Scriptures

The other day, Chloe and I were sitting on our bed when she asks me, "Mom, can I have some scriptures?" So how could I refuse? We went to Distribution Services that afternoon and Chloe got her very own scriptures. She was so excited about them and on the way home asked, "Can we read my scriptures when we get home?" What 2 1/2 year old asks things like that? I guess where doing something right!

And speaking of scriptures, you know how sometimes you can get sleepy while reading them...

No, Chloe didn't really fall asleep while reading the scriptures, but she did fall asleep on the stairs after getting home from her cousin's baptism yesterday. I guess if you're really tired you can fall asleep just about anywhere.

Happy Halloween

Well, after being spoiled with beautiful weather for that past few Halloweens, this year was quite the exception. We went to my mom's house for our annual Halloween dinner filled with monster toes and English muffin mummies and then waited for it to stop pouring outside long enough to trick-or-treat. Lucky for us we did all that trunk-or-treating the day before, so we didn't feel bad only going to five houses and then going home to warm up (Chloe didn't seem to mind either).

I convinced Aaron to dress up this year by only making him wear one thing: an apron. The aprons are kinda hard to read in these pics, but mine said "Bun in the oven" and Aaron's said "The Bun Maker." I even made a recipe card on how to cook the bun in the oven (see below). I purposely chose the close up picture of our aprons because my face is sure looking chubby with only8-9 weeks left before my due date

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Since I knew the weather was going to be yucky on Halloween, I took my pictures of Chloe in her costume the day before. Isn't she the cutest witch you've ever seen? Thank you mom for making the cutest costume ever. It sure pays to have a talented mom, don't you think?

Trunk-or-Treat

On the Friday before Halloween, our ward had a Trunk-or-Treat activity and it was a lot of fun. It is the best way to go trick-or-treating because it's fast and the parents get to socialize with each other so it makes it go by really quick. Chloe refused to say "trick-or-treat," but she would say thank you, so that's something, right?

Chloe in our trunk

Chloe hanging out with her friends Paden and Parker.

Chloe with her friend Bentley

Earlier that day, Aaron's work had a party and Chloe was able to trick-or-treat around the office, too. By the end of the night, she had tons of candy and it wasn't even Halloween yet.

Halloween FHE Activities

For Family Home Evening last week, we decorated sugar cookies and then carved our pumpkins. We knew we wouldn't have enough time to do it all in one night, so Chloe and I did the cookies and then we waited for Dad to get home to carve the pumpkins.

Chloe's creative side came out while decorating the cookies. I would frost them and she would put on the toppings. Her favorite toppings were the mellow cream pumpkins and of course sprinkles.

We wanted Chloe to have a part in picking out what her pumpkin looked like so we got one of her Halloween books with pictures of jack-o-lanterns in it and let her pick her favorite. She chose a happy pumpkin.

Pumpkin Patch

Last Friday, we took Chloe to a pumpkin patch to pick our pumpkins and play. This pumpkin patch was great because it had a petting zoo, corn pit, hay maze, a huge hay pile for the kids to play in and it is right down the street from our house. The very best thing however, was the fact that it was all free (except for the pumpkins). We had a great time and Chloe loved picking out her pumpkin. For all of those friends who are local and want to know where this is, it is right off 400 South in Springville and is called Jakers Jacko Lantern Pumpkins.

Puddle Jumping

Yesterday we had a really big storm that left the streets with some major puddles. Chloe and I had been watching the storm and after it was over, Chloe asked me "Mom, can I put on my swimming suit and go swimming in the puddles?" Well, how could I refuse a question like that. So she put on her suit and we went out to play. She didn't do much 'swimming' but she had a blast splashing and jumping in the puddles.

Pack Rat, Pregnancy and Opening Doors

Well, as hard as I have tried to steer myself away from the Fowler tradition of being a pack rat (you family members know who you are), my child is another story. Chloe is a paper pack rat. Any paper you give her ( mail, ticket stubs, magazines, cards, etc), she will keep and put in her stack of papers. Now, you may be thinking- "just throw them away when she's not looking." Well, that would be easy, except for the fact that she remembers everything and asks where it is when she notices it is missing. I usually say that we will ask Daddy when he gets home from work. Chloe's response to this is "Maybe daddy threw it away." Needless to say, we have to be very careful of what we hand her because it will be around for a long time.

Chloe also learned how to open doors yesterday. I knew she would catch onto it quick, but we just weren't ready for it yet. However, I figured it was time so I showed her once and she had it. She spent the next 20 minutes opening and shutting doors.

As for me, I only have 14 more weeks left until the fun begins. I am feeling great and definitely look pregnant. Here is a shot just for you Tawna- and yes- I just got out of the shower so my hair is wet.

Book Worm

It's recommended that parents to read to their children for 20 minutes daily. There are countless reasons why you should (which I will not go into) and being a teacher, I could always tell which children were read to/with often. So, ever since Chloe was a newborn I've read to her. Now, however, I have created a monster. Chloe loves books so much and we have to read them for at least an hour a day.

Since we read so much, Chloe has of course picked her favorite books and can tell me the titles of what book she wants. I was curious yesterday how many titles she knew so I started pulling books off the shelf and asked her to tell me the title. I stopped at 20! What a little smarty pants. Right now, some of her favorites are Pinkalicious, Pirates Don't Change Diapers and Naughty Little Monkeys.

Another funny thing that she likes to do with her books is sort them. She will sort them by size and by softback or hardback, the she makes a special pile for the "boring books." It makes a big mess, but I'm so glad she loves books.

Potty Training Help

We would really like to only have one child in diapers at a time and with the new baby coming, we decided it was time to potty train Chloe. So I am asking for some tips and advice from the pro's - YOU! What worked for you, what didn't, etc...

We already have a mini toliet, a seat that sits on the actual toliet, and big girl panites that she got to pick out. So I think we have all the basics. Please help!

All My Babies

Chloe's latest thing is that she loves to make a bed for her babies. She will pull out all her blankets, lay them on top of each other, then place all of her babies and stuffed animals all around the blankets. Once she has done this, she will scoot some over and make a spot for her. The first time she did this, after she was done, she spread out her arms and said "Ahh, all my babies". What a girl!