Halloween Fun

We had a fun Halloween. We had several days of Halloween activities. Thursday was Nathan's school Halloween program and Aaron's preschool Halloween party. They both wore their costumes. We all went to Nathan's school to watch him sing Halloween songs. Grandpa Taylor came as well. It was so cute! I love having a child in school! Nathan knew the songs and his part very well (he spelled black), and then we had cookies and juice in his room afterward.

On Saturday, we went over to Grandma and Grandpa Taylor's for the cousin Halloween party. Their ward was doing a kid's carnival, so part of the time we were over there. It was kind of chilly, but the kids ate snow cones anyway, along with candy, cupcakes, and then pizza back at Grandma's. The cousins always have a fun time together.

After we left Grandma's house we went and picked up Ryan at work and headed down to Springville to play with more cousins. The kids all had a great time together. They were inside and outside, playing football, shooting nerf guns, oohing and ahhing over Uncle David's trophy mounts, and decorating sugar cookies. We didn't get a picture with Michael before he left to go duck hunting, but the kids did get to see his ducks that he shot just before we left. Nathan was especially impressed and curious about it. It's so fun to see these older boys with our kids. They are so good to them and they love them so much. I am grateful for great family and examples for my kids.

Monday was Halloween! The kids got into their costumes as soon as they could. We were pretty early and had to tell them to wait just a bit before we could actually go out trick or treating. We went around our cul-de-sac first and they got fistfuls of candy from just the four houses we went to. We then headed up to the neighborhood trunk or treat. They started with a lot of candy and got much more up there.

Ali wasn't sure she wanted to get her costume on, but when they started handing out candy, she figured it all out pretty soon and would hold out her bag and (try to) say trick or treat. We never actually got her boots on her, but she was a cute little cowgirl anyway.

I had Ryan hide all the candy from me and the kids. That way I don't munch on it all day and when the kids ask for their candy I can honestly say that I don't know where it is. We are trying to ration it out. They have been pretty good about it. At the rate we are going (assuming there is no pillaging from munchie adults) it will probably last until next Halloween!

Love our little Buzz, pilot, and cowgirl without boots!

Carving Pumpkins

For Family Home Evening a couple of weeks ago we carved pumpkins. Nathan and Aaron both helped scoop out the seeds and Nathan even practiced his pumpkin design on paper so he could get it just right. The pumpkins turned out pretty cute and just barely made to Halloween.
 

Discovery Gateway Museum

The boys have been working hard to earn stars by being obedient, kind, using good words, and helping out at home. They finally earned (and kept) 15 stars each so we all got to go to the Discovery Gateway Museum. We have been once before the boys think it is the best thing ever. We went on a Monday afternoon when Ryan was off work and there was hardly anyone there. It was great! They could spend as much time as they could in each area.

Nathan built a house, they shopped in the store, rode a horse, built with legos, played in the house, rode the horse, got vegetables from the garden to the store, rode in the helicopter, and played with the balls in the beehive area. It was well worth all the work and effort they put in to earn their stars.
 

Nathan Soccer and Ali's Birthday

Nathan played soccer this fall and had a great team and a great coach. He learned a lot and it was fun to see him progress. He had so much fun. He scored a goal in the first game and was so excited! He is a really good defender and very aware of where the ball is. His last two games were really good. He scored three goals one game and four the last game of the season. Ryan was working, so I just texted him every time Nathan scored. He could hardly believe the flurry of texts he got! The last game there were some really good goals, too, from about 30 feet out, one through three defenders and one that he dribbled down and shot in close. We are looking forward to spring when he can play again.

Ali turned two on September 22! What a delightful little girl she is! She has learned to say "cheese" for the camera so some shots are pretty interesting. She loved blowing out the candles on her cupcakes. She is getting so big. She is a climber and pushes chairs wherever she needs them to get what she wants. She likes food and especially sweets. She is definitely product of both parents. We love her so much and are grateful each day for her beautiful smiles and sweet hugs. She is saying more words every day and likes to sing to primary songs.