Halloween

As I watched the leaves start to blow yesterday afternoon, I thought to myself, "the weather girl was wrong, and just like every other year, it's going to turn cold tonight". But . . . It held out and was great. We headed over to the church for games and a chili cook off and then had the much anticipated "trunk or treat". Steve and I fight for the trunk position every year that he's home. I won this year and got to sit in the car and hand out candy and see all of the cute costumes. Trunk of treat sometimes gets a bad rap because it's not the traditional door-to-door. For me, the door-to-door is okay, but my kids had their buckets over flowing in a matter of minutes, what could be better than that. We (when I say we, I really mean I) decided that instead of buying new costumes, as we usually do, that the kids had to either pick out a costume that we already had, or build one with stuff they could find around the house. I had to talk Gracie into the Dorothy costume. She happened to have the perfect dress that I think she's only worn a couple of times. I agreed to temporarily die her hair, and that won her over. The die didn't come out as dark, but she loved it. Gage didn't want to be the dragon, but I bought the costume a couple of years ago, on clearance, and talked him into it because it wouldn't fit by next year. The twins couldn't decide between the iron man costumes they got for their birthday or the cowboys, but since they got to wear guns, the cowboys won again. So I guess if you really think about it, the kids were what they were because I am a good negotiator (LOL). Also, I won the decorated trunk contest, mainly for my "blinkie" lights. I didn't know they were judging the trunks, but you all know how I like to decorate, and I wanted to see if I could get the strobe light to work in my car. I really wanted to bring the fog machine, but the little converter we have doesn't have enough volts. Maybe a generator next year??? Happy Halloween.

Thriller

I had to add the picture, because it's pretty cute. Steve put halloween music on for the pumpkin carving event and the song "Thriller" came on. Grandma started teaching the kids the "moves". They were pretty impressed that grandma knew how to dance, especially to a "scarry song".

Carving Pumpkins

Grandma Vicki came out on Wednesday night and after a halloween themed dinner (inspired by Sadie) we carved pumpkins. Grandma had her own version of a veggie pumpkin, while the kids picked templates to carve theirs off of the internet. Bridger and Berek thought that pulling the pumpkin guts out of their pumpkins was pretty gross. There was enough of a breeze on the back patio that we did it at the kitchen table, and I can't believe how many places pumpkin guts can get, and how it cements to the floor. Happy Halloween.

Eva Nave Chandler

This last week, Steve and I traveled to Alabama for his Grandmother's Funeral. "Mema" was born on July 20, 1927 and lost her battle with cancer on October 20, 2008. She was a wonderful lady. She and Pappy would visit Utah at least once a year. They drove their motor home here, until the last couple of years. She was loved here and in Alabama. I was impressed with how their Church of Christ congregation banned together to help, during Mema's illness and after her death.

I was so impressed by how well my Mother-in-law held it all together. She has been in Alabama for the past month and for weeks at a time for the last 7 or 8 months, since her Mother was diagnosed. I know that couldn't have been easy for her, but we are glad she was able to be there. I was amazed by her strength through the viewing and funeral services. Steve must also get his emotional strength from his Mom. He was asked to speak at the funeral, which for me, would be an utterly impossible task, at any funeral. He did a really nice job, that would make his Mema proud.

Happy Birthday Gracie Girl!

My baby girl is growing up way to fast. She turned 9 yesterday. She and I always go to Salt Lake for the day for her birthday. We shopped a little, visited Gardner Village, and made two trips through the aquarium, and then returned home for her party. I decided to try and be creative like Tiffany and Hiedi and make her cake. She chose an artist's pallett our of a kid's cake book that I have, it turned out okay because it was fairly simple, it's a good thing she didn't choose the princess castle.

How Do Twins Sleep?

Have you ever read the book, "Where does God sleep, Momma?" Well this is the "Where do Twins Sleep, Momma?" page of that book. From the day I brought them home, watching them sleeping side by side (or in this case on top of each other) always chokes me up, because I know they were sent here together for a reason (that's my sappy side). Although lately they have been informing me that they would rather have a different twin. The other day, Bridger said he didn't want Berek to be his twin, and would rather have Gavin. Berek informed me that he would prefer Garrett (my nephew) or Gage, on a separate occasion. But, there is a bond between them like no other, whether they like it or not.

Cute PJs, No Picture

As the kids were all heading out the door in the jammies, I thought, "I should take their picture to put on my blog". But, since the bus was on its way, I didn't. They looked so cute. It is Red Ribbon Week, for those who don't know why I would send my children to school in the PJs. I find that I look for reasons to take pictures for my blog, and then I usually dismiss them. Like last week when I was doing plum jelly, or yesterday when I was doing Salsa, those would have been good "look what I am up to" updates. But it all the mess, the camera just stays where it's at.