Halloween 2010

We had a few fun events this year. First, Chris and I went to an adult only party where we went on a scavenger hunt all over Frisco. It was pretty hilarious. Can you tell what we are? Yep, we're ceiling fans (please say you get it).

Then we had a very fun night at our ward Halloween party. It was quite the party! The girl's just love running around with all their friends on those nights. And we went low key on costumes this year. Sydney wanted to be what she was last year, Brighton made her own, and don't you love with costumes double as pajamas?


And for Halloween night, we took it easy this year and had a great fun night together as a family at home. I made a Halloween dinner (mummy pizzas, salad with Halloween croutons and cucumbers, slime punch, and vampire mouth apples) after which we all decorated homemade Halloween sugar cookies and carved the pumpkin.


We then played some Halloween games: Wrap the Mummy,

Pass the Pumpkin,

and Pin the Witch on the Broomstick (along with Pin the Face on the Pumpkin), which Sydney was in charge of making.

Finally, the kids helped hand out candy to trick or treaters. Can you tell they were excited to see people that night? And we were reminded that it is truly better to give than to receive that night. We ran out of candy and the kids immediately said "let's just hand out ours from our ward party". LOVE IT! So now instead of being tempted for weeks with chocolate, we were left with only about 5 pieces. The kids never eat it after Halloween night anyway (weird, I know). It was a fun night we'll always remember.

Sydney's Birthday

Sydney turned a big 7 years old. I really don't like birthdays. It makes me realize how fast time is going of me being a mom with all my kids at home around me. Anyway, where are the words for my sweet Sydney? She's such an easy going spirit, always makes us laugh, is a bit mischevious, loves to ride her bike, is doing extremely well at school and piano, and is a cuddle bug with her mom. I love her so, so much. For her bday party I took she and 3 of her friends ice skating and then to get gelato's. She's always had such a sweet and ADORABLE group of friends. I love spending the afternoon with these girls! Silly, silly!

Cabin Fun/Pumpkin Patch

At the beginning of Oct. We were able to go to my Brandon (my cousin) and Jamie's cabin along with his 2 kids and Lauren's family in Broken Bow, OK. We had a great time together and the weather was just perfect!




Then while my parents were in town a few days for Conference we went to a pumpkin patch with the kids. It's been such a nice and warm October!

Happy Bday Crazy Gavin!

Oh, Gavin! I can't believe you're already 2! But then again, I've been telling everyone, "oh, he's almost 2, cant you tell?" for almost a year now! :) You are such a mischevious, wild, strong-willed, energetic, crazy little boy. I guess when you're the 4th you like to make yourself heard and seen! But in addition to that you are so handsome and smart, excited, strong and "cuddle-able". I love my time with you at nights and before bed when you'll let me read and sing to you without wriggling to get away. I love to watch you and Carter wrestle and play together. I love to chase and tickle you because you are SO ticklish. I love to sing with you and listen to you sing back. I love to watch you eat 5 slices of watermelon or 5 ears of corn at one sitting. And I LOVE that you loved your cake so much this year - it really made glad I took the time to make it. You kept opening the fridge and saying "go see chicken, pig, sheep and farm cake!" Oh, and just for numbers sake, you were in the 95th and 90th percentile for height and weight! Looks like we're going to have 2 big boys in our family!

Our Weekend

We decided to take advantage of "Dollar Days" at the Dallas Arboretum (all of August) and took the kids Saturday morning. The weather has finally cooled off JUST enough to not be miserable outside (thank goodness). We had a great time and Chris quite enjoyed getting new flower and shrub ideas.





Then that afternoon we all headed over to Denton for the North Texas Fair with cousins. Gavin loved petting the goat, baby deer, and calf, which didn't surprise me. But what DID surprise me was that for the 2 entire hours that we watched the bull riding at the Rodeo, he never moved! THIS coming from the boy who couldn't even sit still or stop screaming while we ate dinner at Quizno's right before (so I had to sit in the car and eat my dinner while he screamed in his carseat). And THIS coming from the boy who just today learned how to climb out of his crib and who I have found in Carter's room playing twice (still with no nap - I think my days just got even busier). Anyway, he was fascinated with the "EIEIO" animals as he always is. I think I need to let him play at Kim's more often. Thanks Angela, for letting me steal your pics!

Back to School

I can't believe another summer has come a gone. We had a great one, but by the last week, I decided that in fact, it WAS time to get back to the routine of school. Both girls were very excited to return once they went to "meet the teacher" night and saw all their old friends. The first day we great for all, but I was very ready for 3:00 to roll around so that I could hear all about their day and see them again. This is one of my favorite times of the day - to look out the front window and see them coming down the sidewalk smiling when they see me and yelling "hi mom"! Love these girl's of mine!

Yay for July! & New Family Pics

We love the month of July because my parents get the month off and get to COME HOME!! We pretty much play every day and when the month ends the kids don't really know what to do without their cousins around them 24/7 and their grandparents entertaining them all the time! In addition to the things below, we've gone to the Denton water park, swimming, go-carting, movies, had many sleepovers, dinners together, adn just plain enjoyed being together. We are so sad that this month is now over! We already miss you SO much, Mom and Dad! Thanks so much for everything!

Also, as usual, we had family pictures taken while we were all together. Here is some of what we got:

 

 

 

Brighton and her cousin Megan

 

 

Oh, The Joy of Lakehouse Days

I believe this annual tradition has become a favorite of everyone in our family. It doesn't get better than being with family all day riding jet skiis, water skiing, boating, fishing, jumping off the dock, swimming in the lake, and ending it all each night with an adult game of sand volleyball. Heaven!




My sister's and I

Sydney learning to water ski

Brighton's Birthday, cont.

So Brighton was not very happy with us when she realized that Chris and I would be out of town on her bday, but quickly realized how fun Nana and Pop would make it. They started out her day with her favorite breakfast (chocolate chip pancakes), then opened presents, made her a birthday cake, and then took she and all her cousins out to Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate. Not too shabby, I'd say.



Then after we got back I took she and 2 of her friends out to dinner and then to Going Bonkers (a fun climbing place in Lewisville). Afterwards I brought them back to the house for some crafts and a sleepover. Is she REALLY 9?

Coronado Island

Chris and I were able to get away without the kids for a few days while my parents (THANK YOU) very kindly watched them (I'm sure it was quite eventful at her house as Em and her sweet kids were also staying there). We stayed at a LOVELY hotel, The Hotel Del Coronado, on Coronado Island right outside of San Diego and had such a wonderful time. The weather was just perfect and the beach was soooo nice.

Our hotel

Just outside our room
Balboa Park