Carson Daddy Donut Day

http://www.vimeo.com/7731269 - Full Screen Version of Video

So Carson had Daddy Donut day this week. Carson was so excited for weeks prior to Daddy Donut Day too. He told me the morning of the Daddy Donut day that they had songs they are planning on singing for all the dads. So of course the video camera had to go along with Joel. All way to cute however there is one song that will crack you up. The song is the one with all the subtitles in it. Carson is blushing the whole song long too if you notice and the hand motions did seem to happen for Carson either! Enjoy!

Halloween 2009

Ok so my FAV holiday is over and it was a quick holiday for me this year. We spent most of the early part of October out of town (see Fall Break post below) so the holiday was a bit delayed. As soon as we got back in town we went to town decorating.

We had a great holiday for sure. Jonas and Carson dressed as Luke Skywalkers. Carson was Jedi Luke and Jonas was Starfighter Luke. And of course Marin was Luke's sister, Princess Leia. (see why we had 2 Lukes now). I was a baker, not chef (notice the different hat). I eventually got tired of correcting people on the difference so I just nodded and said "yep a chef". Joel wanted an abstract type of costume this year, not one you can buy he said. Of course! So Joel was the Balloon Boy from Colorado that was all over the TV a few weeks ago. He had a box that surrounded him and he had a giant Mylar helium balloon that was all tied together that floated above him. He wore it to the Ward (church) Halloween Party but only 2 guys got it so I think he was reluctant to actually wear it on Halloween. He chose to hand out candy while I took the kids out. We tagged along with all the other hoards of neighborhood kids.

Here are some pictures and a video of the house.


Us all dressed up


Marin in Costume, she hated that hat with the side buns.


You know it was a great night when the bags are full. (left to right - Jonas, Carson and Marin)


This is a video of the outside of the house decorated, what we gave out for treats and then the boys mid-trick or treating. Oh the joy!

Shaggy Marin

Well poor Marin's hair is getting so long. I am at the point where I am tempted to give her some bangs. But this is always the dilemma us girls face, to cut bangs or not to cut bangs. If you cut bangs you are stuck, always trimming and such. But if we can both get thru the shaggy eye point she will be able to pull them back, tuck them behind ears and use fun clips and such. But however until the hair grows long enough we are relegated to funny hair-do's like this one. Sorry Marin but you are a cutie and I had to share our dilemma and your do's with all. To cute!

I Sew (well kind of)

Ok so I feel like my domestic talents have not been fully realized since I am missing a very "Suzie Homemaker" skill. Sewing! It has been a skill that I have yet to master or even attempt. Well Kelly H. started me when I sewed my first anything, the apron. You might all remember that from last year around this time of year. I got a super fancy sewing machine for x-mas last year and well I have attempted a few things. I tried a quit and well...it didn't look so hot but I tried it and I made it. Poor Suz is the recipient of the first efforts of the fancy machine I don't know how to use yet. I thought maybe my first sewing effort was less than stellar because I needed a pattern and less liberties in my sewing. So I got a pattern and some Halloween fabric and started out on the mission to create PJ pants for the boys. I opened the little envelope and I saw all this brown tissue paper. What the stink is all this stuff? There are symbols and arrows and dotted lines all over the place. What in the heck did I get myself into. Luckily enough my mom helped me decipher the coded pattern and cut out and pin all the pieces in place.

Well last weekend I finally sewed them all together. I made the boys PJ pants. I am so proud of myself! I made the boys promise to wear them every night until Halloween and then I would wash them. No that isn't gross, I was scare they would come all unraveled in the wash. I have no confidence in my sewing yet. I think the boys enjoyed them too, at least I am thinking that till they say otherwise. We might be sewing all sorts of holiday PJ pants for the boys. Poor kids.

Fall Break 2009

Well people keep asking if we had a good break and what we did. Well it was good and bad I suppose. Joel's grandfather was diagnosed about 4 weeks or so before break with terminal cancer. It was a huge blow for Joel and all of us really. We all love grandpa Votaw so much and the boys just adore him. Joel took him to his Dr.'s appointment when they gave him the diagnosis that it was terminal. Joel's grandma was in OK at her baby sisters funeral. It was a bad week to say the least.

So the week that break started Grandpa Votaw passed away. Joel was at his bed side with him the days leading up to his death as well on the afternoon he passed. So the following weeks consisted of funeral plans, a very well done funeral video (Joel of course) and all the family functions such as the viewing, wake, funeral, graveside service and reception. Everything with the funeral and the related activities where just wonderful and honestly couldn't have been any better but it was emotionally draining. Everybody wanted it to be perfect for Grandpa Votaw and it was.

However while in CA the boys had to visit Dland, of course! The boys honestly did really wonderful at all the required family events so they definitely deserved a visit. What is super is that Jonas has grown and of course so has Carson. So they both can ride new rides. For Jonas he can finally ride the last heigth restricted ride, The Mali-boomer at CA Adventures. If you are not familiar it is the one that shoots you up SUPER high. Jonas had a blast. Carson on the other had was tall enough for the Scream'in Over Ca ride. This one is the big roller coaster in CA Adventures too. Carson was excited up to the point when he actually had to get in line to ride. Carson is crazy enough our cautious one, you wouldn't guess that would you. However once he tries something and likes it he is fearless. So after about 45 minutes of trying to talk him into the ride Joel just grabbed his hand and briskly walked him on to the ride. We had a stroller pass and so it was straight on the ride for them.

Carson well.....LOVED IT! That is all we rode the rest of the visit with Carson and Jonas was on Mali-Boomer every other ride. Below are a few pictures of the visit.


Joel and Jonas set to go....


Up, Up and Away!


Yes I am too cheap to buy that photo, Carson is in what looks like in the empty seat next to Joel. See the little tuft of hair. It is Carson!

So week 2 was a scheduled trip to UT to visit Joel's family. As well Joel had been saving a set of MLS Real Soccer tickets for the trip too. So the highlight was the Soccer game as far as the boys thought. Jonas just as well had a lesson at school on Fall and then colored leaves. So Jonas was all over the Fall colored leaves. He had to collect some to take back home because well we don't have those in Chandler. It is fine we can visit them, the snow that usually follows the pretty colors is not fun. We had a great time seeing family, watching soccer, taking in the Fall colors and doing a little work too.

Carson Can Tie His Shoes

Well a few weeks ago we had to go get the boys some new church socks. So of course we headed down to the local Nordstroms, yes I know that other places sell black church socks. I like the ones there ok. Anyways back to topic....as I was checking out I noticed a little sign at the cash registers that said "Shoe Tying Class". Carson has had a hard time getting the show tying thing down. It seems he looses track of what lace gets pulled thru the little hole and then the whole thing comes apart. Carson is well....not the most patient boy and he gets frustrated easily and stops trying all together sometimes. I also think that if it comes from mom or dad there is no way it could be right and if it comes from Jonas there is a 50/50 shot he could take it as gospel knowledge or it could be just a lie.

So of course I had to sign him up and let someone else give it a try. So today was the day and the class started at 9am. Carson the week before kept saying the class was for babies and didn't want to go. We had to go get Joel a new suit at of course Nordstroms and when we did I went and checked the age range that would be in attendance at the class. The sales person told me 5-8 years old is the normal range. Perfect! Carson is 6 and this would be wonderful news for him. So he reluctantly went this morning. I think inside he was a little excited. They used a lace that had yellow on one side and then green on the other side so you can see which one to pull thru that little hole after the loop. Duh what a great idea!

You can see the results of the class below.

Ahhhh So Cute

I couldn't help myself she was just so stinking cute today I had to take her picture over and over and over again. Love you Marin.