HERE COMES HALLOWEEN

We were a busy family this October, but never to busy to stop by the Pumpkin Patch! Unfortunately we picked an evening when a storm rolled in. We got out of their a little quicker than expected because the wind was roaring, we were covered in dirt by the time we left not to mention drenched by the rain.

Reagan's class also made it to the pumpkin patch and as the room mom this month I go to go with them! The weather was much better this time around.

Part of the reason we were so busy during the month of October was due to Jaxson still playing football, Madi was playing softball, I was team mom for football, room mom for Reagan's preschool class and Room Mom for Jaxson's class. (Both of which I had to plan the activities for the party), working part time, Young Women's Night of Excellence preparations and I had the combined YW lesson I needed to prepare for fast Sunday at the beginning of November. This was just in addition to the usual, carpool, dentist appointments, Halloween parties, U of U football games, scouts, dance, tumbling lessons, etc.

I did however manage to sneak in a girls night in the middle of my crazy month and a few of us attended our annual Witches Night Out at Gardner Village. This year the weather was beautiful and we enjoying shopping and eating at Archibald's. The only missing was Jolynn! She started this tradition and it just wasn't the same, not having her there and sporting our witches attire together.

I always dread carving pumpkins because of the mess it makes - I like the actual carving part, just not the sticky clean up. We even got my dad involved this year on the carving. We also painted pumpkins this year because we had so many small pumpkins come from our pumpkin patch in the backyard. Most of them were too small for carving, so we spent one Sunday afternoon painting away. I think this is my preferred method going forward. The kids were amazing at what they were able to paint. Madi has such an artistic talent and she created several angry birds pumpkins. Dan and I were very impressed, so was Jaxson as he tried to paint an angry bird as well. Dan and Jaxson ended up painting the Scream ghost, it looked amazing on our porch! Reagan and I created a pink princess pig that she ended up taking to preschool.

Halloween wouldn't be Halloween with out the annual party that Grammie throws for the police department families. We love going there for dinner, games and treats.

On Melissa's birthday this year, we decided to do a progressive dinner. We started out the Galloway's for appetizers, which included: little smokies, bacon wrapped tator-tots, and beer bread and spinach dip. She also made the most darling mummy drinks out of bandages.

Next we headed over to the Scott and Ali's for some salad. They made a delicious spinach and strawberry salad (So I heard - I don't eat salad myself) and then it was off to Richard's for Chicken Tortilla Soup.

By the time we made it our our home for the main course, I was already full! We all gorged ourselves anyway with french dip sandwiches, baked potato chips/fries and Halloween punch. But that's not all, then we cruised over to Grammie and Papa's house for dessert. We had Chocolate Molten Cake and it was divine! I think I gain 5 pounds in one day. It's never good to eat so much you are ready to explode and now cant enjoy the remainder of the evening. (But it was so much fun and I would do it again next year!)

Reagan had the cutest preschool program for Halloween! They class sand songs, did tricks and told jokes. Reagan's part in the program was to tell the following joke. What is a monsters favorite treat? (I don't know hooky spooky, the class would say) An ice-SCREAM cone! I also got assist with the class party as part of my homeroom mother responsibilities this month. So Reagan and decided to do caramel apples and the cute mummy juice boxes Melissa made at the progressive dinner. I brought my crock pot with warmed caramel and I dipped the apples for the kids and they decorated them. Next we wrapped the juice boxes and glued goggely eyes on them. The kids loved eating their apples and taking home their mummies

A few years ago I started a tradition where I make jack-o-lantern pancakes for breakfast. This year was no exception! Although this is the first year I have had to make them on a school day because the past couple of years Halloween has fallen over the weekend, or the kids have been off-track. This was actually the first year Jaxson has been in school on Halloween in several years, so Reagan and I went over to the school to watch the Halloween parade, then we came back to prepare for the Halloween party at school. I also had to prepare the annual dinner in a pumpkin and breadsticks, which has also become a tradition at our home. Grammie was out of town this year for Halloween, so we didn't get spudnuts - what a disappointment that was. I was missing the thought of having doughnuts that I stopped by the grocery store and picked up some Krispie Kreme's to have instead.

This was the first year that Reagan and I met up with friends to go trick-or-treating. She had so much fun with the girls and just hung onto Isabel Bentley. She was super sweet with her as they held hands from house to house. The weather was unbelieveable and we didn't even have to wear jackets. Jaxson went off trick-or treating with Jacob and Madi ended up trick-or-treating with her friend Sierra in her neighborhood.

Madi dressed up as a Justin Bieber stalker and had his birthday as her cell number. I decided to be Dr. Fever and try and cure the girls of the Bieber fever! (So far it hasn't worked)

The only downfall on the night was when Madi and her friend came back to our neighborhood to trick-or-trick, they were both egged. We couldn't believe that someone in our neighborhood would do such a thing. The girls came into the house crying and dripping in eggs. They eggs were thrown pretty hard and hit them straight in the face, neck and ears. They were covered in raw eggs and Madi really had a hard time. She couldn't understand why someone would do such a thing and be so cruel. Jaxson wanted to be her hero and go find them and egg them back. I had to explain that two wrongs don't make a right, but that it was nice of him to want to defend his sister. I had Madi get in the shower to clean up and calm down. In the meantime Dan called the police to notify them of the incident, so that if the teenagers were still out about egging, that hopefully the cops presence in the neighborhood would scare them away and no one else would have to go through the same experience. I believe the biggest lesson my kids learned that night, was never to be the bully. That it doesn't matter what people do to you, don't ever sink to the same level and always be the kind one, even if you have friends that are being mean. Because you have now seen what it is to be on the other side and how awful it hurts to be picked on both physically and mentally. Not the best way to end Halloween, but I good learning experience to say the least.

MURDER HIGH REUNION - 1985

Dan and I threw a murder mystery party for Halloween this year. Everyone had such a fun time a few years ago, that they wanted to do it again. This year we chose an 80's theme - and just like last time everyone went over the top with their characters/costumes.

We decorated the basement with neon colors, records, cassette tapes and 1980's movie posters. We had 80's style games: Twister, Perfection, Connect Four & Rubik's Cubes. We had an array of 80's style snacks including; Bottle Caps, Nerds, Pixi-Sticks, Zotz, Chick-O-Sticks, Candy Cigarettes, Hostess Snacks and Jello Pudding Pops.

Characters at the party included:
Danny Drums and Sally Sax - the marching band duo turned famous for their music work in the movies
Joe and Natalie Nebraska - the jock and head cheerleader
Bryon P. Keaton and Myra S. Keaton - the math nerds who become rich
Cindy Crawfish - class flirt turned model
Mike and Mallory Majesty- the prom king and queen
Molly Ringworm - drama queen turned Hollywood actress
Steven Spielson - Hollywood Director
Pamela Abdul - the pom pom captain turned Hollywood choreographer
Judd Jensen - class stud
Nick and Nancy Nixon - class president turned politician
Bobby Bright - valedictorian turned lawyer
Terry Johnson - hall monitor turned traffic cop
Bailey Babble and Randy Reporter - class gossip and newspaper reporter
B.A. Barricade - punk, turned private security

The entire evening was a riot! There were many colorful characters at the party. Rusty with his orange jumpsuit and black Mohawk. Ryan in his actual basketball shorts from high school. Heidi was hilarious with her math nerd/cheerleader image and braces. Dan wore gold MC Hammer pants and Erica had a "beautiful prom dress!" She actually carried her own red carpet with her everywhere she went. There were lots of leg warmers, off-she shoulder tops, ratted hair and jelly bracelets. James had the perfect nerdy image and Chip has a ridiculous light pink tuxedo. Jaime had on her cheer leading outfit and there were a few mullets as well.

The murder of Steven Spielson was no surprise as no one liked this famous director. He thought he was so much better than everyone else at the party(even taking calls during dinner from Jennifer Aniston - to prive he was famous), but the question was, who would do such a thing? There were many suspects, as many disliked him - was it the musicians who were not paid for their services, Natalie Nebraska who was afraid her affair would come out, the politician's wife who was trying to covering up her husbands indiscretions with Spielsons girlfriend, the actress who had secrets that only Spielson knew? Ultimately the truth would come out as the night progressed!

What a fun evening with friends, nothing like Halloween to spice things up a little bit. Definiatley not your average date night (Dinner and a Movie) IT WAS LIKE, SO MUCH BETTER - TOTALLY RAD!

FALL BALL

Madi played softball again this fall and really started loving the game! She was able to play with a couple of friends from school, Sierra and Angelica (aka: Billy and Jello) Sierra's dad was also one of the coaches. They named their team Smoke because of the color of their jersey's. It was kind of interesting to yell "GO SMOKE," when the team was doing well!

I saw a lot more confidence in Madi this season, she was better prepared both up to bat and in the outfield. Sometime during the season Dan took Madi to the batting cages and a lady corrected Madi's swing and told her what she could do to improve. It helped tremendously! Madi even ended up purchasing her own bat and stated she wanted to play in the spring!

WHO IS THE HOLY GHOST?

Recently I have discovered that Reagan is always by my side. She follows me around everywhere and since the other kids are in school, we tend to do most things together. She even follows me into the bathroom. It seems as if I am never alone because she is always there, right beside me.

After making this discovery I started telling people that she was my consent companion - like the Holy Ghost. One day I told her she was my little Holy Ghost. She immediately responded by saying "I'm not the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost is in your hear, right here." (She used her hand to symbolize where her heart was.) I then asked her, "Did you learn that in primary?" She told me "No," and then said "Grammie taught me."

I thought it was one of the cutest things she has ever said. I guess my mom's Family Home Evening lessons on the 4th Monday of every month do register with the kids, even thought it seems like complete chaos.