Halloween at School

We had fun watching the kids parade around at school. Their principal was dressed up as Jack from Jack-in-the-Box and Mac kept asking me if we could go see the snowman. I was helping at Anna's class party with the cornstarch + water = slime game so my hands were nasty and I didn't get any pictures but it was fun!

Carly decorating her cookies for her party. She didn't want to wear her costume all day.

All of Carly's class.

Carly and Mrs. New.

The parade.

Anna's Art Show

The first grade had an art show one night at their school. The kids dressed up and acted as docents and took their families around to show them their art. I was impressed with their very cool works of art! They studied the lives of some famous artists and then created works of art to go along with them.

Good job Anna!

Ward Halloween Party

We had a really fun ward Halloween party. We ate yummy chili, tried to eat donuts on a string, played other games and had a trunk-or-treat. It was a fun night - plus it is always a bonus to get to wear those costumes more than once!

Our cute M&M's. I was a red M&M but we have no picture of that - big bummer! McKay was playing a basketball game for the first of this party so I was flying solo for awhile. I have to admit it was a bit stressful trying to keep track of everyone and keeping them happy alone. Of couse it all worked out (almost always does) but I was exhausted by the time the fun was over!

They had a cute place set up where you could take pictures. Brad was a tomato and Mac was 'Bob the Builder' but absolutely refused to wear his construction hat. Thanks to Carly for always making sure Mac is looking at the camera. He was all about the candy this year. I don't think he fully understood how wonderful Halloween is until he got all the candy. He kept saying to me "Mom! I got candy!"

FHE Pumpkin Carving

Anna wanted her mouth like her: missing her top teeth. I got smart this time and cleaned out the pumpkins during the day so the FHE choas was slightly less than it normally is. Nevertheless, the kitchen still needed to be hosed down by the time we were done.

Primary Program

The kids did great on their primary program! They practiced really hard and sang so pretty. The theme this year was about being an eternal family. We listened to their CD so much that even Mac had most of the songs memorized. A big thanks to all the leaders for making it so wonderful!

The Pumpkin Patch at Faulkner Farms

This is the third year in a row we have gone to Faulkner Farms to the Pumpkin Patch. I told McKay that doing it three years in a row officially makes it a tradition and we will probably have to do it every year now. We decided it was fun enough to make it a yearly tradition so we went. The kids had a great time and think the wheelbarrow ride is the best part. I don't think we can squish four kids in one wheelbarrow so I might have to start helping out. Ummm... that could make me sore. Brad was really good hanging out in the stroller. Lots of action and noise - just what he is used too!

Don't you love Carly getting Mac to look at the camera? Mac was obsessed with the thing and didn't want to get off. He is into big trucks/tractors right now. He LOVES the garbage truck.

My favorite part is the pumpkins everywhere. It makes everything feel so autumny!

Brad still smilin'!

The corn maze was a bit used but still fun.

Anna was frustrated because I didn't tell her to wear socks with tennis shoes and she kept having to pick hay and straw out of her crocs. So next year is capris and socks and hopefully not as much complaining!

Jog-a-thon

The kids had a great time at their school jog-a-thon. It was a hot day here but they hung in there. The big popcicles and water were great at the end. Their school met their goal and raised over $50,000! The kids are excited because the whole school gets Jamba Juice and the principal gets a pie thrown in his face because they met their goal. Go Tigers! Carly's class. (We need rain can you tell?!)

Anna's class.

1/2 a year old!

You know what I am going to say here so as to not disappoint... WHERE DOES THE TIME GO! IT IS FLYING BY! And sadly, yes, I still have very few pictures of Brad. Our camera is on the edge of death so sometimes it works but most of the time it doesn't. That for sure does not help things. But that being said, isn't he a cutie pie?! I can't get enough of that smile. This picture is on the day he turned six months and of course it is in his jammies because it is minutes before bedtime when I HAVE no other choice but to take pictures if I want one on the day he is six months old.

He loves sitting on your lap and throwing his whole body back so his head slams into your chest and then laughs hysterically. Carly and Anna have all but given up holding him because he is such a wild man. He is 19 pounds. (I know! I was dying he is huge!) He isn't crawling yet but he rolls everywhere and is rocking on all fours so pretty soon he will be everywhere. Church is ummm fun? He eats some cereal and fruit but not excitedly. I wish I could say he was sleeping through the night but that would be a lie. I have convinced myself that sleep is totally overrated. He is generally such a happy fun baby. May the next six be as good as the first (with a little more sleep maybe.)

Ward Talent Show

Our ward had a talent show and we went all out participating in four numbers. Anna and Carly sang with their friend Brooklynn the "Tomorrow" song from Annie. The music we had was a shortened version and had no words so the girls had to learn the tempo and sing it alone. They did awesome! They each had a solo at the first and then they sang together. They were nervous but I was so proud of them for doing it. Heidi (Brooklynn's mom) and I agreed that the performance was their best we had heard yet! Good job girls!

Note the coordinating outfits!!

The Bishopric did a lip sync to the Backstreet Boys song "Answers to our Life." It was hilarious and wonderful. They had it choreographed (by their lovely wives) and had some cool moves. They made it seem like the Answer to our Life is the Book of Mormon. Dan was the rebel in the beginning who didn't want to go on a mission and needed a sign and a reason but then was converted and stripped off his clothes at the end and was a new man!

The girls sang with the primary "This Little Candle Light of Mine" I love their enthusiasm!

I did a line dance with Mac to Alan Jackson's song "Good Time." Our group was called 'The Good Time Mommies.' It was lots of fun and Mac kept asking me when he could dance with mommy. He is heavy but it was fun!

Mommy and Mac

Mac brought me the camera today and told me he wanted to take some pictures so here is our photo shoot! He thought it was hilarious.

Just as a side note: today we went on a short walk today and Mac rode his bike. Well on the way home he decided he wanted to run and told me to carry his bike. I told him I couldn't carry his bike because I was carrying Brad (like I said, short walk.) Then I tried to think of something clever to say and told him if I had to carry his bike home I would have to throw it in the trash. He said ok. So I carried his bike home and then he cried because I didn't throw his bike away. Not one of my brightest parenting moments...