Trunk or Treat

Our ward had a trunk or treat two weeks before Halloween.  We were so excited to go.  The night of the trunk or treat was a little hectic.  I had tried to get dinner in before we went, but it didn't cook as fast as I had hoped and so we went hungry.  We had a donut and some candy of course then when we got home we ate.  We had a lot of fun!  The costumes were amazing.  We had a costume parade and I was going to sit and snap pictures of all the cute costumes, but Grant wanted me to walk with him.  Oh, well!  

Henry and Ellie are in our primary class and they tell us they are getting married.  They are planning on having 100 kids and naming them all Calvin.  Henry was the wolf and Ellie was Little Red Riding Hood.  Henry's mom made the costumes.  I wish I could have got a better picture because they were amazing!

Blazer is also in our primary class and Grant's class at school.  His whole family dressed up like zombies.  It was awesome!  Grant loved it!  

Two ladies in our ward (Sunny and Julia) dressed up as Mr. Gru and Vector.  I thought they should have won the best "couple" costumes. 

Grant dressed up as Captain America and I was Black Widow. I didn't find a red wig and so I just tried to curl my hair.  I was also too cheap to buy any official suit.  Most people didn't get my costume.  Oh well.  Celeste was a black cat.   

It was a fun evening!

A New Conference Tradition

We loved General Conference this year! We always love it, but this session seemed to be extra special. I am edified by the messages to stay firm to the faith.  I didn't find one particular talk stand out more than another.  I thought they were all wonderful.  

I was able to go to the Women's Session and really enjoyed the Spirit I felt.  It was so nice to be uplifted.  I felt like I could take on the world.  

I love traditions and now that we are in a home again and I am not 8 months pregnant we decided to start a new General Conference tradition.  The new tradition is...

SUGAR COOKIES!

I don't love to make sugar cookies because they take FOREVER!  I make my dough the night before and let it chill over night.  Then you have to roll out the dough, cut the cookies, bake them, and finally frost them.  We decided to pick sugar cookies because we are pretty much home for two straight days listening to conference.  We frosted the cookies during the last session.  It was so fun and yummy!  

These are Grant's cookies he frosted.  I thought he did a really good job. 

  Now I don't feel guilty if I don't make sugar cookies for all the holidays.  We will be making Easter/spring ones during spring session. 

Blanket Baby

The Activity Day girls in our ward made little fleece blankets for all the new babies.  Celeste got a darling blue and pink blanket with birds on it.  It is very soft and warm.  If it was bigger I would keep it for myself.  Celeste obviously loves it!

Some Thoughts

I have had many thoughts running through my head lately.  Most of them scattered and random, which makes them very difficult to put into words.  Here are a few of them.

• I am so glad I can stay home with my kids.  I worked a few days last week and it was absolute torture. I only worked 2 days and for a total of 3 hours, but I hated it.  I am dreading working for 3 weeks around Thanksgiving time.  I want the extra money, but money is not everything!
• I am LOVING going to the gym every morning.  I get up at 6 AM.  (I have NEVER been a morning person and so it may come as a shock that I get up this early.)  I work out for about an hour and then come home and get ready for the day.  My kids sleep in until about 9, which is why I can write this post right now, and so I have a little time to myself each morning.  I love it. (I should mention that I would never do this by myself.  I have a neighbor who goes to the gym with me.)  I love this time to think and get myself ready for the day.  
• I have thought a lot about positive energy.  I have really tried to be positive and look for the good in others.  I find myself a lot happier when I do.  I want to be a good friend and someone people enjoy being around.  
• I have also thought a lot about past friendships and acquaintances.  I often wonder how people are doing.  Facebook has been good to connect with people, but sometimes I just want to call people.  I have tried to follow through on promptings to contact people, but I could do better.  I think I might try and write someone an email or call someone every day.  Let them know I am thinking about them.  I like that idea.  I am going to start right now....

Sweet Potato Babies

Our kids love sweet potatoes!  This is when both Grand and Celeste are about 5 months old and eating sweet potatoes.  

Celeste has had to cut back on the sweet potatoes because it makes her constipated, but she still loves them!  Celeste loves beans, peas, apples, pears, and prunes.  She loves baby oatmeal cereal too!  She is getting to be a good little eater.  She prefers baby food over bottles most of the time.  

Pumpkin Patch

We have loved the warm fall weather.  Sixty degree weather is perfect for fall activities.  Last year we did the pumpkin patch and tried to do a corn maze, but as Grant reminded us that was a bad idea.  He didn't want to do a corn maze in case he had to go to the bathroom again.

We went to Linder Farms this year and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  We wanted to stay a little longer, but we were hungry and didn't want to eat fried farm food.  

Grant loved the pedal tractors.  He was a little too short to pedal himself and so I got to pedal the both of us around.  It was a good workout.  We also climbed the hay pyramid, but Grant didn't want to go down the huge slide so we had to climb back down the giant pyramid.  

Grant thought the hay bail maze was so fun!  He ran through it a number of times.  He was so proud of himself for figuring it out so quickly.  Grant also really enjoyed the petting farm and want to take home a bunny.  

His favorite part was the corn box and he could have stayed there all night.  He played in it for a while and then we rode out to the pumpkin patch.  We picked out a pumpkin for Celeste and Grant picked out a very nice pumpkin.  Grant couldn't believe how many pumpkins there were.  When we got back from the patch Grant wanted to play in the corn box again.  He really wanted to Celeste to get in the box with him.  Celeste obviously had no idea what to do in a box of corn.  

It was so much fun!  We are excited for Halloween!

Art Wall October 2013

The Art Wall gets filled up fast with Grant in school.  In fact it is already almost full again and ready for another picture.  I have saved a few special pictures.

Starting with the top row: 1.  Grant's computer he colored at the computer lab.  (He was mad that they made him color in the computer lab.  He asked me why he had to color when he wanted to be on the computer.)  2.  A self portrait.  3. His very first homework.  He had to write his name and he did a pretty good job.  4.  Another name homework sheet, but this one is special because Ms. Clegg was very impressed with how well he did.   5.  A picture Granny colored but Grant liked it and wanted to save it.  6.  A picture of Celeste holding a toy unicorn.  7.  A picture Evelyn colored  8. A picture of Star Wars 9.  Grant's self portrait  (He is wearing a blue shirt with a yellow Nike swish) 10.  A picture for Mom 11.  A picture for Dad