Trick or Treating 2012

Halloween ended up being a beautiful evening despite the "hurricane." Even this morning it said we had an 80% chance of rain. Did it rain a dot? Nope. Feeling bad that we canceled our plans to have people over for the big night. I really thought Halloween would be rained out. Never trust the weather man. Lesson learned.
When the children came home from school we had Taco Soup and then hit the streets. I love every holiday with Jeremy and the children they are magical to me. Chief was loving that he could ring the doorbell and get candy! I really love Halloween, but am not sad about it being over. My children have been on a sugar high for about a week! I feel bad for the school teachers tomorrow.
Happy Halloween!

Pedro

Washing down the candy with some Vitamin D

I really love this picture! I think Halloween may be Chief's favorite holiday....

G left his costume in his locker by accident. Thankfully we had a backup, he wore Jeremy's convict costume. This is the load of candy after his first time out.
This was also G's first time Trick or Treating without me or Jeremy. He went with a few of his friends. Oh man, he's growing up!

Halloween Costumes 2012

Chief made the perfect Chief!

Beautiful Bean

 

G was Napolean Dynamite and Goose was Pedro.
Makes me laugh so hard!

 

 

Waldo and the Convict

 

 

 

3rd Grade Party

This year I get to be Bean's room mom! Love spending time with her in the classroom and she loves having me bring in Chief. She's quite proud of her little brother.
Today was the Halloween Party so Chief and I headed to Bean's 3rd grade classroom. They had a little costume parade. When we got back we had donuts, cider, pretzels and grapes. We then seperated in groups and wrapped someone in toilet paper to make them look like a mummy. Bean was the lucky mummy in her group! We also made a spider web using yarn. We had a guessing jar and Bingo. However, we didn't have enough time to play Bingo. All the children seemed to have a good time. Chief kept sneaking donut holes and ended up eating quite a bit.

Bean running to catch up with her group!

Making a spider web, the kids really liked this.

Bean under 2 rolls of toilet paper.

The girls did a pretty good job wrapping Bean up. Looks just like a mummy!

Beautiful Bean and her friend.

Carving Pumpkins 2012

So this year the squirrels that hang out by our front porch got to our pumpkins before we did. Every morning before getting on the bus me and the children would watch out our living room window as the round squirrel would chomp on our pumpkins. We all got a kick out of it and then Goose would go and scare em away.

The children always look forward to carving their pumpkins. They all did a fantastic job!

Fall Decorations Around the House

I had lots of fun decorating for the Fall this year. I really love these white pumpkins on candlesticks and I enjoyed cutting out lots of black felt bats during General Conference to stick everywhere. That's about as spooky as I get. Not a fan of blood and gore. I really love lights, lanterns and candles and these lanterns filled with mini pumps makes me happy.

Our Halloween Mantle

Hurricane Sandy

Dear Utah family and Oliver's birthfamily, (AKA Mom) :)

Hurricane Sandy is on its way. We could lose power, so just a quick note in case you can't reach us.  Know that we are as prepared as we can be. 72 hour kits are ready to go and we have lots of food, water etc...  If it makes you feel more comfortable I married an Eagle Scout. It was like #3 on my list of qualities my future husband had to have. :) Jeremy told me today that I got my wish. We may have to live off of Mac and Tom. I told him I would be perfectly fine with it. I actually just had a bowl.
Life is Good.

The 72 hour kits all in a row and ready to go. Turns out Hurricane Sandy was just a trial run to see if we were prepared. It brought lots of peace, knowing that we were prepared. Grateful for the Prophet who teaches us to be prepared and get our homes in order.
Note to self: Beef Jerky does in fact EXPIRE!
 

Remembering our Sweet Baby Maxwell on his 7th Birthday

 

Not a single day goes by that I don't remember the events that took place on the night of October 29th. We welcomed our 4th baby Maxwell into the world. Little did we know that our lives would forever be changed in an instant. I used to take things for granted. I like to think I don't anymore. I love my family so much and am so grateful that during Maxwell's delivery I didn't lose my life. My family is everything to me. Which is the reason I fought so hard to stay. Maxwell has impacted our lives tremendously. We are so incredibly blessed to have Maxwell as our son. We have learned and grown so much through losing a child. Life is different now. There is defiantly heartache, pain and someone obviously missing in our family. It isn't as raw as it was in the begining thanks to the atonement; however the hole in your heart is still there. Maxwell is missing from our family.  However, with the sadness there is tremendous amounts of joy and happiness. I am so grateful for my knowledge of life after death. I know that our loved ones that have went on are near. I know we will see our loved ones again. I know my Savior lives and loves me. I know he is perfectly aware of the pain, sorrow, grief, angusih and heartache that we all feel at some time or another. Maxwell is no longer living here on earth, but I know without a doubt that he is still living. Our Savior Jesus Christ has made this possible. How grateful I am for life after death, for the atonement and most of all for a Savior who broke the bands of death. Because Christ lives, Maxwell lives and that is a beautiful thing. Although, my heart still aches to hold him, I know that I will see him again. How glorious of a day that will be. I can hardly wait!!! Well I can wait, but it is something I look forward too. :) In the meantime, I will not take my family or my children for granted, they are my everything. I will forever cherish and hang on to the memories of the few short days I spent with my son. Life is beautiful.

 

 

Jeremy and I on Maxwell's Blessing Day. It was a beautiful and bittersweet evening. One that I will cherish forever.

My beautiful sister coming and meeting Maxwell on his blessing day in the hospital.

Love my sister in laws!

My sister and brother. My sister delivered her beautiful little girl Emery a couple weeks after Maxwell was born. So happy to have Emery in our family. She is a sweet reminder.

My Mother and Father in Law so supportive.

My Mom and Dad
I feel bad I think I put my mom through the ringer. They are incredible and were a huge support too.

My little Goose, so handsome at his brother Maxwell's funeral.
 

All the cousins and family let white balloons go. It was a beautuful and comforting site.

Why everything was happening, my 3 little piglets were at home playing in the leaves. I love these children of mine. So blessed.

My sisters and family were so supportive. So grateful.

 

Our precious boy. We love you Maxwell!!! Until we meet again......