Happy Halloween!

We had so much fun this Halloween!  We decorated the house for the first time in a long time (maybe ever) and you would have thought we were getting ready for Christmas the way the kids were so excited.  We put spider webs everywhere and on everything!

Emily was the only one who had a costume this year.  Matthew had firmly decided that he HATES Halloween and everything scary, so he has banned Trick-or-Treating.  Sweet!  One less costume and Cody and I don't have to freeze while strolling through the neighborhood.  Emily was very adorable in her devil costume!

We had the greatest time carving pumpkins this year.  We stole some great ideas from "Extreme Pumpkins" and had so much fun!

Mom and Emily's "Cannibal Pumpkin"

Matthew's "Doll Eater" pumpkin

Alec's "Murder Witness" pumpkin(s)

Happy Halloween!!

Pumpkins and Pranks

It's time to pick pumpkins!  We grew them in our garden this year and got 4 huge beautiful ones!

Emily and Matthew choosing which ones they want.

Showing off their harvest.

Three little pumpkins...where is the 4th one?

Cody had to pull the fence away (in our neighbor's garden) from the pumpkin while Matt and I pulled the pumpkin out.  Every year we grow pumpkins, one has to grown down in our little garden "hidey-hole".  This year we were able to get it out.

hmmmm....what will we do with this one?

It's a full moon this Halloween!  Take that, neighbors!

Matthew turns 9

Nothing makes a person feel old like having your baby grow older.  I can't believe Matthew is 9 years old!  Since he already had his birthday party in the summer so he could have a swimming party, we just celebrated at home.

Matthew's favorite dinner...homemade mac & cheese and artichokes.  He was in heaven!

Matthew's presents:  a webkinz bat

...and games for his DS

Happy Birthday to you!  You live in a zoo!  You look like a monkey, and you smell like one too!

I can't believe how grown up he is.  8 1/2 to 9 has been good for him.  He is still really active, but will now obey eventually.  Threaten to take away his playtime with friends and he will do anything.  And this year he practices the piano without a fit, so progress is being made.  He is such a sweetheart!  

Alec's Recital

Family and friends came to gather at my parents house to hear Alec play the cello.  He was accompanied by his teacher, Tamra Baca.  He did amazing!  The songs were so beautiful, and I think everyone enjoyed the evening.  We are happily moving on to Suzuki Book 3!  (since I have heard his songs so many times I could probably play them).  After perfecting and memorizing all the songs in book 2, Alec was able to put on a fabulous performance!

Alec with his friends, Austin and Logan.  

Cody, Bob, Brad and Marcene Taylor enjoying the desserts and conversation after the concert.

Alec's grandma Vickie, great-aunt Lorraine and great-grandma Betts made the trip from Vernal to hear Alec play.  It was so great that they could make it!  We really appreciated that they drove 3 hours just for Alec's recital.

I would love to put a piece of video with him playing on here...so as soon as I learn how to do that...

It's October!

While I mourn the loss of summer...I look forward to October for one thing, and one thing only...MLB playoffs!!!  And Cody would add to that list football, especially college football.  

GO BYU!!!

In October you will likely find us sitting on our couch flipping between a baseball and a football game.  Friday night, saturday night, sunday afternoon, any weekday night...same place.  Well, on thursday nights we add in a family "The Office" night.  You know, I am really not much of a tv watcher.  There really isn't anything good that I am interested in...until baseball season. Then we buy the baseball package!  We try to catch a good Red Sox or Mets game (this year we added the Angels and Dodgers) during the summer and try to go to as many Bee's games as we can, but when October hits, we are ready for couch potato-hood. (I just made up that word, so don't use it on a college paper or anything).  I stock up on yarn so I can crochet (or quilt...that is good, too) and then I park my hiney on the couch and go to town.  Now, don't start thinking I am some "master crochet Martha Stewart" or anything.  My sister holds that title.  No, I can crochet scarves...that's it, just scarves. I am getting quite a collection, too.  Watch out!  They might be next year's birthday presents.

Here we are on a friday night.  We are so cool! (you can't see it, but I have my crocheting scarf in my hands)

This is my prediction, worth about 2 cents...Tampa Bay vs. Dodgers go to the World Series.  I go down in history with it now, no turning back.  (I would love to be right)