Halloween

Since it was on Sunday, there was no trick or treating on real Halloween, but we tried to do some other Halloweenie stuff. David made ghost brownies, I let the kids wrap up hot dogs and make mummies and we ate dinner by pumpkin light.
(it also helped that the kids got enough candy at the ward party that they didn't feel cheated by not getting to trick or treat...you know...it's ALL about the candy)

Trick or Treat

Saturday night was the ward trunk or treat. David even got dressed up this year! (he got the costume for a work party...still kind of a big deal that he actually put it on for the ward party too)
While we were putting on costumes, Hope jumped up on the speaker...of her own free will...and posed by the pumpkin. It was so funny (yes, I am easily and ENDLESSLY amused by my cat! :)

Boba Fett...o-Lantern

 

(please excuse the dirty sock...I was just too lazy to move it)

The Two Potters

When I bought our first Harry Potter robe for Halloween several years ago, I almost took it back because it was just too much money to spend on a Halloween costume (I don't even remember now how much it cost).  But Preston (who was in preschool at the time) was SUCH a cute Harry Potter I couldn't bring myself to return it.  Turns out, we have gotten more use out of the Harry Potter robe than any other Halloween costume I have ever bought.  Not for Halloween, but for D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And  Read) day at school.  The kids get to dress up like characters from books, and spend the day (a half day, really) reading.  Since choices for boys are kind of limited anyway, every year we dress up two Harry Potters (I bought the second robe after Halloween so I got it really cheap).

(Wands and glasses...fakes ones, anyway...are too distracting for school...but they've got their scars! Maybe next year Ryan will let me color his hair red, and we can have a Harry and Ron! :)

And, just for fun, the first Harry Potter.

And the first (or maybe second? I'm really not sure...) D.E.A.R day.

Ruth's Birthday

This picture is from Ruth's birthday last year.  I am SO glad that we were able to spend that day with her celebrating her birthday.  We went out to eat, we got pedicures, and the whole family got together for cake and ice cream.

This year we honored the tradition.  We went out to eat, we got pedicures...and we missed her.  That night the whole family got together at the cemetery.  We wrote messages to her on little pieces of paper and tied them to balloons.  Then we sang Happy Birthday and let them go. It was a nice way to spend her birthday.

Happy Birthday, Ruth!  We love you!

Our Own Personal Club

Still not sure exactly how this happened...but I know who was responsible....



And who WASN'T supervising them when it happened...(David....) Anybody know how to fix a light??

Labor Day

Labor Day weekend, Amber invited us to Thatcher. We couldn't go for the whole weekend, but Sunday after church we took off. We never made it to Thatcher for the temple open house or dedication, so our first stop was the temple...it was locked.
So we walked around the locked gate, took a few pictures, and headed to Amber's house.
We had a fun night at Amber's house eating apple crisp and playing Pit (after we put the kids to bed)!
On Monday we planned to go up on the mountain. I am cursed...I'm not kidding. Every time I go to Thatcher with a plan in mind to go to the mountain, it rains. No joke. And this time was no exception. It rained the whole drive up, then it hailed. It was drizzling when we got there, 5 minutes later it POURED! We sat in the cars and waited for it to stop....
My mom tried and tried, but couldn't get a good picture of us...
After waiting and waiting, it finally let up a little so Travis played waiter for us and brought us lunch over from Amber's van. After lunch the rain actually stopped! The sun came out and we had a nice afternoon. We took the kids on a pretty hike by a stream...David, Gina, Travis and Josh had some fun shooting bottles and cans...and, of course, everyone (except me) took lots and lots and lots of pictures.
I did my usual and stole everyone else's pictures when we were done. :)
We also attempted to get a picture with all of us together. It's...not great...but here we are!
Even thought the mountain trip didn't go as planned, we were still happy we got to spend part of our holiday weekend with family we love!