Pillow exchange

I have decided that we will be converting the girls' cribs to toddler beds over Christmas break. This means that I have to prepare them for sleeping in beds by giving them pillows. (The idea is they quit moving around in their sleep so much because they want to stay on the pillow.) So, last night I got out two of my guest pillows, put flowery pillowcases on each and gave one to Emelia and one to Naomi. They were very excited and happily went to sleep. Alex started feeling left out. He wanted a pillow and pillowcase. He has a pillow, by the way. It has Winnie the Pooh and Tigger on it. I told him this. He still wanted a new pillow and pillowcase. Ben showed him how cool his current pillowcase was and he happily went to sleep. Or so we thought. While we were in the basement watching episodes of Arrested Development, trying to find a clip for Ben to use in his family therapy presentation, Alex was trying to figure out how to get a new pillow and pillowcase. When we came upstairs to get ready for bed, I immediately noticed something missing from our bed. I peeked into Alex's room. Sure enough, Alex was sound asleep with his head on his own pillow and his legs on Ben's pillow. It was then I decided to relent. While Ben tried to retrieve his pillow without waking Alex, I got yet another guest pillow and the only masculine pillowcase I own and put them on Alex's bed. He was very excited this morning when he woke up and has decided to keep both of his pillows. Now the only thing I need to do is buy more guest pillows.

I need to sit down!

The past ten days have been one crazy whirlwind of fun. I've pretty much been running from one fun-filled event to the next with three kids in tow! Anyway, I thought that you all might want to see documentation of the good times rollin' here in Denver. So, here it goes.

Three weeks ago I decided to meet my parents in Utah, stay with them at my sister's house where my brother lives and go to the BYU homecoming game. Ben couldn't come. (He, as usual, had homework.) So, last Friday, I loaded up the kids and the suitcases and the portable DVD player and drove across uneventful Wyoming to Utah. The next day, we loaded up myself, the kids, my mom, my dad, my brother and my sister-in-law and went to see some football. (We won, amazingly enough!) The kids ate their weight in candy, but we got to stay for the whole game. Here is a little proof the kids are cuter when on sugar highs:

(Note the half-eaten peanut M&M in Emelia's hand. Also note that I forgot to pack her pink BYU shirt and we had to go buy her something to wear from the bookstore.)

That fun event over, we had a blast hanging out with Brett and Sariah and discussed how weird it is to have Brynna living in China but still go to her house (where she isn't living). On Monday, my mom and I took the kids to Temple Square. Due to misinformed/ distracted drivers, my dad couldn't get a shuttle to Temple Square and wasn't able to join us. (So sad!) But, the kids had a good time seeing the sights and my mom and I got several darn cute pictures.

(I still haven't figured out how to get three kids to look into the camera and smile all at once. But, they're cute no matter where they're looking!)

After our sightseeing, we all piled into the car (my mom included) and drove back across Wyoming to Denver. My mom stayed for four and a half days. She took me shopping for her birthday (well, it was really for my birthday, but since our special days are only a week apart, the shopping trip fell on her birthday). We had birthday apple crisp. She cleaned my house. We took the kids to the zoo. She bought us really cute pumpkin decorations so the I wouldn't have to carve pumpkins. And, in general, we had a grand time. She left on Friday after the zoo trip. Alex was really sad about it. He's finally old enough to realize that Grandma makes everything better. Only decorating pumpkins with Dad could make him feel better.

Aren't those pumpkin decorations to cutest thing ever? You can buy them at Target, by the way!

Here's Alex with his pirate pumpkin. He's going to be a pirate for Halloween, so this was his favorite.

I couldn't resist. My Emelia is just about the sweetest thing ever.

And now to the final event: Ben's 30th birthday! Ben was pretty sure that the sky was falling; he did not want to be 30. He even threatened to go bungee jumping. I think I convinced him that now his age more accurately reflects his life's accomplishments: one BS degree, one MS degree, half of a PhD., three kids, two homes purchased, seven years of marriage, three elder's quorum presidency callings, one happy wife, and a wealth of spiritual and intellectual depth. (I've just scratched the surface, but I'll stop bragging now.) All of this plus the Brian Regan tickets I got him made him feel a lot better. Happy birthday, honey!

Phew! I'm ready to sit down for a while. I probably won't, though. While I was out of town, I got a new calling. I'm the 2nd counselor in the YW presidency. I'm sad that I won't be teaching anymore, but really glad that I get to stay with my Beehives. I hope I can be what they need. I'm going to relax while I can (which means I'm going to work on Christmas gifts). Happy fall!