Alice in Zombieland

Karlee is really enjoying Jr. High this year and has wanted to be involved in everything! Ain't nobody got time for that...but we were able to squeeze in the Jr. High play. She is in the drama class this term and was excited for the chance to be in the play. She did try-outs and was cast as a zombie (which is the part she wanted). She went to all the practices (which meant some long days of school, play practice and then off to cheer practice...what a busy girl!) and had 3 performances. Our family was excited to go see her and we all went together to watch. She was an excellent zombie and her big blonde ratted hair was eye-catching on stage. She even got to do the play with her best friend, Makayla, and some other friends from our ward...including Anton Moss (such a funny kid!). We sure do love our Karlee!

Deer Hunt

Spencer has only been waiting all of his 6 long years to go on the deer hunt with the "men". We decided that he could go this year and he has been waiting and anticipating it for months...we got nervous that the weather might not cooperate and dash all his plans...but it all turned out perfectly. He loved every second...the horse ride, the hiking, the pocket knife, the fire, the dirt, the friends, the candy, the tent, the time with daddy. I missed him while he was gone and apparently he missed me too (although he'd never admit it), because when he returned I got a LOT of hugs for the next 2 days. The girls had fun too...we had sleepovers in mom's room, went to the movies, went out to dinner with Aunt Jenny, Aunt Megan and Grandma at Red Robin, had a girls night out at Aunt Sarah's making cards and sang real loud in the car together. A fun weekend for everyone!

The girls also had fun picking the boys up from the trip! We got to ride horses and enjoy the sunshine on the mountain. Karlee loved riding the horses, Rylee was old pro and Audree and Mom took a turn too!

Fall Break

This year we had grand plans to take Boaty out on one last adventure before the winter. We wanted to go camp at Lake Powell during fall break! Unfortunately, Mother Nature and the great old US Government got in the way of those plans (bad weather and a government shut down that closed national parks). So, we decided to make it a fun-tastic stay-cation instead! We made fun plans for everyday. We went bowling and got in Grandma Clark's hot tub, we went to the movies to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, we went to the pumpkin patch, we went to Nickelmania (Spencer's personal favorite)and we just had a lot of fun relaxing, sleeping in and hanging out together. Lake Powell would have been fun, but all that really matters is that we're together! Here are some photos of some of our fun!

Daddy's Game

Daddy sure is a funny guy...at least, he thinks so!! He just loves to play tricks on the kids that make them jump. So, the other day while he was out shopping he picked up a plastic rat and some plastic scorpions. He was SO excited to come home and plant them in just the right spots to freak the kids out. He decided to put the rat by Spencer's bike in the garage and he planted a scorpion for Audree, by her bed. Later in the day when the kids came home from school I heard a terrified scream coming from the garage...and in ran Spencer (while I could hear Jake giggling in the background). Poor Spencer got caught by daddy's trap. Audree found the scorpion and just rolled her eyes...she knew daddy was up to no good. The real fun was just beginning though, because these items have become a fun family joke. We plant them all around the house to try to scare eachother and once you stumble upon one of the "friends" it's your turn to try to "get" someone else. We all just laugh now whenever we find one of them and try to figure out who planted it. Every once in awhile they are placed just right and still get a little startle out of someone. Yesterday Spencer became the big winner though when he jumped out from around the corner and actually made Dad jump...he got high-fives from all of us for being the first one to really get daddy back!! So funny!

Soccer Time!

Why did I become a mom?? It is very possible that it was for soccer season...I love it! Spencer has been playing on the "Speeders" this year and you would never guess that he is one of the young players...he gets right in the mix and had a "hat trick" one game and another game with 2 goals! He loved playing forward and he loved all the friends on his team. His coaches, the Miners, were so awesome and really made this year fabulous for him. What fun!


Rylee has been playing club soccer this year and her team is the "HC Storm". Not only was she convinced to play on the team, but they talked Daddy into coaching!! She has LOVED having Jake as a coach, even though he has some yelling issues...we are working on that and he's come a long way! Rylee is playing fantastic and loves to play both forward and sweeper. We all look forward to game days...in fact, the other day I was explaining to Rylee what the word "adrenaline" means and today on the way to a soccer game she said, "Mom, what was that word that means excited and nervous?" I said, "Adrenaline"...then she said, "Oh, yeah...that's how I feel right now!". She's so funny and so tough!

Electricity Plant Field Trip

One of the best things about having all the kids in school is that I can go on all the field trips without having to find a babysitter! So, when Rylee asked me to come to the electricity plant with her...I was so excited! We got to hang out and see some HUGE engines, learn about different types of light bulbs and safety around electrical wires and it was just great to be with my Rylee.

The Greatest Show on Earth!

We scored 6 free tickets to the circus this year...a promotion at the mall...and we were so excited! Audree and Spencer had never been to the circus and it has been several years for the rest of us. It was a great time together as a family! We loved the unicycle basketball game, the giant trapeze rings, the poodles doing tricks, the tiger cage, and everything else!!

AAHHHH....my baby girl is 12!!

Karlee is the youngest of her friends, so it feels like she has been 12 for about 6 months now...but finally it's for real! She decided to make it a "Hollywood After- Party" party. She wanted to have some friends over to "walk the red carpet" (paparazzi and all!...compliments of Dad and Mom) then they wanted to play "Just Dance" on the wii and have an ice cream sundae bar. She was so excited when all the friends said that they could come! It was a great evening...Karlee has the cutest and sweetest friends! Plus, her sisters made fantastic "bouncers"...they were so funny! I believe it was a huge success, Happy Birthday my Karlee!

Then, for her actual birth"day" she had some fantastic friends (Courtney and Malia) that came to school early and decorated her locker. She also had a loud rendition of Happy Birthday sung to her at school and then Mom and Dad picked her up and took her lunch...her choice, and she chose Subway (how easy is she to please?). That night (after soccer, cheer and dentist appointments) she got to open her big present...she was so excited when she opened her own set of golf clubs! We sure do love our Karlee.

Skirts!

So, when my Mom was in town last we went shopping...of course we went shopping! I ended up at a fabric store and found this fabric to make super-easy skirts. I decided that all the girls in this family could use a fun, homemade skirt...so I got to work. Here is the result! I think they turned out cute and comfy and I think my girls look so cute! That was so domestic of me!