Happy Halloween

This is Ryan in a costume that my mom made for my brother Brian 25 years ago, she kept it and it has held up after all these years. So glad because it made a great costume then and now! We got so many comments on how cool it was, and how cool his tail was.


So Brian wore this costume for a few years, then 10 years later David wore it for 5 years straight and then 15 years later, now Ryan is wearing it. He just may wear it for 5 years too like his uncle David did! hahaha (it will save me!)



Starting our night with a picture by "Happy Jack"

The wagon was a perfect companion for our night of trick or treating,

because even Dinosaurs get tired!

"Open the door, give me your candy and no one will get hurt or eaten!"

Which one of these is not like the others???

The twins checking out there loot.

Definitely a "girl dinosaur!" :)

Then once we got home, we got the candy ready to hand out to the rest of the trick or treaters that came by. Ryan was the main one to hand it out, the girls and mom helped a little, but Ryan ran faster and was more excited than the rest of us.

It made me happy to see him happy to give away candy too!

(and to see the candy pile get smaller and smaller)

It was a fun Halloween this year, we hope you all had a wonderful time too!

Here are a few videos from our night, enjoy.

Ryan's Halloween Party

Ryan really really really wanted to have a Halloween party just like mommy and daddy. So as a reward to Ryan for staying in bed and not disturbing mommy and daddy during our party, he was allowed to have a party of his own. He woke up at midnight and our party was all over and he started crying saying" I didn't get to do anything!!" so I had to explain to him that we would have to plan his party for another day. So when he woke up the next morning he was so excited to call his friends and tell him the great news about his party. :)

So after waiting a whole nother day his party finally arrived!!

With All 4 of them in costume the party was ready to begin!!

Ryan really wanted decorations in his room, so I put a few in his room and they started the party in their having snacks...Pirate booty, pumpkin cookies (thanks April) and juice.

FUNNY FACES!!!!

They were confused about the party, whether it was a birthday party or what??

but they loved celebrating no matter what the occasion!

After the cookies were devoured, we were off to play the first of the games I had planned for the boys.

The HAUNTED HOUSE.....

I pushed the couched together and put my dark comforter over them making a perfect little dark hide away for a spooky little haunted house for little ones. I put a squeally spider and motion sensored Jack-O-Lantern in there and it really worked, they really were SPOOKED. :)


I spooked him taking this picture too! hahaha

Then we had to open it up a little bit, add some light to the haunted house make it a little less intimidating. It also made it easier to barrel through it and chase each other with the spooky spider.

An action shot of the them being chased!!
Then outside for a Skeleton Bone Hunt......

The boys were thrilled with their finds :)

The Ninja on his way to save the day on his Trike!

Needs a little help from a super hero friend and some gas to make the trip!

Then inside for a balloon bash

And a costume change, or two. However Micah was quiet fond of his Ninja costume. :)

Worlds strongest boy! He hides his muscles well ;)

Eli the Vampire

The bounce house was a perfect ending to a great party.

I couldn't believe that after all that, they were asking me...."What's the next game??"

"Uhh, I'm all out of games guys!" I couldn't believe they still had energy for more hahha

But no fear, they used their imagination and began a made up game of "Baby puppies"

And then the mommies came to get their baby puppies/super heroes and saved my day! hahaha

They all had a great time, and it really went rather smoothly and came together quickly for me. Ryan loved it, and said "can I have a party everyday mom?"

"I'm glad you had a good time, and NO!" hahhaa ;)

HALLOWEEN PAR-TAY!

Joe and I threw a Halloween party that turned out to be Spooktacular! It was a "Groan" ups only Ghoulish Ball, and was a total blast!! Back home we had friends (Jaime and Craig) who threw a Halloween Bash every year which is where I got my inspiration.

We got the house cleaned, decorated, and kids in bed and then the party was ready to begin. We were able to make a deal with Ryan that if he stayed in bed the whole time that we would let him have a party of his own with his friends. Because this was a party for mommy and daddy's friend and no kids are allowed, not even mine! hehee He held up his part of the deal so next week I'll have a party for him and his friends to hold up my part of the deal.


Most everybody showed up dressed for the occasion and all of us had tons of fun and laughed out loud the whole night.

The Costumes......


We were the "Flintstones" (if you couldn't tell)

Kristi was "white trash"



Jeff and Jen were thinking more "green" and came as a doctor and a paper bag. But he didn't think about the logistics of his costume.....see the video below to understand :)

Mark and Maren came as a Referee and Lady at the Spa.

Ryan and April were the "White Tongans"

Brett and LaRisa were a vampire couple

Chad and Mary were a Quarter-back and Cheerleader

Darren and Sally were Enron and Lucille Ball

Jeff and Lisa were "a match made in heaven, the 4 eyed freaks!" The had everyone laughing with those masks.

The Games.....

Joe set up the first game, which was a Halloween Name that Tune. It was a big hit especially among the guys in the crowd. He played DJ and kept the game moving and crowd laughing.

Then a creative candy corn catch game. As a couple they worked as a team to catch the candy corn their spouse tossed from across the room. Most of them landed on the floor but it was great fun trying!! Here's a video to see....

Go Amy Go!!

great follow through Sally! Way to throw 10 at a time, great strategy!!

This is a face only a mother could love, but it deserved a kiss. It was really hard to pucker, not because it was so freakishly ugly but because I was laughing so hard I couldn't bring my lips together.

But good thing they saw the beauty in each other and didn't hold back.

We had a blast and want to thank everyone who came for being such good sports.

We can't wait to do it again next year!!

SUPER HEROES!!!

This is our Ry. Ry is a silly guy. He is a silly guy with a Big Imagination. He is a silly guy, with a Big Imagination, and Huge desire to BE A SUPER HERO! I think it's every boy's dream as well. It really is fun seeing him live out his dreams by dressing up in countless costumes. His powers are especially activated and come alive when he is with a friend with the same dream.


He is more of a silly guy, than a tough guy. Maybe his buddy Eli can teach him a few techniques.

That's better, getting "tougher"

There we go, that would probably scare off the bad guys. Actually no doubt about it!! No one would mess with those 2 (if your smart that is!)

Ryan and Eli sure do make a great super heros. They are hilarious together, 2 unstoppable boys who want to save the world. They sure have fun trying!!

The Quilt Show

The long awaited Quilt show has finally arrived. My Grandma is an amazing quilter and belongs to a quilters club in her town. Every 2 years they put on a Quilt show, and display all their creations they have dedicated their time and talent too. Hundreds of quilts hung up making aisle after aisle of amazing art work. My grandma is very proud of her creations as each truly is a one of a kind masterpiece. She has talked about this show since April I think, handed us flyer's each visit we had with her since then :) The day had finally come and I loaded up the kids and drove up to Cottonwood to see and support my Grandma.


We were greeted at the door by 2 sweet ladies, saying "Oh you must be Maureen's grandchildren, we were told to look out for twins!" After checking in and obtaining our voters ballot we walked through and almost immediately ran into Grandma and Grandpa Ray. She asked me if I had seen her quilt yet, to which I replied not yet and she took me by the hand and said "this way!" :)

And this is where she took me.......

Isn't it AMAZING!!! I oooo'd and awwww'd for quite some time, and she was surprised by that and asked me "haven't you seen it before?" I said " Not the finished product, only the bites and pieces you had been working on, this is amazing!" It really was breath taking, I can't imagine how much time and talent went into making something like that and then I read this....

This made me laugh out loud and also get a lump in my throat and tear in my eye.

Then another laugh followed when I was instructed to put down her number on my voting ballot :) But I of course was going to vote for it any ways. And she did end up winning a Blue Ribbon for this one. She had many more quilts, a jacket and a handmade doll entered as well. WOW!

Then Grandpa offered to watch the kids outside since they found a fun little sidewalk to run up and down so i could go through and look at the rest of the quilts and continue voting.

Then to be treated to dinner at Sizzler after a quick stop at the house to say hi to all the puppies. It's a unwritten rule by Grandma and Grandpa, "If we make the trip up and spend the gas coming, they will treat us to a meal at sizzler" :)

And when we get inside, Grandma always says to the cashier, The man at the back will be paying. with of course a big chuckle along with it.

We've only been there a few times but Renee ran right to the exact same table we sat at last time pulled out her chair and said "this one" We all enjoyed a great meal, but for me it really felt like a dash and dine. I literally ran and got the kids food, ran and got my food, got them something else, and they were ready for dessert before I had even finished my salad. So to keep them from starting a food fight or getting down from the table we were on to dessert. 3 helpings of dinner and 3 helpings of dessert, got to keep it even! haha Thanks for dinner Grandpa!!

It was a fun trip, I love my Grandma! Great job, I'm so proud of you!!