Halloween

Each year I think I like Halloween just a bit more and more, did you ever think that was possible? I love watching the kids get excited about their pumpkins and picking out their costumes and then finally trick-or-treating and look at the loot when they get home. Halloween is AMAZING as a parent!

We colored pumpkins this year with sharpies because to be honest carving is a bit over my head, maybe next year. The kids loved being able to fully decorate their own individual pumpkins. Brooklyn mainly ate her sharpie and drew a few lines so I had to write her name to show more. Andie went all out and on one side of her pumpkin she did heart and family names while on the other she did the coolest pumpkin face ever, I am so proud of her creative abilities. Jake went all out on his pumpkin and had such a blast scribbling and doing his own design, I love that boy.

After we did pumpkins I had the kids test out the costumes and then I had to search for the warm clothes to place under them (the Canadian in me) and some pails for the candy. We had to search at like 5 different Walmarts just to find the pumpkin one dollar pails, I didn't want to pay more then that. I finally hit a Jackpot at the Walmart downtown. 

On Halloween night we went over to our ward Trunk-or-Treat. We had the wagon which was good to carry our candy to give away around as we went with the kids. At each stop we would take a few of our fruit snacks (that is what we hand out) and would give them back as they placed candy in our buckets. We figured since we didn't have a vehicle out we had to still participate and it has worked for two years like this. The kids LOVED going around and Brooklyn loved sitting in the wagon eating anything she could manage to open on her own.

After the Trunk-or-Treat Andie really wanted to go out door to door. So we went out just around out block and Andie was in HEAVEN! Jake was a bit more cautious with things but still enjoyed the experience, he will roll with anything his sister does.

After Andie agreed she was done we all gathered up in the van and went over to John's house (Zach's patient) and visited there with him for an hour or so. On the drive back home ALL the kiddos were beat. We made it inside with all the kids fast asleep and so they didn't get to see the loot they received until the next morning, it's okay it gave Mom time to evenly split the candy (and maybe steal a few of the ones I wanted ;) It's okay kids all parents do it).

Of course before I let the kids devour the candy the next morning I had to grab some good photos of the kids in their individual costumes. It's a lot easier to take photos of the kids when you have their candy as a bribe. Halloween was so fun and we are already coming up with ideas for next year :)

Dollar Date

Zachary and I decided one day to take the older two kids to see "Finding Dory" in the dollar theater, after all we need to take them to the theaters every once in awhile to see how well they do.

Andie and Jake did fairly well the first half and we struggled here and there the second half but overall it was still great. I love Finding Dory it is a very cute movie. After the movie we went across the the carousel and the kids got stamps that they thought were the coolest thing ever.

I love spending time with my kiddos and watching the joy in their faces, nothing is better. Jake did get a bit concerned at the end that Brooklyn was missing though but we found her safe and sound at Grandma and Grandpas house ;)

FHE: Visiting Taylor

Andie has been wondering so much about her Cousin Taylor, she has been a constant talk in our home and we have been loving it. Andie is so curious where Taylor is? What was Taylor like? When was Taylor born? Did Taylor have a birthday party? etc. Every little detail of Taylor's life Andie has been wanting to know. 

Andie has been watching the slide show I made for Taylor to celebrate her life. She is making sure that everyone has seen it too, she loves the songs and pictures!

Taylors Slideshow

We decided for Family Home Evening that we would go to the graveside and show Andie where Taylor is now. Of course this brought on a lesson for us and we were able to discuss that Taylor's spirit is now with Heavenly Father but her body is in the ground. I asked Andie if that is hard for a four year old to understand and she said "YEAH, and I am four". It was the funniest thing!

It was so nice to be able to take Taylor a couple of things to place on her grave and have the kids pick them out. The kids loved being at the grave and feeling of Taylor's love there. We miss you Taylor Lynn and can't wait to see you again. You are truly missed and will live on through us all!

FHE: Families are Important

We started out by singing, "The Family is of God".

We showed one of our family pictures and asked what this was? Of course we got the answer of Mom, Dad, Andie, Jake & Brooklyn.  Then we asked what we are all together, FAMILY was the unanimous answer. We then continued to tell the kiddos that Heavenly Father wanted us to come down to earth to be in families. We explained how families are so important and how we care and love our families.

We watched a video, "Families can be Together Forever".

We then went on to color this family picture and ended by singing, "If I listen with my Heart".

Temple

After my last temple experience I was in need of a new one to improve my mood some, plus Zachary and I had some questions to get answered. I think it did just that with our temple trip. New plans are laid out and it always feels amazing to have your goals set out so we can see some sort of light at the end of the tunnel. Life is hard but going through life with each other with our amazing kiddos makes living completely worth it.

Sometimes we go through hard times thinking our life is just a horrible wreck and no one cares but if we just clear our heads and really focus on what we want our life to mean we realize how truly blessed we are. Yes I don't have a house, a career, money, the best fashion or a great figure BUT all those things are just worldly anyways and why do we want to have our lives revolve around worldly standards when in reality they don't make anyone happy long term.

So here is a refocused me working on me and my family to live in the world and not to be of the world. Life is worth living we just have to find those things important to us long term to see just how worth living it really is. I love my husband and our three amazing kids!

Jake 2 Years 7 Months

Jake you are another month older, these months seem to go faster and faster by us. Jake this month you are two years and seven months old and I am starting to think in my mind how in the world can you be almost three, of course this means we will need to make it to Disneyland one more time before we have to pay for you ;) Jake at 2 years 7 months...

1. Jake wants to play with the big kids all the time. Jake has a thing with thinking he is older then he actually is so therefore he plays with the older kids. The older kids usually don't mind until they realize that Jake can't talk very well. You will get there baby boy!

2. Jake is taking more and more naps. Jake goes on and off with the nap things and it is crazy how often it changes but this month was definitely a nap month. 

3. Jake was sick. You know if Jake takes medicine or even asks for medicine himself he is really sick and this month he did just that. Jake is one you have to sit on him (not literally just almost) and force his mouth open for meds. This time around Jake would ask for his meds and gladly take the syringe and give it to himself, poor guy had a rough time with his earaches, strep and eye infection.

4. Jake has the coolest dance moves. This boy sure knows how to dance and if I could just catch each dance move on video I could get famous from my boy. Jake I love your little dance moves especially when you just stomp your feet super fast, it's amazing! I love you!

5. Jake is such good buddies with his sisters! He loves both his older sister and his younger sister, if any guy has to be the middle of two sisters Jake has been the PERFECT brother. Jake has so much love and care for his sisters he is like the dream brother.

6. Jake sleeps with his "Me" (Jake and the Neverland Pirate) every night. Jake always sleep with his Pirate and its the cutest thing. I love watching my little boy cuddle up with his "Me" every night!

7. Jake says bye to his iPad. Okay so maybe the kids go through phases of when they will say bye to random things because it's like a game we do whenever Mom or Dad have to go anywhere. The kids said Trick-or-Treat for the longest time and we had no clue besides just a game and now Jake makes everyone say bye to his iPad. It is quite humorous.

8. Jake has such a sense of humor. Jake does this new thing where he uses his hands as binoculars and it is the cutest thing. He will be looking for his sisters and place his hands up to his eyes like binoculars just like Jake the Neverland Pirate would do. Jake is such an amazing little boy!

Jake Oliver you are such a special little boy and you bring so much joy to me and your whole family. You have this special radiant spirit and I can't ever get enough of it. I love you my boy always and forever and watching you grow is the best thing EVER!