Best Trick or Treat Ever-- NOT!

It was a warm but drizzly Halloween night.  The kids were dressed in their costumes and umbrellas were in tow. 

The big kids were having a great time, but occasionally Landon would trip over his own feet, fall on the wet grass, and his candy would spill out.  We got to the farthest point in the neighborhood, and then  he would just get frustrated and lay down in the middle of someones walkway to their front door- upset that Leah and Drew were getting ahead of him, and he couldn't keep up.  After repeatedly asking the kids to wait for him, they forgot, and he had had enough, and so did I.  Thankfully I was walking around with my neighbor, so she finished taking the 3 older kids trick or treating while I carried Landon all the way home, screaming and crying, wet, and windy.  My umbrella flipped inside out and broke from the wind, and so I had to carry him, the broken umbrella, his candy bucket, and his hat.  Keep in mind I don't work out, and to say I love carrying a 33lb kid for 10 minutes while juggling an armful of crap might be a bit of an overstatement.  When I tried to put him down to walk the rest of the way, he pulled back trying to turn around to go back with the big kids.  So, here I was again stuck carrying the little guy home.  He's 3 ( almost 4), and he just tired out on a walk around the neighborhood the day before-- why had I not thought to bring a stroller???  I finally made it home,  I ended up carrying him straight upstairs, pajamas on, got him a snack and he stayed up there until he could calm down.  My biceps and whatever else are still shaking-- ha!  Thankfully he calmed down and was able to help me pass out candy to a few of the last trick-or-treaters that stopped by.   Drew and Leah came home a bit later, and they had fun, but for me I'd say it was a bit of a bust... here's for hoping Trick or Treat will go better next year!

Trunk or Treat 2013

Last night was the ward Trunk or Treat.  I like to get there early to do a quick costume photo shoot on the lawn behind the church.  The kids were excited and had fun playing with all their spooky friends.

Spiderman, a Ninja, Me, and Batgirl 

 Our good friends were able to come along and I'm so glad they did! We were quite the pair of witches:-)

The Deacons did a scary "Haunted Hallway" in the RS room and up to the stage.  It was surprisingly well done! There was a cupcake walk for the kids,  games, and hot dogs.

The YW leaders announced prizes for the kids-  Most Scary costume (Drew's pal the Grim Reaper), Prettiest Costume- Cleopatra (above), and I didn't know they were doing adult prizes, but I got the award for best adult costume.  (Like I need more candy:-))

The nicest ladies I know!!

LJ and M eating their treats!

Unusually Busy Week

Oh my goodness- I cannot believe October is almost over!  I guess I'm glad to have gotten a lot accomplished, but also glad to make Monday's my stay home and clean up the house/tackle laundry day.  Last Monday was my pajama day.  Yes, I'll admit it, I hadn't had one of those in a long, long time. Didn't go anywhere, and my hair didn't get "did" and I didn't care.  Course you know Murphy's law -- I did have an unexpected drop in visitor (which only happens on days you are NOT presentable- haha), but luckily it was just the neighbor kids with their fundraiser- and not the UPS man:-)

I made this super easy flower arrangement for my front door.  I wanted something fallish- but not all orangey.

I hosted a nice morning play date at my house with some new friends from this Momtourage group I'm in.  Yes, the name is so funny,  like we've got our "entourage."  Rollin' in our minivans- haha. It was fun with donuts, juice, and some incredibly cute children.

 The kids got their flu shots, and Drew had an unexpected trip to the doctors office, and after a few tests, including a blood test, which he was NOT happy about, I had to take the sweet kid to Jimmy Johns. (well, all the kids since it was after school and I forgot to bring snacks and they were starving.)  Luckily everything was fine and the doc had simple explanation for his problem, and we checked his sugar levels and allergies too.

He did like his cool red bandage however, and was quite brave after the initial freak out-- but I can't blame him.  I remember being so worried about getting my blood drawn when I was 14 and he's only 7.  I had to do it in order to get a wellness pass to the rec center where I worked so I could work out there for free... I was really anxious about the whole thing but managed to suck it up and got the pass.

I had another dentist appointment- luckily that was only 10 minutes instead of an hour so I ended up being kid-free and got some shopping done at the mall... I need to do THAT more often. Totally nice to recharge by myself with some retail therapy--and a pretzel from Aunt Annies- yum! Picked up my new favorite "sparkley camo" top.  While I shopped for outfits for our family pictures.  Also took the kiddos to play at the library this weekend, and get Drew some more of his favorite "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" books to read (we just laugh and laugh together while he reads them to me at bedtime).  Now if I can just make it through Halloween festivities this week-- and yes I do have to buy more candy to pass out because there is only like 10 pieces left in the 150 pc bag I got previously-- big surprise I know. :-)

Countdown to Halloween 2013!

It's one of my favorite times of the year- Fall!  I love the crisp air, and weather just cool enough for a sweater and jeans.  I had planned to go to the mall Saturday, and then a few costumes arrived in the mail and Leah and I couldn't wait to try ours on.

The little boys got excited and dressed up too.  It was also raining-unfortunately-- or maybe fortunately-- since we ended up doing the photo shoot in my garage!  I haven't dressed up for Halloween probably since Leah was 2.  It's something I always enjoyed doing even in college, so I finally got myself a costume and will be wearing it to the ward Trunk-or-Treat, and potentially if I take the kids around the neighborhood, or stay home and pass out candy.

It was a good trial run of make-up, which I will be doing up more on for the actual halloween festivities, and I'm in dyer need of some extremely long witchy nails!  Anyhoo, I love how the kids get so into their characters: Leah is Batgirl, Drew is a Ninja, and Landon is Spiderman (he is just crazy so only a few pics for him).

 Leah took my witch picture- didn't she do such a great job?:-)  She's the one person in the family besides me who knows who to take an in-focus picture-haha. Warning-- picture-overload!

**Disclaimer-- the photos of Drew with the machete were done in a very safe environment. There was absolutely no swinging around of that thing. He is a very responsible kid, and he held it only for about 2 minutes while we got the shot, and it was very carefully held in position each time.  So, no I don't give my kids machetes to play with, but for a great photo op, and  in a safe situation with a kid I trust to be responsible- yes:-)

Really wishing I hadn't cut her boot off in this shot.

Boys Room

Hola! Now that I finally have LJ's big boy bed to match his brothers, I thought I'd share an updated pic of the boys room. Just excuse the crappy iphone pics- will have to take ones with my nice camera, once I make 2 new bolster pillows (not striped) to coordinate with their new matching bedding.  I'm not a fan of "matchy" rooms, but in the instance of twin bedding it works.  You can see more of this room on my decorating blog: www.houseofchicandpenoche.blogspot.com

and when I take away the boys head lamps after bed time, apparently they will just turn the light on. This is how I found them at 11pm the other night.

And when I went to Colorado this summer I picked up the cutest apron at Peppercorn on Pearl Street in Boulder.

Clear Danger

The kids were dying to make another trailer- here they are starring in "Clear Danger." I even make a short cameo.

Waffles

One of my favorite breakfast foods is waffles with strawberries and whipped cream.  So we make them a lot around here on the weekends.  Leah is almost 10, she can make a lot of stuff in the kitchen. She's a great helper.

and me on clean up:-)