Forgetful...

I have been so forgetful lately, especially when it comes to remembering to bring my camera with me on outings.  I have done that so many times in the last month and a half or so.  I think that it all correlates to when I started getting up at 5 during the week to go to the gym.  It is really the only time that works, and I feel so much better when I am going consistently.  I could take Maggie and Elliot to the daycare there, but it is really expensive and Maggie screams bloody murder when I leave her.  Plus, I'm pretty sure that is where Maggie picked up her latest stomach bug.  Anyway, I think all available brain cells are going to my uterus at this point (84 days and counting-yea!!).  But I feel so bad that I haven't been able to document so many things.  I thought that I should journal about them, just so I can remember some day.  

At the beginning of September we went to the Spokane County Fair.  We went on free-fair day, which happened to be a Monday and I finally planned a family night :), and I thought it would be totally crazy, but the the kid ride area was really not that bad.  We didn't have to wait in line much at all.  I was totally kicking myself for forgetting the camera because Grace and Elliot had such a blast on the rides!!  It was so cute.  They were seriously in little kid heaven.  We bought a bunch of tickets and they got to go on just about every ride.  Elliot was so cute because he was wearing this hat of Rays that was way too big for him, but he refused to take off.  We just tightened it up and he ran around in it.  We ended the night by buying some cotton candy and eating it on our way back to the car.  It was such a fun night, that I was sure was going to be kind of a nightmare.  The kids had so much fun-even Maggie got to go on the train ride!

Next we went to Pocatello to see my parents for a long weekend.  We actually went because one of Ray's best friends was getting married in Logan that weekend.  And, yes, I forgot the camera.  We had such a good time and Ray and I got to go to Logan alone for the day of the wedding-gotta love grandma and grandpa!!  It was fun going to Logan and it was really enlightening for Ray, seeing all his old friends and where their lives have taken them.  Grandma and grandpa's house is so much fun, Max even loves it there, and Grace and Elliot were crying when we had to leave :(

There have been numerous activities since then for which I forgot my camera.  We went to a Pasta Feed fund raiser for Grace's school, which was seriously exorbitantly priced for what we got!!  There were a bunch of activities for the kids.  I think the favorite was the dance group that performed.  Grace, Elliot and Maggie loved it.  The were all clapping enthusiastically at the end of every number (much to Ray's chagrin on Elliot's part!).  Then Ray took Maggie and Grace to the children's museum last weekend.  Grandma bought us a family pass for christmas-thanks mom!!  I was at home working on potty training with Elliot, but Grace and Maggie had a blast!! (Okay, Ray forgot the camera on that one-but I forgot to have him take it!!)  And just yesterday evening we went on a little hike perfect for kids.  All of the kids were having such a great time climbing up on the big rocks and running around.  At one point Grace was running around yelling "the wilderness is so fun!", and Elliot was so insistent that we follow the trail.  Maggie was so cute marching along behind the kids.  There were so many photo ops, it was so beautiful with all the changing leaves among the pine trees, but again I forgot the camera!  Anyway, here are a few pics that I have managed to take in the last couple of months.

Elliot was so funny this day.  He wanted to play on the computer, but I told him no because we needed to get dressed for the day.  A few minutes later he came out of his room in this outfit.  His pants, I'm not sure where he found them, are way too small and on backwards!  We are still struggling with potty training-the one day method wasn't all that effective.  But we will struggle on!
This picture was taken this morning, Grace and Maggie got new church dresses yesterday and wanted pictures of them.  She is actually smiling!!  I think I just caught her at the right time saying "cheese"!
Grace being silly.  She is so funny, she has been asking me some really thought provoking questions.  I have been talking a lot to her about modesty and respecting our bodies that Jesus made for us.  We were watching something on Discovery channel about some aboriginal tribes in Africa, they people basically wear loin cloths and that is about it.  Grace says, "mom, they are NOT dressed very modestly".  I had to try to explain to her about different cultures, etc.  She is still brining it up.  The other day she asked me if the Bratz dolls (hate them, by the way!) want to live in Africa.  She also asked me how the baby was going to get out of my tummy.  I explained it to her the best I could and she seemed to understand.  I just hope she doesn't try to repeat it to her class during show and tell or something!  She is a smart one!
I could not get a good picture of Maggie's new little sweater dress.  I really wanted to because it is so darn cute!!
Here is a full pic of the dress, but you can't see it very well with all the light in the background.  Maggie is suddenly saying a bunch of new words.  It is so cute and funny.  Her new favorite is "no".  She says it to me all the time, but it is like a long, drawn out noooo.  It is really cute, sometimes.  She is a serious ham.  She is always trying to make everyone laugh!!