The Group

Not having Kyle around was pretty rough for all of us, including him, but this bunch totally came to our rescue and made the evening so much more fun!

SO Awesome!

With Kyle in Vienna this WHOLE week, I was pretty much spent by this afternoon, and I still had a mummy door, mummy dogs, costuming, Halloween shows, and trick or treating to handle on my own.

The door turned out perfect and the kids all looked great.  Our neighbors allowed us to tag along with their group so the kids and I could all get some social interaction/support.  I was way worried about losing everyone in all the crowds, but was pleasantly surprised how well Ben listened and how well the older three stuck together.  The whole night, including bedtime was definitely full of tender mercies!

Preschool Halloween

Lucky for Norah, one of her days at preschool this week happened to be Halloween. That meant she got to get in her costume before anybody else and wear it all day long.  She was so excited to be able to wear make-up again!  When I dropped her off she looked like the above.  When I came for her party an hour later she looked like the below.  Preschool sure can do a number on a pair of nylons and the most beautiful 80's hair!

Too Funny

Having all the windows down and the sunroof open results in some amazing displays of hair by Norah.  I took this picture while driving, not very safe at all, so it's not the best, but on the other hand it is the best!

Trunk R Treat

Kyle and I pulled our costumes out today after we realized what a missed opportunity it would be if we didn't get dressed up tonight!  The kids have had their costumes for at least a week and they all look great.  Norah's boot covers got cut off in this picture, but they fit her like a glove (after a ton of altering and pinning to her nylons) and actually stayed up all night long.

We also decorated our QX56 with some teeth, made 24 cornbread muffins and bought 24 BIG oatmeal creme pies.  We definitely put our Komenda stamp on this church activity.  The hardest part was deciding whether or not the activity would even happen with the impending thunder storms promised at 70% chance.  There were clouds surrounding the area and after lightning as spotted and the activity was shut down, we were not in the car more than a minute before a total down-pore. 

The prayers offered on behalf of the success of this activity were surely answered.

Worth the Wait!

It took 6 weeks for the completion of this bedskirt, but I am so happy with how it turned I almost don't care!  The quilt and duvet cover are both new, and thankfully work with the bed skirt, because nothing was returnable! 

Now I just need to paint the chairs flanking the dresser, reupholster their seats, get a night stand or two and maybe a desk and make some artwork!  That is a lot to do, I'm going to try and enjoy the journey.  Ava is a little more impatient than me, because I told her that her room would have to wait until I'm done!

Boo-ed

I had forgotten about this fun Halloween tradition until someone doorbell ditched us and left an amazing cauldron of Halloween goodness on our porch.

The kids were excited to reciprocate, so we whipped up these baskets of pumpkin cookies and other Halloween treats and dropped them at some new people from church's houses.  It made for a fun family night that everyone got to help out with.  Norah picked the creepy fingers, while Jack and Ava got to go up to one of the doors with Kyle.  I of course got to create this masterpiece!

What??

Once we found out our season passes to Six Flags included October's Fright Fest activities, we made a goal to get there before the end of the month.  The last minute phlebectomy I had on Thursday should have deterred us, but we were determined!

The amount of time it took getting a parking place should have been enough of a warning to turn back, but we relented and ended up spending more time in lines than on the one ride, Mr. Freeze, and the one haunted house, Piggy's Blood Shed, we went on.

While in line for Mr. Freeze we got the low down on the 5 haunted houses offered during Fright Fest. According to some teenagers, none of the houses were scary, they were more geared toward families and kids.  Thanks to our skepticism, we only bought one pass and took the front gate guy's advice and went to Piggy's Blood Shed.

NOT FOR FAMILIES AT ALL!!  I am pretty sure my blood pressure sky rocketed while in there.  I kept wanting to be at the end and not have to deal with anymore scary looking people coming up and getting in my face.  Kyle said I had a target on back!

Glad we went, glad we are not going back!

Trolls

After donuts this morning, we had a little bit of time to spend before everyone had their games.  We had the most amazing idea-how about going to a park!!!

It is sad to admit, but we have not really been to the park as much we used to when we lived down the street from one.  I don't know if it's because we live further away, or are busier with the kids in public school.  Both excuses sadden me.

Either way, we made time today and the park we went to even had a little creek under the bridge.  Everyone had fun and of course Ben got muddy. 

Sugar Cookies

Yesterday Norah and Ben had gotten into all the cookie cutters and asked if we could make sugar cookies.  Of course, they didn't understand what that request entailed, but I thought they were serious and prepped the dough last night. 

This morning, Norah saw the orange dough log in the fridge and immediately wanted to make some pink frosting to go with it.  We made peach instead and topped these cute pumpkins with it and followed up with some more M n M eyes and a chocolate smile.  They tasted so dang good!

More Puzzles

Kyle said this one was his favorite, by far.  The kids loved it too, and maybe even learned a little bit about our land of liberty!

SMU Stadium

Throughout the summer, Jack's team bombarded us  with requests to sell stuff in hopes of winning a chance to play at SMU stadium.  Only the two top selling teams in each age group would be allowed to play.  We weren't really keen on the whole idea of selling, or committing ourselves to be in town on the holiday weekend the game would take place on.

We ended up not selling any cards and buying 4 cards for a total of $40, but his team won and they got the chance to play at the big stadium.  Jack's team has only lost once, until today.  The team we were up against were the 1st seed in our division.  They dominated our boys and we ended up never scoring on the big field, much to all the parents' dismay! 

Jack still had fun, though, and so did Ava, Norah and Ben who spent their running around with Krispee Kreme donuts in their hands.  Glad we got to do it, wish we could have won too!

Early Release

Whenever the kids have a day off of school or get out early, we feel a lot of pressure to do something special, since it's not very often.  We knew this holiday weekend started early, so we thought a trip to Amazing Jake's would be the perfect activity.

We got there in time for their early afternoon special and ended up staying until dinner time.  Everyone had fun, even Ben who never wanted to go on a single ride (go carts, bumper cars, mini train ride, airplane ride, carousel).  He just wandered around the video game area trying to play all games.  When he wasn't doing that, he was downstairs eating all the desserts at the buffet we were all required to buy.  Good times, glad we made it happen.

Water Table??

This little girl was being walked out to the car after preschool today and the teacher exclaimed, "that's really wet!"  in reference to Norah's cast.  When we got home, I discovered that not only was Norah's cast wet, but the lining was too.  A phone call later and we had an appointment at the doctor's office for a new cast.

She was pretty freaked out when they took the cast off and she had to support her own limb, but while we waited for her arm to fully dry, she didn't seem to be in any pain.  The doctor said she was definitely on the mend!

At first I was pretty upset that her teacher allowed her to play at the water table at recess, causing us this  unplanned two-hour excursion, but in the end, I loved spending some one on one time with this little princess and getting a NEW, more fitted cast to wear.

She picked green this time, and despite my reservations, I love how the color really pops with all the pink she wears all the time!

Working On It!

I found this autobiography Ava wrote at the beginning of the year.  I love how attentive she was at mentioning all the members of her family.  Some were better reviewed than others, I probably was the worst on the list, not my idea of a glowing review...

More Mummies!

Ava and I decorated her classroom door after school today.  It was so fun to do it with her, she was so good and cutting at the tape and I got pretty good at cutting the white butcher paper.  Her teacher was there while we were constructing it and in the end loved it!  After the mummy was complete we spent a few minutes spreading spiders and other creepy crawlies around the room to surprise everyone in the morning.  Good time with a good girl!

Boo!

I wanted to surprise the kids with this friendly chocolate milk jug in their lunches tomorrow.  It ended up being a total hit and a total surprise-thank you Pinterest!

ASU v NOTRE DAME

Ever since Kyle found out there would be an ASU game at Cowboys Stadium a few years ago, he has planned on going.  A couple months ago, he started feeling out his brothers, and fellow ASU alumns, to see who would be coming.  Well, turns out nobody could/would make it for the game.  Kyle asked his ASU friends around here and most of them either had plans with some family who was flying in or wouldn't miss the Priesthood session of General Conference for the game.

I told Kyle at $250 a ticket, he could count me out.  NOT worth it!  After another friend flaked at the last minute by not returning any of Kyle's messages about buying tickets, etc. he happened upon some $150 tickets in the 3rd row behind the 30 yard line.  SOLD!!  He snapped two up and I found a babysitter.

It was probably the best game I have ever been to.  I can't speak for Kyle, because in the end ASU lost, but the entire game was close and we were surrounded by pretty crazy ASU fans who almost got arrested for their antics.  The whole night was totally entertaining, can't say I've ever felt that way about a sporting event before!