Halloween

One more Halloween down and too many to count left! Don't get me wrong I love Halloween, but I don't love all the candy in my house. The Sugar Fairy does come and take most of it away, but she just can't seem to throw all of it away. So the Sugar Fairy spends the next few weeks piecing on candy (the good ones) until they are all gone. Hopefully, next year she will have the will power to throw it all away and save her the 5 lbs she has to loose.

Clara had a hard time deciding what to be for Halloween...she wanted them all! She decided on Snow White, which was just a princess to her. She really got into Halloween and ran to house to house for trick-or-treating.

Samantha always chooses her costumes based on beauty and I think she picked quite the dress! She looked beautiful and a little hot for Florida. :)

Alex was Dan the Bakugan guy. I don't quite know what he does, but Alex had to have the costume and it was on sale. Win-Win.

Gone are the days of coordinated costumes.

George's masterpiece! In Florida we carve them on Halloween or very close to it or else you have a rotten jack-o-lantern.

What we've been up to...

The last couple of months have been filled with homework, karate, homework, errands, homework, gymnastics, homework, PTA, homework, tap/ballet, more errands, yard work, and more homework. It has been busy, but we have had a blast!

Sammy is taking gymnastics this year and loves it! She is working on her one handed cartwheels and strengthening her core.

Alex started karate and is working hard to become just like the Karate Kid.

Last Friday he earned a new belt and went up to a harder class. His best move...round house kicks!

Clara takes dance with some of her friends from Ms. Breeanne. She LOVES it! It is her favorite day of the week.

Working on her step, kick move.

First Day of School

The kids have been back in school now for almost a month and a half. I guess it is about time I got their first day of school photos up.

Alex was a little nervous for 1st grade, but is loving it now. He has made some new friends and still gets to see his old ones at recess time.

Sammy is loving 3rd grade! Her teacher is incredible and they really seem to learn a lot of have lots of fun!

It's a GIRL!

I guess it is about time we announced that we are expecting yet another girl January 13th! Watch out Alex...you've got to learn to hold your own in this house of females.

Samantha's Baptism!

We were so proud that Samantha decided to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! She was able to be baptized in Utah with all of her cousins there, most of her aunts & uncles, most of her grandmas & grandpas, and some dear friends! She was glowing with happiness afterwards and couldn't stop smiling for days!
Before with her dad.

After with her dad.

Trying to get a nice family picture...it didn't work.

Such a happy girl!

Summer Trip Back West

What a way to end a summer...vacationing out west with cousins! We started off in Arizona visiting my brother Pat and his family. They were wonderful hosts! One of my favorite things we did was pizza at the Organ Stop...what is that you say. Delicious pizza while listening and watching the biggest organ being played and all of it's inner workings. A memory we will never forget. We spent the rest of our vacation in Utah with my mom. I don't know how she put up with all of us for so long!! Thanks mom! As usual we did it all...I just can't seem to say no. Here are some highlights below. Counting down the days until next summer!
Staying cool at the Phoenix Zoo. Isn't my sister-in-law Anndalyn the coolest mom? She always gets down and plays with the kids!

On out drive up from Arizona to Utah we stopped to see the Grand Canyon. As luck would have it a big cloud rolled in just as we stepped out of the cars. We were literally in a cloud! And the rain came. So what you see is pretty much all we saw of the Grand Canyon. Oh well at least the kids can say they've been there.

Water fun at a splash park in Highland. We were lucky to have Nikki and her girls to play with while we were in Utah!

Great Grandma Gourley's birthday party! So fun to see extended Gourley clan!

My dad got married to Kathy while we were there! It was very beautiful. Congratulations you two!

A great visit from Great Grandma Searle! So glad to see her and have her around for a while!

Such fun to see Great Grandma and Grandpa Hobbs! Always a yummy treat to eat there and great conversation.

Nothing like a family reunion without a cousin performance. You go girls!

George and Alex headed off to Arches National Park for a few days and some great hiking! They had the best time and came home tired and dirty!

Utah wouldn't be Utah without a trip to Mirror Lake with grandpa Gourley for some fishing. This time some second cousins joined them and they had a blast!


Posing for a picture just before we went and watch the Joseph Smith movie at the Legacy Theater. It was a great show. The kids had a lot of questions and Sammy was very touched by it all!

Don't those kids look angelic infront of the Salt Lake City Temple?

We did a tour of the Conference Center. It was long for our huge group of kids, but we made it.

Cowabunga Bay with Janie and cousins! It was a blast in the water! Thanks to Uncle Jared for going down the slides with the kids!


Lots of fun with the Gourley cousins! Thanks for spending time with us!

Feeding the goats, riding the horses, & playing at Thanksgiving Point Farm.

Sammy turns 8!

Such a big birthday for Samantha...8! She got baptized (picutres to come), gets to start Activity days with our church, & is ready for more reponsibility...at least we hope. Sammy is such a great helper around the house, an amazing swimmer, very caring, & loves little children. I don't know what we would do without Sammy as a part of our family!

Celebrating her birthday with a few of her friends from church during Fun Club!

Sammy chose rainbow sprinkles with sprinkle frosting.

We went to the beach to celebrate her birthday and Alex's as well. They brought their best friends, Ashton & Jilian. It was a great day at the beach and we had a blast playing in the waves.

A look at some of her gifs this year. She waited and opened them all at once.

Sammy chose chocolate cookies dough ice cream in special cones for her birthday treat! YUMMY!

Alex Turns 6!

Alex had a birthday! Alex is growing up too fast! He is almost as tall as his older sister. People would think I have twins. He is a great reader, sweet with babies, & loves to play with his friends. We are so happy he is a part of our family!




Birthday crown first thing in the morning. He opened a gift with each meal.


Punching bag from his sisters.


Favorite meal...grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.


Birthday pudding cake! He wished for a hamster:)

Key West

We headed off for a quick trip to Key West over 4th of July weekend. We had a great time and feel lucky to get to experience a little more of Florida!

The Pirate Museum...I wish those things fit properly :) Clara was scared to death of the pirates, but Alex loved it!

The kids wanted to ride them down the street...so instead settled for some silly posing.

Southern most point in the Continental United States. Been there. Done that.

Doesn't the water look so inviting? Too bad the beaches down there are rocky.

Mallory Square at night. The kids watched the little side shows for a long time and loved it!

Mallory Square during the day. Soooo hot! We couldn't wait for our boat ride!

Glass bottom boat ride! We saw lots of fish a some dolphins (Clara's favorite) on the way back to shore.

Alex and George swimming out to the big rocks. So proud of him for swimming that far!

Sammy and Clara playing in the only sandy part of the beach.

Sammy having a go at swimming out to the big rocks.