Saturday, November 1, 2014

Halloween 2014



Our Halloween festivities seemed to go on for weeks this year.  Halloween is starting to become as exhausting as Christmas!  We had so many fun parties this year though starting with Grandma Jeri's.  The kids look forward to her Halloween party every year.  She didn't disappoint!  Her costume was awesome.  Of course Sam wouldn't wear his costume that night.  Never mind he wouldn't take it off for weeks leading up to the party.  He couldn't decided if he was freaked out and wanting to go home or having a blast.  Classic 3 year old behavior.


Hank and Max on the other hand were having a blast from the second they arrived.  Twister is always a favorite.


Hank would push his body to the point of complete exhaustion.  That's dedication to the game!



My most dreaded Halloween activity proved to be not so bad this year.  Hank and Max were able to really help me out.  And we only carved 2 pumpkins.  




Sam was interested in the process for approximately 3 minutes.  He loved our finished product though.




Not too shabby if I do say so myself.  Randy was in Cedar City so I felt pretty good about doing this on my own.

Our next Halloween party was the much anticipated Evil Ball.  Jeri offered to watch our kids overnight so Randy and I recruited some friends to stay over night in Salt Lake with us.  My mom and I had a brilliant costume idea this year and the make-up artists at Taylor Maid helped us achieve our look.


I loved the finished product!  I don't even look like myself.  She did such an incredible job.


Randy's turned out awesome too.  It's safe to say we freaked our kids out when we got home.  After we dropped off the kids we headed to the Red Lion to put the finishing touches on our costumes.



Yes, that's me!  The wig was just the thing my costume needed.


Randy rounded up some authentic Mexican clothes to make his costume perfect.  I'd say we nailed the Day of the Dead look.


My parents looked so good!  It's no wonder we ended up being the Overall Best Costume winners.  We brought our A game this year.



Gina and Brandon rocked their 70's attire.  I can't get over that wig on Brandon!  It was so much fun to have them experience the Evil Ball with us.



Like mother like daughter.


Elvira and Freddy Mercury had to get a pic with the winners.
My parents are so amazing.  They can roll with any social setting.  All of my friends were amazed by their coolness.  I'm the luckiest.


The Evil Ball master and his sister.





Randy and I brought a crew with us that made the Evil Ball even more memorable than ever.  Erica and Todd, Gina and Brandon, and Mary and Alex came to party!  


I mean what else would Todd be but a Viking?




.



My make-up may have rubbed off and Gina.  Still looking fierce though.



Lots of dancing and craziness, oh and I lost my phone.  It's a miracle we found it.


All and all, it was a night to remember.  We will be talking about it for years to come.  Good times indeed.  Randy's toes were numb for a week from his boots!  That's the price you pay for a winning costume.



Finally Halloween Day came!  Poor Max woke up feeling awful.  He decided he didn't feel well enough to go to school and stayed home.  You know he was really sick if he chose to miss one of the most anticipated school days of the year.  Hank couldn't wear his creepy clown mask to school so he decided to be Waldo.  


Stop taking my picture mom!


Where's Waldo?



My mom and Tucker joined Sam and I at the Dry Creek Halloween parade.  The kids were digging Tuck's Yoda costume.


Again, Sam refused to wear his costume.  If everyone is doing it, Sam won't.


Waldo!  You cans see his teacher right behind him.


His best friend Keeton was a hot dog.


Later that day, I went to Hank's class party to help out.  My game was decorting a monster.  The kids had about 10 minutes and lots of random materials to use.  In the end, Hank's team won.  I wasn't even playing favorites.  It was by far the best effort.  It was cool to see Hank be such a leader in his group.


I was also proud that he wasn't the kid who added a  wiener and nipples to his monster.  Freaking 4th graders!  I spent the rest of the afternoon getting ready for my Halloween party and nursing Max back to health.


Sam finally agreed to put his costume on to go trick-or treating.


Max rallied and put his gear on.  I'm so glad he started feeling better.  Halloween is the worst day ever to be sick.



The kids looked so awesome this year!


One by one the cousins started rolling in.  Lennon made the cutest little cowgirl and Dyson and his girlfriend made the perfect Ken and Barbie.


Randy snagged the Waldo costume to trick-or-treat in and Malificent brought treats for all the kids.


Jack really took his Darth Vader costume to the next level by capturing the burned charred skin under his mask.  This kid takes this holiday and Star Wars very seriously.


Isabel and Lucy looked adorable! 


Cutest little cousins ever!  Hank, Max, and Colby ditched us after the first house and I didn't see them the rest of the night.  They hit the streets hard and got pounds of candy.



Sam was such a little trooper.  He coudn't get enough trick or treating.  At least I have one kid who will hang out with me on Halloween.  Randy and I took turns taking him out and hosting the party at our house.  It was such a fun night!   

Friday, October 24, 2014

Sammy Update

I've got a bunch of random pictures of Sam that need a home.  My little boy is growing up!  Every day I'm reminded of what a hilarious, loving, bipolar little human he is.
Buckle up for a crazy Sammy-boy experience.


We have been experiencing some absolutely gorgeous fall weather.  We were able to take in several park days before the weather turned cold.  Sam amazed me this particular day with his climbing skills.




He's so strong!






It's pretty amazing how adventurous he is considering he's the biggest mamas boy who ever lived.


He loves to be with his cousins.  They truly are his best friends.


It wouldn't be an outing with Tucker and Jack without a trip to Rubio's and Rita's.


It's just what we do.  You can actually see the employees shudder when we walk in the front door.  These three have a tendency to get a little loud...and messy!


He was amazed with all the princess toys Lennon got for her birthday.




 I could hear them giggling from downstairs.  They were yelling at people outside and thought it was hilarious.  They get along so well.


His buddy Wyatt sadly just moved very unexpectantly.  I planned on dedicating an entire post to the Schaefer Family but somehow missed taking a picture with Natalie before she left.  I'm so bummed about it but I'm more bummed they had to move.  They became such dear friends of ours.  It's so weird not having them next door.  I'm hoping they miss us so much they have to move back!


Sam was on a quest to find a green ninja costume at the Halloween store.  BAM!  He can't wait for Halloween.  Don't let his tough ninja outfit fool you though.


He's still a pretty big cry baby.


He has some mad scooter skills though.  "Hey mom, check out my new move!!"


He won't let a moment pass where he can perform his finisher.  If you happen to be laying on your back on the floor, prepare to be finished!






He takes his shirt off and says he's in "beast mode".


Even this beast, still has time to kiss his mama.


We've got other big news.  We took the front off his bed to make it easier for him to get in and out of since he's.....POTTY TRAINED!!  For real this time.



The whole pee thing came easy.  After all, he was partially potty trained 6 months ago.  We struggled getting him to go number 2 in the toilet though.  Failure wasn't an option this time around.  I tried everything.  Bribing, cold showers after an accident, watching movies on the toilet, and even you tubing kids pooping on the potty didn't work.



Since our playroom has the magical ability to generate poop in nearly every kid who visits I thought why not put the potty up there.  So gross, I know but it worked.  He finally did it!!


Then I convinced him the little potty was disgusting and he moved to the big toilet. Every time he goes, he insists the entire family look at his efforts.  It's a small price to pay for no more accidents and no more freaking diapers.  It feels pretty damn good.  I'm not even a little sad this is my last round of potty training as a parent.


This last picture captures Sam's personality so well.  He has his sweet little baby but also a weapon nearby.  There is no doubt this adorable little creature keeps me on my toes.  I love his little mug so much.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

School Pictures


Oh man, the kids just came home with thier school pictures and I'm in love!
Feast your eyes on some seriously handsome boys.


Max 1st grade


Hank 4th grade

I can't get over how grown up they look.  Every year we get new school pictures, I love to look at past school years and compare.  Where does the time go?  It seems just like yesterday Hank and Max were little preschoolers with Miss Molly.  Those days are long gone.  They'll be men before I know it!

Monday, October 20, 2014

Caramel Apples With Grandma



Halloween is right around the corner and that means it's time for caramel apples with Grandma!  My mom really upped her game this year.  The beauty of the activity is my mom does all the prep work before we get there.  My kids were able to just jump in and get decorating.



Max took his apple decorating very seriously.  I think he made double the amount of apples everyone else did.


Hank got pretty good at the apple coating process.



These cuties were caramel apple making pros.


The little ones were content watching a show...oh and eating the toppings for the apples.


Hank loves kisses. 


Here are the beautiful fruits of our labor.  Mighty impressive, I must say.  They were as delicious as they looked.  I should know since I ate about 6 of them.


After about a ton of sugar, the kids had fun trying on Grandma's wig for her Halloween costume.


I always wanted a little girl!