Happy Halloween from the cutest BATMAN CREW EVER!!!!

Abel, Noah, and Halle Blake

They had a blast trick or treating.. and enjoyed helping mom hand out candy after they were done!

We spent this morning of Halloween enjoying breakfast at Grammie and Grandpa's house and then we went to the ward trunk or treat.  After that we came home and put Noah down for a nap and then Alan and I took the big kids to a movie at the theater.  It was Abel's first time... and he kind of survived.  He went potty many many times, and just did not enjoy sitting in his sit.  But we all survived and had a fun time together.

Today we had a Halloween party with the Walbruch cousins.

We had lots of games to play and fun food to eat.  We ended the night with a movie.

It was fun to get all together the night before Halloween and celebrate with family.

Our food included a skull punch, with a real skull ice cube, mummy pizzas, a pumpkin veggies tray, pumpkin clementines, and pumkin poo (cheese balls).  We finished it off with dessert of yummy cupcakes.

It was so fun to have everyone over and celebrate a fun holiday together!

these three boys...

have my heart!

Take that issues in education class!!!

This class has tested my patience and also taken LOTS of my time.

So glad to be finished with my last and final paper for the class.

now hoping for an A.

I finished Halle's costume... and SHE LOVES IT!!!

She gets to dress up for her dance class tonight.

She is headed off to play at Beau and Jenny's for the afternoon and we will see her after dance!

Love this girl and watching her blooming personality!

we surprised Dad with dinner tonight during his first break.

He got a little behind and was not able to come right out so the kids and I ate and waited.

It was fun to spend a good 20 minutes with him this evening.

Our good friend Lizz Cheney has been offering a free gym class every Monday morning.  Halle and Abel go to it each week.. and SERIOUSLY LOVE IT!

It is a service that does not go unnoticed... truly grateful for Lizz and her example and friendship.

Alan comes home today.. and we are all looking forward to him being home!!!
Our week was good.  The kids were very good besides having to deal with Abel's weird sickness that lasted a good 3 days.
I am so grateful for Alan's employment and that they sent him to continue his training.  Alan is also excited because this school offers more training.  He is hoping to return soon and do more refrigeration training.  We are so proud of you Alan.. but we are so glad that you will be home soon!!!

Noah's first HAIRCUT!!!

Noah got his first haircut... and looks so so HANDSOME!!!!

He seriously looks like he could be a big brother now!

Alan has been gone all week so my parents have been helping out in the evening and giving me some adult conversation time!!!! which is always nice with Alan is away for work.

Our new winter boots came in.

BRING ON THE MINNESOTA WINTER!!!!

and Abel seems to be feeling better today... hope it lasts!

A sickness has hit poor Abe.

We were outside playing at the park and then all the sudden he looks at me and pukes all over the stairs at the playground.

Then puked more as we walked back home.

Once we were in the house he did a pretty good job at hitting the bucket or toilet, which is a saving grace!!!

He also has a terrible fever.... I sure hope that our buddy feels better in the morning.

Halle is getting better and better at writing her name all,by,herself.

Today she practiced on the sidewalk many different times.

I am going to miss being outside very, very, soon!

We are potty training Abel!!! and it is going actually very well!

here is a picture of him throwing a fit... which he is very good at lately too.

Our Abel is growing up WAY TO FAST!!!!!

my little book worm.

a sight that will never get old!!!

I can find Noah here on most mornings and after naps just sitting and grabbing many books and paging through them!

Alan turned 30 today.

This picture is a little throw back to when we looked younger and well rested.

One of my most favorite memories with Alan was when we had been dating about 2 months.  We were sitting in the back yard at my parents house.  Alan looked at me and with that most handsome smile said "I would have no problem growing old with you.."  I echoed his thoughts and said, "I want to grow old with you!"  Then a couple weeks later we were engaged to be married!!!!

Each year brings new things for us and our family.  I still am so very grateful that I choose you to grow old with Alan.  I am your biggest fan.  I love you!  

Happy 30th Birthday!!!

Cheers to many, many more!!!!

It's a BOY!!!

We are expecting another sweet baby to arrive to our family this spring, March 17th to be exact!

Today we found out that we are having a baby boy!

Thomas Arthur Blake... we are beyond thrilled to welcome you in to our family.

Our hearts are already filled with so much love for you.

Cannot wait to meet you!

Watch out... we have our very own batman roaming around this house!!!

and sometimes it does not bother me at all that Abe wakes up early from naps..

today we had the best time playing trains together!

"If you want something to last forever, you treat it differently. You shield it and protect it. You never abuse it. You don't expose it to the elements. You don't make it common or ordinary. If it ever becomes tarnished, you lovingly polish it until it gleams like new. It becomes special because you have made it so, and it grows more beautiful and precious as time goes by." 

Happy Anniversary to the love of my life... best 8 years a girl could ask for!

Alan and I had an early date this morning to the temple.

We originally had this date set up to celebrate our anniversary that is just around the corner.

So I was talking with my dad earlier in the week and told him to get his parents names ready because Alan and I were going to do their baptisms and also their confirmations on saturday morning.

My dad got the names printed and ready.... and Alan and I went to the temple.

I had first signed up to be with a group that was doing a session at 7am.  When Alan and I arrived at the temple the people that were doing the session had cancelled.  The temple workers got enough men together be able to perform the ordinances that we needed to get done.

I know that it was the Lords intervention to have the session be so intimate of a setting.

The spirit was very strong in the room.

Alan went first and was baptized for other names first and then it got to my Grandpa's name.

Tears welled in my eyes and Alan's too.

The spirit was strong and it was a witness to us that what Alan had done was good and my Grandpa accepted.

Then it was my turn to be baptized. 

I was baptized for some other family names that one of the temple workers had brought and then it was my grandma's name.

The spirit again filled the room.

I was crying as I felt the spirit.

We were confirmed for them as well and the spirit was just as strong during that ordinance.

I know that the presence of angels, ancestors, and specifically my grandparents were in the temple this morning.  I know that they accepted these ordinances that we completed for them this morning.  I know that they are grateful, and I am so grateful to have provided this service for them.

The temple is great!

It is my most favorite place to be on this earth with Alan.

It is refuge from the storms of this world.

It is beyond beautiful.

our junior fire fighters!!!

Today we made Abel's dreams come true.

and We meaning.. the firefighters at station 4... mainly Chief Josh Peterson!

It is fire prevention week and so there has been nightly open houses at all the different fire stations.

Well this mom forgot to put it in our plans for the week and we ended up not being able to make any of the open houses.

No problem though when you know some fire fighters!

I called on the Peterson's and Josh was working the next day.. so we headed out to the station in the morning on a fun family field trip.

We got to do lots of different things while at the fire station.

Halle, Abe, and Noah all sprayed the fire hose!

We also got a tour of the different trucks that they have there.  Abe loved sitting in the drivers seat!

and last but not least... We got to have a RIDE in the fire truck!!! Abel about died, Halle was of course terrified, and Noah was smiling ear to ear!

It has a great morning together as a family.  We are so grateful for the people that serve our community each day that they go to work.  We are grateful for your sacrifice and also your example.

And thank you Josh Peterson for today... Abe, i guarantee, will not stop talking about this for DAYS!

Big mom fail today.

All week I had been telling Halle that it was bring a friend to your dance class this week.

So she said that she really wanted to bring Abel and he was TOTALLY PUMPED!!!!  and it kind of warmed my heart when I asked Halle who she would want to bring...without hesitation ABEL came out of her mouth.  I really love watching their relationship and friendship grow!

we get to dance class and they both walk in and Halle is helping Abe know the ropes...

and then the teacher comes out and lets me know that it is only bring a friend week for the older classes.

MY BAD!!!'

Abe was kind of sad.. but got over it quickly when bribed with some treats!

There are many reasons why I love this man.. but being a playmate to our kids is one of the main reasons.

They just adore him.

He wrestles them.

He dances with them.

He is creative with them.

He laughs with them.

...and so much more!

Today Alan thought it would be funny to draw a face on his chin... and the kids thought he was pretty funny!  We were all entertained for a good 40 minutes or so.

and of  course the kids had to have a face drawn on their chins too!

We are sure loving all the extra space in our house now that the basement is almost finished!!!!

Ashley dropped Reagan and Nash off to play with us this morning while Max had a well check up.  Nash was real thirsty and found a 6-pack of orange soda in the garage.  He brought it over to me and begged for a drink.  I could not say no! Here is Nash and Noah chugging away on their well earned orange sodas at 10:00am in the morning.

Rough life boys... Rough life!

RPU was giving away free pumpkins and little treat bags so we headed to the office and the kids loved getting to choose out a little pumpkin and also indulge in their treats.  Since we were on the North side of town we decided to surprise Alan and pick up Subway and go eat dinner with him.  The kids loved eating with dad for dinner and it was fun to spend a little extra time with Alan today!

fun during conference....

This weekend has been an amazing spiritual boost.

The prophets and apostles and other church leaders are inspired individuals.

This conference was AMAZING.

I feel that my testimony grew a lot in the past two days.

I can not wait to go back and study and read the talks again.

Got him good today.

I put together a surprise birthday party for Alan's 30th birthday!

He had NO IDEA!!!!

All of our families were able to be here for the party and surprise.

We watched conference in the morning and then Alan headed over to my parents to help trim trees.  They were able to keep him there until the surprise was ready to happen.

Then I called him back home and told him that the garage door was broken so he needed to come in the front door and then let him know that Abe and I were playing in the garage....

and then the surprise happened and it was PERFECT!!!

We enjoyed pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, salads, apples and dip, and chips.  And for dessert I made a bunch of different ice cream pies and they were a HIT!!!

it was so fun to do this for Alan.

Alan is one special guy and I am so grateful that he is mine forever!

I love you Alan.. thank you for being born!