My Halloween Masterpieces!!!

Halloween started early at our house this year and I was sewing for a month to get things ready. It all started when I tried to think of something my boys could be together and knowing they love video games I tried to think of something "cool" for the big boys and still something for Payton to love. We ended up with Mario Brothers characters. I had some help from my neighbor who actually sews and from my Aunt Connie who can make things out of a pattern. I had to buy a pattern but really I just used a bit of trial and error to make these and it is something I am quite proud of! I never put myself into the "crafty" catergory so this was a big thing for me. I think they turned out pretty darn good too!! Jackson was Bowser, Spencer was Yoshi, and Payton stole the show (as always) as Mario.

Have some Cookie with your Sprinkles

I am not sure how long we have been doing this but for a few holidays out of the year I get together with my Sisters-in-Law and my cousins along with their kids to decorate cookies. I provide the house and the frosting and the rest shows up for fun. It is great to be together since I grew up with no cousins or family close by to do things like this with. As I get to see my kids forming friendships with their extended family it warms my heart. Here are some messy pictures of big fun!!! It is so funny to watch the kids decorate and how some beg to eat all their cookies and some our off to play. Tyson liked his so much that he is pictured licking the sprinkles off his plate! The girls have theirs all pretty and the boys pile on as much as they can. Just thinking about it cracks me up!!!

Jackson and Spencer play soccer

This year might be the only year that Jackson and Spencer get to play on the same sports team. We signed both the boys up with a soccer league and they had fun but I think the most import part for Jackson was winning and the most fun for Spencer was the snack after the game! Spencer tried hard when he focused on the game -- but most of time he just had fun with firends. Jackson played hard and did great! Over all it was a good experience and a stressful one for a mom that is quite competitive. It was painful to watch at times but fun to see how much they imporved at the end of the season. It was the first time both of them had played soccer and it was neat to see them doing something together. They are good boys!!

Spencer goes to the Farm!!

I have been bad at keeping up with my postings but today is a good day to fix that so ... shortly after Payton went on his field trip Spencer got to go on one with his preschool. The date on the pictures is also October 1st, 2009. Spencer drove with Aunt Denise, Nate and Tyson -- which makes any day more fun =). This farm had tons of stuff for him to do. They did a corn maze and got to harvest vegetables out of the ground!! Spencer was so excited that he actually ate the zucchini he picked. They got to eat a sack lunch and ride on a little train. Spencer had a great time playing in the corn and seeing the animals. They even got to make corn meal by grinding up kernels. All in all it was fun with friends, cousins and a great day for Spencer.

Field Trip to Fry's

Payton got to go on his first field trip with his Preschool class and he had a great time! They started out by tasting fruit and talking about why it is good for you. Fry's was very good about feeding them and keeping them moving. Then they moved onto the deli and tried some turkey and cheese.

They also got to check out the bakery and the seafood department where they got to touch a live lobster. They got to scan items and got a balloon and ice cream.

It was a fun morning and Payton was funny doing some Kung Fu Panda moves for all of them to help keep them entertained. he just cracks me up!!!

Family Pictures

Anyone who knows the Mortensen family knows we LOVE popcorn. It has been a taste passed down for a while know and it is border-line embarrassing the amount of popcorn we consume during a movie. So, one of my best friends took that love and captured it on camera. Lori Calhoun of "http://www.calhounink.com/" did a great job and here are the pictures to prove it.

Salvation Amry

Troy gets to mingle with a lot of great people through his work and he was able to get the family involved with this year's community project. The salvation Army site was choosen to be the project this year that the Valley Partnership would help. Kids from the community got to come and help design the playground that would be built. We brought the boys -- who have been dying to see Dad's jobsite -- and here are some shots of them in creation mode. it is really fun to get to see good people coming together to help others and I am so glad that we get to teach these kind of lessons to the boys while they are young. I hope they will remember these things as they grow. It was a fun night and a good experience.