September and October fun stuff!

Morgan had her Young Women in Excellence program this month, and it was so well done!  This comes as no surprise, since the leaders in our ward are so amazing, as are these beautiful girls (inside and out)!  We love Morgan and are so EXTREMELY proud of her and the young woman she is becoming!  Even more so, we know her Father in Heaven is so proud of her and loves her beyond anything we mortals are capable of understanding.  Thank you Morgan for being such a great example to all those that know you!

Colton's scout leaders hosted a swim party for all the 12 and 13 year old scouts to celebrate all the work they had been doing.  All the families were invited.  It was too hot to sit out and not swim, so me and my friend Janae decided to do backflips together off of the rocks!  I think the kids were amazed that adult women would do that! I also took the opportunity to test the waterproof camera I bought to take to Hawaii with us...it works!  Can't wait to try it out in the ocean!

 

October means HALLOWEEN!  We cut out some pumpkin shaped sugar cookies and the kids had fun decorating them.  I also made pumpkin pancakes one morning...

Fall means SOCCER for my boys, even if it is still breaking 100 degrees every day!  Kyle is and AWESOME soccer player...

We carved our pumpkins 2 days before Halloween.  Any earlier and the heat turns them moldy pretty quick.  We set up a table in our driveway and the kids went to town!  It's nice that I only really have to help Kyle now with a couple things - I can just sit back and watch and take pictures!

I set my settings on my camera the way I wanted them and had Bryan take some pictures of Morgan and I.  Her Young Women leaders had asked for a mother daughter picture for a program they were doing.  We did one serious one, but the others Morgan wanted us to ham it up!

The big night! Bryan and Morgan went out with friends Halloween night, and I only had Colton and Kyle.  All I could think about that night was how we were all split up because my kids are outgrowing me (literally - the only one shorter than me now is Kyle).  I know that is as it should be, but it's hard as a mom to see your kids leaving.  Right now it's just for the night, but all too soon they'll be going off on their own.  Not ready for that yet!  I've still got a little time thank goodness!  Love all these kids!!  Thank you to my friend who sent me the pictures of Morgan with her friends...

Colton is the blue man, and Kyle is the Ninja on the right...

HaLLoWeEn fEsTiViTiEs

Halloween seemed to sneak up on me this year!  I love Halloween because it is the kickoff to the holiday season.  I LOVE this time of year.  It finally starts to cool off here in Phoenix.  We can't carve pumpkins TOO early though, or they will mold in a matter of days, because the whether is still fairly warm (possibly 90's during the day - cooler at night).  We carved our pumpkins a couple days before the big night...

Bryan was "too old" to dress up this year.  Morgan was not ready to give up the candy, so she went ahead and dressed up as an angel.  Colton and Kyle were both ninjas.  I wore a witch hat (about as dressed up as I get for Halloween ;)

 Morgan with her friends before trick-or-treating!  She has some really awesome friends!

It was a fun night for all!

monsters on PARADE

On Halloween day the kids' school put on a wonderful Halloween parade.  All the kids came looking scary or cute (well they were ALL pretty cute - even if they were meant to be scary)!


Kyle was a vampire (again - his choice)...

Colton was a ninja...

Morgan was a flapper girl.  She had to ask me what a flapper was.  She just liked the outfit.

Kyle with his AMAZING teacher.  Honestly.  She's wonderful and SO good with him!

Colton's class (that's his teacher in the Dorothy costume on the far right).

Kyle's class went back to the classroom after the parade for a fun Halloween party.  His teacher planned everything.  She is adorable!

And here they are before heading out to trick or treat that night.  Kyle's ready to take a bite out of Morgan!  Bryan went trick or treating with a bunch of his friends from church.  He's growing up so fast!

pUmPkiN fUn

Here in the Arizona heat, we can't carve our pumpkins too far in advance of Halloween or they rot before the big day.  We elected to carve our pumpkins the day before the big night.  Sarah, Josh, and their little guy Jace decided to join in the festivities.


Kyle and Mark were working on an owl...

Colton was doing a very intricate and scary monster...

Morgan was working on Mario...

and Sarah and Josh were doing Mickey Mouse.

I thought they turned out pretty darn cute!