The month that never ends...

...is finally OVER!  I swear October never used to feel this LONG.  But, this year, by the time Halloween came...we were MORE than ready.

I took Summer to one more pumpkin patch:

We had our ward party:

Then we finally got to go trick or treating:

Summer did such a good job saying "trick or treat" and "thank you"...she wasn't ever scared when people opened the door wearing creepy masks.  She kept saying "is this the last door?"  then I would say "no, there's lost more" she would say "oh thank you!"  I think she had fun.

A lot of the doors had bowls of candy left out.  While all the other kids grabbed a treat and ran to the next door, Summer would sit and sift through the candy taking her sweet time to get just the right one.  Even when a person at the door gave her a choice, she took her time.  It was cute...and slow.

Tyson went trick or treating with his friend Riley this year.  When I dropped him off he said, "I wonder what Riley's costume will be"  a few minutes later Riley's mom sent me this photo--hahaha.

He got way too much candy!

Kya went trick or treating with some friends from school.  We made her costume the night before and luckily it was dry in time to wear to school.

Jordan and Ella opted out of trick or treating.  They carved pumpkins and baked cookies to deliver to their friends.  

Overall I would say it was a great Halloween.  But I am so glad it's over and we can move on to what really matters....Thanksgiving AND CHRISTMAS!

TWELVE

Twelve is a big deal around these parts!  For the girls it was entering young woman's at church and wearing makeup BUT for Tyson it's entering young men's (which means TONS of camp outs), wearing a suit AND getting the priesthood (which also means passing the sacrament!!).  Exciting times for our one and only boy.

This is how we celebrated:

Tyson's party started as a corn maze, but when the weather showed rain I quickly bought tickets for the pool..which I think was more fun...and of course the weather was great--darn PNW.

Tyson didn't know any of these boys but one before our move this summer, but you would never know it.  Such a fun bunch of boys who accepted Tyson into their group--just makes my heart happy.

I bought those red candles before I decided to put the Reece's Pieces on the cake...and they look pink in the picture anyways--blah.

The cake was delicious despite it's lack of flare;)  I did a vanilla custard filling and butter cream frosting--yum!

We were also lucky enough to head up to Canada for Tyson's actual birthday.  We had a party with pizza and cake at Lisa's and he got to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa and cousins.  I don't think he could have asked for a better birthday.

Then the following Sunday was the special day when his dad conferred the Aaronic priesthood on him and ordained him to be a Deacon.  Next week he'll pass the sacrament...can't believe how fast it all goes.  I have loved (just about) every minute of being this kids mom.  He is loving, kind, fun, helpful, smart, funny and just such a great kid.  Happy Birthday Tyson!!

Two Pumpkin Patches

We tried a new pumpkin patch this year (The Farm) with lots of things for little ones...Summer LOVED it. 

I didn't force my big kids to go to the little kid patch...instead we headed to Bob's Corn so everyone could pick a pumpkin.  The girls stole my camera and took their own pictures.  Summer was super upset when she realized that this second pumpkin patch didn't have all the fun things to do that the other one did.  She did cheer up at the end once she got to help wash the pumpkins...thank goodness.  I think it was the coldest we've ever had at the pumpkin patch, but it wasn't raining so I consider it a WIN.  LOVE LOVE LOVE the pumpkin patch!!  

BIG CHANGES

Our family has gone through some big changes this summer; new house, new ward, new schools.  But one of us has had quite a few changes all of her own.

Summer.

1.  She gave up her SuSu

Anyone who has been around Summer, knows that susu and blanky are really just part of her.  She can't go anywhere without them.  That's why it was heartbreaking trying to break her from her susu.  We tried many times just explaining to her that big girls didn't need a susu or hiding it or bribing her to give it up.  But nothing worked.  Eventually, after reading a ton of stuff online, I decided to try to cut the end off.  We started just cutting a little and it didn't make much difference, then a bit more and a bit more...eventually she had such a little bit to keep in her mouth that I think it made it more work to keep it in than enjoyment from having it.  She then started carrying it instead of putting it in her mouth and eventually lost interest--thank goodness.  A month or so later, she found a whole one in the car and screamed like nothing else when we "lost" it at the park.  Poor girl.  It's so hard to grow up.

2.  She quit using diapers (and pull ups)

I tried potty training a couple times before we moved and Summer just wasn't too interested (she really didn't want to wear underwear) so I didn't push it.  Almost as soon as we moved though, it just clicked.  I just asked everyday if she wanted to wear underwear and eventually she said YES.  That very day, she was potty trained...for going pee.  Poop took a bit longer.  But a couple weeks later she had that too.  Then a week or two later she didn't even need pull ups at night (of course that was right after Mike bought a jumbo pack of pull ups).  Overall, I'd say she was pretty easy.

Nothing cuter than that little bum after it's been in diapers all these years, finally in tiny little underwear:)

3.  She said good bye to her crib.

This one was hard for me.  Summer loved her crib (and so did I) and slept great in it, so I felt no urgency to move her into a bed even after she turned 3.  It wasn't until she started waking up in the night and screaming for me to take her to the potty that I thought maybe she shouldn't be in a crib anymore.  Her crib converts to a toddler bed, so I did that and she was fine.  Slept great the first week or two.  Now she has been getting up and coming in my bed at night, so we need to work on that.

As happy as I've been to watch her progress (and become less work for me;)), these last two tugged at my mommy heart strings just a little.  My baby is headed towards being a big kid.  I saw her the other day just running over to her bed and couldn't believe how much she has grown.

Here she is at the doctor for her 3-year-old check up.  She was such a big girl, answering all the questions and letting the doctor check her.  Luckily she didn't need shots or it might not have gone so well;)  What an amazing, loving,fun, sweet little person she is--we just love her so much!

School Starts 2017

Grade 11, 9, and 7!

Jordan and Kya started at the brand new high school (North Creek)...Jordan drove herself and Kya--can't believe it.  And Kya made the volleyball team!

Tyson started middle school!  After our move, he had to switch to a different middle school than all his friends but so far so good.  He even made the tennis team!!

Celebrating 70

I was so excited to be able to throw a 70th birthday party for my Mom.  She has done so much for all of us...always putting us first--STILL.  I love you Mom!

I made a video of all us saying things we love about Mom and we watched it at her party.

https://youtu.be/ZpSpo_i2At8

Then we played Jeopardy, with questions all about Mom that Lisa had put together that was absolutely perfect.

Sheri hosted and ordered Chinese food and a bonbon cake from a special bakery in Vancouver.

Tina made sure to capture the day in pictures!

It was so nice to have everyone there (except Mike :( ) to celebrate Mom's special day.

And don't even ask about the mustache...sigh.