Date Day

Nani & Grandpa watched Ty, Craig took the day off of work and we just spent it together.  It was awesome!  We went out to lunch.  We went to a movie.  BTW don't see Gravity.  It sucked.  We were a little bummed out since we hardly EVER get to go to the theater.  Oh well.  We had been invited to a Mystery Murder Dinner Date with friends so we got our costumes together and had fun at that.  I even convinced several people that I was the murderer.  Craig played the part of a depressed director and I was an honest druggie.  It was awesome.  I didn't take any pictures but just imagine that we looked awesome.  Date nights are awesome!

Halloween Craziness!!

 We started the day off bright an early getting kids ready in their costumes for school at 6:30am.  Jace was upset because he found out he couldn't wear the mask to his storm trooper costume to school.  He then refused to wear it.  I had to search through bins in the garage for the 'other' costumes, finding several other last minute options, and after all that he decided to go ahead and go with the storm trooper one. He's exhausting sometimes.  Brooke made it on the bus at 6:50, but Jace missed it so I quickly ran him over to school in the car at 7:30 after his tantrum.  When I got back I quickly threw some clothes on and got Ty in his costume and Nani, Grandpa, Ty and I headed back over to the school at 7:45 for the grand costume parade.  I was glad they got to dress up for school and have a parade this year.  In AZ they didn't celebrate Halloween or allow them to dress up.  I always had great memories of dressing up for school and parading around.  The girls all oohed and ahhed at the baby turtle with us.  The kids looked great and their friends looked awesome in their Croods costumes that their momma made.  She amazes me!  She made their whole families costumes.

When we got back we chilled out for a bit then I made the kids school lunches: pumpkin shaped quesadillas, applesauce with caramel worms, and eyeball celery sticks with olives.  Nani & Grandpa surprised them and joined them for lunch at school.  The school allows family member to join the kids for lunch.  They get to sit at the 'special' table and invite one of their friends to come too.  It makes it extra special.

 I cleaned up a bit and then when they got back we all went out to lunch and did some shopping.  Then it was right back to be here when the bus drops off the kids.

 I made Mummy Hotdogs for an afterschool snack, painted Brooke's face, took some pictures then we headed over to daddies work for Trick or Treating at the Walmart Home Office.  Holy AMAZING!!  We maybe made it through about 1/4 of 1 of the buildings / there are at least 5 buildings that offer trick or treating for families of associates.  They go all out too.  They decorate like crazy.  We especially loved the finance offices awesome Star Wars decorating.  It was kind of like a haunted house with tons of different rooms but all Star Wars themed.  They had all the main characters.  Jace was in heaven.

When we got back we ran into the house and grabbed some candy to hand out at the ward trunk or treat and headed over to the church.  The kids trunk or treated their little hearts out and filled up their pumpkin candy bags for the second time that day.  After that I was beat.  They wanted to go around the neighborhood but I was DONE.  We watched Charlie Browns: The Great Pumpkin and worked on homework while handing out candy and then I fell asleep on the couch.  What a day.

Ty the baby turtle.

Costume parade fun.

After school snack:  Mummy dogs.

Brookie the beautiful Mermaid.

Jace the stinker Star Wars Storm Trooper.

Trick or Treating at the Walmart Home Office.

I was glad that daddy took some time off work to trick or treat with us.  Ty loves daddy.

Jace in Star Wars Heaven.

Awesome pumpkin carving!!

At the ward Trunk or Treat.

My cute little baby Turtle.

FHE Pumpkin Carving

This year the Christensen Family joined us for family night pumpkin carving.  It was lots of fun.

The girls did flowers and stars and the boys did Minecraft creepers.

Nani & Grandpa Visit

 Grandpa drove from Utah and then Nani flew in about a week later.  Ty warmed up to Grandpa quickly.  He got into a routine of stacking all his school bus toys, cars, and trucks onto his lap before climbing on.  We all knew when he was ready to sit with Grandpa because he would do this every time.  Grandpa got to see them perform for the Primary program at church.  We were all so proud.  Both Brooke and Jace memorized their parts and did so well.  Nani got here the day before Halloween so she got to be a part of the Halloween craziness.

All my kids LOVE their Grandpa!

Primary Program cuties.

Pumpkin Patch Fun

I love going to a pumpkin patch every fall. This year we went to Farmland Adventures in Sprindale, AR and had Grandpa Robert with us as well as the Christensen family.  We had lots of fun finding our way through the corn maze, going on LOTS of pony rides, playing in the corn pile, checking out the petting zoo, watching the pig races, taking a hay ride out to feed the cows, and running through the overly picked pumpkin patch.  There was literally maybe one or two pumpkins left in the patch.  It was pathetic. Good thing we already picked ours out at the grocery store.  The kids even saved up their own money to buy their own pumpkins this year by being hard workers around the house.  We had a great time.  Brooke & Brynlee loved the pony rides, Ty thought feeding the cows was the coolest thing ever, and Jace & Brady liked playing in the corn and running through the pumpkin patch.  Although they did get in trouble for throwing around the old, yucky gourds and broken apart pumpkins.  Then they started play wrestling and it got out of hand.  I could tell that Jace was starting to actually get mad while Brady was still having fun.  I had to pull Jace off of him and then he threw the biggest tantrum ever. He yelled at everyone and kicked daddy all the way to the car.  He ended up going home with Grandpa and having a cool off period while the rest of us went out to dinner.  Daddy did a great job keeping his cool and not losing his temper.

The Pumpkin Patch was pretty picked over, as in there were NO pumpkins left.  Good thing we already picked some up at Wal-Mart. :)

Photo bomb!!  Thanks to Lance.  He tossed the pumpkin right as Michele took the picture. :)