October's Come and Gone?!

I am still dealing with the fact that September ended.

D's new schedule hits where he has to work all of the holidays now so it REALLY sucks. We got to take the boys for some primo zoo trick-or-treating on Saturday morning, so they had some Halloween time with their dad.

Jig the giraffe hanging out with the real giraffes



Our tuckered-out Spiderman



I thought there would be a lull at lunchtime... VERY wrong... waited in some spooky-long lines for Chuck-a-Rama coupons. Next time we shall be there at 9 am sharp.



After D went to work and the boys had some shut-eye, Jamie and my mom and Steph came over. Jamie and I had to throw a braid-undoing party! The result: extraordinarily crimpy hair for me to be a witch and Jamie an 80's prom queen. We had fun! My mom helped me decorate a cake for the Davey's party and we threw a pirate outfit together for Steph. Steph and I toted the boys down to Orem but got kind of lost and felt bad we could only stay for a small time at Davey's CUTE Halloween party! The decorations and food were outta sight. We did make a point to hit the original Krispy Kreme shop though so we could savor a warm glazed. Very delightful.



We had to leave Orem in time to show up at Brad and Wendie's annual Halloweenfest! It is always so exciting and fun to go there and feel the warmth of family and friends. Everyone puts great efforts/thought into costumes so it's like a drumroll every year to see what people do; I love the anticipation! This year the Worthen side did all Alice in Wonderland (except Cole and Calah were Hans Solo and Leia)... Lucy made a most adorable Alice and everyone looked AMAZING as her entourage! I can't decide who I liked the most. Wendie made an awesome Queen of Hearts, Caitlin and Brinton had made ingenious Tweedle Dee/Dum costumes, Codi was a pink cat, and Blake a very willing-to-pose white rabbit. Hmmm... Uncle Brad takes the prize as Mad Hatter. He was perfect!



My costumes are usually thrown together or based from something I already own... I had this witchy dress that I had bought with Lindsay at an Omaha thrift store years back and I've always wanted to use it. I had also bought green hairspray so when I saw some green eyelashes I was sold on a green witch ;) Steph made a great pirate!



My mom and dad never fail to disappoint. I swear my mom is living out her fantasies through costume every Halloween. One year she went goth and another year Britney Spears... do I sense a wild child in there somewhere?



And this year we have... Cousin Eddie and wife Catherine! Brava!!! I am so proud.



But while I have the scanner plugged in... a couple of oldies perhaps?







Yes those were circa 2002. Around when I stopped compiling hard copy photo albums! Actually that was more like in 2007; I will admit I am very much a stone-ager.

I love this pic of the chaos of the moment. Jig was done. If only my dad would have quoted some cousin Eddie!!



Jamie as an 80's prom queen... I was trying to make her look ugly. Not possible. She looked smashing, dahling!



This photo was not planned... to have Steph slashing her sword right at Crosby's neck?!



I will say it was cool to have an encore (real) Halloween after a weekend of festivities! Codi and I met at Foothill Village to take the kids trick-or-treating at all of the stores. It was a great time! Then we shipped over to Munga's so she could take the boys around her neighborhood. She was in her glory and Crosby's bucket began to get REALLY heavy. One of Munga's neighbors were straight out of a movie, the husband and wife answered the door together all dressed up and had a wheel for kids to spin to win a prize, etc. Another of her neighbors was handing out the ever-elusive full size candy bar. Wow! Then I whisked the boys to Beth's, Marge Thomas, Jon and Susan's, my parents. No wonder Crosby has been sick since the Wednesday after Halloween. I ran him ragged :(

What will I do when he actually wants to eat his candy? He was just glad to have some new items to scoop-



And dump.



Croz went to a pirate birthday party last week and one of the favors were these gold coins. He had them lined up like this on the bed and was counting them: "One Heavenly Father. Two Heavenly Fathers. Three Heavenly Fathers."



I cringed as I paid the $18 for Crosby's Spiderman costume at K-Mart. Even at 50% off I was debating it. He picked it out himself but I wondered if he would even wear it at all. Best investment ever! He wouldn't take it off for DAYS.



So on to November. I love this time to reflect and give thanks. It is something I long to do actually! Find that quiet time to think and show gratitude for this abundance we enjoy... food, a warm and wonderful place to live, a job, beds, health, peace. Family and friends. Speaking of friends, my beloved friend Jessie will be flying in tomorrow night to stay with us for TWO whole weeks! She is a brave soul to throw herself into the family life (chaos) and sleep on our couch. I am ecstatic that I will have so much catching up time with my amazing and missed Jess. I have missed our talks for too long! She said she cannot wait to spend hours on end with the boys, so who knows? Maybe I can even steal away to the grocery store alone without her noticing ;) Always delightful to have fun days ahead. I am so looking forward to this holiday season and enjoying what matters most. Here's to lots of time with family and friends, quiet time to think, and a lovely (not rushed) Thanksgiving and Christmas! Love to all.