Halloween Fun!

We've done some fun things this past week- just little activities at home- so I thought I'd combine all of them into one post- unlike my blogging-pro sister in law Bree - I stink at keeping up!

This past week my friend Tasha and I went to do a fun little Halloween project at Samantha and Brooklyn's pre-school. It was fun to see Samantha what Samantha does everyday and to see her interact with her friends at school. It was great to now put faces with all the stories that Samantha tells!

Brooklyn and Samantha getting ready for the "Mummy" project

Tasha had a cute Mummy story to read to the kids

One night we made CUPCAKES and decorated them and then made little ghost suckers to put on top. Samantha drew the eyes and then decided that the ghosts needed hair.

Both are SO thrilled.....

Finished Product!

It's the GREAT PUMPKIN Samantha Taylor! Instead of carving- (I didn't want the mess in our small kitchen) I let Samantha paint hers and Collin colored his with a marker! That day Gra sent a Halloween box from The Popcorn Factory so after we decorated the pumpkins we watched The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and ate the yummy treats!

As a little kid I LOVED watching holiday shows- heck I still do! It is so fun to watch my own kids get excited about the same things I did!

Next... Trick or Treating!

COLUMBUS, OHIO

So we found out today where we will be going next year- Columbus Ohio here we come! To be honest I have so many mixed emotions- but one is stronger than the rest- and that is the assurance that this is where we are suppose to go. I know that I am excited for Mike- because he wanted to go here- and he is excited about it- which makes me happy for him. And if I really wanted to be honest with myself- I knew that Salt Lake was not going to happen- back during conference weekend- oh shoot I can't remember who talked about it- but the talk about change- and how it is good for us etc. I knew when I listened to that talk that I was one who needed change if I was ever going to progress the way that I need to. I love my comfort- I hate being challenged- but I've seen in my past how when I have been challenged I have grown more than I ever thought was possible. So this morning- all puffy eyed- I have decided there will be no more tears- I will think positively- and look forward to this new adventure. Heck and be grateful that we have several months to find a place instead of a couple weeks! Now all I need to do is find a map and find out where Ohio actually is! (geography was never a strong subject)

Samantha is famous!

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Field Trip and Still-A-Bration

So I am awful at keeping up my blog lately- I have been busy with my Christmas projects- so I have not been on the computer much. We did just have a really nice weekend though- but I didn't take any pictures! We went to Nauvoo- it was our stake conference so we decided to make a trip out of it (in spite of Mike's big test on Monday). We were able to do a session in the temple by trading off babysitting with the Perry's- and then the next day we attended Stake Conference. It was a quick trip- but a nice one- it was so great to be able to go to the temple with Mike- and just be away from our "worries" for a while. Thankfully we have such good friends - who we completely trust our kids with- so we didn't worry about them for a second.
This past week was Samantha's field trip to the pumpkin patch. Her preschool took a trip to a local farm a few miles out of town. They took a hayride, went on a "mini" hay maze, jumped off hay bales into a big pile of hay- and also played in a bounce house! It was a fun-filled morning. Collin was ticked most of the time- because he wanted to participate- but was too little.

Hay ride with friends

So excited for maze! (New addition- those two kids standing next to Samantha are younger siblings of other students- Samantha has always been tall for her age- - so yes she is tall- but not that tall!)

...still so excited about the maze- so cute. To me this is just one example of how Samantha find joy out of what seems like something so small. She is seriously just the happiest little girl.

Just "b-laxing" with the pumpkins

Mike's school had Founders Day- or Still-A-Bration- where they have all sorts of activities going on. They have things for kids as well- a jump house, pony-rides, bubbles, roping hay steers and a few more things. They also have a huge bbq dinner. We for some reason didn't go last year- so we wanted to make it this year. The kids had a great time- and the food looked awesome- but we didn't stick around- the line was super long and our kids were starving!

Collin's favorite thing was the bubbles- and just like everything else- he tried to eat them.

RED BARN!

Every year the little town we live in puts on an Arts and Crafts Festival. Last year I decided to participate with a few other medical school wives- as a way to earn some extra money and meet new people. It was fun but the weather was cold and rainy- but still a good experience. This year some friends and I decided to try it out-they did not do it last year- so I was the "veteran". Last year I sold my bags and diaper and wipes cases- this year I wanted to try something different. I still did the diaper and wipes case- but I added some jewelry for women and little girls- I also copied my sis-in-laws clip and bow frames. It was such a fun day! The weather was beautiful- and so many people came out. It was great to have a "day off" and just talk with my friends and have a good time. Our booth stayed pretty busy and I think that everyone is happy with the way it turned out. It was an exhausting few months for all of us as we made everything-and let our houses go to pot- but it was worth it! I have some of the most talented friends- with the cutest ideas. It is one of the things that I have loved about this last year here- I have learned so much from them.- and really it's not just the crafts- they are amazing people- and I know that we will always be in eachothers lives.Whoa- didn't know I was going to get all sentimental!?!

I posted a lot of pictures- I wanted my mom to see everything!.



Here are the bow and clip frames- along the bottom there are some hooks to hang headbands. They are super handy- I sold all 6 in the first hour and 1/2



The earings and watches



These are Pretty Princess Packs. They have a necklace,bracelet and button ring. I have decided to try and sell more- they turned out to be pretty popular. So if you are looking for a birthday present or stocking stuffer-or you have a little girl who loves jewelry- then let me know!



The diaper and wipes cases

The rest of these pictures are random shots of everyones items



Jena and a master knitter- just amazing-




The whole booth (this actually is not a very good shot- oh well)




Tasha made the handiest cute carseat blankets-




These applique' shirts are the cutest- my friend Sara has an etsy shop
sewsara.etsy.com check it out!








Both of these last shots are of Jena's clips- I especially love the cloth clips above- SO cute! It also shows some of Tasha's burp cloths.


I also have to thank Mike- again for being SO SO supportive. He gave up a whole Saturday of studying to stay with the kids. He brought both of them to come and see our booth. I came home to the laundry done- the house spotless and both kids were in the tub. He never complained- he is the absolute best husband in the world! I love you Mike- thanks again!

Des Peres???

So this past weekend we went with our friends the Perry's to St. Louis so that Mike and Dave could check out Des Peres (pronounced 'day pear') hospital in St. Louis- it is an option for our next 2 years. We decided to make it a mini-vacation. We crammed in our van (have I said lately how much I LOVE our mini-van?)-we went shopping- the guys went to a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game and then we went to Grants Farm. It was a lot of fun. The guys were really impressed with the hospital and the area around it was really beautiful. As of right now it is Mikes first choice- so we'll see!
-oh and there are a few pictures of our quick trip to Columbia- which always includes lunch at Chuck-E Cheese- it's a tradition!



huh- Collin is so not impressed with this ride- unlike his sister.


....and she's off!

Grants Farm



Collin and Mike on the tram

Brooklyn and Samantha on the tram


Story:- so they sell these babies bottles of milk for $1 so that you can feed the goats-we thought the kids would like to do it- not so much. We made the mistake of sending in Samantha ahead of us with the bottle in had- not a good idea- the poor thing was clobbered by the goats!We quickly grabbed her and the bottle and had Mike take over- as you can see they were all over him- and poor Samantha could not get high enough!


Collin actually like the goats- but then again they didn't quite attack him like they did his sister!

Checking out some animals

the fam


Hanging with dad


This is the only picture we could get where they were at least all looking in the same direction!

We also got a picture with a Budweiser Clydesdale- I'll post that later......

FIRST DAY OF PRE-SCHOOL!

Today was a big day for Samantha and I- it was her first day of pre-school! She has been waiting forever for this day to arrive. Two weeks ago they had an open house so that the kids could come and meet their teachers and see where their classrooms were- Samantha was most concerned about where her locker was going to be! (they do have a cubbie where their coats and backpacks will go) On the way home from the open house- she says to me-"Mom I am SO excited to go to school- and you're going to cry"- and she was right! She woke up on cloud nine this morning- and when the bus pulled up she "whoo-whooed" all the way outside. I tried to tell her goodbye- and tell her that I loved her- but she was so not interested- she just wanted to find her seat! - oh side note- as I was getting her stuff together in her backpack- she tells me to wait and she runs in her room- comes back and puts her cell phone in the backpack- I tell her that she can't take it to school with her- and she goes "oh don't worry mom- I'll just hide it from them-I'll just take it outside to talk"
should we be worried?!

So the house was super quiet-and I only cried for a minute or two-I think I went through all the emotions that moms go through as they send their kids off to school. I think the thing that hit me the most was that I don't feel like she or I for that matter should be old enough to do this. Where did the time go? Last night Mike gave Samantha a fathers blessing (something that both of our fathers did for us each school year)- and I think that Heavenly Father gave me a little strength as well to pull myself together today because I tend to be a bit emotional. I do have to admit that it was nice watching the news and not Sid the Science Kid- and once Collin was down for his morning nap- wow- it was so nice!

Before school:

It wouldn't be a picture of Samantha if there wasn't some sass

On our way to the bus:

Growing up my mom had a tradition of having a treat or surprise waiting for us on our first day of school. I loved it- so I want to start that same tradition with our kids. My mom sent her the new Little Mermaid dvd- and I got her a PEZ and coloring book and made her a bracelet.

....and coming home

Rough first day?
(In the background is her friend Brooklyn and the bus driver- Miss Ginger)

From the words of Samantha- "It was GREAT!"