Pumpkin Carving

The kids were so excited to carve pumpkins this year. After our lesson for family home evening we spent the night carving the pumpkins we got from Ty and Maria's garden (thanks guys). After some coaxing, they actually got their hands in there and pulled out the guts. Last year we did cool designs, but this year we decided to just do the traditional jack-o-lantern faces and let the kids decide what they wanted. Kamri sat at the end of the table the whole time waving her hand in front of her face and saying, "Groooo...grooooo" (gross, gross). It was cute at first, but after the first half hour it wasn't so much anymore.

We saved the seeds and today I toasted them. I have yet to dare to try one.

Dessert: Slow Cooker Hot Fudge Sundae Cake.....Mmmm, chocolate!!

Saturday's Halloween activities

Ben: biggest loser contestant (his dream); Evan: Power Ranger (I think); Sara: cutest witch I've ever seen; and Kamri: pink poodle

After Misti brought the kids back Saturday morning, we got them dressed up in their costumes and headed to the zoo for "Boo at the Zoo". It was crazy. And that is an understatement. We were driving up the road and I wanted to turn around and go home, but we obviously couldn't do that witht he kids all dressed up and aexcited to go. People were parking on the road FAR away from the zoo because that's the parking that was left. We ended up parking behind the zoo and walking a few blocks which actually wasn't that bad. We ended up standing in line at each booth to get a few pieces of candy. The kids didn't mind it and they actually had fun. That was the goal, I guess.

We were going to take some time looking at the animals amidst the trick-or-treating but it was crazy enough to just stand in line to get candy

Our family. I need more pictures with me in them

We met up with Cassie and Koy and the kids. Ty and Maria got there a while before us and by the time we got there they were tired and ready to leave so we didn't meet them.

Look at those muscles

That night was our ward Halloween party. We had a hot dog dinner, costume parade, trick-or-treating, and a carnival afterward. It was fun and they put a lot of work into it.

My mom and dad met us there and joined in the fun.

Look, she doesn't have her lip puckered.

ghost bowling

decorating pumpkins

They also had a cake walk, pin the wart on the witch with chewed bubble gum (my kids wouldn't chew the gum to play), eye ball guessing game, mummy wrap relay, and a mad scientist room

Ben had a hard time fitting in the car.

A Night Off...

"Good bye kids. Have fun!!!"

Okay, so my sister Misti called me Friday morning and asked if she could come take the kids to the park that afternoon to give me a little break. It kind of took me by surprise but who would say no to that. She called me a little later and asked if I would be okay with her taking them to my brother and sister-in-law's house for the night to have a sleepover with their cousins. Hallelujah!! The kids had so much fun playing at the park, having dinner, watching a movie and getting to have a sleepover with their cousins two Fridays in a row. I don't think Cassie got much sleep that night so I think we are taking a break from sleepovers for a little bit. But thank you Misti and Cassie for taking them. You're awesome!! So, while they were gone Ben and I went to see the Body Worlds exhibit andf out to dinner. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go, but Ben wanted to so I went with him. I'm glad I did. It really is amazing. I have always been amazed at how everything in the body work together. I actually can't think about it too much without becoming frustrated because it just "shouldn't" be possible. Anyway, I thought it would be disgusting. But, it all looked fake to me so it didn't bother me too much. One thing for sure, there is NO way something as complex as the human body couldn't just come together without some divine help. That was especially evident in the room about the growth of the baby in the womb. It was amazing to see how some teeny, tiny thing unseen to the naked eye can grow into a human being with a heart, toes, fingers, eyes, ears. Amazing!!!

Frolicking in the leaves

We had another great family home evening. Ben gave a short lesson on 5 important parts of a testimony. He had pictures to represent each part (idea from this month's Friend) and Evan thought he was pretty special to get to help with the lesson by putting them on his fingers.

After we went outside and raked and played in the leaves

The kids loved playing in the leaves.

After we got them in a pile and the kids jumped around in them we had a leaf fight. Kamri didn't get the whole point so she just picked up leaves and put them on her own head. We had a good laugh with her. Of course, we had to rake them up again - but oh well.

After we got them in the trash bag we let the kids get all their frustrations out by using the bag as a punching bag. The bag knocked Kamri down a couple times.

Our dessert was Nutella (chocolate butter according to Sara) and banana crepes. Soooo good. All in all, this was another successful family home evening. The kids look forward to Monday nights (which hopefully will not change in the years to come) and so do I. Thank you Ben for being a kid at heart and making our activities so fun.

A fun-FILLED long weekend

This weekend was UEA which meant the kids had a few days off of school. There's nothing better than not having to rush around in the morning to get them, and me, ready for the day. This is what we did.

WARNING: serious picture overload....

For Christmas this past year, the guys gave the girls a trip to Lava Hot Springs, and the girls gave the guys a trip to Moab to go mountain biking. Well, this weekend we (actually they planned it) made good on our gift. They left Friday morning and got back late Saturday night. They had a fun weekend and I'm sure they were all tired. (More pictures to come when I get them from my brother).

While the boys were away, the girls played. Friday afternoon we met at Thanksgiving Point to go to Barnyard Boo. We got to lots of fun activities, like.....

Decorate cookies

Wagon ride

"boo"ling (bowling)

Got some balloons from a clown

fed the goats

and just had fun

the cousins

After Thanksgiving Point we headed over to my brother's house for homemade pizza, banana splits, and a sleepover. The kids were so excited to get to sleepover with eachother. They had fun sleeping in the same room as their cousins. It was a late night, but it worked. After the kids went to bed we stayed up and talked. We even played Truth-or-Dare.

Making the pizza

While the pizza was being made Cameo and Trina took the kids out to the playground to play and occupy them. Thank you Cameo and Trina. You were lifesavers.

Misti and Sara made some wordsearchers for the kids to do

Then we woke up and had waffles with whip cream and strawberries - YUM!! The rest of the morning was spent sitting on the couch while the kids played. How long has it been since I was able to do that?

Later that afternoon I went with my mom and sister, Trina, to Engh Gardens where they have a small maze for the kids.

Monday we met up with the family again at Gardner Village. We did the witch hunt and the kids got a chocolate chip cookie from the bakery for participating in it. If you haven't been there, it's a great family activity. the kids love to see all the fun witches they have decorating the whole place. We then went to Wendy's for lunch and cupcakes to celebrate my nephew Anthony's 2nd birthday.