New Pet...

Ashlynn saved up her money to get her own pet.  She wanted to get this cute dwarf hamster.  These hamsters are very small and don't get any bigger than she is now.  She is just a very funny ball of soft fur that likes to explore.  The best thing about her is that the kids put her in the roller ball when they put her on the floor and she just rolls around exploring.  It it like a toy rolling around the floor.  It is very cute to watch. 

And of course Ashlynn had to get the pink palace (cage) for her new little pet.  It goes well with her room.  She is just so gitty over her new little pet.

Snow before Thanksgiving??

It snowed all day on Friday (11/9) but it was too warm for it to stay around and then we woke up on Saturday to a winter wonderland.  It had snowed 12 inches in about 8 hours.  The kids couldn't wait to get out and play in it.  We even pulled out the sleds and tubes to hit the sledding hill.  It was great!

The nice thing about this snow storm is that we didn't have to shovel the driveway and walkways because it was again very warm so the sun was clearing the roadways for us.  It is nice that you can play in the white stuff and not freeze your toes off in the process.

Carter Video

I wanted to share this video of Carter.  He has been working really hard the last 3 months on doing a back handspring and he can do it.  Yay!!  He scares me everytime he does one.  I think he is going to land on his head or neck wrong, but he does it so nicely. 

This video was a few weeks ago and he is now doing them without very much support from his coach.  I just love his determination!

 

Halloween

We are sad that our one of our families favorite holiday is over, but we have many more to look forward to.  On Halloween we headed out to our neighborhood trunk or treat and got to mingled with people that live around us.  There were lots of fun costumes..so FUN!  Then we ventured out to the rest of neighborhood and the boys were loving the scary houses with characters roaming around yards and jumping out and scaring people.  There was even a person chasing kids with chain saws.  (I find it interesting that this is one day of year that we will allow our kids to go up to scary houses, and chase around a chain saw man.  That is what makes this holiday so fun.  Everything you teach your kids about strangers and scary people just goes out the door.)  

Ashlynn on the other hand just kept on wanting to go home because of all the scary masks everywhere, but she made it all around the neighborhood with out bolting away and just hung on tight to my hand.  I thought it was funny that she would stay by me until she saw who opened the door to the trick or treaters and then decide if that person was safe to get candy from.  She was not about to except candy from anyone in a mask. 

 

Matt was back at home scaring people with his lightning show on the house and the talking head inside the house.  He has been working on these projects for a few months just for the BIG night.  He was happy to put them in action for the trick or treaters. 

 

We had a awesome night with friends and glad that everyone made it home safely.  Until next year...

 

Funny...

This was Matt's costume for the party.  Inflatable Ostrich..the kids thought it was hilarious! 

Ashlynn tried it on....

 Riding away in the sunset...

Hugging the cute ostrich.  Happy Times!

Pumpkin Carv'n

This is must to totally appreciate the Halloween holiday...Pumpkin Carving.  Ashlynn is still not a fan of the wet gooey stuff inside, but she managed to pull through this year with out giving up.  Carter carved his himself this year which was very proud moment for him.

We didn't have time to go out to the pumpkin patch this year so, Smiths (grocery store) pumpkins had to do.  We only got 4 small pumpkins from our garden this year...so sad.  (Our poor garden just didn't do as well this year and since it snowed a few days ago everything is dead and shriveled up.)

We are ready for the BIG Halloween night!

Kids Halloween Party

 The kids had their annual Halloween party.  This has become a tradition over the last 5 years.  The kid's invite list is getting larger with meeting new friends and you can't leave out the old friends either.  So who do you cut off the list...well we couldn't this year..so all 14 friends came.  Yes, it was a crazy party, but lots of Halloween FUN!!  I was so glad that one of my Young Women could come because we basically had 2 parties going on at the same time.  So, it was nice to have another set of hands.  She even made some fun cupcakes to hand out. (Thanks Taylor!)

Matt set up a scary scene in garage with fog for the boys and the girls were in house.  They liked being separated from the scary and crazy boys.

We made a glow in the dark skeleton, played games, had treats and ended with a scavenger hunt.  It was so fun to see all the costumes and have the kids get together.

 

All the Gang!

Carter is a ninja (he is not wearing his hat) and Ashlynn is a fairy.  She took off her wings (they were bumping into things)