New Lens

So Kyle got us a new lens for our camera.  This is us attempting to take pics with it.  We drove over to Utah Lake last week.  Kyle is really good at taking pics, but I need some major photography classes or something.  I took this first shot of Kase, and it turned out pretty darn cute (if I do say so myself).  

But I am entirely convinced that it was pure LUCK!

Kyle played around with the settings and he scored us this fun family pic!

 Isn't that a pretty sight!  Cold, but pretty.

 My Kon-Man on the dock!

 Kaylee is trying to guess how deep the water is.  It looks like ice or something.  

Utah Lake is not very transparent, so it is quite deceiving.

 Fun shot, clear in the front and fuzzy in the back.   Love it.

Needless to say, this is how we spend our Sundays around here.  ha ha.  (After church, lunch, and naps) we can be found playing with our family and the camera.  Good times, good times.

Dance Show & Tell

This semester for our dance class, I decided to just to a verrrry simple "show and tell" day for the dancers to show their parents some of their progress!  It was darling to see the girls dance for their parents and siblings.  Here is Kaylee doing an arabesque.

 We showed the parents all of the ballet positions, coupe, pique, arabesque, battement, and many more of the things these sweet dancers covered this semester.

 Here is their bow!....  And then I surprised them with an award night.  I gave each girl a personalized award for their progress, a pink sucker in the shape of a foot, and a balloon.  I hope they have had as much fun as I have!

The dancers made HUGE progress this semester.  We didn't do a big recital, mostly bc I am a VERY busy lady right now.  (with my family, holidays approaching, my calling for church, etc... )  I just wanted a chance for the girls to make some progress, and be just pure dance technique.  Learning dances are good for the dance brain, but I felt that technique this round was better for all of us than cute choreography.  I have loved teaching these girls!  They have some wonderful dance talent!

Cousin fun

 Kaylee and Konnor were kidnapped by grandma and grandpa last weekend!  They got to hang with their cousin, Dreyan!  They all love each other sooo much!  It is darling to watch them play together.

Speaking of playing... Dreydan chose the pretty pink barbie doll to play with.  We had to snap a pic to show his daddy!  ha ha.  (Just kiddin Ty.)  I will delete this post if you want!  ha ha
But really... I am so happy that my kids have some cousins that live (somewhat) close by.  I always loved hanging out with my cousins growing up!  Now, my side of the family lives so far away, it is hard to get our kids all together very often.  Family is so important!  I miss my AZ family more than words can express!  I can't wait to see them all this holiday season!  Anytime with family, is time well spent!

Handy-Man Hubby

Kyle put on his  Carhartt pants and went to work!  

He built two of these hanging shelves in our garage! It really utilizes wasted space.

He built them so strong, that one of them holds ALL of our camping gear, plus Kyle doing pullups!  It feels like we have so much more storage!  He also, built a TON of shelves in our storage room in the basement!  We needed more storage in our home in order for us to finish the basement!  I love it!  Everything has a place now!  

My many boxes of holiday decor, craft supplies, kids clothes etc.. all have a spot!

WE NOW HAVE THE WHOLE BASEMENT FRAMED!  

There is even a shower in the framed bathroom, pics will come!

My man is pretty much-AwEsOmE!

Halloween Highlights

To combine... or not to combine?  We had so many Halloween pics and activities. And can I just throw out there that Halloween is a BUSY day!   Here is a run down of the craziness in one big post. On Sat. we went to the fun Ward (church) Halloween party.  It was a chili cookoff and carnival for the kids.  Lots of fun!  Let me introduce you to my family:

Here is proud, fireman Konnor and Pretty Rapunzel Kaylee.

 Here is baby-tiger, Kase and my awesome "quarter back" husband.  (get it..  ha ha)

 I am Cougarette Karen!  I even was sporting my jazz shoes and dance pants!

 They had a carnival game that involved Rapunzel's Tower!  SO cute!  Kaylee loved that one!  Naturally.

 Another fun hit for the guys was a shoot the cans game.  Look at my men focusing with steady hands!  ha ha  He shot them all down in one try!  He is his fathers son!

 

Then on Halloween Kaylee's school does a Halloween costume parade at school!  Very fun and very entertaining!  Just an hour after the parade, I volunteered in her class for their Halloween party!  Here is a pic of the room mom doing a fun search for Frankenstein.  Notice Kaylee on the left... she is really getting into it!  ha ha  She is her mothers daughter!

 Here is Kaylee in her class for the party! 

 Then just after school we came back home and got ready for our dance class party.  I told my dance students to dress up for class!  They really loved that!  Kaylee put her "itchy hair" back on.  ha ha

 Here is my sweet dance class (plus my babysitters!)  Take notice to the triplet rapunzels!  They are all trying their best to be spooky!

 Then as soon as dance was over, I got the boys and I dressed!  Since we do a haunted house, I usually end up "Dead" on Halloween night.  ha ha

 Here is the festive family pic!  Plus Grandpa Pauls head!  ;)  He came and helped in our Haunted Garage!  And Grandma Kathie helped pass out candy and babysit after I took them trick-or-treating.  It was a fun and spooky night for all!

 Here is the happy couple...  We sure look happy huh.  (Trying to be spooky and zombie like.)

 Here is our front porch decor...  I personally loved cutting out all of the bats for all of the windows!  Konnor helped me!

 Here is the entrance to our Haunted Garage long after it was over and done!  Red lights, caution tape, plywood, and a pretty yellow mum for a nice touch! ha ha

 In the bathroom after it was all over... i was about to take off my crazy make-up and the kids begged me to color some more on moms face with the face paint.  And how often does that get to happen? NEVER!  So, I gave in.  I mean, just look at these faces, how could you say no to them?  Impossible.  And they knew it! 

Happy Halloween to all!

BuurrTHDAY!

We went to Cornbelly's for my b-day.  And let me just start by saying, "IT WAS FREEEEEZING!"  The few days leading up to my big day, was perfect temp. outside!  And then with my awesome luck, it started to freeze, literally!  But we paid the big bucks at the door and we endured for the sake of my happy day.  We were set on having fun even if it killed us.  The kids were bundled up, and I even had some trooper family and friends that came along too!  Keith and Lynn, and my good friends Anthon and Marie!  We huddled around the campfires they had, we roasted marshmallows, had hot chocolate, and ran from activity to activity to keep us somewhat warm.

We went straight to these big bouncy, trampoline, thingys to get warmed up!  It seemed to work a little.

Now isn't that pic precious? Grandma Lynn snugglin up on Kaylee in the straw!

Me and my lil baby!  He was a trooper!  He was fussy all day in our warm house, but get him in the cold at cornbelly's and he was happy as a clam!  Go figure!

The picture doesn't do justice here... Kaylee and I were on the highest spot of Cornbellys on a pyramid of hay bales!

Kyle had to rev up the engine in this wooden toy truck!  ha ha

We had to do the corn maze!  We did the shortened version since it was so blasted cold.  But the coldest part of it was taking these two pics.  We were up above the maze on the lookout bridge!

Below: is the crew in the maze.  I was a little hungry...

They had these super fun peddle cars.  Kyle, Anthon, and Marie got to try them out.  (I took one for the team and snuggled my little baby) They were haulin on the first lap, but after that... the pics got easier to take- They slowed down quite a bit.  ha ha

Here is my bullriding hubby!  Growing up in Chandler, AZ., I always found myself friends with the bullriders and I learned a couple tricks from them.  I had been on a few mechanical bulls and even one real one!  (tamer one) So, before he hopped on, I told him the tricks, how to hold on, etc.. Lets just say for those of you that know anything about bullriding, Kyle was spurring like a mad man! Made me proud.

And then WIPE OUT! Awesome shot huh!

Aren't these animals just darling? Grandpa sheep, grandma goat, mama horse, baby cow, & daddy pig!

Now THAT'S a rocking chair!  Konnor was too busy trying to rock it while I was posing for the pic.

We got to park in the "Special Birthday Parking Spot"! 

 

It was a great day!  Thanks for all of the birthday wishes! I could not believe how much fun there was to be had at Cornbellys!  It was a blessing it was so cold, because nobody was there and that made for absolutely no lines for anything!  Good times had by all!