Fall.

I had another birthday.  I received many messages from friends and family and was blessed enough to have some thoughtful people around me that made me feel special.  It made up for the fact that Scott had to stay late at the hospital.

My brother got me a cool little gadget for my camera.

The kids think it is the coolest toy.

 On Wednesday, we got a sitter and Scott took me out to dinner and a movie.  It was nice to spend time with just him...and Brooke (she's too little to be left).
It was a nice present to be able to talk to him without interruptions.
No pictures. I forgot my camera.
We went to P.F. Chang's and to watch Harry Potter, which without fall put me to sleep!:)
(I have fallen asleep in every single Harry Potter movie.)

Later that week, Scott got off early.  We decided to get Brielle early from school and head to Cox Farms, one last time.  I hope we find a place that compares wherever we move for residency.

As always, we have a blast at that place.  It was a little chilly that day but nonetheless, we enjoyed our time together. 

Watching the kids try to hang on to the rope was so funny! They pretty much dropped down right away.

They have the coolest slides at this place.  The kids can go up and down a million times and they can't get enough!

Braden just LOVED it!

...and then the monkey came to say hi...:)

This is Brielle's scary face! 

We went through a corn maze and she saw some scary things! 

They had fun putting the corn in this thing and then watching it come down.  

The leaves are breath-taking this time of the year.  Just beautiful.

Braden was being funny with those gourds.  He said that was his 'witch' nose.

The grand finale of our visit is always this huge slide.  The kids love it! 

This year I didn't do the slides because I was holding Brooke...

...which I didn't mind...she was so good the whole time.  I am seriously smitten with this baby.  I just want to squeeze those cheeks all the time!

I don't know how we missed this years past, but they have samples of apple cider for you to take and I have to say that it was THE best apple cider I have ever had.  It was amazing! and they also had apples for you to take...they were so tasty!

It is always so fun to spend time as a family...and now there is 5 of us! 

******

Braden and I have been spending a lot of time together since Brielle is in school all day.  It has been an interesting change for us...and I have found myself 'fighting' with this little boy...he can be a little stinker sometimes...cute...but a little stinker!:) I have to remind him that I'm not his sister but his mother.  Anyway, aside from the little arguments we've had, we've been having really good conversations too.  He is a very good conversationalist.  

He has been cracking me up with the things he says! 

Yesterday, while having lunch, we were talking and somehow we started talking about watching too much tv...this is the conversation we had: 

Denisse: If we watch too much tv, the cells in your brain die and brain cells don't regenerate. (I know this is not true but I wanted Braden to believe that it was.) :)

Braden: For real? 

Denisse: yes, Braden I'm serious. 

{I must have not sounded very convincing because this is what he said to me next}:

Braden: okay, you have to show me on the computer, mom, you have to prove it! you have to prove it to me mom. 

I could NOT stop laughing! 

You have to prove it!:)

This morning after dropping Brielle off at the bus, he wanted to sit in Brielle's booster seat.  I said no because it was raining and to get him buckled I have to get out and buckle him myself, since all the car seats are crowded in the back seat...yes, we are fitting 3 kids in our Hyundai Sonata...this was our conversation:

Braden: Can I sit in Brielle's seat? 

Denisse: No Braden, it's raining and I don't want to get out and get wet.  

Get in your seat and get buckled.

Braden: Grrr...mom! great, you don't let me have fun. New rule mom, you need to let me have fun! 

How can I keep a straight face with this kid.

I have to admit, that I'm still adjusting to life with 3.  Especially being woken up in the middle of the night.  I really shouldn't complain, because Brooke is such a good baby, she continues to be so good natured...but interrupted sleep is not the same as sleeping straight for 8 hours...and she only wakes up once,  she eats, I change her diaper and then goes back to sleep.  

I am also still adjusting to Brielle being in school ALL day long! Braden has lost his playmate...now I have to plan stuff for Braden because he is bored and I have to make sure he's not watching too much tv...he is going to preschool 3 times a week, which he loves and has gymnastics on Fridays, but when he's home, he misses his sister.

Managing a successful household is a lot of work...and my kids are not even in high school yet! Poor Brooke spends a lot of time in her car seat driving the older kids from one thing to the next.  

How do moms keep up with EVERYTHING? 

...and on top of managing 3 little lives, you have to think of what to make for dinner and make sure that dinner is a balanced meal...and then there are piles and piles of laundry and dishes and keeping bathrooms clean and the house semi-livable...and then teaching your kids to have manners and values...to learn to pick after themselves...and teach them the scriptures and make sure that they are brushing their teeth the right way, so they don't get cavities...and then making sure that they get their flu shot (which I made an appointment for, didn't write it on the calendar or planner and totally forgot about!)...

oh! and you know what? I also have a husband! Goodness sakes! 

...and then these little magical moments happen and it helps me realize that all those menial tasks are worth it...if I get to witness acts of love among my children.  Those little magical moments help me realize that humans are naturally good and that each of us have a divine nature.  

I was busy trying to finish dinner one evening and Brooke wanted to be held...so I was just letting her cry a little to be able to get dinner on the table...all of a sudden she stopped.  I went to check on her and the picture above is what I found.  Brielle had comforted Brooke and she had fallen asleep.

and then...witnessing Mr. Braden pretending to be a tree...

...and finding joy in jumping in a pile of leaves.