Halloween at school

Yesterday was halloween party day at school and I wanted to go.  So I did, but I also wanted to take pictures and since Doug has our new good little camera I had to either take the big video on or see if our big but smaller than the video would take good pictures.  And guess what...It did!

These are the test pictures.  Evan really was the first picture taken but Lex wouldn't be left out.

Here she is with the remains of her goodie plate in Evan's class.  The thing was piled high.  So much for any lunch I brought.



Evan got to make a sun catcher in one of his groups

We also visited Chris and Ben's classes.  With Chris Lex made a cookie and with Ben she watched Toy Story.  We stayed for lunch with Evan.  It was good to be there.

Daddy's little girl

Like father like daughter.  A couple day ago the heater came on and Lexie ran to her room and brought out her blanket.  She promptly put it over the heater vent and told me to look.  I asked if she wanted to sit down and get covered up and her answer was "Duh mom, of course."  Okay not quite like that, but I'm sure her yes meant that.  Doug loves to wrap up in a blanket in front of a heater or over a vent.  She definately takes after him.

Halloween prep time

Due to travel plans (not mine) we had to have our Halloween dinner and pumpkin carving a little early this year.  Instead of dinner on Halloween and pumpkin carving only days ahead this year was a week ahead of normal schedule.  Oh well, life can't always go according to plan.

So, the kids picked out their pumpkins at grandpa's and then they got to choose how to cut them out and went at it.

Ben is carving or should I say marking the design and then carving

Finished carving

All lit up in the wee morning hours (forgot to light them at night so early Saturday we lit them before they got all drenched and aged)

Chris carving or again prepping to carve

Finished carving

All lit up

Daddy helped Evan start and finish his

Evan's taking a turn

Finished carving

All lit up

Lex got to paint hers - small child and sharp knives do Not mix

Unfortunately, the paint was washable and the rain was starting to come down.

No carving for little Mister, but maybe painting next year

Dinner was pumpkin soup or dinner in a pumpkin with dessert being an oreo/pudding/ cream cheese graveyard complete with pumpkins and tombstones.

Happy Halloween!

Frankenstien

Do we need more decorations?  Really?  Probably not, but we made one anyway.  I'm sure I can find a patch of wall that isn't already covered up.  Or maybe a door or the side of a dresser.

This little guy was a family affair.  The kids all took part in painting him and had a blast.  I think I may have created a monster or two and I'm not talking about Frankenstien.  After painting him the kids would not stop.  They were all about doing more painting and art projects.  My sanity and furniture couldn't handle much more so a quick diversion was put into play and painting was all forgotten (at least for a little while).  Couldn't decide which shot I liked best so here are both.  I found this cute little guy at afewshortcuts.com/2009/10/halloween-craft-stuffed-frankenstien/

He's done just in time for Halloween

Hot dog roast and pumpkin picking

Last week we had our second annual hot dog roast and pumpkin picking event at my parent's house.  Not sure how my dad is able to grow pumpkins because we can't at least not as big as his, but he did and he loves to share with his grandkids. 

We all gathered round to roast some hot dogs while trying to stay warm around the fire and drink hot chocolate.

Table of bounty

Getting the hot dog ready

Master roaster at work

Lexie enjoying her labors

Ohhhhh.....loving the hot chocolate

Sorry Peter, no hot dogs for you.  It was squash and corn all the way bud.

After we were done eating it was off to the pumpkin patch to find the "perfect" pumpkin.  Of course Ben and Chris had to choose ones almost as big as they were.

Ben and his prize

Chris can't even lift his.  Gotta get grandpa to help.

Evan and his choice

Lexie had many choices this being one, but not the final one.  For that one you have to see the decorated pictures.



A good evening.  The kids had fun and grandpa enjoyed giving to his grandkids.

This little piggy

This little piggy...went poking through the clothes.  Peter has had a knack for putting his toes through his pajamas.  Super cute to see but a pain to fix.

Field Trip Time

Not that I really want to point out my age, but I now have three kids in school the oldest in 5th grade.  That means that for the past 6 years I've had at least one child in school and with school come field trips.  How many do you think I've been on?  I'll answer for you:  Zero!  I've wanted to go so badly with my children, but timing and babysitter availability just hasn't worked out.  Well this year was different.  The year I've gone on one with my kindergartner.  We went to Hidden Acres Orchard.  This is a fruit orchard that also has pumpkins, corn, and a old time village.  It was so fun and I'm so glad I was able to experience this with Evan.

Here we are on the bus.

I was chaperon and as luck would have it I not only had my son but my foster sister Stefany.

We were able to go on a hay ride (my very first ever!).

Pick a pumpkin

Pick an apple

Make our way through a corn maze (again my first ever)

This was a buggy set up in the village

Inside the old cabin

We ended with a snack of apple doughnuts and juice, talked to a huge pumpkin (can't believe I didn't get a shot of it), and then had lunch.  Thank you Evan for sharing this day with me.

Lexie in braids

 This is my first and last attempt (at least for awhile) to braid Lexie's hair.  There was wailing, screaming and nashing of teeth and that was just me; then you have to add in her share of the vocal discord.  The comotion was so much that it even brought Doug in the room to see what was going on.  She actually did good for her first time, but until I have more hair to work with this little experiment will have to wait.

Back view

Overall pretty girl

Peter At 4mo

So Peter really is 5 months old, but like I said early I'm behind.  Here are his stats: 18lbs 2oz and  26 1/2in long

He is a Big boy.  He is getting into his toys and playing on his belly.

He loves TV!

Loves to eat.  I must not have fed him enough.  He thought he had to eat his cow toy.

Little Mozart in training

Random shot:  Isn't she just getting to be a big girl?

Our little cutie

Helping Hands Service Project

Our stake had a service project in rememberence of 9/11.  This year we went up to Colville to work on a park that was a tad neglected and falling into dissaray.  The children worked on a sand pit by pulling up the weeds that were trying to make it their home.

I had the very hard job of taking care of Peter.  Boy was it hard work.  Others volunteered but I felt it was my duty as his mother to take care of him.

After the kids had worked so hard they got to play games

Then of course there was food for all

At first I admit that I did not want to go.  I had many things to do at home and no time in my schedule to travel 3 hours and work for 4.  That 7 hours could have been put to good use by many important things (sleep being one of them), but I'm glad we went.  We helped beautify the Earth and taught our children more about the importance of service.