Trick or Treating

The boys did not seem to be to into Trick or Treating this year for some reason. We spent the day cleaning up from our party the night before. then when trick or tr eaters started coming to the door, in the pouring rain mind you. We decided we should get going as well. Larry and Kathy called to say they were not going to come join us like usual on account of the rain. I was a little bummed out to be honest I have really enjoyed them spending time with our family lately I thing things are funner in groups. they really enjoy playing with the boys and show them such love every time they are with them. so We got dressed in costume and ventured out. By this time the rain stopped for about 45 min.. so it was perfect we only did our street and the boys were happy with that. We then went home and continued answering the door. that was Jacks job and he was happy to do it. He was reluctant to give candy to only one child. A boy from his school that had been giving his new girly friend some trouble came and he answered the door and I heard him say "Oh, not you...he then tuned to me and said " Mom that's the boy that pulls Adell's shirt" Jack said you can only have candy if you will be nice to Adell for now on" then he gave a piece. Adorable protecting his friends. That's the kind of man I want around.
We watched Hocus Pocus and then went to bed. After all tomorrow is really Halloween.

Adult Halloween Party/ Birthday

Colby played host at our annual Halloween party. we decided to make it an adult only party for 21 and over guests. we had a great turn out and enjoyed ourselves I think more than we ever have at a home party. Most of the group were co-workers/friends from Colby's work, I had a few friends there and both sides of our family came.
Once again I took help from Colby, Kathy and Larry for cleaning and all the guests were asked to bring a dish each. I got off without making a thing. of course I purchased chips ice among other things crazy how a simple party ends up costing us a few hundred dollars. oh well we only really do it at Halloween.
We had the house very dim but Halloween mood lighting was everywhere. The first couple of hours was filled with simple socializing and eating. Everyone kept commenting on how great the food was and what a nice spread it was! I was glad it all came together just as I wanted it. We had a desert table on the family table and all the filling food were placed on the island. the alcohol table we in the entry on the Bombay chest. it spread out nicely and kept congestion down. A large group gathered outside around the table and fire. smoking their cigars and drinking enjoying themselves. the rest of us got busy on the dance floor. gaga got the party started followed by Katie perry and black eyed peas. we moved out the furniture and enjoyed ourselves well into the early morning. we had a great mixture of people of all types ages and personalities. Best party ever! Colby and I kept saying how awesome it was days after. I hope everyone else enjoyed themselves as much as we did.




My sweet sisters and mom got me not one birthday cake but two a frankenstein and a spider! the birthday song was song and my neck we singed by the candles I bent over while blowing out the candles. Every one was in full costume as well I think we had only one guest that did not participate in that but hey, I would rather have them come un-costumed than not come at all because of it.

HALLOWEEN PARTY

Colby Granny AND i HELD A VERY SUCCESSFUL AND FUN HALLOWEEN PARTY FOR THE BOYS THIS YEAR. IT WAS OUR FIRT TIME HAVING A CHILDREN ONLY HALLOWEEN PARTY. I AM GETTING BETTER AT ASKING FOR AND ACCEPTING HELP. THIS PARTY NEEDED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. I TEEDERED WITH THE IDEA OF CANCELLING IT MANY TIMES BECASUE WE ALL WANTED TO GO TO CALIFONIA AND VISIT OUR FRIENDS AND DISNEY LAND SO BADLY. IN THE END, WE DECIDED TO STAY HOME AND THROW NOT ONLY THIS CHILDREN PARTY BUT A ADULT/BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR MYSELF. OF COURSE OUR AGREEMENT WAS THAT I WOULD HAVE HARDLY ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE LATTER ONE.
I HAD A HARD TIME DECIDING WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE ON CHILDREN INVITES. I DECIDED TO INVITE ALL THAT JACK DECIDED AND ADD A FEW FRIENDS FOR AVERY AS WELL. ON THE NIGHT OF THE OPARTY WE HAD 30 KIDS INCLUDING MY OWN COME TO THE PARTY. I TOOK HELP FROM BRYSTON, ELLIOT GRANNY, KATHY LARRY AND STEVE.
IT TURNED OUT PERFECTLY AND I COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT SO SMOOTHLY WITH OUT ALL OF THEM.
KATHY AND LARRY CAME TO THE HOUSE AND DID HOUSE CLEANING TWO DAYS BEFORE THE PARTY AND CAME THE DAY OF AS WELL AFEW HOURS EARLY TO HELP FINISH UP A BIT OF DECORATING AND TIE UP LOOSE ENDS WITH THE FOOD PREP. GRANNY CAME OUT THE DAY BEFORE ALONG WITH KERIANN AND HELPED ME PREPARE ALL THE FOOD THE DAY BEFORE. IM PLANNING ON DOING THIS EVERY TIME FOR NOW ON BECAUSE IT WAS SO HELPFUL HAVING IT ALL DONE AND JUST NEEDED TO SET IT OUT AND WARM UP A COUPLE ITEMS.
LARRY AND STEVE, KATHY'S BOSS SET UP THE MOOD LIGHTING AND WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN HALF AS AWSOME IF THEY HAD NOT. WE SET UP A HUNTED HOUSE. FIRTS YOU WOULD COME UPON A PIRATE GRAVEYARD lit with black lights and skeletons. AFTER THAT CAME THE TALKING GRIM REAPER BRYSTON HANDLED THAT. THE REAPER WAS TELLING THE KIDS HALLOWEEN FACTS AND KID FRIENDLY JOKES. THEY WOULD THEN BE BLAST WITH THE FOG MACHINE WHICH SKARED THE BEJESUS OUT OF ALMOST ALL OF THEM. THEY FOLLOWED DR. FRANKENSTEIN INTO THE LAB WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO TOUCH THE HEART OF THE FRANKENSTEIN, AS WELL AS HIS GUTS, EYEBALLS BRAIN AND SEVERED HANDS. IT LOOKED LIKE A REAL PERSON LYING THERE. I HAD IT ON THE BED THE WEEK PRIOR AND WOULD SCARE COLBY AND I FOR A SECOND OR TWO EVERY TIME WE WOULD PASS BY. WE PLAYED GAMES BUILD THE SKELETON, HALLOWEEN BINGO. DID ART PRODJECTS, BULT A SKULL NECKLACE AND HALLOWEEN SCRATCH ART. WE HAD MANY DIFFERENT FOODS SUCH AS SWAMP JUICE WITH A FLOATING ICE FACE, MINI MUMMY DOGS, CHIPS CUPCAKES PUMPKIN COOKIES CANTAOPE AND RED GRAPE KABOBS AND CUCUMBERS. everyone DRESSED IN COSTUME. FUNNEST PARTY EVER. THE NIGHT ENDED SO HAPPILY I WAS SO PLEASED.

Decorating for Halloween

We were so excited to get ready for Halloween this year so we started a little eary. Here is how we do it.










We added some cute cats to our witch that we have had for a few years and will soon be adding pumpkins, corn and gords to the new flower box Colby built for me. Jack the pumpkin king will soon be here as well.

Volleyball

I have started playing volley ball at our church with some other girls. I'm not the best but its not very competitive. It's a nice way to get away for an hour and be with other adult women. Here is last weeks game... we lost!

Halloween Dinner

We have made every Tuesday night Jacks night to decide what is for dinner. Jack wanted a Halloween feast. So we got online and picked out some fun theme dinners for Halloween. he says he wants them every night until Halloween. Every night well every Tuesday night will work.
We had Mummy meatloaf, just shape meatloaf in a mummy shape and top with provalone cheese slices and SLIGHTLY melt
creature meatloaf, Put meatloaf in muffin tins then top with green olives w pimentos, I used ground turkey for a healthier meal, corn, Rolled pumpkins: tortillas wrapped with cheddar cheese and lunchmeat Tortilla rolls with cheese and lunch meat topped with spinach u could also use parsley or cilantro sprigs & blood to drink



You could also do this with baked macaroni

New Best Friend

This is Jacks new Best Friend Boston, he has kindergarten classes with him. It is always so adorable to see how if Boston get to school before Jack he will wait for him before he goes and plays. Jack has other neighbor friends but he doesn't seem to like to play with them at least in the morning when I am there he just plays with Avery and until Boston gets there. The other day in the car Jack said guess what Mom! Boston is going to be my best friend for ever. Even when we are adults he will be my friend and we will play together and drink root beer and sprite and Pepsi and daddy drinks and coke together. We will even be friends after we both die we will meet in heaven and still be friends.
I can't help but think they had an agreement before hand to meet here and stay together, at least by the way he put it yesterday. Time will tell. We had Boston over after school the other day and they got along great. Jack really wants Boston to invite him over to his house I hope he will soon. He lives in the neighborhood just in the 1st development so a little ways away. far enough that I would have to walk him there.

Enrichment

We had a fun enrichment activity last saturday. It focused on 7 steps to better organization We had a guest speaker that is a professional in her perfession she travels around utah and teaches women how to better their days through organization in their home and in their lives. I was in charge of some of the Decorations. I was unable to find the items we had decided on previously and was started to get a little worried. So I went to bed and said I'll take care of it in the morning knowing something would come to me. I had to decorate two food table a presenting table a example table and 8 seating tables. And yes I left it to the last minute because of my change but I had it set up the next morning all in the harvest theme being that it is September. So this is what it turned out like. We only had about half the ladies we planned on but I think that was good because we did it in the middle of the day on a Saturday.

1st day of Kindergarten

Today was the first day of Kindergarten for Jack. HE seemed to be getting more excited for it the past two weeks or so. I am glad I didn't want a crier when leaving him, he did that a couple of times with preschool.

Colby was kind and wanted to be there for his sons 1st day so that also made it easier. He helped get the boys ready while I finished a up a few things. They woke around 7 am which was good I thought He at least needed to wake at 7:30. He tends to putter around in the morning.
We clean up his room at night so its ready to go in the morning except for his pajamas in the laundry and bed needing to be made. His dad got them some hot chocolate and then they were able to watch cartoons for a half hour while I finished my work out and Colby got ready for the day.
We then all had breakfast together. Waffles and fresh fruit! That should keep him full till noon. Then we got to getting dressed, teeth and hair then room. We got out on time but not before Jack was surprised with a new scooter. Yesterday we got him a new helmet and bike lock. He was excited and immediately jumped off his bike he was planning on riding and got on the scooter. We walked to school and met up with Tammie & Kyle and Era and Gavin.



The PTA had muffins and orange juice which Jack and I took part in, Colby was shy to have any. We took lots of pictures and left them as soon as they entered their class room. It was a mad house. Crazy every Dad and mom along with all the siblings. Hopefully its not always like that I'm sure it won't be. Once picking them up I had to run a little. I should have left when my alarm went off tomorrow I will. I thawed some burred treasure cupcakes

and had one for Jack and all his friends. They were excited and moms thankful. We road home to his new scooter constantly folding up on him. I'm considering returning it but maybe I just don't quite understand it yet.
All in all it was perfect. Until we got home. I had Jack shoe me everything he had done. He had one craft project he had done, a loving had story he cut out a hear and glued a Hershey kiss on top. He was a little disappointed that his teacher didn't give them all one like she apparently promised. I told him it was time to do homework and all hell broke loose he did two questions and got bored. We got in a fight and he ended up being sent to bed and then with the fit he threw on his way there he slammed the door continued screaming at the top of his lunges and trashed his room. So he was grounded for the day and his scooter was taken away for the day.
I gave him the chance to get ungrounded and scooter given back early by doing extra chores but he opted not to and spent the rest of the day playing with Avery. He was much happier once he ate Lunch, So NOTE TO SELF. Come home from school eat lunch then do home work. We'll see how it goes tomorrow.
My schedule ended up well today. I got up at 6 and went running for and hour then did my workout then got in the shower then I took care of the boys. I'll have to speed it up a little since Colby won't be there to help me every morning. Cross your fingers

Friday Night in the Fall

I look forward to this time of year. I feel the anxiety of the school children. I remember fondly what they are feeling wither nervous or excited. I was always a mix between the two. It is also Colby and I favorite season. Fall it brings Halloween farmers market falling leaves just a sense of calmness and relaxation. A peaceful thoughts come over me. Tonight in fact is fun for our family. We start with an activity at thanksgiving point since we have a season pass and then hit the farmers market. We always stop and get a slice of bread and buy some fresh fruit. I look forward to canning and sharing my canned creations. Every year I do more and save all year long so I have ample money to do it all. We have fun as a family and now that we are so close it makes-it even better, It so fun to see all the venders from around town come and share what they love to do best. We go every weekend and it never seems to get old. SO tonight is the night, I plan on making it a better day, cross your fingers for me.

The Hard Days

Some days I have the hardest time....being Me. I feel like I do the same thing every day and get no where. Why does this happen? I know I'm not the only mother who feels this. But so many of us are afraid to put down our guard and admit that this is damn hard. Some think, your a mom who stays home and does what ever you want every day. Well screw them. Today I looked at my self and thought, Michelle this is so trivial what are you worried about. But I do. Life can be hard, I look for the guidance but some days I simply cant see it. I try and try to stay positive and keep up a happy facade but that's all it is some days. Today is that day. But today I'm not hiding I'm sick of hiding and pretending that I know how to do it all and I'm fine by myself. I really don't feel like I have anyone who can help me. My kids are sick and I'm frankly sick of them, Well OK to be honest just Jack. Ave is so little its hard to be mad at his simple mistakes he's a baby to me still how can you blame him. The same should go for Jack but I can't seem to stay off his case. How do you get a child to do what you want them to do with out raising your voice and getting mad after asking them for the 5th time. I am sick of doing it all myself, cleaning the spilled milk all over the counter and chairs and newly mopped kitchen floor or the smashed Cheerios all over the bathroom kitchen hall and family room. I make their bed 4 times a day and pick up toys every other day and I don't just mean a couple I mean ALL of their toys. Friends come over and help turn the house upside down. Yet I'm happy to have them here to play because it makes the kids so happy.
So how do I find the balance? Today I just don't know. I'm just want to walk away from it all, leave it for their dad. I told Jack today that he needs to decide where he wants to go stay because I don't want him anymore. He was hurt, but I seemingly didn't care. I'm so sick of the same fights over and over and over again. Hours later I settle down and apologies but then.....it happens again. How do I stop? ?

Day at the Lake

Today we went to the Herriman Beach. It is Utah's version of a beach any how, it's really just a small lake with sand. My friend Melissa took us there a few weeks ago. It's really fun so I took a couple of the girls from our neighbor hood there. It was hilarious to have the carivan follow behind and attempting to keep up. I wish Karen was here still we would have had such a fun summer together. I'm more together than I was last summer. Although the month of June was fun to go to California with Karen twice.
So the kids just play in the lake while the moms sun bath and talk. Here is a few pictures of all the kids.
We had Tammie Richins join us with her three boys. There is Kyle Jackson and Lucus


Lisa Johnson and her three girls Abby Ally and Tessa she also had her sister come as she helps her out every Tuesday. Man wish I had my sister scheduled to come hang out every week.

Then We had Summer Furgison she is our newest friend and neighbor she had three kids as well gees I'm feeling a little lonely with the kid numbers.....naa just less spread out I always like to think. Her kids names are Haley, Esten,& Dawson.
Then Me Jack and Avery were there. We stayed for a few hours then we went off to visit Melissa, Will and Grahm while we were ther in Herriman.
It made for a great day and good conversation with the ladies. I love all their attitudes. They are all possitive and have great tips and ideas. Just the type of personalitlies I would choose to align myself with.

Block Party

We pulled off a successful "Block Party" this week end, very last minute.
My husband and another neighbor bishop Bonham "Ryan" have been talking about it for months other neighbors have been hinting around to have me throw another one as I did a couple of years a go but haven't since. To be honest it was not on my priority list but I do enjoy them. So I finally just did it.
I tried to make it interactive=e and put most the responsibility on others.
We started with just mingling. Kids were able to play on the blowup water slide that the Bonham's provided and we set it up in across the street at Lisa Johnson's house. We then ate. The Bishop provided hamburgers hot dogs and buns for all. I had every one else bring a side and something else like plates, ice napkins etc.
The kids decorated their own bikes and we had a parade for the parents. Lisa and I had candy to pass out so they could throw it out.

We then had a fun treasure hunt with 7 different clues leading around the 6 houses surrounding my house. It ended in Lisa's house. I made chocolate cupcakes and decorated them with chocolate frosting Lisa Amy and her friend I'm spacing her name she is from Korea, all helped me decorate them. They sprinkled them with chocolate oreos for the "dirt" and then a chocolate gold coin. Their buried treasure. We made about 60 since there was 49 kids invited and we ended up only needing about 20 so needless to say we had loads left over.
Only about half the people came which is typical and actually good for the fact that they had 3 days notice.
So I am using the rest for a Boo-Hoo Party that Nichole Sutherland is throwing tomorrow morning. I just froze them. We'll see how they turn out. I thought their moms could give them to all the kids when they get home from school. As tomorrow is the first day of school for all but the kindergartners.
We ended the night with movie. I borrowed my brother in-laws Nick's projector and we shot it on Ryan and Jeremy's white screen.
We could have shot it on the house though. I made kettle corn for all who stayed ahead of time. most sat on blankets and a few on chairs. I lost my cellphone that night and found it today, 5 days later. It was on one of the chairs cup holders of my neighbors. We found it today when we went to the lake. Seriously how many times can I loose and find that thing. Oh well thank goodness.
So the movie was a little embarrassing to watch. It was Iron Giant. I got out several movies and that was what all the kids picked. But I had totally forgot that it had swear words in it. Nice kids show to sit down in front of with the bishop his kids and all the men in the bishopric. I was so antsy that I couldn't even watch it. I said to my self, if they don't like it then they'll tell me to turn it off or they will leave, right. Neither happened, so i guess it was OK. I apologized to their wives but no one ever heard anything front their husbands, so maybe it wasn't a big deal. I still felt bad, so SORRY. you just don't expect words like that in a kids cartoon. oh there was also a coffee drinking scene with the kid. I'm not against coffee but having a kid drink it on top of it all, I was like ahhhhh.