Trick or Treat preview

Last night Finley was refusing to go to bed, so I told him that Halloween couldn't come until he was asleep and that when he woke up it would be Halloween. That did the trick as he was in bed within minutes. And the first thing he asked for this morning was to get his costume on. So I decided to let them get all dressed up in their costumes and watch a movie & eat popcorn while I make sugar cookies to decorate tomorrow while we carve our pumpkins (I know we will be a day late on that but we are playing catch-up from a busy week). I'm a little biased but I think they'll be the cutest trick-or-treaters to grace my porch tonight.

Fall Fun at Cornbelly's

Ryan and I took the kids to Cornbelly's last Wednesday. We started going last year and it's a huge hit with the kids. Finley's favorite activity were the slides. He especially liked the long black ones that go Super Duper Fast! Berlin liked the pink rubber duckies in the Duck water races (toddler zone) and cried (that's the nice word for threw a royal fit) when she had to leave them there. The thing they DIDN'T like one bit ... the dark lizard maze. We took them inside and Berlin was hugging me so hard and screamed the whole way through. Finley hated it and said it was scary. So we won't be doing that again (I thought it was mostly just lame). Berlin also hated the cow train. We put her in her own cow bucket, and I sat behind her, but she was just too little and the ride too bumpy that she was sliding out of her belt, so we had to stop the driver 10 seconds into the ride, and I jumped in her cow and held her the rest of the way (which of course she still clutched my neck and cried). But the rest was a blast. It was nice to have a fun afternoon together as family as it was that same night that Peter went into the hospital with the blocked lung.

In LOVING Memory

Ryan's father, Peter, returned to the care of our Heavenly Father early this morning. He has had a long history with heart and lung failure and after getting a cold, his poor, tired body just couldn't hang on any longer.

It was difficult seeing him in the hospital with a gazillion tubes and monitors attached to him, but I'm so grateful that Ryan and I were able to be by his side these past couple days and spend some quiet moments together with his family, and especially that we were able to say goodbye in our own way and to hold his hands as he passed.

I know that he was greeted with joy & love by lots of family & friends, and I'm sure it was a sweet reunion with his wife Renate who left his side over 15 years ago. Peter was the most generous, kind, and honorable people I've ever met. And one of the most patient and brave, for he never complained once about being sick. He worked hard and played hard. He was a young soul in an old body, and I'm grateful that he is now able to live life as intended, fully & with much joy.

I'm grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for the blessings of eternal families and the comfort that we can find in these teachings & promises. Especially over the next couple months as Ryan and his family deal with this loss.

Spooktacular Decorations

I am a little embarassed to say that the house is still a mess, dishes to be done, floors to mop, kid clothes to sort, laundry to do & to fold, shelves to hang, etc., but I needed a break yesterday. So I decided to make something festive for Halloween - after all, I'm still trying to remember what box has all my old Halloween decorations and where it is. Needless to say my house is lacking in spooky & fun decor. Anywhoo - this is a Making Memories banner kit I got at Roberts. Being that it was a kit it was super fast and I think the result is pretty cute. A perfect fit for the 14 foot archway between the sunroom and family room. It says, "All Hallows Eve."

We also made these trashbag ghosts. They were a big hit last year so we did them again and we placed them outside on the porch railing, on the lamp-post and in the little maple tree. Everytime we leave the house Berlin says, "Bye Ghosts!" and when we return she says "Hello Ghosts!" They are apparently the best of friends. This is our topsy turvy ghost who got stuck like this in the wind. When Finley saw him he shouted to Ryan, "What the heck happened to him?!" I think he's pretty cute all upside down.


Quite frankly, Halloween was never my favorite Holiday, but having kids who like to hang up silly decorations makes it SOOO much funner. And honestly, it's slowly climbing the ranks of fun holidays in my book.

May the Force be with you

This is exactly what I was thinking when Finley told me that he wanted to be Darth Vader. Honestly, I wasn't too thrilled mostly because I am not a mask person and really, that's what makes Darth Vader, Darth Vader, right? Anyway, so I suggested he be Luke Skywalker and of course he said no almost immediately, but then said ok. Of course, about every hour and depending on who he was talking to, he changed his mind, vascillating between the two. So I decided to just make 2 costumes and then go from there, figuring that he'd have fun just playing dress-up in them.

I started with Darth Vader. I decided to keep this one simple in hopes that he would prefer the much more elaborate Luke Skywalker outfit I was planning in my mind. I made a black cape to go with a pair of tight black pants & shirt (clothing we already have). We bought a red lightsaber that glows and gloves to make it more legit. Even a Darth Vader trick-or-treat bucket that he could carry, because I told him NO MASK what-so-ever. I don't have a picture of him in this costume yet. Why you may ask? Well, much to my own happiness, he has decided that the Luke Skywalker costume is pretty lah and therefore has chosen to be him on Halloween, and about every day up until Halloween, and I'm sure for a long-time after Halloween is over.

Here he is in full Jedi form. I made the shirt, molesking pants, and jedi robe (this also doubles as a Jawah (sp?) and Obi-wan robe). We bought the boots at Target, used one of Ryan's belts, and his old lightsaber. All I can say is that I am VERY proud that this turned out as well as it did. I would be lying if I said I didn't stress over this one. And it definitely took me more than 2 hours. But it all paid off in the end. Especially since I know that this will last MUCH longer than the cheap store ones. The best part though was the way Finn's face lit up when he saw the entire costume on him for the first time - PRICELESS!!!

All I can say is that if Luke had been this cute in the actual movie, Han Solo might not have been the heartthrob who stole the show.

This experience has taught me that sewing for boys can be just as fun as sewing for girls. Finley's latest request ... a Prince Charming costume. Maybe next year :)