Googly Eyes, Homemade Donuts, & Creatures of the Night!

When Samuel drags in a bin from the garage,

it usually means one of two things:

We're going camping,

or it's time to decorate for a holiday!

Either way,

the kids are thrilled!

But in this case,

Samuel pulled out the Halloween bin-

and we all dug in to spook-i-fy the house!

I always puts on Halloween music,

and "Thriller" always awakens the zombies!

This year we had some old and new traditions.

For instance,

 we always carve pumpkins

roast pumpkin seeds,

and read spooky stories.

This year though,

Samuel made me a monogrammed pumpkin (I love the "E"!),

the kids ate flourescent green

Hostess Snow Balls for breakfast,

and Iris brought home her class Duck

to share in the festivities!

The not-to-be-missed event-of-the-year

(according to my kids...):

T H E  W A R D  H A L L O W E E N  P A R T Y !

 I was a little bummed that we attending without Samuel

(this semester he had class on Friday nights),

but let's face it,

I am never without company!

Tonight I, a motorcycle momma,

was escorted by my tough-guy side-kick, Gabriel,

a talented artiste (Isabella),

a blood-thirsty vampire (Ava),

Mulan (Iris),

and a rather timid pirate (Owen)!

We had a super-fun Halloween Party with the

Ramos, Lopez, & King families!

We feasted on Super-Nachos,

fresh fruit, caramel corn, & the like!

Taylor dominated Spooky Musical Chairs,

and the kids had a blast tricky-treating down

Spook Alley (a.k.a. our hallway!).

The Elmer family hosts an annual Halloween Party as well,

and part of that menu always features donuts!

Since Halloween fell on a Sunday this year,

instead of purchasing donuts,

I made them!

It was super-fun,

but very fast-paced,

and of course,

crazy-delicious-un-healthy!

Aunt Leah hosted this year,

and per prego tradition,

she was our pumpkin!

...

All in all,

when the holiday was finally over,

we were definately treated out!

It's time for some real food,

so with open arms we welcome...

T H A N K S G I V I V I N G !

A Fabulously Fabulous Thanksgiving Feast

Iris is at that wonderful care-free age where

everything about school is wonderful and exciting,

especially the holiday parties!

That,

combined with the fact that it's just her personality to

naturally G U S H over everything,

and you have the perfect storm

for a super-smiley and

very happy little girl!

The Fall Activity was one such occasion,

the perfect excuse for smiling so hard your cheeks hurt!

She looked a-dorable in her pilgrim smock,

and though she refused to wear the hat,

she gladly sat down to the feast!

Thanksgiving Menu

Popcorn

Cornbread Muffins

Pumpkin Pie

Fresh Strawberries

Apple Juice

...

Iris,

On the list of things I'm most grateful for,

you will always

-and I mean always- 

top my list!

I love you, baby girl!

Love,

Mama

Slides, Pouts, & Wet Pants

We're super fortunate to have the Fountains to explore.

You'd think after several visits it would get old,

but we love the fountains themselves,

the shops,

and of course,

all the fun play equipment!

Gabriel absolutely loves slides.

He won't go down on his own though,

but once you give him the old heave-ho

he has the time of his life!

Ava & Iris

Slide Pros

Owen

Camera-shy!

How dare you son! 

I made you!

Give me a smile, sugar-bun!

I think we'll have pictures like this until the girls are

fully grown with families all their own!

Samuel loves to play with them,

and they love to play right back!

I'm so glad he enjoys

rough-housing,

tickleing,

wrestling,

reading stories,

helping with homework,

giving hugs & kisses...

It makes for a wonderful, dad.

...

A wonderful dad with wet pants, that is!

{smile}

2010 Bishop's Pumpkin Farm

It's pumpkin time!!!

Truly one of our favorite times of the year.

Actually, Samuel and I aren't huge fans of Halloween per se,

but if we're talking about the season of the year,

that's a whole different story.

Fall...Autumn...

whatever you call it,

it's magical!

Not only does the weather change,

but all those ovens start to click on,

warm, oozy-goozy smells waft through the house,

the wool socks come out of the drawers to toast little toesies,

and everyone can finally snuggle under down blankets with

warm cinnamon cocoa!

H E A V E N !

Yet another sign that Summer is out-of-here,

is our annual visit to the pumpkin farm.

This year, we were able to get everyone out,

including Aunt Patti's family!

We visited all the favorite hot spots,

including a ride on the rails,

a run on the tires,

and stint in the jailhouse.

After exhausting the kids,

and all the grown-ups,

we hit Round Table because as everyone knows:

Pizza and pumpkins-

they just go together!

...

We also has a special occasion to commorate:

Uncle Nathan's 35th Birthday!

H A P P Y  B I R T H D A Y !

...

It was a super-fun day and

we already can't wait for next year!

My Joy School Run

As I mentioned in an earlier post,

this was the first year that we've participated in

Joy School (think, pre-school) Co-op.

Owen was our guinea pig,

and after some initial trepidation he took

to it easily.

However Owen wasn't the only one being

thrown into the deep end of the pool,

I was too!

The Co-op portion meant that I would be responsible

for teaching approximately 6-7 classes,

organizing a class field trip and class party, and

assisting for an additional 6-7 classes for another teacher.

And all with Gabriel underfoot!

Whew!

I'm tired already!

Looking back though,

the experience was really great.

The time really did fly by,

and it was fun having this barage of little ones

invade the house each week.

I read, or heard in a movie,

children referred to as,

"Ankle-biters".

I really liked the term,

and that's exactly how I'd describe these little guys!

But in a cute and endearing way,

of course!

Meet the gang!

{note}

Owen was camera shy at the moment.

My lesson theme focused on

"Bugs & Crawly Things".

It was a perfect subject for little ones,

and luckily the weather cooperated

for plenty of outdoor exploring.

It still amazes me how often we hit the jackpot

in finding all kinds of bugs in the backyard.

We lucked out by finding a huge grasshopper, praying mantis,

and fuzzy caterpillar.

Granted,

I did help some things along,

like when I thought of the brilliant idea of purchasing live

ladybugs from Green Acres Nursery.

All was well

 while the little guys were contained and snoozing

in a deep sleep in the fridge,

but of course I just had to cut open their packaging

to move them to a netted bug container.

How was I supposed to know ladybugs can easily

squeeze through tiny netted holes?

And that the moment they're removed from the fridge,

they wake up and start moving around like crazy?

Long story short,

I had another brilliant idea

and just shoved the whole mess back into the fridge

hoping everyone would settle down again.

They did,

but for weeks we found ladybugs

in odd places all over the place

(the vegetable drawer, the ceiling, etc.-)!

{note}

Did I mention each package of ladybugs contains

1,800 of the little buggers?

Busy bees!

For our class field trip we visited

Bishop's Pumpkin Farm!

We were a little stretched on time,

but if you're looking for a fall experience,

you can't beat everything this place has to offer.

You can't go wrong with any holiday party,

but come on,

Halloween is right up every kids alley!

P A R T Y  I T I N E R A R Y

D E C O R A T E  S U G A R  C O O K I E S

G A M E S

P U M P K I N  G U T S  1 0 1

M U D  &  W O R M S  P U D D I N G  C U P S

M O V I E : 

T H E  G R E A T  P U M P K I N , C H A R L I E  B R O W N

Later,

as an assistant,

we visited the Utility Exploration Center

and the Universal Playground!

All in all,

it's a relief to be done!

And though I do miss my ankle-biters,

now I get to drop off Owen and know he's having

loads of fun and learning so much too...

at someone elses house!

{smile} 

Garden Stew, Pirate Ships, & Cry-babies

Grandma Lopez' backyard is a magical, magical place!

I grew up here

making elaborate garden stews,

lop-sided pirate ships from cushions, and,

being the kind girl that I was,

making my younger cousins cry too!

Thankfully,

I'm all grown up,

and it's time for my kids to carry on the tradition!

...

Have fun kids!

And play nice!

Conference Sunday Brunch & Learning What Matters Most

When Conference Sunday rolls around,

everyone gets excited.

Yes, it means p.j.'s and a delicious brunch,

but above and beyond that is the opportunity to squish

into the couch with notepads and pen

to listen and learn at the feet of

modern day prophets.

This time around,

I was really struck by President Uchtdorf's remarks

regarding what matters most.

Of Things That Matter Most

As we turn to our Heavenly Father

and seek His wisdom regarding the things that matter most,

we learn over and over again

the importance of four key relationships:

with our God, with our families, with our fellowman, and with ourselves.

As we evaluate our own lives with a willing mind,

we will see where we have drifted from the more excellent way.
The eyes of our understanding will be opened,

and we will recognize what needs to be done

to purify our heart and refocus our life.

-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Second Counselor in the First Presidency
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

His counsel to,

"...slow down a little,

steady the course,

and focus on the essentials

when experiencing adverse conditions..."

Hits the nail on the head.

I like to think I'm level-headed and very "even-keel",

but unfortunately I know

I'm passionate and extremely emotional about

even the tiniest of things!

To say this throws me off-balance occasionally

is a huge understatement!

So what to do?

Take this counsel and run with it! 

Okay, since we're "slowing down",

how about we walk with it?

Try it on for size,

and see

what happens!

The scriptures exhort us to:

...awake, and arise from the dust,

O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments,

O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes

and enlarge thy borders forever,

that thou mayest no more be confounded,

that the covenants of the Eternal Father

which he hath made unto thee,

O house of Israel, may be fulfilled.

Yea, come unto Christ,

and be perfected in him,

and deny yourselves of all ungodliness;

and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness,

and love God with all your might, mind and strength,

then is his grace sufficient for you,

that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ;

and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ,

ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ,

and deny not his power,

then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God,

through the shedding of the blood of Christ,

which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins,

that ye become holy,

without spot.

Moroni 10:31-33

I want to arise,

be strengthened,

perfected,

and certainly without spot!

And it IS possible,

through faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ,

and through following him.

...

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please visit here!