Happy Halloween

We have been missing our Daddy for a few days, he is on a trip with his dad and Brad and Garrett to North/South Carolina. More on that to come. Grandma came up to visit and keep us company while he was away. We had a busy day planned for her though, I feel bad that she didn't get to rest much. We took the kids to a great little Halloween carnival at church as-well as the chilli cookoff and trunk or treat later that night.

(This picture is proof she was here ;)Inside joke of course) This picture was hard to get going, the kids were on sugar highs already, I think Landry had about 20 lollipops the whole day. Everyone just kept handing them to him and he just kept taking...but who could resist such a cute lion!

Emery wanted to be a dancer for Halloween, she looked a bit 80's because I crimper her hair. Kelci was of course a cowgirl (a very cute one thanks to Auntie Angela). Brody was a knight, although he looked very charming...a lot of people thought he was a prince, and I didn't even put black tights on him...thought about it. When grandma first saw him she thought he was a deck of cards haha. Little Miss Perfect, was Litte Red Riding Hood, only because I found this costume for a really good price and I knew she would wear anything with some lace on it. She was very sweet and loved having Grandma to hang around with.

I wasn't sure if Landry would wear a costume at all, but after I put the lion head on him, I took him to the mirror and told him to "Roar" and he loved it. What a good little sport. Thanks Chrystina for letting us use your costumes, they looked great. Well today is Sunday and it is actually Halloween today. We plan on passing out some candy and hanging out tonight together.

Extended Family Home Evening

Bryan's parents invited all the kids and grandkids over Sunday night for a Family Home Evening. My kids were really excited about this, because it's not often we do FHE with other people. Karen did a great little lesson about families, where we came from, and how we can be together forever, sealed as a family. She shared a lot of pictures with the kids of family members, grandparents, her siblings, as well as all of Bryan's siblings and there families. Cambree was so impressed by it all and kept asking questions all throughout the night.

As you can tell, we carved pumpkins for out activity. Tyler was so funny, he didn't really want anything to do with carving the pumpkin, but was adamant about having throwup coming out of it's mouth, such a silly kid. Grandpa assisted Kelci with her carving, all went pretty well, until he decided to add some snot...Kelci wasn't too sure about that detail. It was nice to have all the extra people around to help carve out pumpkins that's forsure.

Grandma had cookies there to decorate for a treat, that's always a favorite with my kids. Landry enjoyed licking his frosting off and than just tossed his cookie to the floor when he was done.

I Love Pumpkins!!!!

Bryan caught Landry like this sometime during the evening. Just examining all the pictures on the table....so cute! Thanks a for a great FHE Grandma and Grandpa.

Cupcakes!!!

Cambree couldn't wait to help make cupcakes for the School Harvest Festival. Although she was a little bummed when I explained that they were being donated for a game, not for us to eat.

A little boy in her kindergarten class broke his arm the during the first week of school. Ever since this happened she likes to pretend her arm is broken too, kind of weird, but ok....

This is Brooklyn, Cambree's good, bestest buddy! They have to get together at least 3 times a week after school, or one of them will just explode, I'm pretty sure.

Company

I finally took an afternoon to go and tear the rest of my garden out...mostly tomato plants. My bug-lovin Brody joined me in the yard to help. He was so excited about finding several tomato worms (there was even one crawling on my arm...so gross). I just love how enthusiastic he gets about bugs. He named this worm, the very hungry caterpillar, because we read that book in preschool earlier this morning.

There are a few things in my life that are challenging to me. But being a mother is not one of them. I am not perfect, but I absolutely love my children. It's little moments like this that remind me how important it is to be home with them right now.



Oh and Rex, he has really started to grow on me....he is such a good puppy!!

Pumpkin Time!

The kids have had minimum days this week at school, so we decided to head out to the pumpkin farm with some friends one afternoon. My only complaint, the weather, it was like 90 degrees out...where is fall??? But we still had a great time.

I was so surprised that Landry knew to stick his little mug in the hole, aren't they all so cute, I'm just glad they don't smell like the animals in the petting zoo!

Kelci met Chloe in the first grade, and since than they have grown to be the best of friends....even wearing matching shirts, totally unplanned! The nice thing about this friendship is, Chloe gets along with Emery as-well. Her little sister, Mia is good buds with Cambree, and I have gotten to know her mother, Heather aka Header (that is what Mia likes to call her) and really enjoy hanging out with her. Colin is her oldest son and he is such a great kid, Brody thinks he is awesome.

Look how happy Landry was to finish off Brody's ice cream cone. He was in such a good mood the whole time, despite the lack of a nap. At one point on the hay ride he did look like he was ready to shut his eyes and catch a few Z's.

He had to fight this sister off of his ice cream though...she's like a vulture sometimes, just sitting around waiting to see if there is going to be leftovers to gobble up...haha. She was trying to help him too, but he was definitely guarding his cone!

I know this is terrible to say, but this picture cracks me up. Cambree ran out of goat food, but apparently this goat was still hungry and had Cambree a little nervous. It all worked out, but I just love catching her expression she is giving the goat.

Brody made a little friend while hanging out in the petting zoo. He was talking to this little goat and brushing him so gently. Although his highlight was finding a "money" (a quarter) in the goat feed dispenser...he couldn't stop talking about that.

My favorite time of year is here, I love the Fall and if you have been in our house you already know this. I heard the weather is suppose to cool down soon and I can't wait...pretty soon the leaves will start changing and falling, can't wait!

I'll Never Forget Hawaii!!

So many people said to us when we got home, "How was Hawaii?" Which is what I would probably ask you if you went. Honestly, it was a little tiring with five little kids in tow. But, I wouldn't change anything about it, it was perfect. Some of the things I won't forget, 10 people sharing one toilet with a clogging attitude, walking for miles on the waikiki strip in search for food, a giant centipede that almost landed on my sisters head, Landry being miserable on the 5 hour flight there, Lucy adoring Landry the whole time, Ang and I trying to look graceful in the wave pool at the water park, and so many more...I feel so blessed to be able to go and be with them in such a beautiful place. Love you guys!!

The Markarians come to town!

I love this girl! Our friendship started a long time ago when our oldest children were babies, and no matter the distance or the time in between visits, we always have a great time. I miss her all the time. She is getting ready to reunite with her hubby in Georgia soon and we are definitely going to miss them even more. But I'm so glad that there family will all be together again soon.

We always joke that everyone in the family has someone to pal around with. Even Bryan is good friends with Chris, Michelle's husband. Alyssa and Emery have been friends the longest. They were in preschool together and were the best of friends.

Alanna and Kelci have very different personalities, but they always seem to have a great time together. Alanna was such a little peanut when she was a little, I can't believe how grown-up she is now.

Aminah and Cambree have a few years separating them in age, but that never stops Cambree from trying to make a new friend. I use to just hold Aminah any chance I could when she was little, I remember having a miscarriage around the time Michelle was pregnant with her. It was hard, but I knew someday I would have another...until than we had a cute little dark-haired baby to adore.

And than after 3 girls each, Michelle and I welcomed little boys to the bunch, Brody and Liam. Theses two are just a couple of months apart. They are full of energy and super cute!

Than I broke the tie and had this guy! Haha
When Alanna saw Rex back in April, she was in love with him.

6 months later, she was still loving spending time with Rex. After they left he was exhausted and slept good all night....thanks Lanna!!




Friendships really can stand the test of time, lately I have been wondering a lot about this. I feel like it's hard to come across "real" friendships that really last and are sincere. I have always been someone who cherishes a friendship, I still think about the friends I had growing up often. They knew who I was, I never had to try and be anything else but myself and I miss that. It's not that I don't have good friends around me now, because I do. We are all just busy being mom's and wives, and anything else we decide to be, will see if those friendships can also stand the test of time. We love you Markarian family and wish you nothing but the best!