What a Halloween!!

I'm not sure if it's because the kids are getting older or what, but Halloween seems to get busier and busier every year. This year we were: a Doctor, an 80's girl, Hermione, a Bride, and Darth Vader.

Here we are at one of the Halloween parties (where Tyson had an "accident" in his pants so we had to leave a little earlier than planned).

It still was a lot of fun!

Kya had a parade at school on Friday, so I brought Tyson. They had fun showing off their costumes and getting sunburned in the HOT sun!

They all got a lot of yummy candy. Tyson and Kya were done after two streets...Jordan kept going!
Here's Kya and her friend Brielle at the ward party. We later found them on the stage swinging from the curtains!

Jordan and Mia with their vampire fangs at the ward party. These girls can't get enough of each other!

Tyson and Jackson stood still for two seconds so I could snap a picture...seriously they were running around the entire activity!

We also found time to carve our pumpkin--oh, and roast the seeds YUM (excuse my nudist).

Jordan was brave enough to enter a "find the gummy worm in the pie plate full of whip cream" contest. She didn't win, but she sure got messy:)

Kya and some friends from school after the parade.

Mike and I...you can't see our costumes much but awesome make-up right?!

I don't think this was in the job description...

If "Mom" were a job in the bussiness world, the list of responsiblities/duties would be endless. Here's another to add to my own personal list of "duties" as the Mom in my home: Fish Protector!

Can you see her tougue in this one?

3 Activities and 2 New Additions

We had 3 things going on this Saturday...

Our Ward Emergency Preparedness Activity was first. I signed up to make cream of bean soup which turned out COMPLETELY DISGUSTING. I ended up not even taking it to the activity because it was so gross. But that is how we spent the first part of our Saturday. Then we headed off to...

Jordan's Fall Festival! We all had a great time jumping in the bouncers (okay, Mike and I didn't actually jump), playing games and winning prizes.


We were not prepared for 2 of the prizes we won! We now are the proud owners of a couple of gold fish...hopefully they'll last more than a day this time:) Tyson named his fish "Juice" and Kya named her fish "Goldie". Then we were of to...

The Westchester Harvest Festival! We didn't play any games or jump on any bouncers at this festival (much to Kya's dismay). Kya's tap class got to preform for us!! She has only been in dance class for about a month, but she did such a great job AND she LOOKED so darn cute I could eat her up:)

It doesn't matter how old he is...

...he's still my baby!! But just for the record...he is officially FOUR--where does time go?! I love my little boy. I feel so lucky to be his mom..sniff, sniff.

For his birthday, I suffered through an afternoon of Chuck E Cheese. It actually turned out quite fun: it wasn't busy and Chuck E Cheese himself was there--Tyson got a big kick out of that!

Hey, I'm No Chef

I had the realization recently that I have been married for almost 10 years and I still can't cook...at least nowhere near as well as I thought I would at this stage of my life.

My Cooking History

Living at home Anita
-Mom cooked
-I learned how to bake plum pie and make cookies
-I could heat up a Pizza Pop or Eggo Waffle

College Anita
-Made mostly things from a box or soup or sandwiches
-Occasionally I would make a big fancy meal with my roommates
-OR my date/boyfriend would feed me:)

Newly Married Anita
-I seriously knew how to make 3 things: Spanish Chicken, Chicken and Rice Bake, and Spaghetti

Okay, so my list of "dinners" that I make is significantly longer than it was when I first got married, but now that I have the urge to really learn how to make more things, hopefully I will become a better cook too. Wish me luck...

(Tonight was my first attempt at Potato Soup...turned out pretty yummy)

Mission Accomplished

I had the great idea of taking the family to Disneyland yesterday with the single mission of seeing the fireworks. I had no idea what I was getting myself into...Friday night at Disneyland is absolute craziness. But after seeing the looks on my kids faces during the fireworks (they have never seen good fireworks, since I am a mean mom and never let them stay up that late), it was definitely worth it (well, except Tyson who thought the "Halloween" fireworks were WAY too scary for a little boy).

It was worth...standing in line for an hour for our food.

It was worth...the extra half hour tacked onto our drive because of traffic.

It was worth...waiting in another line for the bathroom.

It was worth...sitting on the cement listening to the kids complain about being uncomfortable.

It was worth...standing in extra long lines for the rides.

It was worth...getting my fingers stepped on by the little boy behind us.

It was worth...almost getting trampled by the crowds trying to get out of the park right after the fireworks were over.

Oh and did I mention I have a new favorite ride: Toy Story!!

Halloween Here We Come

We are ready for Halloween--finally!!

Our house has been taken over by spider webs.

Our kids all have costumes.

And I think I know what Mike and I are going to be:)

Our Hot Spots

We didn't get to do everything we wanted to in Utah (ie.eat at Brick Oven), but we got pretty darn close. Here's a few of our "spots":

The new indoor football field

Jordan's first home (Union Square)

My first BYU apartment (that Mike claimed was torn down)

Mike's apartment when we met

At the top of the Y--Yah!!

The engagement spot:)

The Cougareat

Creamery on 9th

Salt Lake Temple (where we got married)

Utah = Fun

We just got back last night from a much anticipated trip to Utah! I hadn't been back for EIGHT years!!! We had a fabulous time visiting BYU campus, hiking the Y, visiting old friends, taking pictures of all our memorable spots, seeing the hospital where Jordan was born, and hanging out at temple square. I forgot how beautiful it is up there...and how cheap the houses are...grrr! Anyways, we had a fabulous trip together as a family. As soon as I transfer pictures, I will post them. Oh, and as wonderful as Utah is, it's nice to be back to the sunshine and warm weather:)