McCabe's blessing

McCabe Porter Sieg, on his blessing day, March 27th, 2011.

While we were out in California with so much family nearby, we decided to bless Baby Cabe in my home ward. It was extra sweet because it was the day that Kathleen gave her homecoming talk. It was such a sweet blessing and helped us realize even more how lucky we are to have McCabe in our family. Another wonderful boy! McCabe got to wear the outfit that James wore when he was blessed (just like his big brothers before him) and he was cute as can be! Also, he was swaddled in the beautiful blanket that James' mom crocheted when we were getting ready to bless Mason. It is so soft and beautiful and I can't help but wonder if my boy's little ones will use it someday when they are blessed.

Dressed all in white

Aria was nice enough to take a few pictures of our little family on McCabe's big day

Mason sure knows what to wear to make a family picture complete!

After church, we had lunch at my family's house. I didn't take any pictures myself, so I have to rely on what Aria and Conni took with their cameras. Lucky for me, they both do a much better job. I just don't know why we didn't take a big group picture with everyone from both sides of the family in it? Oh well, it was still a great day!

Mason and Sydney, blanketing it up

My Grandma

Taylor, teaching Char how to play the piano

Claire

Mason, sneaking some food off of cousin Bridget's plate.

Aunt Jen and Valerie. Two of my favorite people.

Audrey and Conni

Kathrine and Sophie, enjoying the rope swing

McCabe. I think this picture is darling. Thanks Conni!

Kathleen's Homecoming

The welcoming crew, minus my dad and Alex who barely made it to the airport, due to a dentist appointment. Aria made the banner. Don't you like the muscles that Sydney and Mason are showing off?

The main reason we Siegs headed out to California was to surprise my sister at the airport after her year and half mission in Florida. We had been missing her so much and excitedly awaiting her homecoming. While she was gone, FIVE grandkids joined our family. We Siegs donated two of those to the cause (she had a dream that she came home and met us all in labor and delivery). Yikes. I was excited for her to meet our little men but mostly that I could see her again and hear her fancy Spanish.

Left: Aunt Jen with Max. Right: Mason being the goof that he is.

Charzo. One of the cutest picture I have EVER seen!

My sister flew into the Santa Barbara airport. That was a treat because it was so small, we could all greet her outside where she walked off the plane. It rained while we waited but we were all so excited that we didn't mind. When she saw us, she sprinted past the other passengers and gave a million hugs. We were all pleased as punch.

Slingle

My parents getting hugs from Hermana Vance

James, probably giving her sass about being a Sister missionary

More hugs.

While she was away, we would talk to our boys about how she was a missionary teaching people about Jesus. Mason was so impressed that his Auntie got to be a missionary by alligators and would get so excited to someday serve a mission, too. I am so grateful to her for setting such a wonderful example to our little men.

She did a wonderful job and we are so proud of her, but we are thrilled that we get her back. Now I have another reason to be jealous of everyone down in Provo.

*****All of these pictures were taken by Aria except for that fancy one with her in it. That was taken by yours truly. What skill!

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam!

Mason, sporting his big kid primary crown (and a marshmallow) after church.

Lately, Mason has been feeling bigger and bigger by the day! Not only is he now a big brother to two, but as of yesterday, he also now attends primary with the big kids at church! Hot dog! All day long he acted high and mighty about it around Char. I had been bringing up the change that would occur at church now that he is a big boy so that leaving his beloved nursery wouldn't be so traumatic. Apparently my pep talks worked like a charm because hew woke up yesterday bursting with excitement for Primary. That morning, while we were rushing to get James and the boys ready for church, Mason wouldn't stop blabbing on and on about being a big boy. "Blah blah blah....I'm a BIG boy!....blah blah blah....I drive all by MYSELF!....blah blah blah....I listen to my favorite music....blah blah blah..." I wasn't paying much attention to his excited speech and didn't think anything about it until James called me fifteen minutes later. He told me that he wasn't sure what was the worst part of his morning: showing up to church two hours early (we forgot that our time changed with the new year), slipping in the snow with Char (thankfully nobody was hurt), or having Mason randomly throw a fit when he wasn't allowed to drive his brother and poppy to church. I guess he was seriously put out when his pops escorted him away from the drivers side and over to his booster seat in the back. I guess he thought that the only legal requirement to drive in Utah was being a Sunbeam. Tough blow. Despite that, he had a ball and came home singing "scripture power" and gloated about the fun time he had for the rest of the day.

Char, James, and Mason after their first attempt of church. Char went down for a nap moments later. :)

Halloween, part 1

Mason, impressing James' Deacons with his dart skills. Doesn't their booth look fancy? James decorated it. I was so proud of him for being so festive.
Halloween has now come and gone for us Siegs and besides a couple of melt downs (mostly by me) we thoroughly enjoyed it! My boys helped "put away" my camera's battery charger somewhere so tricky that I can't find it. For that reason, until I order a new one, I can't take any pictures. Thankfully, I was able to snap a couple before all of my juice was gone. Even better still, Aria and her family came up on Halloween Eve and took pictures for me. Hot dog! I'll post those as soon as I get them, but for now, here are some of mine.

Our festivities consisted of a ward Halloween party the Tuesday before the big day, and then trick or treating in the rain on Saturday. Thankfully, our boys were warm and snug in their fleece costumes. Unfortunately, Charlie's wasn't done in time for the ward party and he ended up having to wear Mason's old pumpkin costume, minus the hat. Apparently Char's head is still on the small side. :) As you can see, however, his sugary loot made up for any embarrassment he may have experienced.

Mason wore my Halloween apron while we made our "sooky" ( translation spooky- Mason wanted all things to be spooky this Halloween) ghost cupcakes. My sister-in-law, Audrey, made this apron for me this year and I wore it nearly everyday!

Char was a big fan of pumpkin carving. He informed us the raw pumpkin guts are not only slimy, but rather tasty as well!
Halloween is gone, but we sure had a good month of watching spooky old cartoons and reading fun Halloween books. Mostly, I am relieved that it is November so that I can now relax and stop sewing! November has never seemed so good to me!

Mason and Char in their skeleton pajamas I made them this year. Mason was a little bit bigger of a pajama fan than Charlie.

Talent shows

Mike, Matt, and Parker performing their "walk off" last weekend and stole the show.
Last Friday our single's ward had another talent show. It was a hoot, as always. James and I were thinking about performing a song and dance to our song,"Don't cha wish your girlfriend was raw like me" but weren't sure how it would go over. :) Maybe another year?.... Being there and watching our ward put themselves out on the line not only reminded me of how great the people we get to serve with are, but it also reminded me of the last talent show I was in.

Mason with two of his favorites, Kristen and Courtney.

Eye of the Tiger Laser Light Show
As with most people, I think my friends and I are hilarious people. Especially in our college days, I thought all of our pranks and jokes were off the charts funny (I still do, really. Let's be honest. We had a good time). Because of my high level of confidence in our sense of humor, I was more than willing to sign up with a group of them to perform at our ward's talent show.

We decided to do a laser light show to the inspiring song, "Eye of the Tiger" from Rocky. We practiced long and hard to get everything just right for the big night. When our turn on the stage finally came, we turned off the lights, strapped glow sticks to our ankles, and each held two flash lights in our hands. "DA!!!! DA DA DA!!!! DA DA DA!!!! DA DOM DOMM!!!!!" Whether our dance routine was really all that funny or not doesn't really matter. We were having a ball and our ward knew we were joking and got a good laugh.

Poppy and Char, looking equally impressed
We didn't think much about our laser light show again until the next semester. One of our friends was having a talent show in her new ward and wanted us all to perform it again. Those of us that were still around happily said yes, since it had gone over so well the first time. In fact, it had been such a success, that two of our friends who refused to dance with us the first time agreed to dance with us. None of us were even slightly concerned that we would look foolish. How could we? It was a winner!

The night of the talent show came and we showed up proudly in our black costumes. As most of us were not in the ward, people looked at us in wonder as we paraded in wearing our black costumes. The ankle glow sticks only added more to our mystique. I, of course, was eating it all up! Next thing we knew, we were up on the stage waiting for our music to begin. Adrenalin was pumping through our veins! Hot dog! And then the song began and our fancy footwork ensued. To our horror, instead of cheers and laughs, our routine was greeted by polite oohs and aws. Oh the shame of it!!!! There we were, caught in or own web! We had just barely started our dance, and we still had the whole song to go! I cannot express the mortification that was felt by my friends and I as we twirled around the stage. As soon as the number was over, we ran off stage and laughed hysterically. Then we picked ourselves up and walked out the door. The "Best Choreographed" award we received later was the nail on the coffin of our lameness. I still can't listen to that song without turning a little red.

Blessing Day

Our family. One of the most unattractive shots EVER!

Charlie was blessed in the same outfit that his poppy and older brother were blessed in. Pretty cool.While we were in California with family, we had the chance to have Charlie blessed by James. It was a wonderful experience and reminded me of how much I love my men and how grateful I am for the Priesthood in our home. Looks like we have been joined by another happy little chap. The day was extra special because little Scarlett was blessed on the same day. I love that Charlie has a cousin his age to grow up with.

Picture with grandparents

The whole gang afterward

The Martins