Halloween

Halloween is such a fun time of the year, there are so many fun things to do. This year I feel like Halloween kind of snuck up on us. We didn't go to Cornbelly's this year, I didn't have a little party for Taeya and her friends and we didn't go see the Witches at Gardner Village. Hopefully next year I can be a little more organized! We still had a great day. I am so glad that Ultradent did their trick or treating on Friday this year. It made the day a little less crazy!

Anastyn and I sent Taeya off to school then we quickly got ready and went over to the school to see the parade. We borrowed a monkey costume from Kelly that Anastyn absolutely loved - she wouldn't take it off when she first put it on.  We added a tutu we already had and she was the cutest little monkey I know!  Taeya had 2 costumes, a Cheetah and Super Girl. She decided to be a Cheetah for school and Super Girl that night. After the parade I ran home to grab my cupcake decorating supplies and went back to the school to help with the Kindergarten Halloween party. It was fun to be with all those excited kids! The afternoon was a little calmer. We planned to go see my mom and dad but they ended up coming to us instead. We had some soup for dinner than headed out for some trick or treating. The weather was so fantastic! This was the longest time we have ever spent trick or treating. I made cupcakes for my Beehives so we trick or treated around the neighborhood delivering cupcakes. Taeya was ready to go home (probably so she could eat her candy) but Anastyn and I were still going and going! We decided to go home and have a little break then Gordon took them out again to do one street we missed! So of course we had a TON of candy. We all had a great night!

Taeya waving to Anastyn and I during the school parade. 

Taeya's class sitting on the rug listening to instruction. 

The kids had a fun time decorating cupcakes at the party.

Taeya decorating her cupcake.

Mrs. Reiber and Taeya

Gordon the werewolf, Taeya the Super Girl, me the Vampiress and Anastyn the monkey - Anastyn was terrified of Gordon with this mask on, he had to sneak it on!

Taeya and Anastyn before we started out for the night.  I had a hard time getting a good picture this year!

Super Girl Taeya

Monkey Anastyn

I took this picture with my phone to send to Brielle.  We missed her this year:(

Carving Pumpkins

We followed tradition again and carved pumpkins with the Mehlhoffs, minus Ariel:( We ate yummy chili and cornbread and then got to work carving awesome pumpkins. As always, Austin just observed our project, but at least he didn't dry heave on the smell this year!!

Gordon (haunted house) , Micah (3 headed werewolf), Landon (Merry Christmas), me (skull), Anastyn (Minnie Mouse), Taeya (cat and bat)

They look much better all lit up.

The gang with the pumpkins on the porch.

All lit up again!

Frightmares

As soon as I got home from running the Halloween Half, I quickly showered and we headed off to Frightmares! I told Gordon I was okay not going this year, but because of tradition, he just couldn't let us skip out. We ended up having a really great time. It wasn't busy at all and the weather was great, a little chilly as soon as the sun went down but so much better than years past!

First thing we did - Gordon took Taeya on the white roller coaster, and I took Anastyn on the "horses!" Taeya got a little tricked into going on the roller coaster, she usually doesn't like rides that give her "butterflies" but Gordon didn't tell her it would until they were already on the ride! She didn't seem to be too mad about it but she didn't want to go again!

Anastyn riding the "horses!"  We went on this ride about 4 times while we waited for Gordon and Taeya.

Next we notices that Pioneer Village was open - it usually isn't during the end of Frightmares.  We were so excited.  We've been wanting to update the picture we took when Taeya was about 2 (same as Anastyn now).  It was fun, I think Taeya really enjoyed dressing up.  I felt a little immodest, although the boa really covered me up....maybe a little too much.

Sorry about the non-edited photo.  I think the girls look adorable in this picture.

After the pioneer village photo we were finally able to just follow the girls around and let them go on whatever rides they wanted to. They had such a great time on all the rides, they are at such fun ages.  We even took Anastyn on "Puff."  I wish I wouldn't been able to capture the look on her face when we went down the little drop, it was priceless.  She was a little nervous about it!!

Taeya was a good sport to go on the boat ride with Anastyn.  Anastyn loved ringing the bell.

The highlight of the day for Taeya was getting her face painted of course!  She does look pretty cute as a kitty!

Gordon and Taeya had a fun time on the bumper cars - so exciting that Taeya is tall enough for all these great rides!

The hackenslash people scared Anastyn to death earlier in the evening so we had to prove to her that they were actually nice  - she finally believed us....kindof!

Because it wasn't a super crowded day we were able to go on all the rides we wanted to which was great because we got kicked out at 10:00pm, thankfully we were ready to go! Hopefully next year will be just as great!

Halloween Half

After I ran the half marathon in June I didn't really have an incentive to run. I was still running, but not nearly as much as I had been. I needed some motivation so I signed up for the "Halloween Half." I had heard it was a lot of fun, it wasn't too expensive and the timing was great since it gave me reason to run in the fall. Those long Saturday runs leading up to the marathon were a little tricky to get in due to fun events, but I made it happen!

I had a few neighbors/friends running so we all drove together early Saturday morning. We had to park at the university mall and we were bused up to Aspen Grove. The run ended at Riverwoods so it was super annoying! It was freezing cold and the line was incredibly long to get on the bus. I brought along some warm clothes and the time went by quickly waiting for the run to start. It was so crowded during the first 5 miles of the run that I lost my friends dodging people in the beginning!! That was okay because I always run by myself anyway.

Overall it was a good run. I was slightly disappointed with my time which was 1:48:52 (1 minute slower than my first half). My average was 8:19 per mile, and I was 83rd in the women 30-34 category. I can't beat myself up over it. It was a totally different course, I had been running a ton more previously, and I still had a great time. (At least to me!)

The first marathon I was dying at mile 11 and it pretty much continued til the end. This one I got tired, but it wasn't quite as bad. Maybe cause there were more people cheering you on at the end?? I still don't know if I ever want to do a full marathon, the thought of doubling the miles is a little overwhelming at this point in my life, but who knows?!

(These 3 pictures I stole from Zazoosh, that's why they are so small). Pictures of me coming down the last stretch (the only pictures zazoosh had of me, probably because I had my long sleeve shirt on til the last few miles).

Me, Kelly Hinds, and Brenda Harr - we did it!!

Family Pictures 2011

We had family pictures taken at the end of October.  I searched and search for the right outfits for the girls to wear and in the end, and with the help of my awesome friend Becca, I made the girls outfits.  Gordon's work did their annual trick or treating then we headed to daybreak for the photo session.  Anastyn fell asleep on the way so she was a little crazy, but the weather was perfect and in the end I love how they turned out, and the price was awesome!  Sorry for the picture overload.  Here is a link to the photographers blog.  She was great! jengrayphoto.blogspot.com

Many Faces

I got a new phone. I think it might have been a bad decision because my girls are obsessed with it. Anastyn loves, loves, loves Dora and Taeya is happy watching netflix or playing games. Between my 2 girls I don't ever get to use my phone anymore. I know, I probably just shouldn't let them play with it, but it is sure great for running errands!!

These are some awesome self portraits that I found of Taeya the other day. She cracks me up. There was even a video of her talking about Christmas! (These pictures looked much better in collage form but I don't know how to do that, maybe someone out there can tell me how??)