Typical Night at the Gropp's

Who can make Mom and Dad laugh the most...

It all starts with one...

Brayden came out of his room dressed as his favorite book character...Captain Underpants! He got a pretty good laugh from Mom, so....

Parker gave it a shot!

 "I strong, look at my muscles!"

And it continues through the night...

with a show put on by Big Belly Bill and his trusty sidekick, Big Buns Benny.

It's funny the things kids say, especially 3-year-olds. At the end of the Big Belly Bill and Big Buns Benny show Parker shook his head and said, "The brothers are so funny!" I love how he refers to Taylor and Brayden as "the brothers". Can I just stop time right now, I don't want them to grow up.

Parker and Levi

Parker's cousin Levi has moved to Boise.  Parker loves having him over.  

Makin' Cookies.

SUPER HEROES

Tough Guys...."Show me your muscles!!"

Happy Halloween!

It's not a Halloween without carving pumpkins. We carved pumpkins the night before Halloween. Taylor and and Brayden did their own.

OK, Dad had to step in a couple of times for the trickier angles.

Are you having fun, boys?

Brayden was very proud of his carving job. Spooky!

And here they are...Tol-Moon and Bat, Taylor-3 Ghosts, Brayden-the Grim Reaper 

Parker and I opted for the Mr. Potato Head look. Hey, someone had to bake the pumpkin seeds, clean up, and take photos! :)

The next day...

Halloween!

Mr. Clean and a friendly witch stopped by.

We had my Mom and Dad and brother and his family over for a whole array of spooky food, like; Peter Pumpkin Eater Pie (pizza), Bones and Blood dip (breadsticks and pizza sauce), Snake eggs (grapes), Ghoulish Greens (green salad) w/ frog juice (ranch dressing dyed green), Monster Brains (guacamole), Eyeballs (mini donuts to look like eyeballs), and a witch's brew!

 

Tol had to work at a Timberline Football game that night, but he took a quick minute to take a quick family photo. I took the boys out trick or treating while the witch and Mr. Clean handed candy out. I told Mr. Clean he could practice what he's good at and clean up my house while he was there...he said he was retired! It was worth a shot. We finished our night sorting candy while watching, "Monster House".

Emmett Triathlon 2008

Tol participated in his 2nd Triathlon on Saturday with his friends, Paul Rutter, Nathan Williams, and Alec Arhets.

Pre-Race at Black Canyon Dam

Alec and Tol about to swim.

Transition from Swim to Bike

Parker sleeping on the bridge..."where is dad?"

Tol at the Finish Line

Post Race

Tol Placed 2nd in his age division.

Let's Go Home!

TWIN FALLS TEMPLE

We spent the day in Twin Falls to attend the temple open house.  It was beautiful!

While we toured the baptismal font of the temple, Taylor leaned over to Brayden and said "This must be Heavenly Father's hot tub".

Tol and Nikki

Tol, Taylor, Brayden, and Parker

Cheerful Boys

"Shoshone Falls"

The boys loved viewing the powerful waterfalls!