Happy Halloween!

I remember loving Halloween as a kid! Shay and I always made our costumes from whatever we could find in the house; clown wigs, giant eye glasses, pillows and dad's old work clothes usually always came into play. Good times!

Over the years, I've found myself spiraling downward from my once love for Halloween into a deep loathing of the whole event. The candy is too expensive and it ruins children's teeth and their diet. The costumes are either too expensive or take 3 weeks to make from scratch when there are twenty other things I would rather do. Trick-or-treaters ring the doorbell after you've just put the baby to bed. You get the idea.

This year, I fell in love with Halloween again! This is mostly due to the influence of my friends, Lisa and Kim. Lisa celebrates EVERYTHING with her kids and grandkids. Yes, even Chilian Indepence Day! She finds ways to make holidays special by initiating and continuing traditions that have become part of her family legacy. She is a great woman and a great example of enjoying life and living it to the fullest.

My friend, Kim, is dying of cancer. She is married with two young children. As I have spent some time with Kim these past couple of weeks, I have been reminded of how important it is to use the time we have on the earth deliberately (for lack of a better word). Kim has done a wonderful job of making memories with her family, long before she ever became ill. She has photographed and documented her family's life, which I know will be cherished by them in years to come. Knowing and loving Kim reminds me to treasure every single day, every experience, every holiday, milestone and moment.

So, here's to HALLOWEEN and every other holiday I am able to spend with the ones I love!!

Josh pulled this off in about 10 minutes! We told him last year that it was his last time going trick-or-treating. But one of the great things about Utah is that kids get to be kids for a little bit longer. He had everything to pull off the look except for the bell bottoms. Jacob commented that if we had bell bottoms, we would not want anyone to know about it anyway!

Abigail enthusiastically called herself a "white sheep".

Jared looked fantastic as Count Dracula. By the end of the night, he had some seriously wild hair!

Beautiful Rebekah was a snow princess, and because I had taken so many photos of her earlier in the day, I didn't get any of her in her dress! She had worn the costume to school, then took it off to eat dinner (which is when I snapped these photos!). By the time we got everyone ready to go out the door, I completely forgot. Rats!

The Averys had a little lamb, little lamb.......

My friend, Kim, from Maryland, let me borrow this costume when I went back to visit her a couple of weeks ago. She made it for her daughter who is now nine years old. Abigail has a fascination with sheep, so this costume seemed very appropriate for her first time trick-or-treating!

I realize I went overboard on the photos, but look at this sweet face! I just can't get enough!

Abigail's costume consisted of black tights, sheep slippers, a black long sleeved onesie complete with fluffy pillow belly, a hand-sewn wool body suit and hat, and a little copper bell. Adorable! Thanks, Kim!

In the above picture, she is using her newest funny phase, "What duh word?" - which translates to "What in the world?" This phrase replaced the more colorful expression, "What the heck?" that she successfully used in context, thanks to the uncensored tongues of other family members (including her very ashamed parents!).

Oooohhh! Can't get enough of that smile! And this was before she even knew she was going to get loads of candy!

Okay, folks, enough of the wool costume already! The bell really started to bother her after a while. She would down the sidewalk to the next house, holding the bell against her chest so it would not make any noise. By the end of the night, she was completely exhausted!

But not exhausted enough to forget about all that candy! After a warm bath, clean teeth and fresh jammies, she was asleep before Doug and I finished singing her bedtime song. What a day!

The Dynamic Duo!

Shortly after Abigail was born, my wonderful and truly considerate husband bought me a jogging stroller so I could get some exercise with the baby. He assured me I would feel so much more energized and it would be great bonding time. Well, I'm sure he is right, but the fact that my body does not and will not run anywhere must have skipped his mind.

Doug is the parent that goes running. By this, I mean full out sprinting - no, I am not exagerating! People in the neighborhood are constantly asking, "Was that you sprinting out by the canal? Do you run like that the whole way?", to which Doug replies, "Oh, I only sprint at the very end". Yeah, right! Noone in our house will run with him because they inevitably are left in his dust!

The days have been unseasonably gorgeous, and on days like that, Abigail gets to tag along with Dad on his run. Of course, Mr. Zippy can't sprint the whole way pushing a stroller, but Abigail sure enjoys the off-roading!

Side by Side Concert

Joshua is first chair cello in his middle school orchestra, so he was able to sit with the first chair cello at Hillcrest HS for a side by side concert a few weeks ago. Doug and I stared in utter amazement at Josh's progress and ability. It was one of those moments to never forget!

Joshua's 12th Birthday

Joshua's birthday was a comedy of errors! We talked about the party for weeks, but the week of his birthday, I realized I had not sent out any invitations. So Josh took it upon himself to call and invite his friends. Here's how the phone conversations went...."Hi. This is Josh. I'm just calling to let (blank) know that I am having a birthday party in two days, if he can come. O.K. Bye.". Yup! I am a horrible mother.

Despite the absolutely embarrassing phone invites, eight boys showed up on the day of Josh's party, and they even brought gifts! They had a fabulous game of football in the backyard, enough pizza and cake to feed a small army and thier mothers still speak to me. Ladies and gents, miracles still happen!

Viva Las Vegas!

Shay (a.k.a. Momma Wallace) with her bump (a.k.a. Baby Girl Wallace), looking too cute to be 6 months pregnant! Doug and I stayed with Shay and Eric at the Green Valley Ranch - ooh la la!

The fountain shows at the Bellagio are just too amazing to describe!

Doug and Shannon at the Bellagio.