Halloween

To start off our Halloween festivities, we had a ward trunk or treat. This year the theme was, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" I was asked to help with deocorations and so for the last month I have slowly been painting and creating scenes from the book. I started with getting the book from the library to kick off my inspiration and then I just took little segments to focus on for the different areas in the church.

First was the trick-or-treating scene. Then second was the pumpkin scene where Linus and Sally "see" the Great Pumpkin. (This scene was my favorite with how it turned out.)

Then for the back half of the gym, I focused on the Halloween party scene. I truly love doing decorations for a party and having this vision in my head and seeing it come to life. I really love how it turned out and it was a fun theme to work with.

There were a few other Charlie Brown touches that I did and then the main person in charge did more pumpkin and fall decorations along with the cute standing Charlie Brown inspired ghosts. I also painted Charlie Brown pumpkins to go on each table as a centerpiece. 

There was a pumpkin patch in the middle. Not a lot of people brought pumpkins but it was fun for our little family to bring and show our jack-o-lanterns that we created.

I did my costume with a few of the young women. I was Sadness and Paige was Joy. Then McCall was Cinderella and Baylor was her fairy godmother.

We had a chili cook off and there was plenty of food for everyone. It is always well attended and everyone seemed to be having a good time.

The two young women I had there were willing to do a little face painting station which was fun to watch. They did a great job and I loved seeing the kid's faces light up when I would show them a picture of the masterpiece.

Anna and Scott always go all out and do such amazing things for their trunk!

My girls walked around together with Paige leading the way. They got lots of great candy and had so much fun. Now onto Halloween and trick or treating!

McCall and I started our fun Halloween while the other two were at school. At the library, they had a Trick or Tales. The kids got to dress up and there were some songs and some Halloween stories. Then all the kids got to go trick or treating throughout the library. We joined Matilda for this fun event.

Then McCall and I did a little photo shoot of her costume. She was into all sorts of poses and she loves her princess dress. She is just the cutest and I am loving this stage with her.

I mean look at that sweet face! I just want to kiss her cheeks all day every day!

Just out here living her best life!

The smile melts me every time!

This was one of my favorite moments of our little photo shoot. She got so excited to find this little guy. Her big "ooh" and "so cute" and then going into her own imaginary world as this little guy was her friend and she was feeding it and making it walk around. Her chubby little toddler fingers are so cute! I always want to remember her cute little voice and the way she sees the world and takes it all in.

Then it was Baylor's turn once she got home from school. One very cute pink M&M!

I wasn't able to get a photo shoot of Paige since she got home from gymnastic practice just in time to eat and get going. Paige, Baylor, Emily, and Natalie were all M&Ms and they looked so cute together. Too bad it was raining the entire time we were trick or treating so not everyone got to see their costumes except maybe their skirts. We were joined by Eliza, Matilda, and Jonah. We had a big group and it was so fun walking around together. It was very wet and cold, but the girls were still so happy to get lots of candy and enjoy the evening together.

The candy haul from a successful night of trick or treating!

Happy Halloween!

October Doings

I started October with a fun ladies of the lake gathering going to Carpintos and doing the two corn mazes there. It was fun to visit while we figured out where to go and we only got lost a few times.

I always look forward to general conference. It's a weekend of relaxation, family time, and hearing the words of our prophet and apostles. I love our little traditions that come with it. Candy with words to help the girls listen. If they hear that word, then they get a piece of candy from that bowl. One talk the word was love and one speaker said it so many times! Paige was in heaven just sitting there gathering up all her nerd clusters. He ended his talk with something like may we all be full of Jesus' love and Paige said "I sure am!." :) Then we also always have cinnamon rolls and sausage balls Sunday morning and always get the legos out to keep our hands busy while we listen.

Paige finshed up track season this month. She continued to do long jump and hurdles. She was pretty consistent and did amazing. These pictures are from her home meet.

The Reptile Man came to Baylor's school and did an assemly to show them all the reptiles he has and then he did an evening event for families. We have seen him before and it's always entertaining to see all the reptiles and listen to his stories. The girls pet a boa constrictor, held a turtle (that peed and pooped while Paige was holding it), and of course got our picture with Lucy the alligator.

Nate kept McCall busy by making all sorts of faces. :)

I went bowling with the youth for our combined activity which is always fun. I even got a couple of strikes!

I love walking at the park with this cute girl and she always wants to play at the playground. This particular day she was all about posing at different spots and asking for a picture. She is too cute!

Paige and Baylor's 2 square court they created. I'm not going to lie, that I'm a little sad with cooler weather coming mostly because the girls have loved playing outside and they will miss it.

This girl and her MANY faces!

Whenever I get the the KitchenAid mixer out, McCall comes running and says, "Up, Please." It's so cute and she loves to help me especially when I'm making cookies. She loves to be my taste tester.

I went for my first time with Celina, Matilda, and Jonah to a play time at Kent Commons. The gym is filled with all sorts of bikes, balls, and toys and is for kids under 5. I wasn't sure how McCall would do but she loved it and had so much fun.

Then Paige had her last track meet and this school had a nice track for her to end her season on.

Paige was in charge of one of our young women activities this month and she wanted to do a paint night with a twist. The girls all started paiting their pictures and after a few minutes, Paige said, "Switch!" There were some groans but they accepted it and had fun adding to each picture as the pictures got past around. It was super fun to see the end results!

We are all excited for Halloween and Baylor had to try out this costume and was a little unsure about it but it was fun to try out at home.

Fall Fun

Our family loves summer but we have really also been enjoying fall and the fun things that it brings. I love the gorgeous colors every morning when I'm driving the girls to school. I love that it means the approaching of holiday season. I love the fun decorations that this time of year brings. I love the fun traditions that come with this time of year where my little family connects and get excited for the little things that bring magic.

All these leaves falling usually equals work- blowing and raking the leaves and bagging them up but to the girls it means jumping in a big pile of leaves and oh the fun! Nate did the work and Baylor was SO excited to get out there and jump over and over. McCall was excited up didn't really know what she was getting herself into and then she saw Baylor do it and loved it just as much.

I loved watching McCall get set and then see her little arms go as she ran as fast as she could towards the pile and then just fall in.

Of course a big pile of leaves means a little photo shoot.

Then more jumping over and over and over again.

Baylor LOVED it! She tried jumping into the leaves in lots of different ways and it was fun to see her try new ways and watch her creativity at work.

There were lots of leaves in their hair by the end of it all. It was such a fun way to end our day!

Then after school one day, I got Baylor's tutu made for her Halloween costume and then both Baylor and McCall wanted their fairy wings on and they were so cute so of course I had to get some pictures.

It was a magical moment in time for them and for me.

McCall loves doing whatever her sisters are doing and loved copying anything Baylor would do as they "flew" up and down the street.

This girl! Her personality shines in these pictures as she was doing all sorts of magical spells and fairy positions as I snapped away with the camera.

Then we did our yearly tradition of carving pumpkins. Baylor pretty much did  hers all on her own this year with a little help from dad. She was pretty proud of herself and so excited to show hers off to everyone once she got it all done.

McCall was a little unsure about the pumpkin guts at the beginning but loved using any of the tools she could get her hands on. At first she just liked poking her pumpkin with the tools but then got into scooping out the guts.

Paige had her pumpkin all planned out weeks ago and was excited to see it come to life. It turned out amazing and fit perfectly for her.

All done and set outside for everyone to enjoy!

Paige's braces pumpkin, Mcall and my spooky tree scene, and Baylor's happy jack-o-lantern. They all turned out amazing and I love seeing them on our front porch.

Now onto Halloween!