Halloween part 2

The friday before Halloween was a busy night for us!  We started off at the kids school for their annual Halloween carnival.  Sophia loved playing the games this year and getting more candy.

Sophia getting her face painted

Brandon getting his face painted

Sophia loves dumping out her candy and then putting it back in.

We stayed at the carnival for an hour then went over to our ward dinner/party/trunk-or-treat.  Sara had her first middle school social that night too, so after we ate dinner I left Brandon and Sophia at the church and took Sara back to the school.  When our ward party was over I got Brandon and Sophia in bed then went and got Sara from school when the social was over.  I was so happy when that day was done, but unfortunately Halloween was not over.

Halloween part 1

This year I thought Sophia would look so cute as an M&M, so we borrowed the costume from a friend.  She would not put it on.  Everyone in the family tried talking her into it, but she would have none of it.  Next I borrowed a tiger costume from a different friend.  She let me put it on her, but then when I took her in front of the mirror to see herself she said, "Really all done.  Take it off" and wouldn't put it back on.  Next I tried a Care Bear costume that I had.  It was a little big for her, but I just rolled up the sleeves.  She hated it!  I finally decided to choose something for her and not try it on before.  I chose a ladybug.  I bought the headband and wings, black shirt and black pants.  I made the cute red and black tutu.

She did not like it much at first,

but warmed up after a bit.

Ben was still working in China, so I took Sophia to Melaleuca before her nap and the older kids went after school with a friend.  As Sophia started getting candy she forgot all about her costume and had so much fun following the footprints.

Some areas were a little scary for her, but she liked Scooby.

The IT department did Plants vs. Zombies and Angry Birds.  I think it turned out pretty cute!

Utah in October

The kids didn't have school Monday and Tuesday October 23rd and 24th because of parent-teacher conference, so we went down to Utah for a couple of days.  On Sunday we drove up in the mountains to see the pretty colors and find some leaves.  

My sister Rachel and her adorable little girl Emma came with us.

Grandma and Olivia

My brother Aaron and his wife Nicole came up with their kids and my other brother Owen came up with his wife Crissy and their kids.  

Raking the leaves into a big pile so they could jump in and throw them.

Brandon may have started a war with my brother Aaron by shoving leaves down his shirt.  My brother got him back by shoving leaves down Brandon's shirt and up his pant legs.  The kids had so much fun!

Sara

What can I say about my Sara?  I have experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows with her.  I really do love her and the beautiful young woman she is growing up to be.  She is going to be 12 next year and in Young Women's.  I can't believe it!  I took some pictures in our backyard and they turned out great!  All of the poses are her own ideas.  Enjoy.

Corn maze

This is something I never would have done without Ben because I am so bad with directions.  We were doing our best to fit a lot of family time in with Ben leaving.

Deciding which maze to go in.  Of course Sophia had to be part of it.

Walking in the maze.  Sophia loved it!  She is very easy going and just liked walking or jumping along and being with everyone.

We got started a little late, so it got dark while we were still in the maze having fun.  I brought two flashlights which was really only one because Sophie had to have one at all times and she didn't exactly keep in pointed at the ground so we could see where we were going. We had fun finding the check points and punching our maps.  

Ben got us out of the maze and then we had fun doing all the other activities.

Carving Pumpkins

Since we didn't carve pumpkins last year I promised the kids we would do it this year.  With Ben leaving for China on October 18th we had to do it a little early so he could participate.  Sophia had a lot of fun scooping out her little pumpkin and choosing the shapes for the eyes, nose and mouth.

Brandon and Sara were old enough to do their own, and it was so nice!  I helped taping the pictures on and that's about it.

Sara and Brandon took a couple of days to finish theirs, but the got them done without any help from me or Ben.

Too bad I didn't get a picture of them all finished, but they turned out great!

September happenings

Sophia loves playing shapes, letters, animals and fruit ninja on the ipod touch.

Potty training............didn't happen.  We'll try again in a few months.

Someone spent too much time playing in her bed.  If she can reach it, she will find a way to get it in her crib to play with it until someone comes to rescue her.  Thankfully she hasn't figured out how to climb out yet.

Sophia "helping" daddy fix the fridge.

Ben has been working late A LOT the past few weeks, so when he came home one night and Sophie was still awake he took the time to play with her.  

We went to a local orchard and picked apples.  We had so much fun and the weather was perfect!

I love the routine of school, but I am so busy running kids all over and working on homework and projects.  Life is so good right now, but I will be playing single mom for three weeks when Ben goes to China for work.  I hope we all survive!