Halloween 2011

My parents came to town this week and it was just what the doctor ordered. We're staying here for the holidays instead of going to Utah and the kids and I were more than excited to see them. We had a wonderful week of eating out, cooking and bowling. I finally learned how to make delicious roast gravy and David even paid attention to our cooking lesson. Not to mention my Mom keeps my house spotless all the time. So when someone e-mailed saying they'd like to come see our house last minute to rent I almost panicked until I looked up and realized it was ready to go. What a luxury. Best house guests ever.

Here are the kids before trunk or treat. Mallie was exhausted already and gave up walking because she knew Nana and Papa were there to hold her. Supergirl. This costume was $1 at the thrift store. I'm glad I got her a costume with a cape this year she can put on when Ashton gets dressed up as a super hero.

Mom and Mallie.

The little ladybug. She looked darling.

Batman. He loved seeing all the other superheroes out tonight. The little kids walking down the street would say "Hey Captain America" "Hey Batman"... Halloween is starting to feel really fun for him.

The neighbors came over dressed as zombies right as we were starting out. Hannah freaked and decided to stay with Papa to hand out the candy. Totally traumatized... not to mention hilarious.

The kids practicing trick or treating with my Dad before going out.

All the cousins. So sad it's blurry.

It was so fun to Trick or Treat with cousins this year. And we're getting even more excited that soon we'll be living just 7 doors down the street from them!

For the love of chocolate

A few weeks ago for Family Home Evening we helped the kids learn the first article of faith. Ashton still remembered it yesterday so we asked him if he wanted to move on to number 2. He said "So then when I learn all of them I can get a huge chocolate bar!" We thought he was making his own reward so we said, "sure". Then he went on to tell us in primary when someone memorizes all 13 then they get that coveted chocolate bar. That was motivation enough. Only 11 more to go!

Welcome Fall

We've had perfect 70 degrees for the last 2 months. Then out of nowhere yesterday it was FORTY degrees. So aside from being freezing this day informed me I have insufficient winter wear for a couple of the kids. Poor Mallie's feet aren't big enough yet to fit in Hannah's winter shoes. The only pair of shoes she owns are a pair of sandal robeez. Ashton doesn't own one zip up hoodie that is actually 4T. When he stood up wearing this one it fell right under his belly button. Definitely need to get these kids outfitted for a cold winter. This picture was taken before our outting to WalMart. I must say the toy aisles have become the kids second playground. And because of their many trips they know we don't get to buy anything but they can come back and play with that very same toy soon. I'm starting to think the plan is a bit genius. So welcome Fall glad to have you. Although November with the greatness of Thanksgiving also brings the end of our grace period on our student loans. Ahhh. We're doing the best we can to still live like students. So far so good. The longer we can keep this up the better. Dave Ramsey here we come!

Happy Hollows Pumpkin Patch

Once again I'm reminded why this small town stuff is so fun. We went to the pumpkin patch ran out out of the front yard of someone's home. We originally thought we were going to go on a hay ride and pick up some cheap pumpkins. Then we got there and didn't want to leave. There was a sandbox full of CORN! Genius. I hate cleaning sand out of the kids clothes, socks, mouths diapers etc so sand is off limits for my kids. Seriously, I'm the mean mom at the park that tells my kids we have to go home the minute they step foot in the sand. Needless to say they were so thrilled to get to play in a sandbox. Mallie had a good time eating it and you know what? I let her because it wasn't gross sand. If this doesn't tell you know one worries about liability I don't know what does. So awesome!

Then they had an entire fort built out of hay with a plank of wood going across the top. Underneath was a mattress covered in ducktape so it didn't matter if the kids fell.

Ashton (and David) thought it was pretty much the greatest thing ever.

Feeding the animals.

Hay ride. Apparently we were doing a serious pose and they all got the memo.

I promise I wasn't trying to claw her only meant to get her to giggle and it worked!

Then we picked out our pumpkins. Mind you this wasn't a real "patch". They brought pumkins in by the truckload and scattered them on this field. The kids didn't care and neither did we.

What a fun day. I'm excited to know we'll get to go again for the next 2 years. Next time we'll pack lunch and hang out for much longer!

Best Field Trip Ever

I used to say I missed the zoo and museums for the kids. Well, preschool's letter this week was "F" so Emily called up a ward member and we went to their full on farm! Who needs a zoo or a petting zoo? This was so much better!

The kids all got to climb the fence and run around with the sheep and even hold the little baby one. Mallie even got to come and loved standing at the fence. She was enthralled watching the kids throw the feed to the chickens.

Anyone knows me knows I am a self professed non animal lover. But as the girls and I went to go pet the pony this dog kept coming up to the fence looking for some love. So I gave in. I think I found that I prefer farm animals. I'll come to you and pet you outside... just stay off my lap during dinner.

The baby chicks! Hannah was in HEAVEN. We spent 15 minutes holding them. She kept trying to squeeze them though and I had serious flashes of Lenny going though my head.

All the kids that came. Really only 4 from preschool 1 was gone.

Back to the chics. I'm pretty sure they were my favorite too. Those feathers you see in the corner are from the gigantic turkey! The kids thought the feathers were the greatest things ever.

So after seeing a fully functional farm run by just normal people and not really farmers I can't figure out if my dream has been revived or if I'm scared about all the work raising animals takes. Either way we're going to have to visit our "local" zoo again. There are some definite perks to living in the backwoods. I can't wait to explore even more!