BOO hoo...

Is it too early to get the holiday blues? Since when did Halloween become a stressful holiday? Between getting the right costumes to a whole weekend devoted to Halloween parties, I'm already tired of the holiday. And it's still 4 days away! We've still got class parties, "boo" treats to get out, and then the actual day itself. Then you start stressing about how much sugar your kids are consuming, being the bad guy by constantly saying "no more candy corn," and it doesn't seem fun anymore. I'm trying to let it go, but I think (at least for me) what stresses me out the most is wanting my kids to have the hugest amount of fun and memories possible. Everyday it's, "Take a deep breath. Only do what they are going to remember, Lindsey." When is it MY turn to have fun and enjoy a holiday? I think a trip to the pumpkin patch is out of the question.

The Haunted Gingerbread House

Last Christmastime we bought a gingerbread house kit with the best intentions of getting it up. Didn't happen. So we put it in the freezer and decided to pull it out and decorate it for Halloween. The girls had some great ideas to make it very spooky. We had lots of fun at Winco in the bulk food bins picking out things to go on it. Then we made it a family night activity of putting it together...

look at what a good mom I am!

Afton had more fun pulling candy off and eating it, as we suspected she would. An after-pigtails-mullet much?

The finished product...now everyone get in bed!

"Let's go fly a kite"

Quick, everyone have a turn with the crappy Dora kite before it breaks!

Mia's holding on tight. It was a very windy day!

Even cute little Afton has a turn.

Annie obviously thought that by raising her arm higher in the air, the kite would go much higher up too.

Thanks Daddy, for repeatedly getting it out of the neighbors tree, untangling the string, and getting it back up for us to enjoy! It was worth all 99 pennies I paid for it. Below is Afton helping Daddy once when it was down. Please don't judge...the "one pigtail look" is so in.

the accidental pumpkin

So around the beginning of summer, my mom found this mysterious weed that she said "looks like something." She decided not to pull it, and we kept an eye on it as it turned into a little pumkin vine. Then the other day it died and Mom came in with the miniest pumpkin we had ever seen! It made me all excited for fall. I think it's even hollow like a big pumkin would be, so we are going to try to carve it on Halloween. Pictures to come (if it actually works)...

Baby Tucker making a fat face with the baby pumpkin.

Conference Sunday

Had a relaxing conference Sunday. It's always good to be reminded of the things we should be doing, but more importantly that we are loved by our Heavenly Father. Jesse and Leah came over with the kids, and so did Tim's parents. Tucker enjoyed himself. Even when he was being smothered with kisses by Uncle Jesse. How could you not though?