To become a man...

 You have to wear undies" Emmerlyn says. 

There is enough truth to leave it at that. Anchor thinks has yet to become a man. He did wear undies on his own accord the other day for a bit so that was good. Someday we will be free. Maybe after football season. 

I signed William up for drivers ed today. He starts at the end of October so he is well on his way to becoming a man. He didn't start his homework until 3 minutes ago though so he still has a ways yet.

I let Anchor eat a bowl of marshmallows with a spoon during General Conference (which was lovely) so that was a mom fail. 

We supported Brevick as his team annihilated the other team on Friday night. Brevick only pulled 1 flag and had no points due to a rolled ankle at Geronimos the night before. He played well though and his team is undefeated going into their last regular season game.

Duets. Which was mellow compared to today. 

When I got home from taking William to practice Anchor and Brevick were topless sitting on the piano throwing treats for the dogs to eat. 

I need a new babysitter.

Or some standards.

My dogs are obese. 

Seriously.

Pollee thinks she is tough though and spent about 10 minutes barking at this guy. Pretty sure he could eat her in 1 bite. If he wasn't a vegetarian. 

Biking one day, They were good pals for a whole 6 minutes.

Apples MUST be in a line. After this picture he straightened the line so they were all even.

Tall, Tall, towers. Put on by Brevick, Emmerlyn, and Anchor. The last one they built was taller than Emmerlyn!!!

I made this.

Man buns. You can't really see them but picture it.

Anchor found this in the car and HAD to bring it in. The first thing he did was put it right in the bath. I was worried he wouldn't have enough water in that bowl. :)

Eatin' grapes. We had to reiterate our strict no feet on the counter rule. It's a big deal. Thank heaven's for Clorox wipes!

Gettin' ready for Christmas. It will be here before you know it. Good think the wreath is still on the mirror.

Bad dog gets on the table and eats everything. He is lucky the kids love him otherwise he would be on KSL

Bedtime woes. We are all exhausted.

I'm just dying over he cuteness so I slipped her on here. 

Mom stop hurting my life

 He exclaimed as he tried once again to wriggle out of my arms. 

Needless to say, Anchor has lost his crib due to climbing out.

We are ALL grieving that loss.

Obviously it was time because the boy is three but it is so much harder to get him to go to sleep now that I can't contain him. I don't remember how we used to do it. I am way too old for it now.

He thought that he could sleep wherever he wanted to now that he was free so he removed his bed to the couch. 

He is now sleeping on a mattress on the floor in Emmerlyn's room and Emmerlyn is in Brevick's room because I can't keep him under control down there with all the toys.

We are all going to die of exhaustion.

William's football team got creamed against Minico this last week but he did get some sweet baby snuggle time so that was a win for him. 

I kept having to remind myself that Quinlee is his cousin not his niece. We passed Anchor's crib on down to her and he was fine with that later however, he kept saying "I not gib it to 'Gomery" referring to his mattress. Apparently he is a little worried that Montgomery is going to get ALL of his sleeping arrangements.

Charley had his first XC meet of the year and was pumped that he didn't come in last. I am pumped too, it is great to see him staying with it. He is also working on tryouts for the robotics team. We will have to see how that goes. A near catastrophe happened when he realized that in the rush to get from XC in Pocatello to football at Minico he left his backpack at the park. "Oh, crap, everything that is important is in that bag!!!" After some prayers, late-night cell phone flashlight park searching and restless sleep we remembered that his gizmo was in the bag. I used the location feature and we could see that miraculously the bag had made it back to the school and was waiting for him in the office. Nobody knows who grabbed it. I am so grateful we found it and also that we had the opportunity to remind Charley that not EVERYTHING important was in that bag. He wasn't. He giggled but I meant it. I am glad we have him.

In other news, we are just trying to live the fall life. I am ready for some of our sports to end just because it is a little hectic. To add to it I just got called to Activity Days with Emmerlyn which she can't go to because her gymnastics gets over at the same time so Ben will have to pick up both her and William at 7 and then get her to the church. By himself. That will be so fun for him.

We got some playground time in for Brevick. Who won his first flag football game of the season. He pulled 4 flags so he is well on his way to his 10 flag goal. He is a great little player.

Shots from the game.

Brown sugar eating and whiteboard doodling.

Our multipurpose chubby cat door.

He built a "big giant tower!!!!!!!!" Which go him for balancing that.

I know I am missing so much but this is all I can remember for now!

Grateful

 Today I am grateful that I have not potty trained Anchor. He has had a yucky tummy all afternoon so that would have been a nightmare. 

I am NOT grateful that I got a little letter in the mail saying I was summoned for jury duty. this is the 3RD TIME!!! 3RD. I am praying that I am not selected on needed or whatever when I call tomorrow. I just have no idea how I would manage it #1 and #2 what kind of awesome mom sends a sick kid to daycare all day when he is totally unused to it? 

We had a relaxing weekend with not much going on so that was nice. William is looking forward to his first game on Thursday in Twin Falls. I got roped in to organizing sacks for the bus ride there. *Don't know how that happened and the timing couldn't have been worse. stupid summons*

We are working on some agility training. The dogs and kids LOVE it.

Ben built this darling desk out of the old piano wood. I LOVE it.

We also replaced the red dresser that had our tablets and stuff in it with this nice little bookcase that Ben and William put together in about an hour. It obviously needs to be painted but it fits so well right there and gives the room so much more space.

Foot rest. Boulder doesn't mind, he loves to be petted in any way, shape, or form.

I got to meet this sweet pea. 

I adore her.

Anchor took it upon himself to rearrange the living space.

Boulder jumped on the table while I had my back turned and ate the garlic butter that was supposed to be with dinner tonight so that was disappointing.

I am over this week. 

I just want to crawl into my bed and sleep. Forever.

But....

Anchor is not tired.

I NOT TIRED

 Ever.

According to Anchor himself.

I totally disagree because I am exhausted.

But,

Here is a picture log for the month.

Side note**William's football schedule seems to be very fluid so text me before you plan on a game just so I can make sure it is still accurate.

On to the pictures. 

We started flag football and cross country this week so we are now living in our car wishing it was already November.

Anchor got "poked by a mad bee" (red dot #4 finger) at Brevick's practice today then he fell off a bench, then Emmerlyn crunched her knee. We sat on the friendship bench for the last 20 minutes because we were too sore and afraid to move.

Lego love. I love the entertainment value, I am dying over the mess in this picture. And my feet hurt just looking at it. Anchor has been spending most of his free time down here playing though, he even plugged in and turned on that heater to maintain a standard of comfort.

Emmerlyn did some buddy reading. 

I made cookies for the first day of school. Always double the the batch Sallee says.

More legos

First day of School!! Freshman, and 7th

4th and 2nd

Post football practice dinner. And second dinner.

Anchor built a tissue house. 

The air is so dry that everyone keeps getting bloody noses. 

He used the last of the tissues.

TV buddies.

Emmerlyn sewed Pollee a sweater. 

UUUNNNFortunately, she forgot to make it open and close and felt is NOT stretchy. Pollee looks nice in her turtle neck. It now goes on dolls.

Just some lounging pillow puppies. I want to get rid of them. They are in a horrendous stage. Ben and the kids say no. 

If you look close you can see that he has a car tucked between his seatbelt and his belly. Just because if you get into an accident you don't want to be bored.

When we were in St. George we went to a fun Children's Museum. 

They liked the sub. They felt connected with it you know?

We made lots of snacks for the road. Anchor was all in and loved carrying his snack box around.

Montgomery hates his life when he comes here. OOORR he was SO tired he just couldn't make it up the stairs.

Charley did a sandwich challenge. 

Most of this ended up in the trash because it was full of hot sauce.

I think that's it for now. Anchor has totally lost his mind in his room. 

I'm going to have to go in there. 

William is living the harsh reality that high school honors classes come with lots of homework. 

Poor dude the second day of school is when it gets hard.