lost the 6 pounds necessary to make weight. That's quite a lot for an 11 year old. He has had the opportunity to play the running back position almost every game, along with another position he loves, defensive end. He has scored 2 touchdowns, and ran the ball in for the extra point too. It has been exciting to see Dallon work so hard to reach a goal. To see him experience a dream of his come to reality.

Dallon's team, the Bronco's, won their semi-final playoff game tuesday night. Which means they will be playing this saturday in the championship game for the first place title in their league. Go Bronco's! Go Dallon!

Dallon - tackle football 2010

This is Dallon's second year of tackle football. Both season's have been with this team, the Bronco's. Same great coach, and lots of the same players. They have played great this season. And are ranked #2 going into the playoffs. Dallon plays running back, and defensive end. And I'm his biggest fan! Aaron and I have had a blast going to the games this year. It's really been fun.

Halloween

Easton (buzz lightyear). Dawson (ninja). Dallon (jake sully - from the avatar).

We took the kids to our ward trunk or treat last friday night. Dallon had a blast there. All the kids his age had dressed up and were having so much fun hanging out. From the minute we arrived til time to leave, he was off running around, trick or treating, and having fun with his friends. Dawson liked the trunk or treat. He got lots of candy. And then when it was almost over, he headed to a halloween party of his own here in our neighborhood. Easton didn't really like the trunk or treat. It was his first time dressing up. There were tons of people. He didn't say a word all night. He did get lots of candy that he enjoyed after though.

On Halloween... Easton was loving life! He was now rockin' the Buzz Lightyear costume. Saying things like... "to infinity and beyond" etc. He was so excited to trick or treat. This time he knew what it was all about! Candy, dressing up, he was a happy little guy. We walked house to house in the neighborhood. At each house he said "trick or treat". And he was so sweet to remember to thank each person, which as a mom totally melted my heart! He would admire the carved pumpkins on everyones porches. And then always as we would walk away from each house he would yell back to the person who just gave him candy "Happy Halloween!" Honestly, it was adorable. One of those nights you hope you always remember as a parent. Easton filled his bucket to the brim. By the end, he needed help carrying it. Said "it's too heavy... need a break". Before and after trick or treating that day he just hugged his bucket. He called it his "pumpkin bucket". He loves that little bucket. And he enjoyed way too many pieces of candy that night.

Dawson loves Halloween, and loves dressing up. It was so hard for him to decide what to be this year. There were so many cool costumes. At first he wanted to be a clone trooper, then darth vader, then he decided on a ninja. He had already worn it several times around our home before Halloween just practicing his ninja moves.

Dawson and Dallon were so sweet to wait up for Easton all night. They had fun filling their bags too. And if you are wondering what Mr. Basketball is all about at the bottom of this post. Well, after going to the trunk or treat as jake sully... dallon decided he wanted to be something more original for Halloween. So he made this costume up all by himself with just what we had at the house. I think it had to have miserable to wear that basketball from house to house on his head. But he didn't complain. I think he was pretty proud of himself. And people were so sweet to comment about his original costume and how they'd never seen a basketball guy before (that was just the response he was hoping for).

cooking again...

Oh yeah... the muffin man is branching out. He has now mastered granola bars. These are a family favorite, so Easton and I are always whipping up another batch. Aunt Emily was nice enough to share this amazing recipe with us. We are addicted!

duck tape by dallon

How is Dallon spending his time these days??? Well, when he is not playing football, practicing the piano, at school, or helping out around the house... he is busy making wallets out of duck tape. He has been obsessed with it. He is having so much fun coming up with new ideas and being creative with it. I don't know what he is going to do with all of these wallets but he sure is having fun.

Oh, and you'll be seeing me sporting around town with a hot new wallet too... These last two pictures are of a wallet he designed especially for me. With my initial on the front.

"Who's the muffin man?"

A couple months ago, Easton made his first batch of muffins with me. It was actually his first time helping cook in the kitchen so he was filled with pride. We all made a big fuss, of course. He thought his little muffins were "dewishus" and we totally agreed. That day we sang to him the song, "Do you know that muffin man?" Well, since that day he has made several more batches of muffins. Muffin making is his own special talent and he's proud of it. I think he loved the praise and just thinks cooking with mommy is real fun. He loves having his special song all about him and lights up when we sing it to him.

His own personal version of the song goes like this... "Do you know the muffin man? The muffin man? The muffin man? Do you know the muffin man... his name is Easton Haley. Yes we know the muffin man! The muffin man! The muffin man! Yes we know the muffin man... his name is Easton Haley!" He loves it when we sing his song. It's only his song and it makes him feel so special. Sometimes out of the blue he will say "sing muffin man song" to me just to hear me sing it. Or other days without any reason, he will come up to me and say "who's the muffin man?" And I'll reply... "you are!" He loves that. He knows all the words to his song and loves to sing along. Have I ever mentioned how much he loves to sing? Well, he does. I like to think it's because he had a little extra time with my mom up there in heaven. This kid loves to sing!

Dear Muffin man,

I love you!

xoxo, Mommy

playtime...

with big brother and his favorite cars is the best thing in the world.