Happy Halloween

Lance had to work tonight so I wasn't planning on doing anything for Halloween. Then this morning I got a text from someone in my ward saying that a group of women were getting together to take their kids trick-or-treating on main street. I decided it would give us something to do while Lance was in class.

All of the kids

All of the moms

I bought this outfit for Will a few months ago because I thought it was cute. I didn't buy it for a Halloween outfit, I just bought it for when it gets cold. But I'm glad I had it because it made a great costume.

All of the stores along main street were handing out candy. It was fun to get together with other adults and watch the kids have fun.

 Will and James

Candice looked so cute..and Emmett too.

He was a bit young to understand much of Halloween, but we had fun anyways. He even managed to say trick-or-treating once. Just pronounced a bit weird...more like: da-da-gl-bsh!

 Borrowed that adorable container from Lezlie-Anne.

Yay for free candy!

Will had had a pretty rough morning, so he was pretty tired by the time we got there. He fell asleep about midway through our adventure.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

For this is Halloween!

Witches soaring through the sky
On their broomsticks way up high.
Black cats howl as they go by,

For this is Halloween!

Halloween has always been kind of a hit and miss holiday for me. I loved it when I was little and went trick-or-treating until my mom said I was too old. I always had decent ideas for costumes, but never had the money to make it happen. Same story this year. I had some cute and fun ideas for Lance, Will and I, and I was excited to have us all dress up. But then I had trouble justifying spending any money on costumes since Lance works on Halloween.

We were going to dress up and go bowling on Lance's day off, but we decided to change our plans because we'd gone bowling a few weeks before. We decided to carve pumpkins instead! So we went to Smith's to pick out some pumpkins.

Lance got a pretty big one (19 pounds), I got a medium one, and Will had a little one. Plus we also got an extra one to use to make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

While I prepped the one to be cooked, Lance gutted the others. Because we got started later than we had planned, we didn't have a lot of time to carve. Daylight faded and the temperature dropped quickly. That combined with my lack of brain for ideas resulted in pretty standard pumpkins.

Lance got a little more creative than me and put a little Frankenstein touch to his.

Will did a great job carving his, don't you think?

Ok, maybe he was more interested in eating the leaves.

 

When we were done carving, we lit our candles and put them on display on our front porch.

 

By the time we finished this, it was time for Will to go to sleep. Poor kid didn't get to stay up for the cookies. I would feel bad if he could actually eat them. Next year Will.

Next I made some pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. The recipe called for canned pumpkin, but we decided to try using fresh. Let me tell you, those are some dang good cookies. I think Lance and I have eaten most of them already. Good thing we still have lots of pumpkin left so we can make another batch or two.

 

If you like pumpkin chocolate chip cookies then this recipe is a must. It is simple, easy, and most importantly, delicious! Click here for the recipe!

I expected them to go flat so I was pleasantly surprised when they actually puffed up!

Finished the night with cookies and milk.

 Sidenote: I have not forgotten that Will turned 6 months old this past week. I have written most of his 6 month post but I am waiting to post it until have his doctor's appointment on Tuesday. So stay tuned for that one.

Pumpkin Walk

Today while Lance as in his first class I suddenly realized that it was the last day for the Pumpkin Walk! I have never been before but always thought that it sounded like it could be fun. Besides, any holiday orientated activity that is free is fun, right?

Once Lance was done with his test, I gave him a call and asked if he would want to go. Because he worked early today, the only way we could possibly go was if we left that very minute. So I picked him up from campus and we went to the pumpkin walk during his two hour break before his next class.

He refused to keep his hands under the blankets.

It was a bit cold outside so we had to bundle up pretty good. I hope fall stays around a little bit longer; I don't think Will and I are quite ready for winter yet.

Couldn't quite get the glasses to line up.

Baby Yoda!

 

 

 

 

A Christmas Story

 

Plants versus zombies

The tail is my favorite. Made of lots of small pumpkins.

Nightmare Before Christmas!

Lance has never seen this movie. Sounds like a good idea for his day off this week!

Angry Birds

Will was out by the end of the walk. Tired boy.

Miss Utah 2012

All the girls in my family got together for the weekend to hang out and go to the Miss Utah Pageant. Kim, Joshlyn, and Colton drove up from Cedar City while my mom, Cindy, and her boys drove down from Boise. We all met at my brother's house in Bountiful. He was out of town, so we were also there to help with some of his kids.

While everyone else got there Friday night, I didn't leave until early Saturday morning. We spent the majority of the day just hanging out at Jim's house.

After lunch, we all decided to go play at a park. It was a much needed break and all the boys were happy to get outside. The weather was beautiful, even on the hot side. I took a lot of pictures at the park, so bear with me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We went home and got ready to go to the pageant. It was Joshlyn's birthday party on Sunday so we had birthday cake for her and gave her some presents. One of her gifts was a ticket to the pageant. She had no idea that she was going too.

 

One of Cindy's best friends growing up was in the pageant and our reason for going. This was her fourth year competing and we were all just dying to see her finally win. Last year she got runner-up and it was heart breaking.

We got there a little early, so we chilled outside for a little bit and took some more pictures.

 

 

 

The competition was so fun to watch. Kendyl looked absolutely stunning throughout the entire thing.

When they announced the top 10, they kept saying everyone BUT Miss Draper (Kendyl). Her name was finally called for the last spot. I think my heart seriously stopped for a minute, but extreme relief when her name was called.

During the intermission, we were able to find Kendyl's mom and say hi. She was also handing out some purple glow necklaces to Kendyl's fans so that when Kendyl looked in the audience, she could see all the people there for her. We were lucky to be able to get some too.

She looked amazing in her swim suit and evening gown and she made it to the top 5! Go Kendyl!

Then the final five answered a few interview questions. They said that these questions would not be judged, but were so the audience could get to know the girls better.

The end results were very nerve racking. For the first time all night, we wanted to hear anyone EXCEPT Miss Draper be called. While I was so nervous for her, I was also confident that she would come out victorious. And...

Then there were four. And...

Then there were three. And...

Then there were two!

And finally....the big moment of truth....

Congratulations, Kendyl!

Miss Utah 2012!

She looked SO surprised and got really emotional over winning. You could tell by her reaction how much she wanted it. I was ecstatic for her and can not wait to see her compete in Miss USA 2012.

Cindy was able to get a quick minute to tell her congratulations!