Toronto & Niagara Falls!!

 Greg's immediate boss is in Toronto, so he made another visit to work there for a week. And we used his miles for me to fly up on Wednesday the 9th to join him. My flight was delayed in SLC so my nice relaxing afternoon I had planned didn't happen. I literally dropped my bags, grabbed my heavy jacket and we left to meet up with his boss, Ben and his girlfriend for dinner. We ate at the revolving restaurant at the top of the CN Tower. It was great food and fun to talk and visit. Fun to hear what Canadian's think of everything , and to compare it to America, and with it being the day after Trump won the election and all the news it was interesting.

The CN Tower is the worlds tallest building, in recent years a few others surpassed it, but it's still the tallest in the Western Hemisphere. We were at the 115th floor or something. And we stood on the first ever glass floor (now you can find them all over). I thought it would be easy to walk out on, but when it came down to it, it kinda freaked me out and I did it for a quick moment to take a picture. Ha! But our views otherwise were amazing. The observation deck would switch from red to white lights. So I have selfie pics with both lights.

Thursday there was room service and I slept in until my hearts content. It was so so nice not having to get up for anyone or anything. Then I did a city bus tour. Luckily it was a nice sunny day, windy, but sunny. In the mid 50 degrees. I enjoyed it, except I forgot my hair elastic, so I kept trying to tuck my hair in my jacket. I tried capturing a few selfie's with the CN Tower. Greg thought parts of Toronto reminded him of New York. I totally think it's more like San Francisco. It's like the 4th or 5th largest city in North America. There are a ton of tall buildings full of condo's, lots of people live in the Toronto area.

And the super yummy ice cream cones were from a famous place called Sweet Jesus ice cream. We actually got those and ate them on the way to the airport. And I love the cone holder/drip guard. Why doesn't America use those? That would save my little kids a big mess.

After my bus tour I went back to the hotel to warm up a bit and as soon as Greg got off work, we rented a car and headed out to Niagara Falls. I was really excited to go. Toronto and Niagara in November aren't ideal, a lot of attractions are seasonal so some stuff wasn't offered and at Niagara we went at night so the boat tours and other things also aren't offered, but it was still lit up and amazing.

When we got there we drove around a bit, luckily it's off season so the millions of visitors weren't there. We went up to the top of the Sklyon Tower, in the picture there. It was freezing and windy. They also switch the lights from white to multi colored every few minutes.

And then we drove through and jumped out for a few pics along Table Rock and Queen Victoria Park on the Canadian Side. I really wanted to go to the American side as well, but Greg didn't want to wait at the border to cross there and back.

It was so cool and amazing to finally see the famous Niagara Falls! I really want to go back, in the day time, when it's warm and so I can explore a little more. One day perhaps. It was also neat to feel a little mist and hear the loud roar of the falls. The fact that they light it up at night is also just so cool. We are in front of American Falls which is lit from behind and is brighter lights, then the Horseshoe Falls are lit from shinning lights across from it. So it's not as brilliant and bright. And they were getting ready for their Christmas lights so we saw a few already on.  So after dinner and pictures and a few souvenirs. We headed back our 1 1/2 hour car ride to Toronto.

We flew home on Friday afternoon and arrived in SLC just as this beautiful sunset was happening over the Great Salt Lake. Not as big as Lake Ontario, but so awesome and pretty.

I am so glad I was able to join Greg on another trip. Canada is great, I had such a fun time, and a relaxing time. And am so thankful to my mom for watching our boys while we were gone.

Creeds big 10

 Creed is in the double digits now. We had a brief reminiscence of the day he was born and how he was my most difficult delivery and recovery. And we had a few good laughs of some pictures of him. Like this one...

Poo! Yes, that's poo on his hands and mouth. Yuck! When I saw this picture, it all came back to me (can't believe I forgot it in the depths of my memories) that Creed would sometimes be curious about what he had just done in his diaper and stick his hand down his bum and would of course get poo all over. I remember scrubbing his hands and using hand sanitizer. One time he did get it all over his crib and wall etc. - Ah, fun times!

And it seems at the end of the day when his hair has dried and fallen down he has the same hair-do he did as a one year old. See... what a cute little guy with a cute hair cut!

And now below, the sucker in his mouth is the one. See, same hair? Ha! I also took a picture at church of his hair-do because we are cutting it! Thank heavens! It was bugging me having him swish his head all the time trying to get the hair out of his eyes. The sign he is flashing he says "Chunck and a duce" - all the time. Ugh. The boys all do it with friends and think it's funny, it's from some show they watch.

 And then his green parakeet bird he got for his birthday. He named him Fredrick. Jax has been wanting a bird, so he got one for his b-day coming up and so the birds will have a buddy, we got the boys both one.

The morning of his birthday he had to come wake me up because he was sick of waiting for presents. He was a happy camper getting what he wanted. His precious lava lamp, electric tooth brush, sword, hovering helicopter ball, and his bird. I think that is all? I was going to start a new thing this school year and take the boys out to lunch on their b-day. But he decided he didn't want to miss recess and playing with his friends. Ha! Forget mom, I want to play. So I just brought him some McDonalds to school.

He isn't a huge fan of cake. So he opted to have a big 'ol chocolate shake! The boys call the shakes Greg makes "Heaven" so that's what we served for dessert. Grandparents came for dinner and celebrating. He loves getting presents of course.

10 candles weren't going to work in the whipping cream, so 3 it was blowing out the candles. Now Rafe has been constantly talking about his birthday and what he wants and what he's going to do. I tell him to stop, he has months to go and I don't wanna here about it everyday. Eh!

 Creed is a funny kid. He loves to joke around and make people laugh. He is my Rafe cheerer-upper. He still loves his video games and playing clash of clans or whatever on his ipod. We have to limit his time because he'd spend all day doing that stuff. He loves playing with friends and gets all silly with Greg sometimes, he eats cereal everyday for breakfast, he loves hot spicy food and likes sushi/seafood, chocolate milk, and pasta. He and Jax get on each others nerves and he can have a mean streak. I get mad at him everyday for something he does or says or disobeys.  His primary teachers usually love him, even if he's always standing and a little interrupting, at least he knows the answers and makes them laugh. And I love it, everyday when the boys all walk to school when they get there, Creed makes sure to kiss Rafe and hug Bodie goodbye as they walk to their side of the building. Apparently they do this in Primary before going to class sometimes too. Aw, melts my mom heart. Creed is a joy and a pill all at the same time. He is great! 

Greg says, once Creed starts laughing he can't stop, he loves the snuggles with Creed, and loves watching him play soccer."

 Happy 10th Birthday to Creedo!

Fall Sports

 Here's our sports report...

Rafe played soccer for the 1st time. And really he just ran around with his team and avoided the ball at all costs. Ha! Silly kid. It was comical actually. The ball would come right to him or he'd be the nearest one to kick it. And... he wouldn't touch it. He was too scared, too shy, and claimed he didn't know how to do soccer. Creed was such a good brother and helped him outside a few times and tried during warm up. Rafe is capable of kicking it. His coach would have him do the kickoff sometimes, knowing that's his only time to touch the ball and Rafe would give it a little tap. Good grief! But he would be out there running around and appeared to be having a good time. He also did his thing of skipping and hopping around. He also said he want's to play again. So it's a win I guess.

Bodie asked to play flag football and was so excited! He learned a lot and gained a lot of skills during his short little season. I mean he came a long way from the 1st game to his last. He was cute and would always be raising his hand and asking his coach if he can do something, almost every play he'd be asking. Sometimes he'd get his turn, sometimes not. And sometimes the play would go ok and sometimes not. But he loved it and says it's his favorite sport now. He is such a good happy kid and made some good buddies out on the field. And at home he was always wanting to throw the ball with someone and during Rafe's games the boys would all be throwing the football together.

 And Creed did his thang! Soccer again. I wish his games were up at the U field house too. I'm a fair weather fan. Ha! He had fun and his team had a good season. Creed's hair was often times kinda wild while he played. He got to play all different positions and really enjoyed playing, even though sometimes we'd get him complaining about getting ready and having to go, once we were there he'd be fine.

Creed's last game he was awesome and he played so well. Greg and I kept looking at each other and were impressed that he was "on it". And it was nice, we had an early Saturday morning date. Jax was in charge of the boys at home while we took Creed to his game. Just Greg and I sitting and cheering on Creed. Here we are before the sunrise. We got home before the sunrise too. 8am is too early.

Halloween 2016

 I love Halloween. I say it every year. But I do. The whole thing is just fun! 

The day finally arrived. I had a frantic morning and might have yelled trying to get my children in their costumes and out the door in time. I had to hurry over to the school for their parade. I love the parade. Waiting around for it I don't love. But I'm so glad their school does it. Everyone loved Bodie's costume. Creed helped do his make-up, Rafe was glad to get to wear a little under his eyes. And I made Jax put some "zombie" make-up on so he would be a zombie ballerina instead of just a girl ballerina. Greg was bugged by what he wanted to be. It was funny and he had fun with it though.

 I helped with Jax's class party (games outside). And a silly pose by Jax and his friend Gavin (dressed as Tron). Then I grabbed Rafe from kindergarten and we went and helped in Bodie's class party. See Rafe and Bodie helping each other in Bingo. So cute.

Home from school at 4pm, then an hour later it was time to put costume's back on and touch up the make up and take pictures!

Let me introduce... Rafe as Master Chief (from the video game Halo) then Jax the zombie Ballerina (who immediately washed off the itchy make-up paint around his eyes), then the famous Bodie the Hobo (Bo the HoBo - get it? as he says) a homeless guy, and a repeat appearance from Creed as the Mummy. A zombie mummy I suppose with his make-up and blood lines he added himself.

A normal pose and seeing Rafe's face. He only wore the helmet for this picture. 

Then it was off to our annual neighborhood soup garage party. New location this year but same thing. We ate, then dashed home to get jackets because it was getting quite cold. Then headed out trick-or-treating with the Unguren's. The last several years we go around with them and their kids. Rafe lasted quite a bit, then at a donut stop he decided he was done and wanted to go home. It was almost 8pm so I took him home and we answered the door at our house. I turned our lights on, got a picture of our breezeway with our black lights and all the bats I put up. Making it spooky ya know. :) And when the older boys got home, we had pounds of candy, and face washing and showers, warmed up Greg and tried getting them tucked in bed. The parents too. What a day!