October

Family selfie!

snack time after General Conference! The kids didn't watch much conference. But they played pretty nicely so that David and I were able to listen to most of it. We had baked oatmeal for breakfast while we watched the Saturday morning session. It's fun to have a weekend focused on Gospel learning and to get to stay home with our family all weekend.

after-church selfie

We went for several nice walks this month. We don't go very far when daddy isn't going with us. Annika rides her bike, so we avoid big hills. We always have to bring snacks. And Annika tries to ride her bike with crackers in one hand.

oooh! I just love this girl and her sweet face!

every once in awhile, daddy ends up with all three on his lap :)

HANDSOME! Benson's first time wearing a tie. Well, he wore one for part of church a few times when he was a baby. He happily kept it on the whole time this Sunday and looked darling!

pre-church babes

post-church babes

Gram Pam bought this penguin fabric and she and I cut out the fabric to sew pj pants for everyone. Grandma Stock finished up the project for her after she passed away. She included this pair for Annika. They are big around the waist. So they finally fit her around the waist, but are now too short. :) Still cute!

We went to the fire station for the Fire House open house again. Last year was our first time. The kids LOVE it. This picture was taken right after the firemen let Benson honk the horn. The fire station is heaven for Benson. All of those big trucks, a fire hose to try out, hot dogs and popcorn, helium-filled balloons, and a sucker. Annika was most excited about getting a balloon.  She enjoyed the other activities. But, she kept asking when we were going to get balloons.  Sadly, her balloon popped when she removed a sticker from it the next morning. There's always next year! :)

daddy gave Esther a mohawk after her bath :)

These two are sweethearts! Annika is a fantastic big sister.

She wanted Esther to hold her baby bear.

Benson's first dentist appointment!! He did great! It helped that Annika went first and he saw how calm she was. He even let the hygienist polish his teeth! I couldn't believe it. She wasn't able to do a very good job though because he couldn't help himself from licking the polish off his teeth. So, his tongue was always in the way. I was laughing pretty hard. He is a cute and sweet boy!

dentist babies! After the dentist, we took the kids to the bread store and picked out some treats. Then, we got some food from Jack in the Box and took it to a park to eat and play. It was a fun little family outing.

This pretty girl LOVES to pick flowers. I used to be more up tight about it. But, she only picks a few a day and it makes her so happy. It's ok if our plants look sparse :)

Benson has developed a love of helping us cook over the past few months. We have to really watch him though! I took this picture right after returning from grabbing something in another room. While I was gone, he grabbed a spatula out of the drawer, moved his stool over from the side of the oven where I left him (ya I learned my lesson not to leave him near hot things) and started "cooking" the eggs on the hot burner. Scary, but also impressive. Since this picture, he has touched a hot cookie sheet while asking "Is this hot?" and a hot burner immediately after watching me remove a pan of eggs. He smashed the same fingers in a cabinet drawer an hour after he burned them on the stove. I ended up giving him ibuprofen because he was so sad and complaining about pain. These two incidents were within a few days of each other. I think he has finally learned the lesson about not touching hot things. Poor guy. But really, he should have learned his lesson the first time.

Baby Esther turned 5 months old a week and a half ago! Since I took these pictures, she has rolled over from tummy to back (twice in a row, but not since then:) and started eating baby solid foods once a day! She's practically half grown. She has tried mashed bananas, sweet potatoes, and banana/pear. She likes them all so far.

We love our precious Esther!

She was spitting up a lot for a week or so. I think I figured out why. She was constipated when she had Similac formula. Once I started giving her the Costco formula, she pooped A LOT and spit up a lot less. I am now alternating formulas through out the day and it seems to work. She has been sleeping better overall lately. The last few nights, she goes to bed at 8. Wakes up one more time around 10 to eat, eats at 3, and then sleeps until 7. I can handle that!

Annika loves to have Esther sit by her on the laz-y-boy chair while she watches tv or plays on her leap pad. 

Annika's art skills have taken off lately. She has always loved markers and any art projects she can think of or I suggest. Lately, she has been drawing pictures and I love it! This picture is of a farm.

I suggested he could be a fireman for halloween. I didn't think he would like it. But he kept the jacket and hood and oversized boots on for quite a while one morning. Love this cute little fireman!

Esther's first time in the high chair! (the cover was in the wash) We usually put her in the bumbo up on the counter to feed her. But, it won't be long before she is sitting in the high chair, eating her puffs or cheerios! :)

Papi came to visit over Halloween weekend! We love it when he visits and are sad that we don't get to see him every day like when he lived in Othello. 

Saturday morning, Papi and I took A and B to Jan Walkers to see her animals and ride the pony. Annika and Benson were stoked. And so was I!

Papi took them for a long ride in the gator

watching Annika ride!

in the play house

Annika is on the pony in this one. She rode Harry, the horse, after me. Harry is so predictable and old that Annika was able to ride him without being led around the corral all by herself! I was so happy and proud to watch her! 

Benson didn't love riding the horse with me. But, he did love playing in this tractor and riding in the gator!

I love this happy girl!

Instead of taking the kids to the ward trunk or treat/ trick or treating the neighborhood, we wanted to take them to Frutaletas (annika's idea). It closed early that night so we went to Leprechaun and picked out ice cream and treats instead. Papi even bought them a hula hoop.  And one of the cashiers was passing out candy. The kids were in heaven and I was happy to avoid the other festivities. Benson was wearing inside out pj pants and no socks with his shoes. But it was halloween, so it worked!

Their first matching dresses! I bought these while I was pregnant and now they fit. So darling!

Gentry Halloween Party. This was the weekend before Halloween. Costumes: a flower garden, Santa, bumble bee, bandwagon Seahawks fan, and a monkey.

This was Abby's costume. So fun to see it on my girl!

He wore the same costume last year :) It was a little big last year and a little small this year. It works :)

one time, I let Benson take this tiny trike on our walk. Funny guy :)

his idea. We love our silly and exuberant boy!

ready to go to Amayah's birthday party (We left the shopping cart at home). It was a princess dress up party. Annika decided to be a fairy. And I just noticed that she chose her butterfly shirt to wear with those wings. Cute kids!