Halloween 2011

Being the mom I feel like this was a long month due to preparation with costumes, decorating and candy.The costumes I'm actually quite pleased at how well they turned out, maybe because I tried to keep it simple.

McKenna's was a dress I picked up at Value Village for a dollar-remade. We dyed it and added a lil ribbon and lace and with a wig, Wala, "Tangled." The wig only lasted an hour being heavy and her head being so small, and then she became Repunzel after her hair was cut.

Tyler decided to be Jesse from Toy Story and stuck with her guns. The shirt is a boys dress shirt I fixed up by using an old shirt of Johns and some trim I had laying around. The chaps were quite simple and turned out well. The Rainboots-perfect for Washington and the weather and the lack of cowboy boots. The wig-a makeshift out of yarn that pretty much fell of her head and hung on only because it was braided in with her real hair.

John was a good sport and dressed up as Texas Sheriff, Tate was his deputy-and I their prisoner. :) Makes sense with my life of servitude aye?

This year I was given the opportunity to work with some wonderful women in our Primary Presidency to plan our ward's first Family Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat. It was a lot of fun for my family-and turned out quite well. It began with dinner: Chilli, cornbread & Hot dogs.

Then we were off for dessert at the Cupcake Walk:

Bella/Katy Perry/Jorelle was our Cupcake presenter

Happy girls with their cupcake prizes

Then we hit the Bean Bag and Ring Toss.

Fishing Pond:

Miniature Golf:

Pie Eating Contest:

Bro Willits won, Jorelle a close 2nd

Pumpkin Carved Contest: (Tyler's won for most Classic/Original pumpkin)

Costume Contest: Tyler won for Cutest Contest & her old Sunbeam Teacher Kathy Johnson

And Family Picture: Halloween 2011

John then took the kids out to the Trunk or Treat while I started the long haul of clean up. Tate was a little resistant to go until he heard the word "treat" and saw candy being dropped into bags and then he was full force ahead, walking up to anyone and everyone holding open his backpack and saying, "treat". The greatest night of his short little life so far.

Here is Tate with his Loot-he by far prefers Suckers. Soooo Happy!

As was Tyler with her certificates and winnings.

Halloween Happy Birthday Fun!

Leslie and I got together and did a lot of this:

That Turned into This:

For this: A Happy Birthday Boy and His Mom

Which was also this:

A big Halloween Custome Birthday Party With lots of Friends

It was lots of fun with good food, company and of course games: like bobbing for apples.

I was inside when they began but I guess Tyler got hers with her mouth without any cheating.

McKenna reached in and grabbed her apple, and well Tate-What are Mom's for?

Then it was Strawberry Shortcake vs Princess Peachy (from Mario Bros)

Who won? Hmmmm Berry Sweetness vs Character from Racing Game.

I was in way over my head as I had no idea just how competitive this girl was. Leslie won hand down...and then...well I cheated even after losing. What can I say-sweetness was my strongsuit.

Fun, Fun Party! Happy Birthday Luigi...I mean Christian

Fall is Upon Us

Literally Fall is upon us-and despite the chill we are thrilled.

This is one of my favorite things, watching the kids get a thrill out of watching the leaves fall from the trees.

Welcome Fall!

Spooner Farms-Preschool Field Trip

Spooner Farms a very popular place with the kids this year.

That's Tate, way beyond the "Do Not Enter" boundaries. He does this while I'm distracted taking pictures of other people's children :)

What kind of mother am I? He didn't enter even as I yelled, "stop Tate" laughing as he ran. At that point I decide to take his picture and not disobey the rules and then figure out how to get him out.

Pretty much sums up our whole relationship right there.

Sumner Co-op Preschool 2011-2012: 4 yr olds

They do have nice faces although capturing them at the same time....impossible

Once situated we were off to learn about the Bees, but not the birds, just bats, spiders and the things they grow on the farm.

This is a Bird Cage Gourd-or some name similar. You can actually wait for them to dry and then you have a cool rattle-thing or hollow it out and hang for the birds. Want to try that next year.

Off on our Tractor pull ride to see the farm and get a Pumpkin

This is Tyler's Teacher Mrs Withem and her friend Payton.

Tyler with Alice Welcoming everyone to Wonderland

Tate enthralled with the animals, the donkey and the earless goat.

Funny how the ears kind of complete a head.

Tate's favorite..Horses!

Coolest Horses ever!

Spider pictures

They were thrilled-when they started hanging on them, NOT climbing!

Last but NOT least the duck races. Tyler had to fight her way in , but was able to play.

Tate didn't care much for the racing, he liked collecting the ducks and taking them to the races. So helpful, but who could resist a big bucket of water with a continual stream of ducks falling into it?

Almost forgot to get this picture. You get a pumpkin as part of the Spooner Farm Tour-the small pumpkin is the one that Tate picked out (Identical to the one McKenna had picked out) which is the typical size offered. Small enough to carry for any kid. Tyler picked out the HUGE pumpkin, I think being the biggest one she could find. I opted for the middle-pumpkin which is pretty standard for a pumpkin. Pretty good representation of the person who picked it out. :)