It is only Halloween fun!

Tate is actually a Knight this year but has decided he hates his costume. I am hoping to get a picture on Halloween in Round Valley.

Livia hated her wig and of course she won! No wig for the crying Snow White!

For Livia"s school party I tried to make due with pieces from the dress up trunk. I attempted to make a pirate look from Tate's compass and eye patch. Tate was so kind to take my picture.

Zoolander..........................

I could not stop laughing at Tate's face in this picture- Can we say Ben Stiller? I guess only those who have seen the movie will get this one- but it is cute none the less..........................

Primary program

Livia loved her new dress and in almost every picture I took- her dainty fingers were extended- Chad and I could not stop laughing.......................

"I lived in the Premortal World" This was Livia's line in the program and she spoke it well. It never fails that my poor little pipsqueak gets stuck behind the podium or a tall child and we have to lie to her when she asks if we saw her during the program. She did a great job. My calling brings me to every ward in the stake's primary programs and I love seeing little children and their courage to get up in front of everyone. I always feel the spirit so strongly when children sing and share the gospel. I am happy to see my little girl grow up in the church- I get to learn as she does in some ways.

decor galore..........................

Livia and I put up the rest of our fall and Halloween decor a few weekends ago. I will be posting most of it on my other blog. The boys went camping/scouting for the weekend and us girls played house. Livia was so darling with how grown up she was acting while we were decorating. I have a new style for my decor it is called corny chic. It is the blending of what kids need in their magical world and what I am trying my hardest to hold onto from my "before kids" days. it actually makes for a pretty interesting result. Livia made the sucker ghosts for the tree this year. I remember making them last year with her and it was such an overwhelming task for her now she just takes over things and finishes them on her own. The best part of the day was when we went to add to the Halloween collection at the store. I always buy one fun thing each year for each holiday. Livia always brings her purse when we run errands but rarely cracks it open because she is a bit of a tight wad (Did I mention she is a small version of her father?) Well, she found this black cat and wanted it so badly and she also like the hanging ghosts. I reminded her we were only buying one new thing and she thought for a while about which one she liked best. My clever and generous little girl decided that I would buy the ghosts and she would buy the cat for our family. The cat was five dollars and all of her allowance in her little purse. I asked her if she was sure about this and she said that we really needed the cat- "It's the ending touch for the porch mom." I think she meant the "finishing"touch. I smiled as she handed the lady all of her money and walked ahead of me with the cat under her arm. At such a young age and already spending allowance on decor. I couldn't be prouder!

so hot- sticky sweet!

A sticky sweet Family Night for the Rhotons!! Livia calls it heavenly home evening- isn't it just precious. I never correct my kids when they say things like that I want to hold on to the innocence as long as possible!

Itty Bitty Sports............

The YMCA is putting on a little sports workshop where they showcase a sport for a couple weeks. We first did soccer and now we are learning how to play T-ball. The kids are having a blast- Tate is so excited because this is finally his turn to be playing a sport instead of just watching his sister play. He is so pumped when we get there. The best part of this new activity is that it is on NAU campus and Chad and I take the kids together because it is in the evenings. After one of the workshops one night we were driving home through campus and Chad said "What are all of these jr. high kids walking the campus at night for?" I started cracking up- "they are college students Chad!" Boy are we getting old or what! They really did look so young to me. Chad and I got a good laugh over that one..............

Abbie and Jack/ Conference weekend..

sorry for all of the random pictures!

I LOVED being a mother of four! I am not even kidding- it helps that Abbie and Jack are some of the most well-behaved children in existence. Livia and Abbie love to pretend like they are sisters and they were so darling in how they treated each other. They did everything together- notice the picture of the bathroom? Had to post it because it cracked me up when I saw them doing this. Chad thought it was gross but I really do remember sharing a potty with my cousin Christine a few times! Jack and Tate are hilarious to watch because they are miniature versions of the Rhoton Brothers. They mostly talk and play hunting and fishing..........fishing...........and some more hunting................ They are precious. My favorite memories was how good it felt at night after a good dinner and they were all bathed and cuddled in their beds. I felt like I had really accomplished something when they all fell asleep. I think the more kids you have the more organized you get in order to stay up on everything. We finished their visit with a trip to the white mountains. Shane and Shannon were so sweet to invite us to stay with them in a cute little cabin in Greer. I love visiting Chad's family. Never a dull moment and always good food. We went for a drive on Saturday up in the mountains to see the leaves and Darwin made some yummy hot chocolate on a campfire for everyone. It was cold and a little rainy so the hot chocolate really did the trick. There was also an aspen tree that someone had cut down for no apparent reason and the kids could ride it like a horse- we got some cute pictures of that fun activity- we are missing some of the cousins in the picture but it was sure fun for Livia and Tate to have their cousins for fun adventures in the forest. All in all, I am left feeling grateful for family. Thank you Andrea for having us for conference weekend. We sure do love you...............

Dinosaurs are stinky.................

Love these little conversations:

In the car on the way to school Tate is talking about dinosaurs.

Tate: I see dinosaurs when I sleep in the night- they scare me..............
Livia: Dinosaurs are so stinky Tate that we don't have to worry about them anymore- they died.
Tate: Why they die Livy?
Livia: I told you (a little annoyed) They were so stinky they couldn't stand it so they just died from the stinky smell.
Tate: No they didn't Lala..................
Livia: Tate, we are learning about them in Preschool this week because it is letter "D" week and miss Juliette told us the dinosaurs are extra stink and they aren't here anymore they all died away..............

I am just dying knowing full well that the child is talking about how dinosaurs are EXTINCT not extra stinky but I did not say a thing because it was all just too precious.

I have two extra kids this week. My sister in law is looking for a new home in New Mexico where her husband is now working and since she watched my kiddos last week I am now returning the favor. Her kids are angels and so much fun to be around. I was so lucky last week to go for a visit at my parents house without my kiddos! Thanks Kellie for helping a sister out! I shopped until I dropped and slept in, ate good food and made crafts. how perfect is that? I will be sure to take pictures of all the kids in the next few days........ I must share another precious moment before I sign off tonight:

The other night I had finished bathing the kids and they were watching a movie in our room before bedtime. Livia was curled up in my bed and Tate was laying on a pillow in front of the T.V. I was getting ready for bed and washing my face when I heard Livia say "Taters, you don't even have any covers down there- you might get cold Mr. man- I will go get you a blanket o.k.?" She crawled out of my bed and went and got him a blanket and covered him up and kissed his forehead. I was just observing the whole thing and almost crying at how loving she was to her little brother. Such a sweet, tender hearted little girl. It melted my heart and made me feel like I just might be doing something right in parenting after all.