Happy Halloween!

So every year I try and make sure I take the time to make my kids Halloween costumes. There have been a few exceptions thus far but for the most part, I make it happen. This year the kids went as cowboys! It took me quite a while to find exactly what I was looking for for Hannah's costume but I think it came together great!! Hannah helped unpick the ruffle that was around the edge of the skirt so I could use them as patterns for our new fabric. I really lucked out and found the jacket, already complete, at a local thrift store! I was so excited!! And Gabe's was fun to make and I was surprised that it turned out as cute as it did! I had messed up when cutting out the pattern for his chaps so I had to improvise. And for someone who only sews about twice a year, I'm not very educated in the "let's improvise" area of sewing. The only thing that didn't work out was boots for each of them. I looked everywhere...thrift stores, ebay, craigslist, etc but I couldn't find any that were in good shape and at a decent price. I can't believe how much cowboy boots are!!! It's crazy!!! But I think the costumes turned out great even without the boots, though with the boots would have made it that much better!! The kids seemed to have a great time trick-or-treating and the weather was surprisingly nice! It was a great day!!


Hannah in her Cowgirl outfit


"Howdy there, partner!"


Strikin' a pose!

My handsome little cowboy!

On our way out to Trick-or-Treat! You can't tell by this picture but the kids have mulitple layers of clothing on underneith their costumes. Infact, Gabe found it very difficult to walk in all of his. Hannah or Greg kept having to help him up the stairs cuz he couldn't bend his legs all the way. I thought it was rather funny!! :)

We brought the red wagon along to carry the candy when it gets too heavy for the kids to carry.

Grandma and the kids!

3rd Annual Ball's Halloween Party!

So it's become a tradition in our neighborhood for the Ball's to throw a Halloween party! We all look forward to the event so they better not think of canceling it!! Anyway, Greg & I couldn't decide on what to dress up as then I remembered Greg's FAVORITE Jazz wigs that we got at a game a few years back!! PERFECT!!! We'll go as MAJOR Jazz Fans!! Greg wasn't overly excited about the choice but I was in charge. So after a trip to the thrift store to find some jersey's and a couple of tubes of face paint, we were good to go!! Our outfits cost us...$6!! Pat on the back for me! :)

Here are some of the people who were at the party. I'm only putting those I know won't be upset that I did. If you were there and wouldn't mind me putting your photo in, just let me know and I'll add you!!


Here are those CRAZY Jazz fans!!! I can't believe Greg let me paint his face!! What a good sport!


Here's Catey & Aaron or Little Red Riding Hood & the Big Bad Wolf!!


At the ward Halloween Party, the Hanks told me I would appreciate Ashley's costume....Ummmm, not so sure of that but I do have to say it was very creative!

Here's Ashley demonstrating her costume...a cat that's been ran over by a car, or she may want it to be a Semi because she can't stand cats!! I guess everyone has their flaws!! ;)

The Monsens...Tiffany is pregnant and so she came as an oven with a bun in it and Mike came as the Baker.

Ok, so I can't remember who the Leatherwood's were. They were from movie that I had never seen. Something like...Yeah, I don't have a clue! Sorry!! But I do have to say that Melissa will look HOT when she's old and grey!

Here are the Holtz. Maryanne is a Yankees fan but I'm not sure exactly what Aaron is. A can of Red Bull?!? Anyone??

I thought this was really creative as well. Rheanna is pregnant and so she went online and googled "costumes with robes" and this is what popped up. She's the swine flu & Justin is the doctor. Notice the actual box of Tamaflu (or whatever it's called) in his hands. Bet you didn't guess their kids just had H1N1.

School & Ward Halloween Parties!

We had a busy Halloween weekend. There were so many things to choose from. We decided to skip the "trunk or treat" hosted by the Mayoral Candidates and the school's evening Halloween carnival. But I helped out in Hannah's 3rd grade class for their Halloween party. Gabe was thrilled because he got to come along and hang out "with the big kids". Then that evening we went to our ward's Halloween party. It had a western theme, which was perfect for our kids since they were both cowboys. Here are some pics...


Gabe and Hannah, my two cowboys (well, a cowboy & cowgirl...Hannah would kill me if I called her a cow"boy"!) sitting on Hannah's desk. Gabe was in a little boy's heaven! He wants to go to school with his "Sissy" so bad!!


Hannah in her school parade!


Here's my mom showing off her western side at the ward party! YEE-HAW!!


The Rasta & his Cowboy! (Hmmmm....seems a little "broke back" to me! jk :)


Gabe dancing with Livy! (I know I've said this before, but he plan is (if all goes well) for these two to get married!! Looks good so far! :)


Me and my little cowboy!


Hannah and her friend Rebecca. A couple of Rootin-Tootin cowgirls!!

Fall Family Photos

It's become a tradition for us and the Hank's family to go out and take family photos when the leaves are changing colors. We have so much fun (well...not sure if the kids would call it fun) playing photographer. After we get done with several hours worth of saying "smile", "look at the camera", "these are the last ones" (until we find another setting that's just too tempting to pass us) we all headed to Cornbelly's to let the kids have a little fun. It's our source of bargaining during the ever-so-long photo shoot! It was a wonderful evening for both of our traditions. Here are some pics from that fun-filled day (PS...my camera is still on the fritz so the focusing isn't the best! Bummer, I know!)

Me and my beautiful Hannah

Greg and I

This moment was wonderful! We just happened to come across this path just as the sun was streaming through the trees! We just HAD to get "kids walking on the lighted path" photos. It seemed very religiously symbolic to me!

Cutsie Livy

Miller Family Photo

Hanks Family Photo

"Boys will be Boys!!" Try telling the real kids to pay attention when the "older kids" are messing around!

Our little farm animals

Looks like the kids are ready for "Cornbelly's" school

Gabe was so excited to get to sit on a real tractor!! And I was excited because it was orange!! YIPPEE!! (love the color orange!)

Going for a train ride or I suppose a "tractor pull" ride...the kids called it a train ride.

Hannah and her newest friend, Mr. Pumpkin Scarecrow!

We had a lot of fun and can't wait until next year to continue our tradition! I hope the kids look back on these moments with fond memories. Because it's all about making and preserving our precious memories!

Thrift Stores

Ok, so I just have to say how much I LOVE thrift stores!! I mean, especailly in an economy like this, you can't do without them.

I went to get dressed today and I realized that when I "cleaned out" my closet after that organizational class a while back, I didn't leave much winter clothing. I guess I must have been hoping to get a new wardrobe this winter?!? I don't know! All I know is that I didn't have much to choose from. So, being the thrifty person I am, I decided to go to a thrift store first, then if I couldn't find anything I would go elsewhere.

Let me just say, yes...it's obnoxious to look through all the 1960-1980's clothing to find a diamond in the rough. And yes...I have to take allergy medicine before I go or the dust KILLS me. BUT, let me also say, I got 9 long-sleeved shirts & 3 sweaters (a lot name brand) for a grand total of...........drum roll..........................................$52!! You heard me right, 52 smackeroos!! Let's do the math together...that comes out to be $4.33 per item!!!! To me that makes the musty smell & interesting scenery of a thrift store (I'm a people watcher) totally worth it!!!

So, I'm sure you'll see me sportin' my new thrift finds soon! I LOVE IT when I get a good deal!!!

Catey's Give-away!

So for those of you who know Catey, you know that she's amazing! Well, it turns out that she's got some sort of "blog give-away" going on right now. It's amazing to me to because the last time I read her blog it was just her normal blog (of course, as most of you know, I've been out of the blog-world for quite a while) but today when I went on it, I was like..."What? When did Catey's blog receive the 2009 Utah's Best Baby Blog Contest award?!?" Not that it surprised me cuz that lady can do ANYTHING!!!

So, here's her blog address. Go to it and check out the give-away item & make sure to enter to win it! I think it's very cleaver and I'm planning on getting me a couple! :) Let me know what you think!

www.randomthoughtsfromthezoo.blogspot.com

You Have GOT to be KIDDING Me!!!!

It's a very, very , very, very, very sad day when President Obama receives the Nobel Peace Prize!! What is going on in the world today?!? And the funny thing about it is, the nominations had to be submitted by February 1st, 2009, which means that President Obama had only been in office for 12 days....count them with me 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and don't forget 12!!! That's right...12 days!! And tell me, what exactly did he manage to do within those "12 days" to be nominated for this award? You know, instead of answering that, why don't you answer this instead....Tell me what he's done in his "9 months" of being in office that deserves a Nobel Peace Prize???? If you can't think of anything, let me help you out...how about...

• Ignoring the Dalai-Lama because the President has to wait until he meets with "communist" China before he can meet with the peaceful Dalai-Lama...or
• It must be because the Empire State Building was lit up in Red & Yellow to celebrate, what was it again.....Oh yeah...we, as a nation, were celebrating the 60yr anniversary of Communist China...or
• The fact that he canceled The National Day of Prayer, which would do what....promote peace, would it not?!?
• The fact that he pretty much slapped Israel in the face while stretching his arm out in friendship to....everyone say it with me....IRAN!!!! Oh yeah, now those are the guys we need to be friends with...or
• Even the mere fact that he has, within these past 9 months, been able to spend our country into a debt we will probably NEVER see paid off & that he CONTINUES to spend, and spend, oh and again, spend, which inturn has caused EVERYTHING BUT PEACE within his own country, the United States of America.
• And how about the fact that he has surrounded himself in the White House with SELF-PROCLAIMED Communists, Marxists, and Socialists...(you heard me right, these are the people writing our bills and giving advice to our Commander & Chief). Does that help promote peace in a CAPITALISTIC nation?!?! I don't think so!!!
• Oh, and then there's the little matter of our young American soldiers over in Afghanistan who are dying EACH & EVERY DAY, while he "thinks about" what to do with the suggestions that his very own General has given to him. I mean, he only got the memo from the General ALMOST TWO MONTHS AGO!!! COME ON NOW....GIVE THE MAN A LITTLE TIME TO MAKE A "LIFE OR DEATH" DECISION, well, of course...it's not his life we're talking about!!! PATHEDIC!!! Yeah, that's how you promote peace. Leave our citizens in harms way while they are losing a war so you can "think" about things. Meanwhile, the enemy is getting stronger and will more than likely defeat us and then come attack us on our home soil once again!!! WHAT A PEACEMAKER!!!!

Ok, so we all know I could go on & on & on with my list of why he "deserves" (or doesn't) the Nobel Peace Prize.

What a major slap-in-the-face to true peace & to those who are truly trying to obtain it! It just gets me sick to my stomach! I'm not sure if I should laugh (because it's so outrageous) or cry (because it's so outrageous)!

But with words that I've been saying a lot lately...."It doesn't surprise me".