Ty is 3!

It's hard to believe, but it's true. These 3 years went by crazy fast!

Ty was so excited for his birthday.

The night before, when the boys were supposed to be asleep, Karter told me Ty kept yelling out, "Karter?.... Karter?..... is it my birthday?"

He LOVES trains. He told me he wanted "trains and train tracks" for his birthday, and a train cake for his cake. So we decided to have a train party too.

He had a good helper at his party. Karter helped with the craft, activities and even helped blow out the candles when it was too tricky for Ty. What a good brother.

I asked Ty who to invite, and he told me exactly who he wanted there. Wow, he's getting so grown up! Here are the kids and the trains they made!

He had so much fun!!

Happy Birthday Ty! We love you SO MUCH!

FREE Shutterfly!

Who loves Shutterfly? ME!!!

Who loves Christmas Cards?? I do!!

So, I'm definitely excited about Shutterfly's deal for bloggers.... 50 free Christmas photo cards!

I've always loved Shutterfly and their great quality. A couple years ago, we ordered a photo book for a gift and it turned out perfect. It was so fun and easy to arrange, too.

Shutterfly's Christmas photo cards are very cute. Check them out at http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards. I love the cute collage cards, like the "With Love" card I pictured above. I also really love "Retro Plaid".

Another great Shutterfly creation is the cute photo desk calendars. They would make wonderful gifts. You can see those at http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars/desk-calendars

I love getting cards at Christmas time- it's such a fun way to here from family and friends that are far away. I love setting up all the cards on the mantle and looking at them throughout the season. But, for those families who are just too busy with all the other Christmas traditions, I like that Shutterfly has equally cute New Year's cards. Here is the link for those: http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/new-years-cards

Anyway, I'm excited that Shutterfly is doing this awesome deal and I wanted to pass it along in case anyone else wants to take advantage of it!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

$0.44!!

I'm sorry to be bragging, I'm just so excited! Not only was this stuff only 44 cents, but I also got back $2 in rewards money (to use next time at Ride Aid).

I understand that couponing takes effort and that it's not for everyone's schedules. I'm just glad I'm learning how and can take advantage of it while I'm able to. Although, even when I have another baby and life gets more hectic, I don't think I'll give up Rite Aid. I'm quite a fan!

Couponing!

So far, I'm LOVING my new hobby- couponing. I'm excited to get better and faster at figuring out the deals, but I've already been saving bundles of money.

Here's my Rite Aid deal today:

Sm pack of Pampers (regular price 12.49)

6 pack of Olay body soap (reg. 8.69)

Garnier Fructis Shampoo (reg. 5.49)

EPT double pack pregnancy test (reg. 14.99)

Crest toothpaste (reg. 3.99)

Travel size Secret deodorant (reg 1.29)

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara (reg. 5.19)

All things I can use. Well, not the pregnancy test yet, (I don't want anyone getting any ideas. It's for the future).

What was my total? ................. I paid 13.35 out of pocket and earned $7.00 in up rewards (to go toward my next Rite Aid purchase). $5 of my discount was up reward money I earned last week. So I guess you could say it's like I paid $11.35 for everything.

Considering that I got expensive items like diapers and pregnancy tests, I think I did pretty well. It's pretty exciting to get deals!

Halloween fun!!

What a super fun weekend!! Karter decided to be a Jedi (again), and Ty was super excited to be Dash Incredible. Since we already had both these costumes, I didn't argue.

Friday we went to trick-or-treating on Main street, and Movie night at the school. Karter was excited to win the silliest pumpkin prize for the pumpkin decorating contest.

On Saturday, we did trunk-or-treating and carnival games at the stake center.

Karter's class party! For this he was a ninja.

Karter's field trip to the pumpkin patch.

Ty and I went too. I had been worried that since we were going on the last day, after all the other schools had done their field trips, there wouldn't be many pumpkins left...

...I was wrong!

We loved the hay ride!

What a busy, fun weekend.

Karter enjoyed passing out candy on Sunday just as much as Trick-or-treating.

Ty enjoyed learning all about Halloween from his big brother-

if fact, my favorite was when we were in the car, about to do our first bit of trick-or-treating. I wanted to remind the boys how to be polite. I asked, "what do you say to ask for candy?" They both yelled, "Trick or treat!"

Then I asked, "what do you say after they give you the candy?"

My sweet little Ty-ty shouts out, "Smell my feet!"

Summer lives on!

Target was clearing these pools out, and I got a great deal. But living the past 3 years in Cheyenne, I figured I'd have to wait until next summer before it would be hot enough to use it.

So glad I was wrong- it's been hot this week and the boys couldn't get enough of this pool.

I'm SO excited to finally have a backyard!

Just chillin. It looked so good that I finally got in there with them.

What a fun afternoon!

I don't very often capture him smiling. Yay!

Well, we decided... Karter's in First Grade.

Some already know, but this was a VERY HARD decision for us. We had been leaning toward Karter repeating Kindergarten since we moved to a new school- after all, he's very young, pretty small, and could use a little maturing. But, after all was said and done we decided he's much much too smart and the Kindergarten here is only 2 1/2 hrs a day. Which means that even in the first grade they are still doing basics and he is very ahead.

He seems to really enjoy it. He even told me one day, "Mom, I'm a lot better than I was in Kindergarten." I asked him what he meant by that and he said, "I'm nicer to others then I used to be in Kindergarten. I listen to my teacher. I raise my hand. I share." I always thought he did pretty well at those things, but great!
He seems to have friends and he's not shy. I had to laugh one day after school when he told me that he had met 3 bullies. I asked him how he knew they were bullies, and he replied simply,
"I asked them." I guess the kids told him they were in fact bullies, but Karter says they are nice ones, so that's good I guess.
Well, so far so good. Hopefully we've made the right decision!

Utah Trip- The end of summer

Karter, Ty and I made the long trip down to Utah, stopping briefly in Idaho to see Papa and Nam Nam. The main point of going was because my brother Aaron and his family had just moved back to Utah from Texas and it had been 2 years since we'd seen them.

While there, we went to a surprise dinner for Aaron that his wife,

Katie had planned to celebrate his recent graduation from Chiropractic school.

It was at Los Hermanos and Aaron was very surprised!

This is Katie, who I just think is so great! The boys and I spent as mush time as possible with Aaron, Katie, Emma and Chloe and we had such a blast! The kids are close in age and get along so well. And I loved hanging out with Aaron and Katie!
Karter loves playing with all his cousins. Emma and Karter are only 1 month apart in age.

I was so glad to get to see Sheena and Cheree too! This crazy girl on the left is Sheena.

Cheree and family. Her twin boys are so chunky and cute!

Smores at Aaron and Katie's apartment. So fun!

Emma (she's the sweetest girl!)

Chloe (this girl is TROUBLE- but very cute!)

My cute Ty-Ty, who ate both a regular sized smore,

and a giant smore.

Karter and his giant smore

(which Ty actually finished for him- what a thoughtful brother!)

We spent one day at Lagoon and we had so much fun that I couldn't believe how quickly the time went by. We were there from 11 to 7:30.

This picture makes me laugh.

Ty looks like his concentrating so hard on the next turn and Chloe looks like she's completely bored.

The 4 were overjoyed to find a ride where they could all be in the same spaceship together.

I love the look between Karter and Emma.

Karter's favorite ride.

Love this!

The kids got a bit crazy

When it got too hot, they had a blast in the fountains.

I couldn't believe how soaked Karter got.
They are so cute together!!

Ty didn't like the fountains to run through but found a nearby fountain where he could put his hand on a cool rock. He sat there for at least 10 minutes and I couldn't unglue him from the cold water.

Uncle Aaron's kindof a funny character.

I love my cute boys!

I love this face!

What a very fun time!!

I'm lucky to have such fun family! I got to see all my siblings, my mom, lots of extended family and some of Kollan's family too. But I'm also glad to be back home with my cute husband!