Halloween

A few weeks ago Ian took Evan to get a Halloween costume. It was no surprise that he picked Mario - he loves to play Super Smash Brothers. Fast forward to Saturday night - our church's Trunk or Treat. Evan refuses to wear the Mario costume - luckily we have an endless supply of costumes so he decides to be Godzilla instead. Weirdly, Joshua comes as Mario. Note: Evan refused to smile for the picture because Godzilla doesn't smile.

I had bought Max a Jango Fett costume but on Saturday he decided he wanted to be a Cardinals player like his friend Case. So...we searched many Wal Marts and finally found a kids Cardinals helmet. It was fun spending some one on one time with Max. And boy does he LOVE that helmet. Which is a whole other frightning post.

There was chili and lots of games, but of course my boys brought a football and spent the first hour playing in front of the church.

I saw a few of my favorite people...including this girl:

Xander - ready to get some candy!

Kim and Joe carved the coolest pumpkins! Brian and I handed out candy and Kim took the boys around trunk or treating.


Some angry birds and happy pigs :)

After Trunk or Treat Ian and I went to a costume party at Dr. V's house. I was Edward and Ian was Bella.


Dr. V and Rufus:Let me tell you Dr. V throws one heck of a party! We had so much fun and met some really cool people.
Today was Evan's preschool Halloween celebration. His class did a little parade and sang some songs. It was so cute and I'm so glad Evan sang!

Tonight we went Trick or Treating with Kim, Brian, Joe and The W family. We usually go in the W family's neighborhood and this year they invited us to join in. Yay! We had a hard time getting Evan in the group picture.











Megan was so good with Evan. She was totally fine being the only girl amongst a bunch of crazy boys!
Buzz got tired (Evan decided to be Buzz instead of Godzilla or Mario) so Brian carried him.

I went home and got Ian. He had fun trying to scare the boys with his scarecrow mask. There were so many freaky houses - the boys loved it! Their favorite was the one with a woman dressed up in a torn wedding dress. They called her Bloody Mary. Ben said she was scary but really nice once you talked to her :)

Evan with his stash -he quit early so he didn't get as much as the other boys.

It's been a fun couple of days. Let me just say that I am so glad to see October end. It was filled with stress, un-planned for expenses (probably the most expensive month EVER) and sickness. I can't believe it's already November but good ridance October!

Fall Break

Ian had the first week of fall break off work so we traveled to the Lodge to spend a few days there. We didn't do much - just hung out and enjoyed each others' company. The boys played 3 flies up:



Evan packed all of his toys in his backpack and went exploring outside.
Xander called some elk. As soon as he heard them call back, they all jumped on the ranger to find them.
On one of the days my mom took us to the campsite my dad was setting up for the Super Activity he was preparing for.



Xander found an elk jaw bone.
The boys played some more football.

Grandma and Grandpa searched out fire wood.
Xander helped out :)

Later me, my mom, Xander and Evan took a walk. We were interrupted by a rainstorm and my dad had to come pick us up. We were all so excited to see a double rainbow.

Proof of fall in Arizona:
Another day my mom and I took Xander to Sheep's Crossing to fish. It's one of my favorite spots in Arizona. It was freezing that day so my mom, Evan and I stayed in the car.


Evan and I got out briefly to go for a little walk.

We saw a snake. Thank goodness it was NOT a rattlesnake. Been there, done that.

Evan got warm and cozy in my sweatshirt. Also, I think he might have brown eyes? Where in the world did he get them? His eyes are constantly changing from green to grey to brown.
On the ride back I spotted a porcupine by the side of the road. Of course I stopped so Xander could get a closer look. He took a quill. We found out later that porcupine's quill's have a natural antibiotic in them. Also, if you look closely you can see Xander isn't wearing pants. He's actually wearing his sweater on his legs. His pants got wet fishing.
It was a fun trip. I spent a lot of time with my mom. We talked, did puzzles, went for walks and watched Little House on the Prairie. Xander and Ian shot a little bit too. We love it up there.

Hair Cut....Finally!

Xander kept telling me that he wanted to cut his hair the first day of fall break. Well, the first day of fall break was pure insanity! We had games, parties and traveled to the cabin. There was no time! So Monday Ian and I went to Walmart to buy some clippers so my dad could cut Xander's hair. Now, normally it takes some prodding to get my dad to give hair cuts, but this time he was just as eager as we were to get it cut!

Before:

During:

After:
I swear he looks like a different kid. And let me tell you something else: he has acted like a different kid too. He stayed at the cabin with Kim for most of fall break. I received many texts from him, urging me to read certain Conference talks and telling me to read my scriptures. I know Kim read scriptures and a talk with Xander and Joe every day. I am so thankful for her influence!

Xander and I have had quite a few conversations in the past week. I am so thankful for him. He has such a desire to do what is right! Of course he is a teenage boy who isn't perfect, but I am so glad that he wants to go to church, to read his scriptures and to have dinner together as a family. I love him so much!

He makes me want to be a better person.

:(

I feel drained. So much has been going on lately, that it feels impossible to catch up.

Weeks ago I signed up to go on a fieldtrip with Max next Wednesday to the World Wildlife Zoo. There aren't buses at Max's school so when I signed up I knew I'd be driving. Well, life happens and now I can't go next Wednesday. It broke my heart to tell Max. Seriously. And he didn't take it well. At all.

I hate letting my kids down. It's the worst feeling in the world.

Scorpion King

Skip this post if you are squimish.

Last weekend Xander went on a campout for scouts and came back $21 dollars richer. Apparently the boys were catching scorpions on Friday night and Xander caught this desert hairy scorpion. He promptly removed it's tail.

The next morning he roasted it on the fire and asked one of his leaders how much he would pay him if he ate it. His leader told him he'd give him $20. Michael told him, "Xander, your dignity isn't worth that price!"

Well, anyone how knows Xander knows he loves to make money. So...he ate it.


I guess he ate part then had trouble swallowing the rest. Then his leader told him he had 10 seconds to swallow it or he wouldn't get the money. So he quickly gulped it down.

Ewww....
He also swallowed a lizard's tail for $1.00. Yes, he needs help.

Saturday night Ian and I took Xander on a date to see The Big Year and to Kona for sushi. Xander complained of a stomach ache before he even started eating.

I'm not surprised.

Firestation Fieldtrip

A few weeks ago I went on a fieldtrip with Evan's preschool to the firestation. It was the best firestation fieldtrip that I've been on (and I've been on quite a few).

First up: watching a movie on fire safety. I feel asleep during the movie but Josh and Evan both said that was there favorite thing about the fieldtrip. Next: a tour of the station. This included climbing in the firetrucks, seeing where the firemen work out, sleep and eat.

Just look at Evan's face - you know he was dying to go down that pole.
Ms. Lisa with a few of her favorite students :)

All the kids got fire hats. Evan still has his and wears it often. Seriously.
Next up: Ms. Lisa got to be a fireman! First she had to put on all of the gear (btw, firemen have 1 minute to put on their gear. Crazy!)


Firewoman Lisa:
Then she got to spray the hose!

The best part was that the firemen let all the kids take turns spraying the hose! They loved it!

Then the kids got to play with the hose for a while. Finally, the firemen polietly kicked us out :) and we all went to Chick-a-fila for lunch.

We had a blast!