Ho, Ho, Ho!

So, my almost 2 year old Dylan, found a Dora hat today, put it on his head and said, "Ho, Ho, Ho". I guess that's what happens when you check out too many Christmas videos for the kids from the library.

This was also the night Dylan gave his first little prayer in Family Home Evening. After he said the prayer with some help from his Daddy, he came to me and said so excitedly, "Mommy, I did it!" I am just eating up his sweet baby moments---terrible two is on the way!

And, not to be outdone, Halloween came back for a visit today too. Halloween definately doesn't want to be outdone by Christmas which comes visiting daily this time of year!!! Benjamin (3) does a good job as Winnie the Pooh!!! Don't worry, I put away most of the costumes till next year, so we can finally say our final, sad, goodbye to Halloween.

And best costume goes to-------

Scott Barzee. For Halloween he decided to be a U Fan. This entailed a mullet, a little extra weight via pillow, and a special beverage. He walked around saying, "Win or lose, we booze." Can you tell he is the biggest BYU fan? It was especially fun going trick or treating to the U fans in the neighborhood.

Halloween Eve

My son Brandon, announced this morning that today is Halloween Eve. I asked him what that meant. He said that on Halloween Eve, you are able to wear your costumes, I guess in preparation for the actual, real, Halloween day. I guess it takes lots of practice and preparation to be ready for Halloween. I think he gets his desire to stretch out the Halloween holiday from me. I just love Halloween. So today, I wish you all a most Happy Halloween Eve. Maybe it means that we should also eat lots of candy today. Hmmmmm. This might be fun. Indulge yourself, every day is not Halloween Eve.

The kids were enjoying dressing up on Halloween Eve day. They played in their Spiderman, Snow White, and fireman costumes. I was threatened that if I showed you Brandon in the kangaroo costume, my blog would be deleted. So, you will just have to imagine little Brandon in the kangaroo costume (Sorry, the picture is much better, but I don't want my blog deleted, although I probably shouldn't give into threats like that--------isn't that promoting terrorism?)

Kid Halloween Party

Making mummies with toilet paper


Silly String Wars






After Football Practice, little Brandon was invited to a Halloween party of someone on the team. It was every kids dream party. There were at least 40 kids there. Some of the activities included making mummies out of toilet paper, and having a silly string fight. That is one brave parent, willing to give each child a roll of toilet paper and a little later, each child got a can of silly string. Fun kid times!!! The kids had a blast.

On the way to his Football practice, I was teasing little Brandon. Oh, I can't wait to go to your party with you. It will be so fun. He said, "Mom, I like you, I just don't like being embarrassed." Then he continued to tell me, "You embarrass all the kids with your kid quotes."

I think we are entering a new phase of development, the "I am totally mortified and embarrassed by my parent" phase. Fun times ahead.

The funny part is I was teasing him about going with him to the party. Unfortunately, it took me about 20 minutes to find the house where the party was being held, and we only had about an hour left for the party, so I stayed in order to not get lost again. Don't worry, for Brandon's sake, I tried to stay in the background and out of the way. I think he survived the party without being embarrassed by his Mom. Hope so.

Carving Pumpkins

My kids have been chomping at the bit to carve pumpkins. Every day, my kids ask me over and over, "Can we carve pumpkins tonight Mommy?" Finally, tonight, their dream came true.

For Family Home Evening, little Brandon was excited to give us a lesson on the Articles of Faith. He has been carrying an Articles of Faith card in his pocket the last couple days. Afterwards, we carved pumpkins and played some basketball. Fun family time.

Always, a fan of BYU!!!





Small town living. Nothing says it quite like a horse passing your house as you are carving pumpkins. It definately added to the ambience.

Family Hoops!!

Gardner Village

Are you feeling the October blahs? Need a little spice in your life? A good laugh? Some downright silliness? If you have a chance and live in the area, you have got to get to Gardner Village before Halloween. Don't miss out!

Or maybe I love Gardner Village so much because I am really a witch, and I feel so at home there. At any rate....

Here are some of the scheduled activities at Gardner Village:

BARNYARD BUDDIES PONY RIDES & PETTING ZOO
Oct 01, 2008 Thru Oct 31, 2008

Meet some of your favorite farm animals face-to-face. Your children will pet rabbits, pigs, goats, llamas, a donkey, cow and more. Cost is just $2. Let your little wranglers take a pony ride for $3. Hand-sanitizing stations are available and Barnyard Buddies is USDA licensed. Located in the lot just west of Archibald's Restaurant. Open Mondays through Saturdays, 11 am to 6 pm, weather permitting.

WITCH SCAVENGER HUNT
Oct 01, 2008 Thru Oct 31, 2008
Explore Gardner Village's famous witch displays with our second annual witch hunt. Your little boys and ghouls will be thrilled! Just follow this link to print a copy. All children 12 and under who finish the hunt can take their completed forms to the Naborhood Bakery for a delicious chocolate chip cookie for only 25¢!

RIDE WITH A WITCH
Oct 03, 2008 Thru Oct 27, 2008

Take a horse-drawn wagonette ride with a friendly witch as your guide! Have a cackling good time at this Village event perfect for families. She'll delight you with stories, jokes and maybe even a spell or two. Rides are held between 5 pm and 8 pm and are $2 a person.

Rides will be held on the following Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays during October - October 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 13, 20 and 27.

First come, first driven. Reservations not accepted.

FACE PAINTING at The Cottage Retreat Day Spa
Oct 03, 2008 Thru Oct 25, 2008
Face painting is nothing short of "spooktacular" this time of year. Have your children's faces painted while you enjoy the witch displays. Faces will be painted at The Cottage Retreat Day Spa from 3 pm to 7 pm on Fridays and 10 am to 7 pm on Saturdays during October (except October 24 & 25 - open until 5 pm). Prices are $3 for cheek art and $5 for a full face.

TRICK OR TREAT BAGS at Pine Needles
Oct 16, 2008 Thru Oct 18, 2008
Bring in your little boys and ghouls to make and take their own chic trick or treat bag. It only costs $12.95 to create these bewitching bags so hurry in at 1:00 pm for an hour and a half of fun! Space is limited.

WEE WITCHES WEEKEND
Oct 16, 2008 Thru Oct 18, 2008
A bewitching event created just for your little ones. Bring the kids for a fun-filled weekend of unforgettable excitement from 10 am to 8 pm all three days.
Tractor-pulled hay wagon rides with a witch from 2 pm to 8 pm ($2 a person)

Wee Witches Costume Parade at 11 am and 6 pm (this is not a contest)

Haunted photo booth

Scavenger hunt

Caramel apples and food, food, food!

And last, but definately not least, for a great Girls Night Out:

WITCHES’ NIGHT OUT!
Oct 24, 2008 Thru Oct 25, 2008

Witches love any excuse to have fun and throw a party. Ladies...join your fellow sister witches for this evening out. An event just for ladies 18 years and older! Plan now to wear your most elaborate hat or costume, Gardner Village will be filled with enchanting witches from 6 pm to 10 pm both nights. Enter the drawing for one of five, $100 Gardner Village shopping sprees and other fun prizes at 10 pm nightly. Also enjoy an emcee, dancing, music, food booths and more. Stop to have your fortune told, enjoy spellbinding activities in our shops, and join the Witches Parade at 8 pm nightly. Leave the children with the sitter and grab your witchy friends for this spellbinding ladies night out.

Copyright © 2007 GardnerVillage

These are just a few of the activities. Look at their website for many more fun activities.

Halloween Babies

Gardner Village Witches

For all you out-of-towners, who wanted a little Halloween spirit. Gardner Village is so festive, I just love going every year to see the witches on display during the month of October. So much fun!

You call me a witch like it's a bad thing!

A witch on the water with explosives.

Under her skirt a black cat is chasing a mouse.

This bicycling witch is high in the air.

A Real Witch

Maddie and Benj's response to seeing the witch! (OK, not really, although Maddie was ABSOLUTELY terrified.)