Happy Halloween

The Last two days have been filled with Halloween activities.......

Carving Pumpkins!

(Joseph's, mom's, dads, Emily's, and Josh's)

School parade

Class Party

Trick-or-Treating at Grandma's office.

And lots of candy!Emily has a candy meter on her bag and every year she tries to get it to the Jackpot level. She came really close this year.

Trick-or-treating was an experience for us this year. Josh is two so that means he is the boss. (at least that's what he thinks.) When we started out Emily and Joseph ran ahead and Josh could not keep up. We asked them to slow down and let Josh keep up with them. They were still going a little too fast so I suggested that they let Josh be the leader and stay behind him. This was a bad Idea, because if anyone went even a step in front of him, Josh would scream "No I'm the leader."

After a few houses of Josh being the leader he decided that meant he always got to ring the doorbell even though he could not reach it most of the time. He would get on the porch and try to reach the bell. Joseph would come behind him and ring it. Then Josh would start crying and the person would open the door, and feel bad for the poor crying boy who's parents made go trick or treating, and they would give him lots of candy.

The most exciting part of the night was when the headless horseman came riding through our neighborhood on a real horse. He only came through once then it started to rain, but it was really fun to see.

I hope you all had a fun Halloween!

Halloween Carnival

When Josh turned 2 last January I was worried that he was having hearing problems because he was not talking well. Most of his words were just grunts and the few words he did have for things were not the English words for them. He would say Boo Boo for train and Waha for Grandpa, and Joseph was Go Go. Everything else sounded like hehahe or eerg. So the doctor referred me to Early Intervention to have his hearing tested. After testing I was told he could hear just fine, but they did recommend I put him in their speech program.

Since then, Janene has come to our house twice a month to work with Josh on his speech. He loves it when she comes to play and he is always excited to see her big yellow bag of toys. He has improved a lot and is talking better all the time.

We have also been able to enjoy a few activities at the school with the other children in the program. Last night they had their Halloween Carnival. So the kids got into their costumes.

Notice that they are all wearing something different than what they wore to Red Butte. I wonder what they will wear on Halloween. Emily is going to be a Vampires She is trying a wig this time instead of the spray and we did a little more with the make up. This made Joseph scared of her and when Emily walked towards him he ran away crying. I eventually talked him into standing next to her for a picture, but he was still crying. He also cried when he realized he had to sit next to her in the car, but by the time we got there he was OK. He told Emily that he wouldn't cry anymore, but he wasn't going to hold her hand.

The Carnival was lots of fun and everything was free. We had a yummy dinner of hot dogs, Cheetos, root beer and doughnuts.

There were two big rooms with lots of carnival games in them.

After the kids tried the game they got a prize weather they won or not. The games were geared toward young kids, but Emily was a good sport and did them all right along with her brothers. (the prizes were worth it)

When we got to pin the tail on the donkey all Josh saw was a big blown up donkey with a target on it's bum so Josh ran up to it and attacked it.

The boys loved the pumpkin bowling.

and the basketball.

My favorite game was trying to catch a bug with a spider.
(I didn't play but I thought the game was really cute.)

After we had done everything I announced that it was time to go home.

Josh was not happy about leaving, but when I told him we got to go home and look at the candy and prizes he won, he grumpily stomped out to the car.

Vampires

Ryan's mom made Emily this great costume for Halloween. She had a Halloween party on Monday for Activity Days and it was the first time she was able to wear it. She loved it and really got into pictures. Thanks Grandma!

Fall Fun

Garden After Dark

Going to the Red Bute Garden After Dark with Grandpa is one of the Halloween highlights for my kids.

We arrived a little early so we could get good parking and I was excited to see the fall leaves still on the trees. I tortured my kids and made them pose for pictures.

Once inside the fun began. The kids started out by painting their own faces.

Joe wanted spiders bats and witches on his face.

Emily drew a tiger face on herself,
and Josh just wanted to color on his own face with the crayons.

(I am going to have to keep the markers hidden for a while.) Each station had different things for the kids to do. There were a couple of crafts and a few stories. My favorite station had a Native American who told a story and as he told it he drew a picture in white sand using colored sand. This was all done by him pinching sand in his fingers and dropping it onto the sand. He was so good at it, you would think he was drawing with a pen. The story he told was the story of corn and how we grow in many of the same ways the corn does.




The picture is not not complete here, but I am glad I took a picture when I did. When he was finished he took his stick and wiped the picture away.

The highlight of the night was the Kareoke booth.


Joe and Josh sang the Ensy wensy spider together.




After they were done there were no other volenteers to sing, so the Dj asked the kids to volenteer their parents. Emily Imediatly rose her hand and volenteered Ryan. No one else rose their hand so Ryan was up for a solo. He didn't try to get out of it, but he did make Emily go up with him. Ryan did not want this posted on my blog, but that wouldn't be fair to Emily. Ryan says he didn't like this, but I have my doubts, and when you see the smile on his face you will have your doubts too. Emily loved singing with her dad and I think she will remember it forever.

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At the end of the night we turned in our map with all of our stamps on it and as a prize we were given a cherry tree. I am not sure where we are going to plant it yet, but if you have any suggestions (including your yard) I will be happy to hear them.

Halloween Cookies

It is a tradition at our house to make Sugar cookies every October. I wanted to do it early this year because I find the closer it gets to Halloween the more I don't want any more sugar treats.

I always give the kids a ball of dough for them to roll and shape themselves. The older they get the more dough I give them. Joshua just played with his like playdough and eventually ate it.
Joseph ate some of his dough too but ended up getting a couple of cookies in the oven.
Emily was trying to do it right, and did an excellent job rolling out her dough and making cookies. ( I did notice her eating a little dough, but even I am tempted.)

After the cookies are baked the kids usually frost the ones they made and then eat them. It is always messier to have the kids help, but the fun time together makes the cookies taste even better.

They Clean Up Nice

Artist at work

When Joe was getting ready for bed we discovered this on his belly. Joseph had drawn it himself. I couldn't help laughing a little.

I know this should not be encouraged, but they are only young once. I had to take a picture.

Semi Annual Scripture Study

Every General conference during the Priesthood session the girls (and the boys until they are 12) have Semi annual scripture study. This tradition was started by my Mother-in-law when I married Ryan. What that really means is we get together and do something fun. The activities have changed a little to accommodate kids (sorry Tracy and Alisa), but it is always fun.

Saturday was the big event. The night included Dillard's, Target and dinner at Raphael's

Raphael's was Joseph's choice because it is his new favorite restaurant. Josh really liked the chips and salsa. At one point he took his straw and drank the salsa straight from the bowl.

I love my mother-in-law. She is so fun to hang out with, and has a great sense of humor.
The group was a little smaller this time, but as always, a good time was had by all.

Where did they come from?

As a parent I am always ready to comfort my kids when they have to go through necessary pain, but my kids continue to amaze me. Things that I think will make them cry don't and I find myself asking why.

When Emily was a baby the immunization shots were always harder for me than they were for her. Even now when I get poked with a needle I have to turn away. Not Emily. she calmly watches them do the whole thing and even asks questions.

Saturday morning we took the kids to get their flu shots. Emily was her usual self and did not even act like it hurt. Joseph tried really hard not to cry and be tough like Emily, but it did hurt. He left the office still trying not to cry. Josh did what I thought he should do and cried instantly and was still mad when we left the office. (The green sucker did help a little.)

Today we had dentist appointments. Once again my kids are not normal. Emily loves to go to the dentist. She is always asking me when I am going to take her again. Joseph has somehow picked up on Emily's enthusiasm and loves the dentist too. They are always so happy to be there and the people at the office love having them come because they are so willing to let them work on their teeth. I thought this would all end when they got cavities, but no, they still love going. Last time I took Joseph to the doctor he complained and asked why we couldn't go to the dentist instead. (who are these kids?)

This was Joshua's first dental checkup. I went in with him expecting that I would have to hold him and that they probably would not get him to open his mouth. Again I think Emily and Joe's love for the dentist has rubbed off. He was a little timid at first, but it was more shyness than fear. He sat in the chair and started watching TV. The hygienist started showing him the tools and talking to him about them. She tickled his fingers with the polishing tool and then asked him if she could tickle his teeth. He said yes and then opened his mouth. When the dentist came in he opened his mouth and let him look inside. Not one tear, not any sign of hesitation. I know I should be happy about this but I don't understand it. I think part of it is the prize and the cookie at the end, but that never made me excited to go to the dentist. I am happy to say that no one had cavities, and on the way home the kids asked, "When do we get to go to the dentist again?" (What?)