Happy Halloween!

Halloween was busy this year! I am glad it is over and only comes once a year! This year Emma was a cat and Derrick was a pirate. They both looked great and had a fun time. We went to Jon's work for the party there and then over to Grandma Trafzer's house so she could see the kids in their costumes. Then we rushed home, fed the kids, and went to my sister's house so Jon and I could eat and then we went trick-or-treating with them and Grandma and Grandpa Clark. Between the candy we got at the church party the other night and all the candy the kids got tonight, I think we have enough to last us until next year!
Jon dresses up for work every year and this year since his brother is now working at the same office, they decided to go as Pedro and Napoleon Dynamite! Jon was Pedro and when he tried his costume on for me last night I started laughing so hard I was crying! I couldn't even look at him without cracking up! I could not wait for him to get home and shave his mustache off! He used my mascara to darken it and he kind of just creeped me out! :) He looked just like Pedro though! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

This is Emma's daytime Halloween do!

She was trying to claw like a cat! :)

The "men" in my life!

A witch pirate!

This is only half of the candy the kids still have and we probably gave another half of all we had to trick-or-treaters!

Napoleon and Pedro

Emma's School Party!

This week has been crazy with Halloween stuff! On Tuesday Emma got to wear her costume to dance class and have a party there, then on Wednesday we had our ward Trunk-or-Treat at the church, on Thursday was Emma's preschool party and of course Friday...Halloween! We have been busy! I thought I would try and be "Super-duper mom" and make homemade oreos for the dance party and these really cute witch popcorn balls that I saw in a magazine for the school party. I was regretting what I go myself into and quickly realized I am not "super-duper mom"! Luckily everything turned out alright and Jon saved the day by making his delicious caramel corn for the school party, but it still took me 2 hours to cut out all the little witches hats to put on the popcorn balls! But Emma loved them and dad's caramel corn is one of her very favorite treats. Because Emma's Halloween costume this year had a mask and gloves I decided to have her wear her ladybug costume from 2 years ago to her dance and school parties. Here are the pictures from the day of the school party. I forgot my camera at the dance one! She told me she got lots of treats and played lots of games! She loves school!

Showing off her spider bracelet!

My attempt at witch popcorn balls!

Full House!

On Thursday Jon left to go deer hunting, leaving me to have a fun-filled 6 days with the kids! :) On Friday night my sister, Jeni, was having a adult Halloween party. I opted not to go since I would be the only one there without a spouse! So instead I watched her 4 kids during the party! The kids had a blast together! They all played in Emma's room together for a while, and then Amzi read Derrick some stories for about 15 minutes. Derrick was so enthralled, I thought it was cute! Emma and Brinklie had fun bouncing on the big balls! We watched High School Musical 2 and then it was off to bed! I was actually amazed that everyone was asleep by 9pm! Not bad for 6 kids ranging in age from 9 to 1!

Planting a Garden

Last week for Family Home Evening we let the kids plant some flowers in our garden. They had a great time digging and playing in the dirt and Emma was really hands on in planting! Unfortunately, the flowers have already died! But, Jon did use some basil from our garden the other day in spaghetti and it tasted wonderful! Jon also planted a third rose bush in the backyard and it is doing very well. Emma loves when the roses bloom and I do too! What is prettier than a perfect pink rose? As the kids were planting, Derrick just kept running his fingers through the dirt...just to get dirty! (What a boy!)

The Pumpkin Patch

Today was Emma's first field trip with her preschool class. We went to Mother Nature's Farm. Emma has been so excited to go and Derrick has been asking for weeks to go to a real farm. Minus the blazing heat (on my way home it was 99 degrees) we had a fun time! The kids got to pick out their own pumpkins and decorate them with foam stickers. Emma made a face out of flowers on her pumpkin and Derrick picked everything green and farm related! There were places for the kids to play and run around and lots of cute photo ops! The highlight for Derrick was the hay ride..being pulled by a big green tractor! The hay ride took us to the animals. They had a cow, several goats, chickens and pigs. After the animals we had a quick snack and then it was Bounce House time. Emma was so excited to go in there (she told me that was her favorite part of the trip). I wasn't sure if Derrick would get in, but he did. Now, him jumping....he didn't! I don't think he even stood up once. But he just sat or laid there while the other kids bounced him around and thought it was great fun! They really had a good time and I'm glad we got to go!

Not Much...

I haven't blogged in almost a week and thought I needed something new! But, not much has gone on this week. I got sick after my trip and have been dealing with a cold plus trying to catch up on clients after being on vacation. Not a super fun week. This morning I felt miserable again, but tonight I am feeling much better...I hope it lasts! The kids are getting excited for Halloween. We put up the few decorations that we have yesterday. Looking at our poorly decorated house makes me want to go shopping for more tomorrow! We'll see! The kids are doing great. Emma caught my cold, but hopefully hers won't get as bad as mine did. She is absolutely loving preschool and doesn't like when the weekend is here. Her latest request from me is to blow dry her hair straight because "it looks longer that way"! Derrick tells me everyday that he is bigger (because he wants to go to school like Emma)! He and I have fun together though, and he better get used to it with Emma going to all day kindergarten next year! Derrick has been a little more open to trying new foods! This week he ate a pancake with syrup, carrots, and a cheese crisp! Now, that may not sound like much to those of you with kids who eat well, but to us...those were huge accomplishments! And, he was rewarded with "num-nums" (M&M's)! Not a really exciting blog, but here are a few pictures of the kids taken recently.