I Survived Halloween

Halloween turned out to be successful.   Both Abby and Halle pronounced this Halloween as "the Best Halloween Ever!".   And how could they not?  They dressed up, went trick or treating, played some Halloween games, and stayed up late to watch a Casper Halloween movie.   I was able to finish the "Alice in Wonderland" costume . . . but hopefully no one looked at it too closely . . . especially that hem:).  Apparently Abby was very proud of my sewing job though, and  let everyone at school know that "my mom MADE my costume".  What more reward for my grief could I ask for?
 

Halle was Tinkerbell (not homemade . . . but I got over it pretty quickly) . . . and Gwen was supposed to be a ladybug (a costume I made 6 years ago) for the Halloween party the night before Halloween.  But once she saw Abby and Halle putting on dresses . . . she wanted to wear a dress to be "beautiful" . . . so we raided the dress-up trunk.

Luckily on Halloween night, I was able to get Gwen into the ladybug costume.    They all came home with WAY too much candy.  Am I really supposed to let them eat all this stuff?  Any good ideas on how to get rid of it . . . without eating it myself?

What Was I Thinking?

Last year I had this neighbor who made her children's Halloween costumes . . . and then one for herself . . . and they were all a part of the same theme.  Sooo cute!  After that I decided that I was going to be THAT kind of a mom.   We would have homemade Halloween costumes ONLY . . . we would ALL coordinate . . . and my costumes would look AMAZING!   The Halloween costume decision deadline was September 1st. this year.   That way I would have enough time to sew everyone's costume.  

Well . . . the first problem for me arose when Halle only wanted to be a princess.  We couldn't come up with a story book theme were she could be the princess and we would all have something that coordinated . . . or that could easily be made.  I wasn't sure how to make Beauty and the Beast costumes.   So, I told her she could be a princess . . . and the rest of us would be a group "something" else.   We finally decided on "Alice in Wonderland".  Abby would be Alice, Gwen would be the white rabbit, Ben could be the Mad Hatter, and I would be the Queen of Hearts.  I started making Abby's costume first . . . as I thought it would be the easiest.  Well, Halloween is in what . . . 3 DAYS . . . and I am STILL working on it!  I've learned that I don't really like to sew clothing.  How in the world do you hem a dress???  

So apparently . . . I am NOT that kind of mom . . . even though I really wish I was.  And we will NOT have coordinating costumes.  

Halle Turns 5

Today is Halle's birthday.  She is now 5!  Every year I get a little more sad that she is "growing up".   I will never forget how a week or two after Halle was born I actually called the doctor to find out if it was really okay that I was getting as much sleep as I was.  Halle was such a content and happy baby!  Now . . .  5 years later . . .  Halle loves to be a princess, play with Barbies, dress up and be "fancy" . . . and luckily she has not grown out of it yet.  But I get really sad thinking about the day when she will be "too old" to do those things.

Halle wanted a "costume party" for her birthday . . . which of course is of no surprise . . . since she is always in a costume!

The kids played a game that Abby thought of and wanted to be in charge of . . . a "guess how many pieces of candy are in the jar" game.  They also played "hot pumpkin", went on a candy hunt, and played musical chairs.

We ate cake and ice cream and opened presents.

Happy Birthday Halle!

Pumpkin Patch

Fall is here!  I really start looking forward to this in June (summer heat is my least favorite thing . . . unless I am on vacation).  I love the pumpkins, the cold weather and the treats!

Abby has "Fall Break" this week . . . and so it was time to go pick out pumpkins at the pumpkin patch.  The girls LOVE this!  This is a little embarrassing . . . but being the cheap person that I am, on the way to the pumpkin patch  I drove by a grocery store that was selling pumpkins for SUPER cheap.  The pumpkins at the pumpkin patch are not that unreasonably priced . . . I just sometimes take too much pride in saving a buck.  But Abby and Halle were confused of course and quickly let me know that it is much more fun to get pumpkins at the pumpkin patch than at a grocery store.  I quickly agreed and am glad we spent a few dollars more for a happy and MUCH more fun experience.

It is really hard to pick the right pumpkin.  Abby had picked out a couple before she finally was ready to walk away with one.  Halle was able to decide a little quicker . . . despite the meltdowns that happened occasionally.  Halle was probably more interested in the maze that the kids could go through.  Gwen enjoyed it all.  We went to this same place last year to get pumpkins . . . and now I  think we have found our "pumpkin finding" tradition . . . since the girls are already asking if we can go there next year!

 

Cougar Fans

Ben and I have season passes to the BYU football games . . . but Ben cares a lot more about going to all the games than I do.  Today, he took Abby and Halle with him . . . and I stayed in our warm house with Gwen . . . it was like 44 degrees today!  Anyways, they all had a great time . . . and the girls came home talking about nothing else. 

Beauty and the Beast

We took Abby and Halle to the community theater to see Beauty and the Beast last weekend (Ben's coworker, Jennifer--pictured below, was in it). They LOVED it! They were so good and able to sit quietly for the most part. Why can't they do that at church?

They were so excited to wear "fancy dresses" . . . girls are so fun.

The Faithful are Rewarded

Congratulations to those who actually look at my blog!  You will be able to read about our news first . . . well aside from my mom and sisters who know because they have been speculating for months.      I am pregnant!  ETA?  April 4, 2009.  With my past history . . . I'm hoping that actually means the end of March, but I guess I may have jinxed it now that I actually put that in writing:)