Halloween

Halloween is probablly one of my most favorite holidays. I love the fall weather and the decorations and the excitement of trick-or-treating and i LOVE the Gardner Village Witches. Halloween isn't Halloween if there isn't a trip to visit these witches.
I guess we missed 2005, due to A being only 2 months old.

2007

We barely squoze (is that a word) in pumpkin carving, things got a little crazy/busy after returning from disneyland. The kids liked it for the most part, but "A" didn't want to scoop his own seeds out. He thought they were "gwoss"
"A" surveying the situation

"ooh gwoss"

"E" digging in although very disgusted

The finished product.

Our house this year consisted of a witch (Samantha from bewitched) and a very cute Giraffe (thanks for the costume Harvest).

Schedule of Halloween day:
9:00 am trick-or-treating at the gym.
12:30 pm Neighborhood Bowling league (I bowled 123, yeah me)
3:00 visit Grandma and Grandpa, run out of gas on I-15, which has happened every Halloween since 2003.
5:00 visit other Grandma and Grandpa at their ward "trunk-or-treat" and visit a few trunks while there.
7:00 Neighborhood trick-or-treating.
9:00 a welcomed bedtime
9:30 mom and dad's nightly DVR ritual

Fun Times!

I haven't blogged for awhile because I have been having so much fun. It all started on October 13th, MY BIRTHDAY! I had a fun day beginning with my favorite breakfast-Pillsbury orange rolls. We then went Bowling, shopping, lunch at Wingers. Followed by a great undisturbed nap, and dinner at Joy Luck. It was a great day, the only thing I demanded was that it be declared a no work day. It was such a nice day, a big THANKS! to my hubby, children, and family .

Our next adventure was a family trip to DISNEYLAND. The plan was to all drive down as a family, but it ended up that Cache had to fly to San Francisco, so I drove down with the kids and met Cache at our hotel in Anaheim. The drive went good, better actually than I had expected. I have been wanting to visit my good friend Heather in Las Vegas, and this plan made it possible. I drove to Vegas and stayed the night at her house and then headed for California the next morning. It was so fun visiting until the late hours of the night and spending good time with her. Thanks Heather for letting us crash at your home.

Disneyland was so much fun! Cache has not gone since he was about 10 years old. All he remembered was thinking how lame it was and falling asleep on the "It's a Small World" ride. This time around he enjoyed a lot more (I am sure he enjoyed it 20 years ago too, but he just forgot). I haven't been since I was 16 years old, and so it is about time we returned.

We went with our good friends the Hancock's-they were so much fun! We probably weren't as much fun as they were. We pooped out on the second night and missed Fantasmic, which we thought we could catch on the remaining 2 days, but it was canceled the next night due to high winds (those darn Santa Ana's), and the last night was Monday and they don't do it on Mondays. Grrrr. We really wanted to see it.

The kids had so much fun. They loved everything about it. Well---almost everything. "E" wasn't too fond of Space Mountain, which was one of her first rides she went on. That kinda ruined a lot of other rides, because she was too scared to try them. Note to self: start out on the easy mild rides and then work up to the fast crazy rides. She did enjoy Soarin' California and Mickey Mouse's toontown roll-a-coaster and of course-the TEACUPS! I HATE the teacups, I have gotten sick on them everytime I have gone on them and I not excluding this time. Cache and the kids rode them about 8 times (or more). Ask "A" what his favorite ride was and he will re-ply "teacups!".

Disneyland-so much fun! I hope we don't wait another 12-20 years to return.

"Celery is great after a good Pee"

Okay, about the title of this post-I kid you not that I was just watching Wonder Pets and they really did say this. I just started laughing and thought-hmm I will have to try this sometime.

The name of my post before I heard this great line was going to be "A month (or more) in review". It has been awhile since I have posted anything, the reason being is that my sister told me my blog was Cheesy, so I was a little blog shy for awhile, but now I am comfortable with my cheesiness and am willing to share it. I also realized that I do this 99% for myself, so I can remember the happenings of my life. So, that being said I will blog about what has been happening the past month.

In no particular order, I will begin:

Our very, very good friends and traveling buddies The G's moved across the country. Before they left we were able to get together and enjoy a yummy dinner at the Red Iguana. It was so much fun talking and saying our farewells despite the grumpy kids, spilled water, loud music, and the stormy weather. We will miss you guys immensely. But we do have memories of Bryce Canyon, Cancun, Nine Mile Canyon, Snowbird, Deer Valley, Jet skiing, Cascade Springs, University Ward, Cocomotion, Christmas eve Breakfasts, after Christmas neighbor dinners, Indiana Jones marathon, and so many others. Good luck to you guys, and we look forward to coming to visit-soon. Start blowing up the air mattress.


I was lucky enough to meet with The G's again and some of the old friends from the University Ward at a fun neighborhood park in Sugarhouse. It was so fun seeing everyone again. The 4 of us girls that were there were all pregnant together 2 years ago, and we took a picture (which I don't have) and so while we were together we took another one all together minus the big bellies.
These pictures of "E" and "A"are pretty cute.



Our dear neigbor's elderly father decided that life was too hard and wanted to end it, which resulted in Air Med landing in our circle. Wow, I never realized a HUGE and powerful a helicopter is. We were watching from our front lawn and a policewoman told us to go inside while it landed because it would get windy. I took the kids and moved on to our front porch, which wasn't enough, as the helicopter flew over our house and began to land the wind from the choppers blew everything off of the porch. The big Wheel bike literally was lifted off the ground and blown across our yard. We quickly ran inside, the poor kids were crying because they had sand in their eyes. Now every time it is windy outside, they both get scared and ask if the "copter" is going to land again. Notice the Charred mountainside in the background.
I found this sandbox at Downeast Home and got a great deal. I was totally excited, because I had been looking for one for awhile, but wasn't willing to pay the $$ for just a square of 2x4's, this one is nice and the kids love it. I love that they play and use their imaginations building and bulldozing.
On Aug. 30 "A" turned 2. We made a cake, went to McDonald's, and came back home to eat the cake and celebrate with Grandma and Grandpa. "A"'s pwesents were a spiderman tent, a dinosaur magnidoodle, cars, a really loud dragon (thanks Grandma), and a few others I can't remember right now.



Well, there is my month in review. Sorry, but i felt I needed to document our happenings. I hope I can stay on top of things from here on out.

FHE

Last night we gathered together with Cache's family for FHE and to celebrate the upcoming birthday of the "A" man. We had a great night of fajita's, yummy homemade raspberry ice cream, and of course "PWESENTS!". "A" loved the tractor and bucket with shovel, he has already introduced them to the sandbox. He was mesmerized by the Rescue Heroes movie he received and is glad there is a "boy movie" in the house now, no more Strawberry Shortcake for him. Here are a few snapshots from the night:

When did this happen?

When did my little girl go from this :

"E" 5#9oz 21 inches

To this:

"E" 5 years old, first day of K-grade

(she is five now, way too cool for pictures, hence the expressions on her face)

I thought that I would be a mom that celebrated the day I sent my kids to school, a few hours of one less child to tote around at the grocery store sounded like heaven. I was wrong. I will admit I couldn't sleep last night due to the anxiety I was feeling for my sweet little "E". I was the mom that was fighting back the tears as I watched her line up with the rest of her class and march into her class room. Have we taught her enough? Does she know that the world is hard and mean and brutal at times? Can she stay strong and stand up for what she believes in?
(Uh-oh the tears are flowing again) Will she be kind to everyone? I hope so.

After her 2 hours and 50 minute class was over, I was eager to get my girl back home. As she jumped into the car she said "I love school mom. Can I go back tomorrow?" No, sweet "E" you can't, I want to keep you at home with me forever. That's what my heart wants to say. But, in reality she will return tomorrow and I will someday get used to sending her off, but probablly not for awhile.

What do you think?

I have been editing some pictures that I took at my in-laws cabin on their very cool tractor. I think I am getting a little better( I know I still have a long way to go), I need to master the editing part of photography, Photshop is very complicated (at least for me). I know that the first picture is burned in some spots, but I still like it. What do you think? Do you see any improvement? "E" and "M" July 5, 2007

"A" July 5,2007

"E" and "M" July 5, 2007

A nifty site

Hello, everyone out there is blogland! I have had some people ask me how I am learning to take pictures. Basically I read, read, read and then I will read some more. I did however find this cool site called WWW.ZIBTIPS.COM . It is really informational. It is perfect for people who want to improve your phtography skills, whether is just for personal pictures or if you are preparing yourself to be a Pro. Right now there is a huge tutorial on Photography and it looks like they are working on tutorials for health and nutrition, investing, and sustainable living. Take a look, it is highly recommended by me!