Happy Halloween 2009

When I woke up this morning I really wasn't feeling the Halloween spirit. I was extra sad, because I usually LOVE Halloween. But as the day went on we all enjoyed our time together as a family and as time to Trick or Treat we were all really excited.

Last year I stayed home to hand out candy, because I was pregnant with Eliza and not feeling great. This year I truly enjoyed going door to door with the kids. Bret was happy to stay home in order to follow the Utes game. Eliza only did a few houses. I mean, she had to do a few for her first Halloween! Then the older 3 did quite a bit. Darci lasted about an hour... Christopher went an hour and a half... and Xander went over 2 hours. He wanted to keep going, but it was getting late and getting cold, and (quite honestly) this mommy's feet were starting to hurt. Xander got SOOOOO much candy. What Darci and Christopher didn't hold out for was the neighborhood full of duplexes. By the time we were headed home Xander's candy bag was too heavy for him to carry and I had to carry it. All the kids had so much fun. I have to admit that Bret and I did, too

Xander's massively huge haul.

Ward Trunk or Treat

From the trunk

Tonight was our ward trunk or treat and Halloween dinner. Despite being a little cold, the kids enjoyed dressing up in their costumes and playing with our neighbors and friends.

Luigi and Indiana Jones

Darci is such a pretty fairy

The devil and the littlest angel

A wicked witch and two pretty fairies

Christopher's Halloween Parade

Christopher's school Halloween parade was this morning and we had fun watching all the kids dressed up at school. Grandpa Armstrong joined us to see them walk.

Christopher runs past while mom tries to get a picture.

Harry Potter Pumpkin made by Christopher's class.

Darci waits for the parade to start.

The whole crew.

Joyschool Halloween Party

Today was Xander's Joyschool Halloween party. He enjoyed the time and activities spent with his classmates. He comes home every week from school with so much to share and a big smile on his face.

Bryce (crocodile), Joey (racecar driver), Maggie (Princess Leia), Xander (Indiana Jones), and Macy (pony). Isaac was out sick.

Xander and Maggie (she's so cute... I just love her).

They were jumping and yelling "Happy Halloween"

My Xander... he's such a handsome guy.

Sickies and snow

MERRY CHRI....er.... HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

This morning we woke up to 3 of the 4 kids sick and now this. Our regularly scheduled program got cancelled because of it. We are all a little bummed. The JDRF Halloween dinner and trunk-or-treat is tonight.

Our poor little spider (he's on the left on top of the bushes)

The fall leaves just don't look the same.

Halloween FHE

Tonight for FHE we raked the beautiful fall leaves, played in the pile, and then came in to carve pumpkins. We haven't carved Jack-o-lanterns for several years and even the boys weren't sure what to expect. They were absolutely horrified when I opened up the tops, rolled up their sleeves, and told them to start scooping out guts. So, the kids watched a movie and I carved pumpkins. {{SIGH}} maybe they'll be more into it in a few more years. Xander wasn't sure about laying in them. Eliza was just plain mad when I laid her in them.

The kids with the finished product The Finished Product.

New Blog

http://mjshairdesign.blogspot.com/

Christopher Brainstrong

I had Christopher's first Parent-Teacher conference tonight. According to his teacher he is one of the smartest kids in class. She's tested him as high as she is allowed to on reading and he is very mathmatically minded. He is figuring out strategies and asking math questions leaps and bounds ahead of where most kids in 2nd grade are. He's still my sweet, sensitive guy. I guess there hasn't been a day of school yet that he hasn't cried. He's such a perfectionist and does not want to make any mistakes or do anything that isn't completely pleasing to the people around him. He especially wants to please his teacher. We're going to search for ways to help him cope, and continue to be super proud of him for how incredibly smart he is. Some days I believe he is smarter than me.

The girls!!

Check Your Boobies!!

October is Cancer Awareness Month. My dear, sweet friend, Joy, just finished round 3 of chemotherapy for a very aggressive type of breast cancer. Her strength and joyful (she is so appropriately named) attitude is such an example to me. From my sweet friend Joy... "Today is the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness month. I just wanted to send a shout out to all of my lovely women friends to PLEASE do your self exams! To all my men friends, please, remind your women friends to do the same. I shudder to think if I had decided not to do a self-exam only four days after my ob gave me an exam! My cancer is aggressive. What if I had waited three or four more months? Six? My lump was deep and hidden, and I still consider it a miracle that I was able to find it. Just know your breasts. Doing your own self exam will save your life! One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their life time. I promise, you will never think it will happen to you. I still can't believe it! I'm 43 years old! I have an 18 month old baby and I breast fed all my children. There is no cancer on either side of my family. It is my hope and prayer that not one person that I know will ever be diagnosed with this, but if it has to be, my hope is that it will be detected early."