Halloween

A couple of days before Halloween the kids carved

their pumpkins in the garage. 

On Halloween night before the kids got ready to

Trick or Treat Great Grandpa Gardner and Lois

came over to see the kids and give them a Halloween

treat. 

 Of course the kids had a hard time eating dinner

at 4:00 but when all their friends starting getting

ready they were dying to. 

Owen as a Fluffy Duck

 Sierra as Tinker Bell

Paige as a Pirate 

 Riley as a Pirate

We ran into some friends while hanging out at

the Roush's haunted garage.

 Riley Tidwell and Paige

 Riley, Sydnee Tidwell and Hallie Kofoed

It was my turn to take the kids trick or treating

 while Brandon sat home passing the candy out.  The girls 

waned to go to the haunted house at the Bagley's home.   

They got in line and then chickened out.  Then saw

some of our neighbors and got their nerve up and

went with them while Owen and I waited.  It took

a good 45 minutes.   We went home to dump

some of their candy and get more comfortable shoes

 and went out again. It got close to 9 when I told the kids 

we  needed to head home and Owen said, 

"no, More Trick or Treating"!  He could have

kept going and going.  And he walked most of the time.

It was nice to have such good weather. 

The kids came home and sortied and admired all their 

delicious candy.  Owen's mouth is full of tootsie Roll. 

 And of course Brandon was trying to get Owen

to give him some of his candy he didn't want. 

Candy Apple Time

My Mother in Law and Sister in laws have decided to make

it a yearly tradition.  We've done it the past couple of years

and have fun getting together while the husbands are suppose 

to keep an eye on the kids but in stead run wild and ask us for 

everything! We've now become professional Candy Apple 

makers!  We've got it down to a science! 

One person is over the perfect melting stage of carmel and 

chocolate and then we have someone over the dipping and cooling.

Then there is the reheating and rolling in cinnamon or crushed

reese's pieces, then cooling again and finally the placing in bags. 

Of course there is much more to it then that but hey it's our secret!

It all started years ago when Katie got married.  All of us including

Ali who lives out of state made over 100 apples for Katie's wedding

dinner.  It took us all day, literally.  But now we can whip it out

in a couple of hours. 

Grandma Avery's Birthday

My mom had her 59th birthday!

Kami and I made her a dinner and we

all got together to celebrate!

We made my mom her favorite cake,

German Chocolate. 

We love you Mom! You're the Best! 

And then we got crazy like we always do! The kids thought

it would be fun to climb on the men and make a pyramid. 

Halloween Party

 Riley asked me a couple of months before Halloween

if she could have a friend party.  I really did not

want to add that to the craziness of the holidays but

Riley insisted and I caved.  She and her sisters got

right to work.  They planned games and crafts and 

made decorations and decided to do a scary play for the

 guests.  It started out just her and her sisters and then she 

recruited a friend, Sydnee Tidwell who was more then 

happy to help out.  Riley made invitations 

and delivered them.  It was the real deal and so I

thought I'd better make sure what she is doing 

for the party.  I came to find out that she had 

so many things planned and not enough time.

I helped her organize her party and made cookies

for her to decorate.  I gave her some craft stuff to 

use and Halloween games I already had. 

She even borrowed a fog machine from her uncle

for the spooky play. Riley let her sisters invite

a friend as well.  Not everyone was able to come

and not all could stay the entire time but Riley

did a great job and they all had fun.  

I just told Riley never again.  I mean that in 

the nicest way.  I just can't handle my daughter

having this party consume all of her time.

She would come home from school and get right

to planning the party and to practicing the play.

I'm just glad it is over! 

In her play her sisters acted like the scared 

wandering kids while she was the ghost and Sydnee

got to be the mummy.  I think!  The toilet paper

did not quite stay on! 

Helping Mom out

Paige was so funny and asked me one saturday if she could

be my maid.  So I put her to work doing dishes. Soon Sierra

and Owen thought it looked fun and joined in.  Too bad that

can't be everyday.  It's great when out of the blue your child

actually wants to help out in stead of complaining when they

have to do their chores. 

Pumpkin Patch

It was so nice going to the pumpkin patch at Day

Farms that we do every year.  The weather was great.

Compared to other years we did not have to

have coats or boots.  The ground was dry and

the kids had a great time.  They love it every year.

The pumpkins cost the same to buy anywhere else

plus the kids get the joy of the hay ride and they 

get to pick their own pumpkin out.  

Poor Owen poses too much when I take his picture.

Being the only boy with 3 sisters will do that to you! 

Grandparent Day

It was Grandparent day at Bluff Ridge again and Grandpa

Gardner came to see the girls.  I was lucky to get a picture

because Paige called me saying she did not feel good but

really did not want to miss Grandparent day.  So she

sucked it up and stayed.  Grandpa took the girls out

to lunch in stead of eating school lunch.  He took the girls

to their class and they got to show Grandpa their class room

and where they sit.  They loved that!

Clearfield Pool

Brandon and I took the kids swimming at the

Clearfield pool one night for fun.  Paige

was fearless going off the diving board now

that she's done it once there is know stopping

her!  She went for a perfect toe touch. 

Owen loved the freedom of swimming where ever

and could not get enough of the water even though

 the water there is always so dang cold. I can't even

stand it.  I had to warm up in the hot tub for a bit.

I'm glad kids have so much fun swimming that they

don't worry about how cold it is!

Sierra got a little more daring but we still made

her keep her life jacket on.  She is not quite

that good yet. 

Riley and Paige finally dared to go down the 

water slide alone and went down more times

then I could count! 

Riding with Dad

Brandon brought the 4-Wheeler home from the cabin to get

some repairs done on it and so Owen spend most of his

time sitting on it and helping Brandon fix it. 

Brandon finally got it temporarily fixed so he could take

Owen for a ride which made his day!

Brandon left the key in it and Owen was sitting 

on it and turned the key and pushed the starter.

Of course that is when Brandon was gone.  Good thing

I heard it from in the kitchen and ran out.  He would have

hit the gas next.  Man what a smart boy.