Carving Pumpkins

For Family Home Evening on Monday we carved our pumpkins. They had all picked out their own pumpkins and we started figuring out who wanted what on theirs. Chloe wanted Minnie and Cooper wanted Mickey and neither would fit on their pumpkins, so dad donated the "BIG DADDY PUMPKIN" (that is what the kids have been calling it) to them and they shared. Nick cleaned out his own pumpkin by himself and then offered to clean out the big one. Because it was so big he was pretty much in it up to his shoulders. He said he was starting to itch and his arms were covered in hives. Poor guy must be allergic to pumpkins. He asked me if he will always be allergic because he had alot of fun!

Mom and Dad had to finish the craving after they went to bed. So we ended up with 2 bats and Mickey and Minnie Mouse!

Another Pumpkin Patch

Last week we got invited to go on a 'field trip' with Alex and Chloe's old teachers. I was surprised to see how NOT afraid of the animals Chloe was! The slide here was super slippery, so you flew down, and as you can see, Cooper was not a fan. It was fun to see Ms. Bonnie and Ms. Mary and let the kids play.

Masquerade Murder Dinner

Katie turned 16 this month and for her party she decided to have a masquerade murder dinner. I was helping out with the food, so I volunteered to do a part if they needed me. A couple of people backed out last minute so I joined them. My mom told me I could dress up for my part if I wanted to, but I figured that all these teenagers wouldn't really get into it, so I wore my regular clothes to be "Blondie Hawn", a has been actress. I brought food over to my mom's early and find my sisters all dressed up, so Jenny decided she would dress me up too! I was very impressed to say the least! All the kids came dressed up for their parts. My mom had given them their parts a couple days before the party and a mask and they all decorated their masks to match their character.
We had appetizers while mingling and sharing our clues. Their were a couple of games in between courses to get everybody all hyped up. We ate pasta dinner and then somebody was murdered. I had to leave early, so I am not quite certain about the rest of the night. But it looks like the kids had a blast. My mom wants to do it again for adults, so that will be fun!

Happy 16th Birthday Katie!!

Annual Halloween Dance

To follow tradition the youth in our ward had their annual Monster Ball. I talked Chris into coming with me last year, but since he is in YM now he had to come! I was watching Hayden, so I went through the costume box and found something for her to wear too! Erin DJ'd and we had lots of fun! Chris was on the dance floor a little with some of the kids while I hung out with the other leaders by all the treats.

Soccer

Alex and Chloe started soccer in September. They have had 3 games now. I am helping a friend of mine coach, so that is fun. But I definitely understand why we moms generally leave the coaching of sports to the dads!! It is hard and frustrating when you are trying to be a coach of 10 3, 4, and 5 year olds and trying to take care of others kids too!!
Alex and Chloe love it though. I was a little worried after the first game. Neither one of them really wanted to play, but I think that they just weren't feeling well. They both played almost the entire game last Saturday. Chloe is liking taking turns as goalie. When she pays attention she is pretty good too! She throws her whole self on top of that ball!! I am glad they are having fun learning to play soccer and they get to do it with a lot of their friends and even Hailey!!

{little mama}

Chloe's love for babies has been quite apparent for a long time, but it is fun finding out what a good little mama she is! Everybody knows that her baby goes pretty much wherever she goes, she sleeps with her and I am the designated babysitter when she has to go to school. But give her a real baby and she is on cloud 9! We have been watching our niece Hayden lately and I really don't even have to do anything. She feeds her, changes her, rocks her to sleep. She just gets it and she is only 5! She is going to be the best babysitter when she turns 12!!
A couple of weeks ago I was in the shower and had a load of clean laundry on my bed, waiting to be folded. She came in asked if she could fold it. Sure! Why not! I though I would be refolding it before I put it away, but she did super good and even had it all sorted to each person, just the way I do it!! She had never done it before, definitely not something I taught her. She is just good! I love the way she mothers her little brothers (most of the time!) and is so willing to take care of anybody smaller than herself. Cooper will sometimes be yelling "MOM" over and over when I finally answer, he says, "my Chloe mom!!". She is the sweetest!! I love her!

Pumpkin Patch

A couple of weeks ago we made our annual trip to the pumkin patch with some good friends.

As usual the kids had a blast going down the slide and riding the rides. And we had fun hanging out with our friends!