I have a lot of pictures to post and thought a summary would be the best way to get them on here.

Bryce has loved preschool so far. Back on the 5th Cameron and I got to present his VIP (which happens in honor of the child's birthday). It was so fun to help our youngest child feel special by talking about him and telling his classmates the things he enjoys to do. He loved handing out a special treat to his preschool friends. When you are the VIP you also get to take the class book home. Bryce looked through it over and over again. It contains a profile on each student and has pictures of things they've done in class up to that time. He took pictures of the book with my camera.

The morning of the 9th we had a long photo session with my parents and siblings and families. I'm really excited to see them when they're done. The kids loved being with their cousins and crazy uncles. After the photos Cameron and Dane had to take off for Dane's soccer game.

Dane thoroughly enjoyed soccer again this year. He gets kind of goofy, not very focused, but the kid has fun!

After the soccer games, Dane had the very special opportunity to go to the BYU game with his dad. I painted the Y insignia on his cheeks and after than, Bryce and Ella wanted in on the face painting.

This is a butterfly...sort of. I think my skills are a bit rusty. Bryce just wanted two lightning bolts on his cheeks.Cam reported that Dane enjoyed the football game (it probably helped that they won), but it's still a bit long for him. He crashed on the way home. It was a long day. While they were at the game, Ella and Bryce and I went to Toy Story 3 at the dollar movie. I had an awesome time watching them watch and I cried again.

A week ago, Bryce and I took a trip to Gardener Village with Angie and Sophie. As Buzz Lightyear he was a CELEBRITY! Every little boy 2 and older were whispering excitely to their mothers as he passed. I told him that any time he heard someone say 'Buzz Lightyear' that he should wave. My son was his own parade. One mother even had her child shake hands with Bryce and got her son's photo with him. The kid was in awe.

Bryce ATE IT UP!

Sophie and Bryce helped their mommies with the Witch Scavenger Hunt that would yield a prize at the end of a 25 cent cookie.
Bryce took a bunch of odd pictures, but this one turned out all right.He insisted on this final one.This past week we watched our final soccer games of the season.

I think Bryce was relieved it was all over.

This week has been an excellent one spiritually for me. I feel so full of gratitude. I am generally more at ease and I'm definitely happier. It's wonderful to see your own efforts pay off and the blessings that come.

Speaking of blessings, yesterday Zealand came to visit. He brought my mom with him. He's at one of those stranger anxiety stages and doesn't much like us, but Ella began playing the piano for him and it really settled him down and he started to babble and crawl around. (He's 10 months now)

At the end, though, Cam wanted to hold him (he's been very wary of his uncle lately). You can see how nervous he is, but he didn't cry.

I hope your Halloween preparations go well. I need to get started on Cameron's. Lots to do!

This is Bryce's first year of playing soccer. I hope it's not his last. He has small bursts of the desire to play, but usually looks like this, skirting the edge and refusing to play.Like you, I'm quite surprised.

However, he loves his uniform! Go Firebirds! Dane is having a grand time and it definitely a big support to his team. He's really enthusiastic and enjoys the game whether or not he's on the field. He's on the Blue Dragons.

I'm really glad to not be coaching this year and to enjoy their fun from the sidelines. :)

Dane's game was first. They're the Green Dragons. Look at that action shot!

Dane, far right

Bryce's photographic contribution

In a huddle. I'm the big person. Ella's the pigtailed cutie.

Lining up for the kick

Go Ella!

Monday: Ella's birthday and we had a big birthday party for both her and Bryce. I had some errand running to do earlier in the day and ended up having only three hours (3 pm to 6 pm) to pull the party all together before our family members arrived. In that time I managed (after turning on "Monsters, Inc." for my little monsters) to bake two cakes (from mixes), frost and decorate (with new toys from the store), make dough for 4 pizzas and get out all the appetizers... Then those tender mercies start happening. My SIL Alesha and family arrive and begin slicing pizza toppings and putting them together with me. We get one, then another in the oven and then everyone else begins arriving. The timing was nice...too many cooks in the kitchen are, well, too many. It was nice that everyone else was running later. GREAT!

The party was fun, busy and full of energy! Final count: 14 adults, 7 kids under 7. Happy Birthday, kids!

Tuesday:

Ella had her well-child check-up. Why she felt the need to talk baby talk with Bryce, dropping Rs and Ls all over the place as the pediatrician is evaluating abilities, etc. I do not know. A small growth on her lower back that had showed up and increased in size rapidly in the last 6 months, turned out to be nothing. A great relief as we were suspecting some cancerous mole. 4 shots and no, she wasn't brave and the way she was thrashing about I wouldn't be surprised if they hurt more than they needed to. Not fun.

Tuesday, was also Ella's soccer game. Coach Mommy didn't check the time and we arrived and hour early. She was too cold (and WHINY!) to play, but we did have one of the kids totally become a break-out star and made three goals in quick succession (with an assist from Brenner), making a soccer game with 4-yr-olds actually exciting. We won. Always fun!

Wednesday:

Kids got along well. Cooperated. Did chores. So nice!

Dane's soccer game went well. He has fun. We spend the whole time wrestling with Bryce in an effort to keep him running onto the field. They haven't won yet, but remember, that's not what's important, right? Right, but tell that to the parents sitting to the left and right of me!

Thursday:

Even more cooperation from the kids with Dane mopping the kitchen floor for the first time and not much complaining when I asked them for extra help sans pay.

I did good on my chores as well, nearly resurrecting my home from the disaster Monday brought to normalcy. I also made my bookshelves look nice.

I got back to reading the scriptures with the kids. I have been nagged by promptings and didn't want to ignore them any more. Best part! They were beyond enthusiastic and had obviously missed doing this with me.

Ella got to go to her first birthday party that I recall dropping her off at. It felt like the first day of school suddenly and I was a mildly upset by it. So hard to let go, sometimes... Did I mention the party was just next door?

Dane did well with piano, continually impressing his teacher. How 'bout impressing your mother with a little less pounding and making a 10-minute daily practice into a 40-minute one?

Now here is Friday:

Exciting stuff happening for Cameron that I can't share yet.

Dane had been Mr. Attitude all morning and it's only 8:34 AM. Long day? Most likely. I've fed everyone, but myself. I should do that, but I'm dressed and they're not, so neener-neener!

This is as interesting a post as I could come up before this weekend. If you are my friend on http://www.goodreads.com/ then you know I just added a few new books to my currently-reading list, so I want to work on some of those and I'm going to end this...and read scriptures with my kids before picking up any library books.

The most important thing about soccer at this age is encouraging the kids just to play, participate and have fun. Winning is not important. However...now that its just us here...

We TOTALLY WON OUR FIRST GAME!!! (2-1)

Our team completely turned their abilities around and the first goal of the season was made by our good buddy, Brenner!

It was fun, thrilling, frustrating and I made it despite being exhausted earlier in the day from just going to the library (you may recall I have a cold and allergies on top of that).

I was so pleased with the kids (and I remembered all their names). They gave it their all and had fun and we only had the occasional tumble.

You are now sharing the moment with me as I check out the photographs that Cameron took. (I'm actually kind of dreading them and hopefully there are more of Ella than of me)

Well, hey, not too bad. All coaches look this ornery, right?

Hershey took Cameron's information and said they'd get back to him in 7-10 days.

I am being initiated into true soccer mom-ness as I begin my stint as Ella's soccer coach today. While I'm talking to 7-14 other parents, Cameron will be in Provo at a BYU football game with his dad, Dane will be keeping my unruly Bryce from getting lost or hurting himself and Ella will hopefully not be in a super-pouty mood. I am petrified. I can't wait for this 'organization' day to be over. I'm looking forward to the games, though.

I stayed up late last night working with my very slow computer to choose, edit and process photos through samsclub.com for the upcoming Scrapbook USA. I've never been, but I'm trying to be well prepared for scrapbooking success. (yes, roll your eyes by all means!) I figure if I am prepared I shall...have fun! Thanks to Angie and Anisa for getting me to go. Oh, and for my husband for taking all of Friday off so that I can, in his words, "go play all day." Thanks, honey!

I've been working on a doll house project a la My Little Pony for Ella's birthday on the 22nd and it's going well. I missed my calling as an architect, I tell you. I've really enjoyed putting on the details. I'll have to post a picture of the finished work here.

My father-in-law was not feeling well this week and mom-in-law asked us to pray for him. We told the kids and it was obvious that Grandpa not feeling well made them nervous. I nearly cry at the memory, but the first words out of Dane's mouth: "Is it...cancer?" Then last night I was trying to encourage Ella to say her prayers and I said "We want to pray for Grandpa to get better don't we?" then she says " 'Cuz if we don't he will get old and die, huh?" Wow.

Well, I'm happy to report that Grandpa is "100% better" and I know the kids will be happy about that. I do wonder where all this worry comes from.