Bedtime

Taeya cracks me up, lately she has been in this phase were she has to sleep with a "snuggy" (stuffed animal). The other night, these are the things she had in her bed with her:

3 dinosaurs

2 porcelain dolls

1 dog stuffed animal

1 bear stuffed animal

2 monkey stuffed animals

1 tall, tall barbie

It took alot of arranging to get them all to fit but we finally figured in out. She was pretty crowded in her bed, although by the time I took the picture she was laying on a few items!

Saturday, October 30, 2010 - Trick or Treating

What a crazy halloween we had this year. Since halloween was on Sunday it was kind of nice to spread out the weekend a little bit. Have the school and work party on Friday, go trick or treating on Saturday, and the actual holiday on Sunday. Too bad the weather was the worst on Saturday when it really mattered. It was kind of gloomy all day.

Our ward had a chili cookoff at 4:00 pm on Saturday, I actually made some chili for the cookoff but we never made it to the church. We were still running around trying to get things ready. When we were finally ready I snapped a few pictures on the porch before we headed out.

Anastyn (bumblebee), Gordon (Fred), and Taeya (Daphne)

Passing out candy to the first trick or treaters (they were early, about 5:00).

The cutest bumblebee ever (at least in my opinion!)

And the cutest Daphne ever. Taeya really didn't like this wig cause it itched her head. I guess I should have just styled her own hair, no one really knew who she was anyway (we should've had her carry around a Scooby Doo doll). By day 3 of wearing this wig off and on it is looking pretty hamered.

So we took our pictures, hoped in the car and went to a few houses that looked spooky on Canyon Road. When we got back home the rain didn't seem to be letting up so we grabbed our umbrella's and headed out. Anastyn made it next door before she started crying so I quickly took her home (figured it wasn't worth taking her if she was going to cry). By this time it is pretty windy and raining, so the combination made it cold. We made it down the street and to the haunted house at the Gates house before the girls (Taeya and Brielle) were crying that they wanted to go home and that their hands were "tingling," (numb from the cold). So I took them home and stuck them in a bubble bath. Anastyn thought she needed some bubbles too.

Sadly we didn't make it trick or treating as the Scooby Doo gang (minus scooby and shaggy that is!) and no one really saw my costume because by the time I got home with Taeya my wig had blown off and I was soaking wet so I changed right after we got this picture taken of Gordon and I together. (My wig looks a little scary, like I said it was really wet and windy outside)!

The girls took a nice long bath, got in their pajamas and had some hot chocolate to warm themselves up, then just played around. We had some really fun visitors, Jeremy, Sarah and Crew, and Austin, Ariel, Whitney and Rowan. By about 8:00 the rain had stopped and the girls were ready to go out again. I hung out with Whitney, Ariel, and baby Rowan while Gordon and Lawni took the girls out again as "pajama girls." We ended up having a lot more trick or treaters than I expected and the girls got a lot more candy than I expected!(Taeya, Rowan, and Brielle - isn't he adorable, he looks just like him mama!)

Friday, October 29, 2010 - Busy Day!

Friday was a busy day, but a fun day. It began at 10:00 am at Taeya's school. They had a cute little program where the kids sang fun songs. Taeya was funny to watch, sometimes she was singing and into it, other times she just sad there with her elbows resting on her knees and her hands on her cheeks just looking around! It was still very cute. After the program they have a fun little carnival and pizza for lunch. We had a great time.

Taeya (Daphne from scooby doo), and Ashlynn (elephant)

After the carnival we ran a few quick errands, came home and put Anastyn down for a nap. While she was napping I finished making her bumble bee skirt (nothing like waiting til the last minute right??). Around 2:30 we headed up to Gord's work to go some office trick or treating. It was fun and the girls got lots of candy!
After trick or treating we got some dinner and headed up to Frightmares at Lagoon (another tradition that I was willing to skip out on this year but Gordon insisted). We really did have a fun time, Friday night was nice and warm, we didn't even need jackets until the sun went down. Because it was a friday night the kiddie sections wasn't very busy so we could just hop on most of the rides. Taeya enjoyed watching all the little shows! She really liked her little visit from the "Wolf Man!"

I tried to put Anastyn on the boats with Taeya and I know she would have liked it once the boat started moving, but I didn't fight her on it! Taeya enjoyed it though.

I did insist on Anastyn going on the cars though, she cried until the car started moving then she cried when we had to take her out of the car (I know this picture isn't very good but we didn't really get a good one and it was one of Anastyn's favorite rides). There are tears in her eyes from initially putting her on the ride, but there really was a smile under that binki!

Me and the girls on the "boat" ride, we stayed on this ride 3 times in a row because Anastyn kept signing "more, more, more." Earlier I took Taeya on Tidal Wave, she was a little afraid, she didn't like all the butterfies in her tummy!

Dad and the girls on the train - Anastyn is getting very tired as you can see but Taeya was still going strong. We actually saw the animals this time, it was really nice not to be staring into empty cages!

We all really do enjoy watching the little performances during Frightmares.
Every year I take a picture of the girls on the Merry-Go-Round, it started when Taeya was only 2 months old, and last year Anastyn was only 6 weeks old. Gordon was getting us some dinner and he had the camera and I figured we would go on the ride again later that night but we never did, so I didn't get my picture. Otherwise everything was perfect and we had a really fun night at Frightmares! I'm glad Gordon insisted on keeping with tradition!

Thursday, October 28, 2010 - Pumpkin Carving

We have so many yearly traditions during Halloween, maybe it's because Gordon loves halloween so much, or maybe it's just a great time of year and there is a ton to do, but one of my favorite traditions is carving pumpkins with Mehlhoff's. We just love these guys so much and enjoy being with them.

We ate chicken tacos before the carving began. That must've fueled our energy level cause I think we finished carving in record time this year! We even got Austin a little involved!

Taeya get's so hyper when she's excited and she was definitely hyper this night. She had gymnastics earlier that day (hence the leotard) and she is showing us her cute spider hat she made at school.

Taeya, Ariel, and Anastyn - we love Ariel, she is so fun and beautiful.
Here is the proof that Austin helped, he cut the tops off the pumpkins then backed away!!

Gordon getting busy, he did have 3 pumpkins to carve!

Landon is so funny, he thought he would try eating the guts, he didn't really like it!

I don't know how we didn't get a picture of Micah carving but there's always next year. Here are the finished pumpkins: Ariels is the wolf, Landon did the "bum" Micah did the haunted house, Gordon did the Alien, I did the cat (Taeya claimed it), the grim reaper was a joint effort, I poked the holes but Gordon carved it, Gordon also did the polka dots for Taeya, and I did the letter "A" for Anastyn.

Me, Anastyn, Gordon Landon, Ariel, Taeya, and Micah (Austin left early, probably from the smell of the pumpkin guts!!)
Too bad the pumpkins didn't look this good for halloween night. Friday was just too nice of a day for already carved pumpkins.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 - Halloween Party

We had Taeya's 2nd Annual Halloween Party and it was a success. I debated about having this party but Taeya kept talking about eating a donut on a string from last years party, so I did it. I tried to keep it simple and stress free and I think I accomplished that.

I didn't take any of these pictures so thanks to Heather and Kelly for being my photographers. We made mummy hotdogs, played pass the prizes around the circle while the music plays(not sure how to explain the game), ate donuts on a string, and decorated cupcakes. There were moments of craziness and hopefully each year I will get better and better at party planning! (Invitations might be a good one for next year, oh and more than a days notice!!)

Ashlynn, Brynn, Brielle, Holly, Livvy, and Taeya

Witchey Asilia

Witchey Livvy

Daphne Taeya

Monkey Jayne

Cute Alayna

Superman Cohen, and Buzz Cache

Little McCoy

Anastyn

Tommy and Mary and Bryce and Lawni

Dracula Jeffrey

The whole gang playing pass the prizes to the music

Livvy eating her donut

Taeya eating her donut

Taeya cheating a little

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 - YWIE

I was in charge of refreshments for Yound Women In Excellence this year. The theme was "Happily Ever After" so this castle cake was the centerpiece for the dessert table. I stayed up way too late Monday night (tuesday morning) making the cake and baking the cupcakes. We are our own worst critic so of course there were things that I wished turned out better but overall I think it looked great.

Tuesday was a busy day with swim lessons, the gym, and lunch/making sugar cookies with friends. So thanks to Lawni who saved my by keeping Taeya while I decorated cupcakes and helping me make 2 trips to the church to deliver the goods (also thanks to Madison for watching all the kids while we took the stuff to the church)! I don't know what I would do without my awesome friends who always come to my rescue!

Monday, October 25, 2010 - The Witches

We had a hard time getting us girls together this year to go to Gardner Village. Of course the weather has been fantastic this fall until the day we finally decided to go, it was windy and cold. Sadly, Alyson didn't make it with us this year, but Heather, Lawni and I braved the cold with the kiddos and we all had a great time. It is just so fun to walk around and see the awesome witches. The kids loved it. We were sad that they didn't have music playing and "real" witches walking around this year, the donkey rides/petting zoo was closed too.......maybe next year.

Cohen, Brielle, Taeya, and Olivia

Taeya

It was nice not to have nursing babies this year, although maybe it would have been easier than 3, 1 year olds! Anastyn did not want to stay in the stroller, hence the sadness in the picture.

The 4 kiddos again.

This was the best shot I could get with me and my girls.

Cornbelly's

It wouldn't be the fall without an annual trip to Cornbelly's! Taeya has a blast each year and we adults like it too. Taeya talked all year about the princess dresses you can try on (I know that is a shocker coming from Taeya!). This year we went with the Bailey's again and they scored some free passes, so thankfully the evening was affordable and fun. Sadly I forgot my camera so Alyson was kind enough to take a bunch of pictures for me.

You can't go to Cornbelly's without taking a picture on the huge rocking chair. Maybe next year we can get Anastyn to look at the camera.

The first place Taeya went was the little princess area, she climbed right up to the top of this house. Thankfully Brynn was around because she wasn't quite sure how to get down.

Anastyn loved the slides and could have stayed there all night.

Each of the girls got a balloon hat - the excitement lasted about 5 minutes before they moved on to the next exciting thing.

My 2 cute girls are becoming such great friends. I love it!

On the train ride. Anastyn didn't really want to sit still, but then again she hardly ever does!

The Bailey's on the train car behind us - don't you just love the nice face Seth is pulling??!

Taeya and Gordon inside the fire truck.

The most exciting thing of the evening was probably the face painting! Taeya was so funny, the next day she got sad about something and she looked at me and with a sad voice said "i'm trying not to cry so I don't ruin my makeup." Thankfully she didn't complain when I washed her face that night in the bath.

Thanks to the Bailey's for coming with us and having a great time!