Our ward had a trunk-or-treat on the Friday before Halloween. I have to say that it was a difficult night for me. We had thought about costumes, but I did not want to spend a lot of money on costumes that were only going to get worn once, so we scrounged up costumes. I actually bought Logan's costume, an army man, at a second hand store. He wasn't too sure about the muscles, but ended up being
ok with them.
Kaylen has so many dress ups, so she just chose one of those to wear. Spencer was a skater; quite easy. We had tried so hard to actually find him a costume. He wanted something bloody and disgusting, and I wouldn't go for it. Lindsey had been working all week trying to come up with matching costumes with a friend. They ended up being hobos, ripping brand new shirts and dirtying them up. I had bought a pirate costume last year for
Colton, and when we went to put it on, it didn't fit. We looked through our stash of costumes and found a clown costume that worked and looked cute on him.
Things were going good (once we finally got there) until it came time for food. I had been making soup all afternoon and took it over to the party. I was trying to push a stroller, dish up Colton's food, and my food. I had dished up my soup (which had been boiling for an hour, so it was HOT) and was trying to move forward. I tipped the bowl and soup spilled all over me. I spent the night by the car with an ice cold napkin wrapped around my wrist, being in pain. There really wasn't an easy way to get out of the backyard (where it was held) with the car, and I didn't want to walk home in the dark, so i stuck it out, wishing every minute I was home. (Another post will follow with gross pictures and a few more details.) The kids had fun going around multiple times to get candy. We had such a big turn out, that I was worried the kids might get lost. I had given Eric the responsibility of Colton because I couldn't hold him or push the stroller. Well, Eric kind of slacked and Colton ended up wandering off. It was quite scary, because we were near some semi-main streets. It was an embarrassing relief when, over the microphone, it was announced that a little clown had been found.
I had the opportunity to go to Kaylen's Christmas party at Kinder-Prep. There were different stations, (I missed all the photo opportunities, though). I helped the kiddos make reindeer food - in the baby food jars that I'd been saving without having a purpose for them.
It was another parent day at Kaylen's dance. Kaylen is in her third year of combo classes - tap, ballet, and tumbling. She absolutely loves dancing! Not only does she look really cute dressed up, but she's a good dancer. She loves practicing the dances at home. She also practices some of the tumbling moves. I can often turn around and find her doing a back bend or a headstand against the wall.
Colton and Kaylen with Piggy Pie from school. They both LOVE the pig.
Tuesdays are long days for us. Kaylen usually falls asleep on the way home from Grandma's.
Colton loves bubbles
Colton - a typical look after any meal
These are just some photos of the kids playing one day. Logan and Kaylen love to color and paint together. Spencer has been inspired by a young man in our ward who does card tricks. Spencer was practicing and performing his tricks in these pictures.
This is one of Colton's creations
Colton fell asleep one morning, just before we needed to run errands. 
Kaylen made this at school
Me with my newest niece, Ava
Kaylen practicing tumbling moves
We weren't able to all get to the pumpkin patch at the same time this year, so there are two different times we went. The first pumpkin patch that Kaylen, Colton, and I went to was the one at the farm we went to for Kaylen's field trip. The kids had fun in the patch. Colton would have picked up and thrown pumpkins all day if I would have let him.
Our ward had a trunk-or-treat on the Friday before Halloween. I have to say that it was a difficult night for me. We had thought about costumes, but I did not want to spend a lot of money on costumes that were only going to get worn once, so we scrounged up costumes. I actually bought Logan's costume, an army man, at a second hand store. He wasn't too sure about the muscles, but ended up being ok with them. Kaylen has so many dress ups, so she just chose one of those to wear. Spencer was a skater; quite easy. We had tried so hard to actually find him a costume. He wanted something bloody and disgusting, and I wouldn't go for it. Lindsey had been working all week trying to come up with matching costumes with a friend. They ended up being hobos, ripping brand new shirts and dirtying them up. I had bought a pirate costume last year for Colton, and when we went to put it on, it didn't fit. We looked through our stash of costumes and found a clown costume that worked and looked cute on him. 
I love that with Kaylen in preschool she can still celebrate the holidays. In her class they had a Halloween party that I was able to go help with. The kids wore their costumes; the majority of the girls being princesses. They walked around the school, stopping for trick-or-treating at the office and in their 5th Grade Buddies' Classroom, and singing at the stops. There were centers that the kids got to do. I was with the cupcake and cider center. My "big" job was to serve cider. About half the kids didn't want to try the warm drink, but I encouraged them to do so. Some were pleasantly surprised that it tasted good. I liked it so much that I plan on making it for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Kaylen's class' pumpkin that celebrates the five senses
With Kaylen's school, there are many fun field trips planned. With all of the field trips, there isn't transportation, and the kids can't ride together. So, it's up to me to take Kaylen on the field trips, which I look forward to. We will get to do lots of fun things this year. 
