Halloween Eve

 Ward Trunk or treat was last night.  Chili cook-off and hot dogs, games and of course trunk or treating.  We did simple not much stress costumes this year and I loved it!!!  And they all looked so cute. 

 Isn't he the handsomest scarecrow you ever did see?

 He read a book about Egypt and wanted to be a mummy ever since.  Not the scary kind just a regular mummy :)  Thanks mom for the fabric!!!

 Have you ever seen those poker tournaments on TV?  Apparently there are lots of hoodies and sunglasses. This cutie was a professional "mormon" poker player- which means a game of skipbo instead of poker- clever girl.  She was going to be a witch- not entirely sure I understood the last minute change but hey it worked.

 Gotta have Captain Hook with us.

 Jr and Sr together.  It was great to have both sets of grandparents there!!!

 The hair has got to be perfect- of course.

 We eventually moved the wrappings down to be able to eat better but he made us put them right back up when he was done eating.

 One of the great things about Trunk or Treat is hanging out with all of our friends. 

 Wrong colors (blue rules!) but a cutie nonetheless!

 Sunshine's friend- they are looking so grown up.  Isn't she beautiful?

 Mike won the adult costume contest. 

 We had grandparents on each side.  So much fun!!!!!!!!

 

My pumpkin patch.  I make one every year.  I guess it has become tradition.

I think someone ate some of his stash while gathering it.  Don't you?  

Happy Halloween!

Fundraiser fun!

So last Saturday there was a fundraiser for my friend Jenny (http://breastcancerbuttkickin.blogspot.com/).  It was a movie and bake sale.  My 12 year beauty made lemon lime cupcakes from scratch and I made dark chocolate chip crasin oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (try saying it 3 times fast).  We had a blast.  It is so nice to see all the love and support  in our community.  And my kids enjoyed feeling like there was something they could do to help. 

  Sunshine's cupcakes (the green ones).  They were so yummy!!!

 The venue- It was a blast, even if the kids got cold at the end!

 Look at all the items brought.  So much love and support.

 Bear's friend from school and church and well life in general :) 

 Cheryl- the organizer and host of the wonderful event!

And as always my family avoiding the camera.

40 years

Yesterday was Mike's parents 40th Anniversary!  We were able to go over and celebrate it with them.  What a wonderful milestone for a wonderful couple.  I love celebrating things like that.  So exciting!

Experiancing the other side of the camera

 We had our family pictures taken last night.  So much stress picking out the right outfits and doing everyone's hair and getting there on time and meeting the photographer.  It is so strange being on the other side of that equation!  I decided I was tired of worrying about all of the above plus the posing and lighting and settings and then handing the camera off and not being able to see me to pose myself etc.  So I convinced my hubby it was worth the money to hire someone so that I wasn't so stressed out.  (okay me paying for most of it helped too :) ).  I met Kathy Scoffield through a photography group that I am a member of.  Her work is beautiful. (http://kathyscoffieldphotography.com/ ) She was wonderful with my kids and it was so nice to be in another's capable hands (even if it was weird to not being the one taking pics of my kids).  I can't wait to see the results!  I do my kids own individual portraits.  I did the girls a few weeks back but hadn't done the boys yet.  So while Kathy was taking some of my girls and Mike I took a few minutes (literally just a few) and snapped some really quick.  I was going to finish off after the family  session but they said they would rather do it another day.  I think they think I will forget but I won't :)  So after we were done we ate at Grimaldi's Pizzeria at the Marketplace at DC Ranch.  A friend of Bear's suggested it.  It was yummy!  Such a cool shopping center.  I am heading back there with the boys soon to finish their portraits!!  Thanks Kathy!  Can't wait to see the portraits!

 

He wasn't excited at all to have his picture taken was he?  We gave Kathy a run for her money with the boys to get natural smiles.   Tried something new with the one below- not sure if I like it or not.

 

 Cute boy!!!!

I love this one- Now to go back and do some more editing on it.

How I spent columbus day

My girls had the day off but my boys had school.  I really wanted new pics of my girls but they hate getting their pictures taken (Or maybe just really tired of it :) ) So I bribed them.  New clothes (they are for family pics too at the end of the month) and they each got to invite two friends to come along.  (I had a car full of giggling teenage girls, lol!)  So the morning was spent taking pics.  They are the last ones braces free for Gina as she got braces yesterday afternoon.  I haven't had a chance to edit very many yet but here are a few I worked on.  Such beautiful girls!!!!

 My twelve year old beauty who is now as tall as I am, sigh!!!  (by that was that is a classic look of hers- she doesn't like showing her teeth- she will get braces next- oh and if there hair looks retro to you you must have lived in teh eighties!!!  What goes around comes around I guess- I thought I had seen the last crimper years ago!)

 Next time you see these teeth this free they will be very straight!!!  Isn't she gorgeous?

These girls were great and we had a blast- If I had a bigger car I would have taken even more girls.  My girls have fantastic friends!