Welcome to the Circus

If you know us then you know we LOVE do Halloween as a family. Last year I missed out since I was sick with pneumonia. This year I planned ahead. We went as the Porter Circus.
The kids were perfect. Even Parker got into character and growled and people.
The lion and the lion tamer.

Mom as the fortune teller.

Dad as the lion tamer.

Parker the lion. He loved trick or treating and saying thank you. His favorites were
the houses with dogs. He was ready to go inside and play with all the puppies.

Andrew the strong man could lift 1000 lbs with ease!

Caitlyn was our silly clown! It is hard to tell but her hair is in 4 pony tails with each one sprayed a different color.

Alyssa was our mismatched clown. He rocked the colored hair and super big bow.

Mariah was the perfect clown. When she decides to get into character she does a great job.

Dress up day at school

Caitlyn and Andrew got to dress up for Halloween at the Elementary School.

Caitlyn is a clown. It is hard to see in the picture but we put her hair in 4 ponytails and spray painted them orange and red. I think she looks great!
For our family theme this year Andrew is going to the strong man but for school he wore an old pirate costume. He was excited to dress up a few times this year. ARRGH!!

Caramel Apples

Why haven't I made these before? The are so easy and super yummy. Of course I also had to dip them in chocolate as everything is better with chocolate! I will definitaly be making these again next year.

Witch-A-Palooza

October 2010

The girls Young Women class had an activity for the girls and their mom's. We all dressed up as witches and played get to know you games. It was fun for all of us. We enjoyed spending this time together. I learned that I don't know anything about the girls favorite tv shows or music groups!

This is the Place

September 2010

After living here for 1.5 years, we finally made it to the This is the Place national park. This park is set up like a frontier town and shows how the Pioneers settled Utah.

We were able to go with my baby sister and brother. We love having so many cousins around to hang out with!

All the cousins!
The train ride.

All of the kids got a pony ride. Parker kept giggling. This was his first time on a horse and he loved every minute.

Several cabins had old time games the kids could play. Mariah tried to use the stilts but wasn't too successful. She had fun trying.

This same cabin had a 'garden' the kids could plow. Alyssa discovered how dirty this chore made you when her socks turned brown after only a few minutes.

First Day of school

August 2010
The kids on their first day of school.

Andrew going to 1st grade.
Caitlyn in 4th grade.

Alyssa on her first day of Jr. High.

Mariah rolled her eyes as I got my camera to take them to school. She said, "Your going to the only Mom taking pictures at the Jr. High." She was right! Oh, well. She was ok with me going, but maybe I will have to do the pictures at home next year.

4th of July

July 2010

We spent the 4th of July with the Porter side this year. It was so great to see them. We had fun hanging out, eating, playing games and even making smores.

We went to a parade and fireworks show with my sis-in-law in her neighborhood. The kids had fun watching fireworks and doing sparklers. Aaron loved watching the men 'breath fire', of course, he had to come home and try it out. It took some trial but he got pretty good at it.