Halloween Party

As our kids get older, our Halloweens are getting weird-er and weird-er...or at least different than they used to be. This year all kids, but Rylee, went trick-or-treating with friends while Jason and I supervised a teen party at our house.

Ainsley Ashby-Abree-Megan Zimmerman

The plan was to play "Just Dance 4", make s'mores (using my new fire pit), hang out, eat snacks, be goofy/ flirty (boys were invited) and play games. Everyone came in costume and a spontaneous round of trick-or-treating in the neighborhood happened too.

Sorting and swapping candy.

I was excited for Rylee's first official girl/boy party. I kept asking the group if they wanted Rylee's dad to start the fire, so they could do s'mores. I kept getting, "later" or "not right now". When the teens went on their spontaneous trick-or-treating round, I had Jason get it started anyway.

Maybe it's not cool to do s'mores??? They kinda hung out by the fire a little, but I don't think anyone made a s'more!

When most of the teens were outside, Rylee came in to Jason and I and said, "Do you guys HAVE TO be in here? Couldn't you just go in your room? My friends are like 'Why is your mom watching us?...It's probably because there are BOYS here'."

What?! I didn't realize I was such a bother. Jason and I went to our room and tried not to be offended. :)

The kicker was that we had brought the t.v. out to the front room for them to play on and my computer was down, so I didn't have any of my usual entertainment. Jason played a game on his phone and I played Solitaire.

Happy Halloween???

Trunk-or-Treat

Our bishop wanted this year's ward Trunk-or-Treat to be more of a community/neighborhood event. We got permission from the nearby elementary school to have it in their parking lot.

I was asked to make signs to put around the neighborhood and school. 

 

I made a little pocket, on each sign, with flyers about the Trunk-or-Treat.

My kids are good sports about dressing up...I think they actually like it.

Treyson the chef.

One of my favorite parts of Treyson's costume was his chef hat. I wanted to buy him a professional one, but ran out of time, so I quickly made one out of a strip of posterboard and some inside-out wrapping paper. Voila...chef hat!

Abree the pink pig.

Taylee made Abree's pig nose and ears with felt and a milk jug lid.

Taylee the BSU vampire fan???

Rylee the "cute nerd"...of course not a nerdy-nerd.

Treyson and his good friend Dylan.

Notice the funky rubber chicken..the final touch to Treyson's costume.

TRUNK-OR-TREAT!

Red Ribbon Week

The end of October is Red Ribbon week.

The schools around here have dress up days which include things like; crazy hair day, funny hat day, wear your favorite team jersey day, etc.

My kids love to participate.

This year at the middle school, they had a "Genius Day" (a.k.a. Nerd Day). Treyson went all out and was a perfect nerd. Some of my favorite touches were the inside-out pockets, one pant leg rolled up and his tweeky hair-do.

Do you see the Alfalfa-inspired tweeky in the back?

I don't know if I would call this "crazy hair" ....more like "scary hair".

Who would have thought to have a crazy chicken hair-do like this, but Taylee?

Funny thing is she went babysitting like this. I told her I thought she might want to take it out before, so she wouldn't scare the kids. She didn't.

She also went to a bishopbric's interview (temple re-dedication) looking like this. Yikes!

My Birthday

This year for my birthday...

Taylee baked me a chocolate cake from scratch with homemade frosting too.

I requested Chinese food for dinner.

Jason brought home lots of yummy choices.

Taylee gave me a candy gram.

It says, "Dear Mom, Life can be (SweetTarts) But you know how to keep your (Stride) Even when your kids are being (Air Heads) You're a (Smartie) and know what to do with my (Atomic Fireball) when experiments go wrong. Love, Taylee"

I received some awesome gifts; an HP printer (yay!!!), a fire pit, a fire pit cover (Jason knows me so well), camping chairs and s'mores fixings.

We were excited about the fire pit and had to try it out that night.

Snuggle up..it's chilly!

Thank you for a wonderful birthday, family.

It's Great to be 8!

Abree turned 8 years old on October 5th. Because of General Conference, our stake baptisms were moved to October 13th. So instead of having to wait until the first Saturday of November, she was able to be baptized the week after her birthday. We thought that was pretty cool.

Powdered doughnuts and pumpkin/cream cheese bundt cake. Yum.
It's GREAT to be 8! (get it?)
I had to spell it out for many of my family members. :)

 Taylee and Abree washed and braided Piper's hair (doll) and Abree put her white dress on.. so they could be "twins".

 Abree's dress was made by Grandma Smullin. Isn't is pretty? Thank you Grandma Smullin!

 Months before Abree's birthday..at least 6, Abree told me she wanted "high heels" for a gift. I found these "high heels" brand new at Goodwill. They were a little big, but fit ok with socks. She'll be able to wear them for a while. :)

 Taylee braided Abree's hair and we put her flower headband on that she got for her birthday.

 Abree is ready to get baptized.

This year, Abree's Primary teacher Sister Morrison, asked me (as Primary president) if their class could attend each baptism. I thought that sounded like a great idea (if parents supported it).
Each month, as Abree would go to her classmate's baptisms, she would get more and more excited for her own. She and Catherine Chandler were the LAST ones to be baptized (in our ward) for the year...finally. Abree also had a school classmate (Tyler) and a friend from another ward (Allie Brown) get baptized the same day..kinda cool.

After the baptism, we gathered in a classroom for her confirmation, so family and friends could participate.
Family pictures followed.

 Sweet cousins... a.k.a. the "princess posse" (in part).

 Julia-Christian-J.C.-Me-Jason-Lexie-Tyrel-Tim-Dad Waite-Dad Smullin

Treyson-Amber-Rylee-Taylee-Mom McKinley-Karen-Mom Smullin-Baby Savannah

Cameron-Audrey-Katelyn-Sydney-Abree-Lizzy-Micaela

Joshua-Adam-Matthew-Jackson

 We gathered back at our home to have homemade soup and bread. I made a potato soup and chicken vegetable noodle soup. Karen made whole wheat and french bread.

Thanks Karen! Yumm-o.

Grandpa Smullin-Grandma Smullin-Lizzy-Amber

Lexie-Tyrel-Tim

 We took turns holding sweet Baby Savannah, J.C.and Julia's newest addition. Isn't she cute?!

 Christian

 Cameron-Jackson

 Matthew

 Daisylyn

 Joshua

Grandpa Waite-boys-J.C.-Jason-Audrey

Katelyn-Taylee-Micaela

Julia-Savannah

Amber-Tim-Karen

Grandpa Waite-J.C.-Grandpa Smullin-Julia-Savannah-Rylee-Grandma Smullin

Tyrel-Lexie

Family, thanks for being with us on Abree's special day.

It was lovely.