Pumpkin Guts and Scary faces

This year was the first year the boys were willing to touch the pumpkin guts and help out. It was actually fun carving pumpkins and not just work for Matt and I. Nana and Papa rolled up their sleeves and were put to work too. We all had a good time. 

I do have to say I think they turned out awesome! 

Carter led the way and when the boys saw him having fun scooping out the slimy guts, they all kind of followed after and grabbed a spoon and got to work. 

The boys kept daring each other to taste the guts. They were all carrying on and we all looked over as Maxton was quietly snacking on his pumpkins goo. The boys got a kick out of it and to be honest they all tasted it. 

From top to bottom, Left to right.

Mason (Nana and I helped Mason with his), Manning (I created that masterpiece), Mattix (Daddy helped him make a Pikachu), Maxton (I made that one too.) and last but not least, Carter (Papa and Carter created that big guy) 

Watch Out!

He's got a sword and knows how to use it. It's the cutest thing to watch. 

Being the youngest of 4 boys you can imagine the things this boy picks up just by watching. Sword fighting being one of them and he loves it! 

He even makes sound effects. It's so awesome. 

Daddy made swords out of some packaging foam that came in a recent package for all the boys and of course Maxton had to have one too. 

Welcome to the family!

I will be the first to admit, that I am not a pet person. We've tried a couple times to have a dog and I found it to be very overwelming. I am by far NOT a rodent person or anything that crawls with claws like lizards or snakes. I've told the boys if it poops or requires food it ain't happening. I don't need another thing in the house that requires poop to be cleaned up and me to worry about and try to remember to feed another mouth, seriously I give myself a high five when I can keep up with the four little people I already call my pets. 

But Matt and I recently reached a compromise and we are happy to announce that we are officially pet owners! It didn't come without a price. The boys had to earn them. I made two jars and filled one up with goldfish crackers. The other was empty. The boys had to fill the empty jar with the fish. They could earn the fish many ways, by being nice to each other, doing special jobs, being polite, or any other reason we felt they earned a fish or two. It took them almost 2 1/2 weeks to fill the jar. Than a couple Saturdays ago we headed to the pet store and picked out our new family members. 

Welcome to the Harris family Shadow, lightning, Marshall, and Shoee. It has been so fun having them. The boys are still in the honeymoon stage and are still fighting over who's turn it is to feed them. I'm sure that won't last. They are cute and I swear they love us. They come up to the glass and get excited to see us. Even Maxton loves to watch them. 

He's getting so big!

I can't believe next week this little guy will be 1. We love him sooo much. His brothers adore him and he's rather spoiled. If he wanted he'd be carried around all day. He get's treats just by begging, he gives kisses freely to everyone that asks, he has the most adorable giggle, and he's just an all around lovable guy. He makes everyone smile. Seeing how I haven't blogged in a while I thought I'd post more Maxton pics. He's grown so much since the summer. 

He grew out of the bouncy seat but found a new use for it. His own mini trampoline. 

Him and Manning love to play with the Halloween decorations. Looks like he's posing doesn't it?

I love this smile. 

He is the most laid back kid I know. He seriously loves to lounge. This is his bean bag he leans against it and kicks back. He also loves to sit on the couch. He makes me laugh. 

If he can be big like his brothers and do what they do he's the most happy. Grandma let him sit at the big boy table the other day and he was so proud of himself. 

Speaking of spoiled. He's already developed a love for ice cream. Having a taste isn't enough anymore he has to have his own. 

He's a climber this past week he has discovered he can climb. He's so dang cute and he's the baby brother. It's hard to get mad at this little guy.  

Fun to be had.

A post of all my pics I took documenting all the fun from "Birthday Week 2013."

 Brace yourself. I took a lot. 

So excited to be at the Jazz game. I love the fall leaves all over.

Pre-game fun. 

This guy came around and had a hoop on his back. If you made a basket you won a Jazz sticker.

Mason threw it a little to high and it went over the edge and down to the first floor. 

The boys were so good. When they started getting bored I'd just tell them to look for the Jazz Bear. It worked every time and a little treat of popcorn and cotton candy. 

The zoo.....

My birthday dates. 

Maxton like watching the monkeys swing all over the place. 

My posers.

Happy to be out of the stroller.

The bear was right by the glass eating. Maxton got a kick out of watching him. 

Mattix took our picture in the reptile house. 

My better than "anything" cake that Matt and the boys made and Matt finished in the middle of the night. The boys were so worried that I didn't get a cake. 

My cute candy corn toes and a group shot. 

Birthday Girl

It's been a while since I last posted. Matt told me the other day that he missed my blog posts and told me to start blogging again. That of course made me feel good and here I am blogging. 

Last week Matt took the whole week off and told me he wanted to celebrate the whole week for my birthday. He's so sweet and never lacks in the spoil your wife department. 

The Friday before my birthday I was invited to attend a girl's night retreat with some of my favorite ladies from our old ward. It was awesome as usual. I'm pretty sure I got maybe an 1 1/2 hours of sleep that night. But it was so worth it. I love those ladies and I am so blessed to call them all my friends. 

Came home Saturday and somehow I was able to function without being grumpy and I had an amazingly fun day with my boys. We took the boys to their first Jazz game and they loved it. They sat and cheered and watched everything going on and had a good time. I love when we are able to do things like that out of the norm and make awesome memories. 

All week Matt worked on projects around the house and he focused on helping me get pictures hung and anything else I needed help with. Like conquering the laundry! 

The boys were out of school on my birthday. Which is my favorite. Matt helped them make me breakfast in bed and I was showered with all sorts of cards and pictures. Matt also surprised me with tickets to the Piano Guys Christmas concert!! I am so excited. See I told you he loves me. 

We took the boys to the zoo and played all day. It was such a fun day. 

I told my mom all I wanted for my birthday was to hang out with her and have fun. Saturday we ran away kid free we got to go get pedicures. It was so nice. I even ended up with candy corn toe nails. 

All in all I had a fabulous birthday. I loved all the cards and Facebook birthday wishes. I love my family and friends. Honestly I am one very spoiled girl. It feels good to be loved. 

Gotta love tummy bugs

I thought I had posted this back around Easter. For some reason it was in my drafts. What the heck I will try again. 

Let's go camping.

Before the end of summer, we decided to pack up the boys and get away for the night for one last summer adventure. We took our tent new tent trailer and headed up to north. It was so nice to play and have fun. 

Maxton loved the water and kept trying to crawl in it. 

There was enough dirt and mud to keep everyone busy. 

They build a big river out of rock and mud. Manning was very into working on it. I didn't realize before this that he was so constructive. I knew he was pretty destructive. But he worked hard on this project. 

Manning's hair looks so red in this picture. 

He's all boy. He had no problem crawling around in the dirt. He even tried to eat it. 

The boys were so excited that the river actually worked. 

Why can't I have more red vines?

LOVE THIS!! 

I love this guy. He's such an awesome dad. 

So pretty!

Mason took our picture. 

Still happy in the morning. 

Daddy made us the best breakfast. His pancakes are even yummy when we're camping. 

Another one of Manning's creations.