While You Were Gone....Halloween Edition

So Snarr took off on his trip to Asia just in time to miss all the Halloween festivities. I know he was crushed. Ha ha. You see, I LOVE Halloween...and Tod, well he just tolerates it. But to be fair, he is always a good sport and a lot of help with all the activities, and we really missed him this year. I wanted to give him a little rundown of some of the fun things we got to do to celebrate one of my favorite holidays.

Earlier in the week, Regan got to dress up for dance class:

Then on Friday, there were all kinds of events. My favorite was that Jordan's class went and sang Halloween songs at the care center next to the school.

That night, we all headed to the Trunk or Treat at the church. It's a good thing I took some quick pictures of Cole before we left, because that was about the only time he wore his costume. He did like his hat (or his "helmet" as he calls it), but claimed the bandana and vest were "choking" him. So basically, he was a little boy with cowboy boots. The girls looked so cute in their pioneer costumes. Apparently, they were Laura, Mary and Carrie from the Little House series we have been reading. Thanks Grandma Cindy, for your amazing sewing skills and dedication to my crazy costume ideas.





Saturday evening found us carving pumpkins together. Knowing that this can be a rather overwhelming task with 2 parents, I opted to carve in shifts- first working with Cole and Regan while the big girls played Wii and then letting the big girls have a turn. It was actually one of our more pleasant jack-o-lantern experiences. I love the different faces everyone came up with.









We were also able to squeeze in some neighborhood trick-or-treating. We love our neighborhood and our neighbors!! We missed the ones who weren't around this year...you know who you are!! It was such a fun night to wander the streets chatting with friends and gathering yummy treats!



Monday was actual Halloween, and to be honest, I was kind of done with the whole thing by then! The kids were out of school, so we took advantage of the beautiful weather and spent the day at a park with friends. That night I made our traditional spooky Halloween menu. I have such fond memories of this growing up. This year we added in a special twist. While I was busily cooking, I let Regan mix up her own surprise. She added a little bit of lots of different things and came up with something positively disgusting. When it was dinner time, we called the girls and put Regan's "surprise" on the table and told them it was dinner. They didn't know what to think and we had some good laughs. Needless to say, they were glad to see the pot of homemade chicken noodle soup and bread that made up our actual meal!







We finished the night with Family Home Evening and Halloween Bingo!

So there you have it, our Halloween of 2011. It was a good one. I thoroughly enjoyed all of our festivities, but we missed our daddy-o so much! Next year, no trips over Halloween!

A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Any opportunity to be with one of my children alone is not something to be missed! This year, Regan and I got to go with her preschool class to the pumpkin patch...and the best part, we got to ride on the bus together!!! Regan is such a cutie...and she is really such a sweet good girl (most of the time!) She loves to giggle and chat and is just a good sport when it comes to just about anything. I do feel like sometimes she's "lost in the crowd" at our house, so it was so great to just have some time with her. We had a blast on the hayride and loved picking out pumpkins together. It was a super day!

A Friday Morning at Our House

I took these pictures on a Friday morning a couple of weeks ago. Life right now is so crazy, busy, loud....and FUN. I love it and I try to soak in every moment knowing that time goes too fast!

Ashton (age 9), ready to boogie at the after school 4th/5th grade dance:

Jordan (age 7), sporting her Brownie vest for her Girl Scout troop meeting:Regan (age 5), looking sharp for her preschool field trip to the pumpkin patch:
Cole (age 2), ready to be cute and maybe get into some mischief:

A "Wicked" Good Time

Ever since I say the muscial "Wicked" last March in Texas, I have been a little obsessed with it. I introduced the CD to the girls and it became all that we listened to on our Sunday drive to and from church. They quickly had all of the songs memorized. So I was so surprised when a few months ago, a friend mentioned that it was coming to Peoria! I knew that we had to go! The girls were soooooooo excited and talked about it for weeks. They told everyone where they were going and could barely contain themselves. After arranging babysitting and carpools and re-arranging piano lessons, our day finally arrived! I picked the ladies up from school and we headed to our Thursday matinee of "Wicked"! What a rare treat to be with my 2 older girls. They are such amazing gals who don't always get my attention in the way they should. We had so much fun. Yes, I did get lost on the way there, but we had allowed plenty of time, so we made it. We played all kinds of guessing games on the car ride and Jordan took pictures of the scenery.



The musical itself was incredible, spell binding, breath taking. The girls were on the edge of their seats the entire time. And I enjoyed it just as much the second time through (I did miss my sisters!) We talked about the play the entire ride home. Of course, getting a Happy Meal at McDonald's was a highlight, too.

What a day! Definitely, one I will remember for a very long time. So glad we had the opportunity to go together.

Fall Soccer

This time of year is one of my favorites. It is just so beautiful. Lately, as I drive down the street, I find myself really gazing at all the trees and the gorgeous leaves...just trying to soak it all in to sustain me through the winter. One of my favorite things about autumn is fall soccer for the girls. I look forward to it all year. I love how the soccer complex here is literally cut into a bunch of corn fields, so as we watch the games on Saturday mornings, we are surrounded by the corn and signs of harvest. For some reason, I just love it so much.
Here is Jordan getting her kicks on:


And some of Ashton:


So I'll admit it, I've always been competitive when it comes to sports and so is Tod. Our poor kids. Sometimes I think we take our "encouragement" a little too far because we seem to expect a lot out of them with regards to their playing ability. But they are such good sports about it, and both Ashton and Jordan have come so far...and are really progressing into great little soccer players. I am so proud of them! I'm glad that they are healthy, that they can run, fall down, get back up again, sweat, giggle with their friends, push themselves, celebrate when they score, and roll their eyes at the sidelines when mama gets too loud! These girls are also lucky to have a dad who puts in the time to coach their teams.



One of the other fun things about soccer season is the chance to hang out with friends...it is so fun just to visit and chat. Sometimes when we are waiting for another child's game to start, we wander over to another game to cheer on a church friend, school buddy or neighbor. There is just a great community feel. We love soccer season!



(I wrote this post a couple of weeks ago. Now, soccer season has ended. As you can see from the pictures, some of them were taken at the beginning of the season- warm, sunny weather and shorts- while some were taken at the last chilly game!)

And if you had any doubt that it's flat here and the sky is the biggest you'll ever see...here is proof!!! I still miss the mountains but have grown to LOVE the wide open spaces. Simply gorgeous.

Gram

It's been one year ago today that Gram left this life for her next adventure. Some moments are frozen in time...and the moment I found out she was gone is one of those moments. It was a perfect fall day (just as today is). We had been at soccer games all morning and then I headed to the church for a craft day. We had plans to visit a pumpkin patch later that afternoon. Yet when I returned home from the church, Tod met me in the front yard and gently told me that my brother had called to let me know that Gram had passed on...We had known for months that her health was declining. We had been preparing...in fact, just a few weeks prior I had already started to set aside clothing for a road trip to Utah...yet when the moment came, I still couldn't believe that this great lady was really gone.

It still doesn't seem possible...and even one year later, I still half way expect to pick up the phone and hear her voice on the other end...or go to the mailbox and find a card from her. Our trip to Utah to attend Gram's funeral was bittersweet. Of course, there were tears, lots of tears...but so much gratitude for the life she lived, so much gratitude for the investment of time she put into her grandchildren. When they handed out Grandmas in heaven, I surely got the cream of the crop, the best of the best. It is hard to even begin to put into words the impact and influence Grandma Betty has had on my life.

I remember as a child, just feeling like she really truly adored me, enjoyed me, and valued me. What a gift to give to a young girl! Thanks to Gram I know how to be resilient, strong and positive. I know that when things are tough, you just keep on going. From her I learned how to brown a roast, how to make homemade pizza, how to make pistachio and bavarian (Helper jello salads!). I learned that you can drive through snow storms to get where you need to be...especially if excited people are waiting for you at the other end. (We were always SO excited when we knew Grandma was driving up for the weekend.)

I remember when I was probably about 10 years old, I got into some kind of trouble with my mom and was sent to my bedroom. For some reason, I was really upset. I remember sitting on my bed and crying and then hearing someone creep down the stairs. Then Gram was in my room comforting me and making me giggle and everything was okay. Then she snuck back out of my room before my mom caught her! I have so many great memories of my Grammy.

When I got home from my mission, I remember seeing everyone at the airport when I got off the airplane. It was a great moment...to see my family for the first time in 18 months. But someone was missing...my great grandma Thelma had died just a few days before and so Grandma Betty couldn't make it to the airport. As amazing as it all was, it just felt a little incomplete...until a few days later, we traveled to Helper and I was able to be reunited with Gram.
Today, it still feels incomplete, because once more, I am without her.

I try to keep "evidences" of Gram around my house. I have saved a handful of cards so that I can see her scrawling cursive handwriting. We have glass tea cups, an Easter table cloth, some salt and pepper shakers. My Halloween decorations include some toll painted objects because they were from Gram. And of course, pictures are priceless.

But they are all just "things" and I'm holding onto something much more valuable- my memories of my Gram. These memories are just so precious, and they are what keep me going because I do miss her so much. Can't wait to see her again...I'm still waiting for my fluffy hug.

My Baby Sis

To My Baby Sister on her 30th birthday:

Happy Birthday Baby Kate! It's hard to believe you have hit the big 30! I still picture you being about 7 it seems!

I wish more than anything, I could be with you to celebrate your day. It may sound silly, but it is one of the hardest things in my life right now....to be so far away from you and not able to be in your life on a daily basis. Thank goodness for that telephone.

I have always loved you so much. I think of you as a little baby, a precious toddler, a fun kid, an adventurous teenager, an adoring aunt and now this outstanding mother, career woman, and wife. I think of you dribbling a basketball, kicking a soccer ball, working at the flower store, transforming a room with your decorating skills, turning any kind of clothing into a fashion statement.

Katy Bug and me in the green dryer:
Katy in the middle, Mel in the business jacket, Me in red plaid, and Chris in back:
Always, you have been there for me- as a listening ear, a cheer leader, a generous soul and just someone who I know is supportive and understanding of me. It has meant more than you will ever know.

I am so thankful for all the memories we share- so many fun things from our childhood together. Remember how you used to always come on dates with me because I was too scared of boys? Remember how you would always tag along with me and my friends and how I hung out with your pals, too? Remember days spent at Utah State, many trips to Iowa, and now ventures in Texas. Who knows what the future holds?

But one thing I am sure of...you will always be so important to me, and such a valuable part of my life...even if it has to be across the miles. Happy Birthday to a great gal.

Love you and miss you,
Jay- Your Big Sis