Happy Halloween (for reals)

Darling kiddos!

It is finally here! Time to trick or treat! We headed to Hollingsworths for the pre-trick-or-treat dinner party (yep, for reals). We brought Cheri W.'s famous chicken and wild rice soup that gets requested every year! Plenty of warm and yummy food, even though the temperature was a balmy 70 degrees!

back row: Amanda, Susie E., Maddy L., Hanalee H., Ellie B., then Sydney & Brandon! The back row girls all went together and Sydney and Brandon went with Daddy. Brandon HAD to find his friend, Matthew, before he would go, so Mike hung out with Chad B and at one point got together with Sydney's friend, Abby, and her Dad Rick and sister, Lucy. We tried to get hooked up with our neighbors, but they never caught each other!

I sat outside and passed out candy from the front porch! I took my camera out and snapped a few pictures of some of our friends. Mike & our little ones came home after about an hour and a half and Brandon was DONE! Hit the wall. Party overload. I did take him over to our neighbors, especially Chris the dentist, to get a toothbrush! Then, traded places with Mike so I could take Sydney down the next street. It took Sydney and I about another hour to go down one street! But, it was fun to hang out with her. She is so cute and very sweet at each door when she says thank you and bye!Friends, Maya, Darin & Nash J

When we got home, we had another surprise! Rog, Coze and their kiddos were at our house! Mike said when he opened the door to Kate & Elyse trick-or-treating, it took a minute to register who they were! We decided they needed to get a tootbrush from Dentist Chris and took them around to our neighbors. We also jumped in the car to go see the Wilson's scary house and they were already outside taking down their elaborate Halloween display! We also went to the Elliotts to see their awesome display inside their entry. They had a wizard playing the piano and a guy in a coffin! Very fun!

Action shot of Amanda & Susie trick-or-treating...ok, I know you can't see them

After Mike stuffed Kate & Elyse's trick-or-treat bags with our leftover candy, and Rog & Cozette threw their leftover candy bag at us, and Brandon falling off a pumpkin on the porch and banging his head on the house, they were off and we were ready to settle the kids in, hoping that they were on the crash side of that sugar high they have been riding all day!

Our friends, Taylor F and Joshua H

The girls went right to sleep....Bubba took a couple more hours!

Can we say that although it was lots of fun, it's good to have Halloween in the past!

Brando says:

Time: 9:12AM on November 1st

Brandon: "I just want to eat my candy right now.....because I love candy!"

Dad: "Brandon where's my candy?"

Brandon: "You didn't go trick or treating!"

Dad: "Yes, I did. I went with you."

Brandon: Just shrugs

Brandon: "Mom, I have too much candy!"

I don't want to take a nap!

I told B that since it's trick-or-treat tonight, that he needed to take a nap so he would be happy! He really didn't want to. Amanda tried because Brandon said he wanted to snuggle with her. (Oh, that just melts a mama's heart!) But, he didn't sleep because they were watching kid shows. So, here comes the mean mom and I got him to sleep in about 5 minutes. But, not without him getting the final protest in. I just love how he is sleeping on this pillow facing the wrong way in the bed! Ok, Brando...you win!

Halloween Crazy

I thought these two boys looked so cute today waiting to go to their preschool Halloween party! Brandon is (obviously) Yoda and his friend, Matthew, is Spiderman! They also go to preschool with Spencer who lives next door. He is also being Yoda.

When I drive the carpool and help them get out of the car, I have to give them a superhero name as I lift them out of the car. Sometimes they pick the same name, Batman, Spiderman, Superman. Sometimes they have to be a little different, Black Spiderman, Red Spiderman...

This age is so cute and it's been fun for Brandon to have his buddies to go to school with! They had a great time at their party. Brandon came home and divided his treats with me. One for Mom, one for Brandon. Very sweet!

Arvy Party - Halloween take 2!

Brandon getting ready in Daddy's costume!

This past Saturday we went to our friends, the Laws, annual Halloween party! Always good food and fun people. We left before the pumpkin carving this year because we were hosting the Arvy's at our house for another Halloween party!

We had Maddox chicken, funeral potatoes, beans, fries, yummy salad, and my favorite...sugar cookies!

Some of the scarier ghouls having a dual in the backyard (Jace & Corvin)
Elphaba Amanda!

We played games provided by Grandma and Papa. The kids love these parties and hanging out with the cousins!

The cool ones who dressed up! Corvin scary guy, Maddie as Miley, Mikey as Stormtrooper, Brock is a rock start, Kristine with great dracula teeth, Grandma as a rock star, Emily as Tinkerbell, second row: Amanda, Jill as wicked witch of the east, Zach as Indy Jones, Grandpa as a Ute, Jace another scary guy, front row: Sydney as Glinda and Brandon as YodaThe 'losers' who didn't dress up! You were good sports to get your picture taken! Kellie with an impromptu boa costume, Scott as Scott, and scary guys flanking Jim as Jim

Other 'losers' showed up later, but were not photographed...Matt as Matt, Alisa as Alisa. Missing in action....Hillary and Steven and girlies who were feeling ill, or were just scared to show up!

Here are all the cousins (minus Brock who didn't want another photo) back row: Amanda, Corvin, Maddie, Kaili in a cute yellow tutu, second row: Greg as batman, Sydney, Zach, Ryan with a golf ball in his forehead, Jace, Front row: Kelsey as a fairy, Emily and Brandon

Gibby Halloween Party

A couple of weekends ago, we had my family up for a Halloween party! We had yummy soup, chili and Grandma brought bread bowls that looked liked pumpkins (the kids just ate that up! ha, ha, get it?). Also, tasty nachos and cookies.....We had a few rounds of Guitar Hero, but mostly we ran around chasing babies, talking and having a good time together! I'm thinking these two could be a remake of the Go-Go's! Any 80's fans out there?

Roger & Cozette (Utah fans...so creative:), Garrett who was Elmo, Elyse cute puppy, and Kate as a witch!
Stacie as a doctor, Ari as a Ute cheerleader!, Aidan as Lightning McQueen, and Isaac as Thomas! Dan was working...missed ya!

Grandma & Papa - Bob the Builder and Grandma in her "shirt"

D & Kat did have togas on earlier. Zach was Bob the Builder and Kayla was a bumblebee
Like father like son. Mom (Grandma) says this is her 'stupid son'

Sorry, that was just too funny!

(What she meant is he always has a stupid look on his face for pictures-but we got a good laugh outta that one!)

All the kids quietly watching 'Mr Magoriums Wonder Emporium' for about 5 minutes

Amanda as Elphaba, Kate, Brandon as Yoda, Zach, Sydney as Glinda, Elyse

Aidan, Isaac and Ari

A few fun fotos

First off, I am loving this late October weather! I went outside tonight after dinner, sat in the dark on the front porch and just hung out listening to cars, neighbors coming and going, and occassionally one of our children coming to find me. It was a nice quiet moment to sit and think about nothing in particular. I need to take more moments like these.

Second, I found a little photo book that we filled with pictures for our babies to look at during church. It's about 10 years old....but some of these pictures are so fun for us to look at. Enjoy a few!

Since we were halfway there....

I decided we should so something fun since the girls were out of school. Mike wanted to go to St. George and I was the one stopping us.....a new thing for me....being conservative. Anyway, since we were halfway to Gardner Village because of Abi's party, I took the kids to see the witches!

It didn't seem very crowded as we pulled into the parking lot. I had heard that the day before was a nightmare and was hoping we had gotten lucky. We just drove right to the last parking lot out in the field somewhere thinking it was silly to drive around and around looking for a place to park!

First, we needed some lunch! I was hoping we'd get to go to Naborhood Bakery, but as we rounded the building, there was a huge line! Since low blood sugar does not agree with 2 of the 3 kids, we needed something faster. There was a tent set up wit hot dogs, etc. and we stood in that line because it went faster. We found some rocks to sit on that were in a garden and Sydney knowing that we shouldn't step in gardens kept asking me if they let us do that...

Yes, Syd, it's ok.

Mom, are you sure?

Yes, Sydney, it's fine...eat.

Then, here comes a bee to torment Sydney...and only Sydney

So, she ended up standing out of the garden to eat her $4 hot dog!

Then, off to see some witches! The Outhouse witch is Sydney's favorite!

This one opens and closes her shutters. Brandon had a good time going down the hill to knock on her house.

We were waiting for Aunt Alisa and her kids to join us. When they did, I made them all line up for a picture. Thanks for humoring me, Kaili!

Here is a picture of our kids. Amanda is pouting because I wouldn't buy her a witch hat. I told her she could spend her money, instead.

Here are the kids after I bought them witches' hat, and a noisy gun. The girls had to pay me...Brandon just gets to be spoiled still. He has a lot of catching up to do.

See Amanda's smile?

Now, here is the reason I won't go back during UEA weekend. It was crowded. When we

got back to our car that we so quickly parked.....it took us 25 minutes to get out of the field where we had parked. We couldn't have traveled more than 50 yards. When we hit the paved parking lot, they had parking attendants helping and it only took another 5 minutes to get out of the parking lot! I was done at that point, but I hope the kids had fun!

There is a spider on my hat!

Let the Halloween parties commence!

First Halloween party of the season was at cousin Abi's place! Abi lives downtown, so we got to go in a big building and play in their social room! Here is cute Brandon as Yoda!

We quickly found Brandon's twin, cousin Zach! He was Bob the Builder! Kat tells us it's his 2nd year as Bob. Lucky for her! She didn't have to come up with anything, pay for anything new and it's a darling costume!
Thanks for a fun party, Abi and Hillary and everyone who helped!

Hillary's blog has more details of the party. Amanda & Sydney were out of school for UEA weekend. Amanda wanted to stay at the party, while Sydney and I took a Mommy/Daughter date moment!The group of party-goers! Sydney has fake eyeballs over her eyes!

We walked a couple of blocks to Hagermann's Bakery (a must try-YUM!) and shared a drink and some ghost cookies. We had a nice chat and enjoyed seeing downtown. It's under so much construction, that we haven't been around in awhile.

Here is what we discussed while having our date: On our walk, we saw a person begging for money. Sydney asked if we should give him some money. I told her that we give money to our church and the church helps. Also, that there are places that serve lunch and dinner and also a place he can go to stay overnight. She wasn't satisfied with this answer and just kept telling me that we should give him some money. So, finally I told her that I had a dollar she could give him if he was there on the way back. She was too shy to give it to him, so she said I should.

I told her ok and she kept making sure that I had the dollar in my pocket so it was ready to hand to the man.

We finished up our treats and headed back

(by the way, Sydney does not like to walk anywhre! This was a big deal for her to walk 4 blocks today. She only said she wanted to sit down once! Way to go, Syd!).

To Sydney's dismay, the person had moved on. I told her someone must have given him some money and he went to get lunch.

Then, I thought to myself, what a great lesson our girl had just taught me.

It doesn't matter that we give money elsewhere...it wouldn't have been a big deal to give this man a dollar.

And then, I would have been the one teaching my daughter.

As it should have been.

Thank you Sydney!

I had a great time on our date!

Party with the Gparents

One last party for Amanda's 10th birthday! The Gibby and Arvy Grandparents came up for dinner! We had Amanda's choice of Chicken Pillows and chocolate cake for dessert. She got a fun book that she immediately read (and $$) from Gibbys and Webkinz and clothes from Arvys (which she immediately adopted and dressed).
We love when the grandparents come to visit! We even sat in the formal dining room for dinner! Feeling special Grandparents and Amanda?

Thank you to both grandparents for being so loving and coming to celebrate Amanda's birthday! We are so blessed to have our grandparents live close to us!

I looked out the window...

and what did I see? Two inches of snow (oh) on October 13th!

Oh wait...it's the 12th, but that doesn't rhyme in my song.....

Par-tay!

Amanda's friends party was this afternoon. Cute group of girls with a TON of energy! We played games, did a pinata, made parfaits, 'heavy, heavy hang over' for the presents, and they had to run to a boy's house down the street to see if he was home! The party was for 2 hours and they still wanted to play when it was over. So, Amanda & Sydney went to Maddy's house and Brando and I enjoyed some peace & quiet finally!

Left to right front row, Susie E., Maddy L., Brinley M., Shalee K., Cami M., Mary J.* 2nd row: Elizabeth W, Suzie S., Hanalee H., Amanda* Back row: Kiley ? and Ashley H

Brinley, Mary & Cami

Kiley, Ashley, Susie and Hanalee with the air guitars...

Giving wishes to her present givers

Bump on the head!