Music Class Halloween Party at our house!

I hosted the Monday Morning Music Class Halloween Party on Monday (26th). All the kids came dressed up in their costumes, ready to sing, dance, wiggle, trick or treat, & eat goodies! It was a great success. Everyone seemed so happy & calm! We sure do love parties!

Movement Time!

Liv LOVES the Nut song! She walks around singing, "I'm a nut, I'm a nut!"

Annual Mortensen Family Pumpkin Carving Party!

Okay, so it wasn't really a party, but it was still a good time! We carved pumpkins on Sunday a bit after we got home from church. Kiley had to leave that evening to Corpus Christi! He is gone for yet another month, but this is his LAST month having to be away! Any how, we got to work on the pumpkins & was surprised at how much both Teagen & Brayden were involved this year. Usually they are interested for the first few minutes & then run off to play. But this time they both stuck around for the most part & helped us out. Teagen & Kiley did a scary face. Brayden & I did a bat! This is something we have been doing since the first Halloween Kiley & I had together TEN years ago. We buy the fun pumpkin pattern books & have a great time seeing who can do the best! I think it is always a tie, but in all actuality, mine are usually the best! :)

Jack is BACK!

We went to Sea World on Saturday (24th) afternoon. It was VERY crowded, but we were able to do almost everything we wanted to do. They had a darling Sesame Street Halloween show, which was by far Olivia's favorite show of the night!

Kiley took Teagen & Brayden on Journey to Atlantis while Liv & I waited for the show to start. They made it back in time for most of the show. We tried to go through the haunted forest during the family friendly hour, but the line was well over an hours wait long, so we walked around a bit, visited the penguins, played at Happy Harbour, & then made our way over to see the Jack is Back Shamu show.

Jack!

I am not kidding when I say that it was crowded! We showed up at the stadium 30 minutes early & it was packed full, except for the splash zones, which of course we ended up sitting right there, but managed to get away with only a few little drops of water on us! It was a LONG day, but fun to spend together as a family!

This is how Olivia watched the Jack is Back show. She was a tad bit frightened!

We did have a bit of a scare. Liv decided to disappear for about 5 minutes. It was the longest 5 minutes of my life! She was holding my hand & the next second she was gone! LUCKILY, she wasn't too far. Thank Heavens for good people! Some lady saw her all by herself & picked her up & went to the nearest Sea World Employee. I spotted Liv & wasn't instantly relieved! I couldn't believe she would take off like that, but of course she would! She thinks she is 2 1/2 going on 16! I started bawling & all she says is, "Hi Mom!" I could have killed her! But then was so happy to have her safe & sound in my arms again! That little stinker! I keep telling her how sad & scared I was......just to try to get her to see that it isn't good to run away from your parents. She just smiles & tries to distract me with something she is interested in! It reminded me a lot of the time when we lost Teagen when he was this very age........oh the things us parents have to go through!

Trunk Or Treat!

Our church Trunk or Treat was last Friday, October 23rd. Our neighbors & good friends, the Berryman's came along! There was a chili cook off, lots of games for the kids to play, and of course the tradition of trick or treating at the trunks! We had a great time & enjoyed watching all of the kids run around with out a care in the world! Oh to be a kid again!

Ready to go!


Me, Kathryn, & Anna~such a great friend!

Olivia LOVES Caroline, cute little witches! And we can't forget her buddy, Draco/Cody!

Olivia got a nasty blister from her shoes & so Kathryn swooped in & saved the day! She knows that candy is the way to Olivia's heart! She was all better once she had that sucker in her mouth!

Gotta love Brayden's smile! I am sure he is smiling so big cause he knew he was gonna be cashing in on a lot of candy!

Halloween Piano Recital

All of the piano students with their teacher, Emily!

Teagen & Brayden had their first piano recital with their new teacher. They got to dress up, play a Halloween piano piece & one that they made up themselves. They both dressed up as GI Joe guys, we've never seen the movie, but they insisted that is what they wanted to be for Halloween. I only got a little bit of Brayden on video, so it is short & sweet. The parents had to leave after the recital & the kids got to stay & have a fun Halloween Partay! The boys did great, they practiced so hard & had their pieces memorized, but then I think they both forgot what they were doing & were a bit nervous! Teagen played his Halloween an octave lower than he was supposed to, but that is okay! They could careless if they mess up! I am glad they had a good time!

Tutu!

I made Olivia an adorable tutu for Halloween. She is going to be a pretty witch...although there is no way she will wear the hat. Any how, here is a preview!

Liv's cute bum!

Now that Olivia is potty trained, we seem to see her little bum crack quite a bit! It is pretty funny! This isn't the best picture, but still shows that her cute little "bummy", as she calls it, hangs out of her pants & undies! What a cute girl!

And this picture is just to show that I am not kidding when I say this girl makes messes every where she goes! This is in my closet....oh well, at least she is having a good time!

Camping trip!

We decided to go to our ward camp out two weekends ago up at Potter Creek Park. It was beautiful camping weather & we all had a blast. Liv loved being able to roam free & the boys loved having lots of friends to run around & play with. It did get pretty cold for us Texans, but we survived & really enjoyed spending some good time outdoors. Kiley was so great to load, unload, take down, & then reload & unload again! Thanks babe for always being so great & never complaining about it! :) Good times!

Livy & one of her fave little buddies, Cody. They had a lot of fun together!

Liv showing off her dance moves, making smores, & loving her daddy!

Bed Time! It was sooooo cold, but we loved it! Although I got NO sleep & was a bit uncomfortable, but it was still a lot of fun!

Out exploring the lake. Fun to enjoy the awesome weather!

You got BOO-ed!

For FHE tonight, the boys & I put together some nummy HaLlOwEeN treats! We were boo-ed last week & finally had some time to boo a few neighbors. The boys have been trying to wait patiently for the day to finally come that they could drop some treats & a cute little note off at someones door step & run off & hide. They had school off today & Kiley is on call, so I figured today was the best day to get it done! They thought it was pretty fun, even though one of the neighbors saw Teagen trying to hide & me standing on the front walk like a total dork! Oh well, it was still fun!

Happy Birthday Brayden Thomas!

Brayden turned 6 years old on the 23rd of September. I feel terrible that I am now just blogging about it, but I guess better now then never, right! Kiley was still up in Dallas on his birthday, so it was just me & the 3 kids! Teagen & Brayden had a dentist appointment that very day...I know, what a crappy mom to schedule a dentist apt. on his birthday, but really it was the ONLY day they had available. We went to the dentist, mr. B had 2 cavities.....happy birthday, right! Afterwards, we went to Toys R Us & I let him pick out his presents this year. He thought that was pretty cool. We then headed to Apple bee's for dinner. Great service, NASTY food! Oh well. It was a very long day, but I think Brayden felt pretty special!
Any how, Brayden wanted a swimming party in the worst way. He's been talking about a pool party since last April! So we made it happen. He invited some of his little buddies from church & the neighborhood. Kiley got home the weekend we had the party---so grateful for his help! We had cupcakes & did presents first & then headed to the Air Force Base to a fun out door pool with a slide & a few diving boards. The boys all went for the high dive & had a blast jumping into the pool! I couldn't believe these little boys had no fear of jumping off such a high board, but they seemed to LOVE it! I think Brayden had a great day! He is such a good boy!

A little bit about my Brady Bug! He was born in the afternoon on a nice hot day in Glendale, Arizona. He was my BIGGEST baby, 8 lbs 3 oz. & 22 inches. When I think back on those days, it seems to be a bit of a blur. Having two little ones only 2 years apart & during Kiley's 2nd year of medical school (some of you will understand that "fun" year), I remember struggling. He was not my easiest baby, but still a good baby all the same. He has always been so good at putting up with his older brother. I am afraid Teagen is a tough act to follow, but Brayden has held his own! He is definitely his own little person! The teachers he has had over the last few years, have always mentioned how much they love & enjoy having him in class. Most of the time, you will find Brayden looking out for his siblings, even his friends. He has been the peacemaker in our family, although I must admit lately he has swayed a bit! :) We are so grateful he is part of our family! We have learned a lot about him & from him! Here are 6 things that I love & appreciate about my little B man!

*He loves to learn. Often times, he will ask me for "homework" to work on. Before he started Kindergarten he was reading. He is a great little reader! I can't compare him to his older brother cause that wouldn't be fair, but he is much more WILLING to learn & has such a desire...can't let that slip by!

*He is very sensitive. This can be a good thing & a bad thing! :) He does shed a lot of tears when things don't quite go his way, but that is just who he is. I appreciate that about him, cause I am a crier, too! He is very protective of his siblings. If either of them are getting in trouble & he has had nothing to do with it, he will usually pipe up & stick up for them sometimes even taking the blame! That is how siblings should be, always willing to stick up for one another! I hope he never looses that unique/special trait!

*I love that he LOVES to play games, any type of games---video, computer, phone, board games, pretend games, etc! He has such a love for it! He could sit & play games all day long if I let him. He is also good at most of them, too!

*He LOVES to dance & wrestle. If he gets chance to turn up some tunes, he'll dance around the house. If daddy is around, he is counting down the seconds until he can wrestle with him.

*He is social butterfly! If he could play with his friends all day long, every single day of his life, HE WOULD! His friends mean a lot to him, reminds me a lot of myself! Along with his social-ness, he is a TALKER! Sometimes he doesn't ever stop talking, definitely a trait he got from me, just ask Grandpa Tom & Grandma Shirlee!

*One of my absolute favorite things about Brayden is his BEAUTIFUL smile! I love to see his smile-it's very contagious & just plain beautiful! It is an image that I will always treasure!

Brayden, we love you so much! All those who come to know you, are truly lucky! You are one of a kind!

Pizza Partay!

Kiley is on call today. It is Sunday. Not my most favorite day for him to be on call....we really like to be together as a family on Sundays yet his profession doesn't always allow him to be with us on this special day of the week. This weekend is General Conference...some of you have no idea what that means & may not even care. It is one of my most favorite times of year. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we get to hear from the leaders of the church for 2 days! It is always a time of self-reflection for me & also a reality check as to where I am headed in my life. This has been one of my most favorite Conferences (they are all really great & meaningful)! I am going to be a better person. Especially a better wife & a better mother. So this leads to our fun little evening, even though we were missing our daddy terribly today! I decided that my kids really needed to see their mother having fun! So I got out the cute little kiddie aprons, got some items out to make home made pizzas & then let the kids have at it! I am not one who can readily enjoy letting my kids make a mess in the kitchen, but today I did not care! They had so much fun making their own little mini pizzas. We listened to music & munched on all the toppings as each child created their own little master pieces! It was a fun evening, one that I hope my kids will always remember! I know I will!

Ya, so apparently I need to clean out the oven! :) GROSS!

Curly Sue!

Olivia had school pictures this last week at her preschool. I decided to curl her hair in ringlets...didn't take too long & ended up so stinking cute! She wasn't in the mood for a photo shoot, so these are the only pictures I was able to capture. By the time she got home from school, the curls were completely gone. I sure hope they lasted for the pictures! What a girl!