A little WT Cookout

We were all set to go up to Santa Rosa to camp overnight at Spring Lake on Friday, October 26th.  Our friends, who were going with us, called that morning and their little babe was really sick, so they weren't going to be able to come.  We debated going just the three of us anyway (Sydney was staying with Grandma and Granddad), but ultimately talked Scarlett in to a backyard campfire instead.  (We also had to promise to take her to Six Flags the next morning, which we did.)

I do not love our backyard.  It is on the of the (many) things that makes me want to buy a house, any house.  We have a great side yard, perfect for our garden, but the rest of the yard is cement.  Aside from riding her scooter back and forth, there isn't much else Scarlett can do outside.  But we have a pretty sweet set up here at Grandpa's place, and until we find the perfect house, here, we will stay.

I had already prepared tin foil dinners for our camp out, so we called some friends and told them to come on over for a backyard cookout.  Rob had already loaded our Toole with firewood, so he drove the Highlander in to the backyard and unloaded.  I think he had a little too much fun building the fire.

Hisermans and my parents chowing down on their slightly charred (my fault) hamburger, potato and carrot tin foil dinners.  I actually thought it was quite tasty.

As did Miss Sydney.

I titled this "WT Cookout" because after instagramming a photo, my brother informed me that my sister said, "doesn't it look a little white trash?"  HAHA.  Why?!  Because our car is parked in our backyard?  And we're sitting around the campfire, on church chairs?  On cement?!  Okay, yes.  This may appear a little white trash.  But we had a great time and the kids had a blast.

We roasted marshmallows and ate some yummy s'mores.  The kids played hide and seek and ran around the yard screaming in delight.

And neither of my children went to bed before 10pm.  We really had an awesome night.  Can't wait for real camping next spring!

Halloween 2012

I have nothing against Halloween, except that if feels like the never ending holiday.  I swear we have been talking about Halloween since the first of October, planning costumes, buying candy, (eating candy), attending parties... and now, here we are, well in to November, and I am just getting around to looking through pictures from Halloween.  I am relieved it is over!  But we did have a great time this year.

We kicked off our week of parties with the ward party on Saturday, Oct 27.  Scarlett was so excited about being a pirate this year.  She got her "arrgh, matey!" down pat. 

 We spent that day at Six Flags, so Syd Magoo was still sleeping when Scarlett and I left for the party.  Daddy brought our cute little bumble bee over when she woke up.  And clearly, Daddy wanted to get some use out of Scarlett's hat since she refused to wear it.  That's about as dressed up as you'll ever see him.

 Ira, Isabella and Scarlett.

Pirate and Peter Pan (Scarlett and Caden).

Tuesday, the 30th, was a BUSY day.  Have I mentioned how much I love Scarlett's school?  Well, I do.  The kids had a huge party.  They wore their costumes, played games, did Halloween arts and crafts, sang Halloween songs, had a dance party (our favorite), had a parade, and even trick or treated from door to door.  Parents and siblings were invited. 

 Syd was so happy to be in school!

 This here is Liam.  These two are cute together.  They have a bit of a crush on each other.

When it came time for snacks, Liam sat down, and two kids sat on either side of him.  When Scarlett walked in the room, she was very upset, and said "I am supposed to sit next to Liam, but there's no room".  Liam, without any prompting, got up, walked to the other side of the table, where no one was sitting yet, and said "Come on, Scarlett, we can sit over here".  Be still my heart!
The kids feasted on watermelon and cheese cut in to ghoulish shapes, and yummy cupcakes baked in ice cream cones.

 Trick or treat!

Later that night, we went to our friends, the Yeakey's, for their annual pumpkin carving contest.  Scarlett was wiped out from her busy morning, so we let her sleep in the car (we were all in the front yard) for about an hour.  When I woke her up she said, "no, no, no, I want sleep".  When I told her she was missing the party, she perked up.

 Jason and Casey do an amazing job decorating their house and inviting everyone they know to their home for the festivities.  I wish I had taken more pictures of the decor.

 After the Yeakey party, we ran over to the Stake Center for my parents' ward Halloween carnival put on by the YM?YW.

 Grandma caught Scarlett's cheek with her ring- for the first time in Scarlett's life, she was a little mad at Grandma.  It only lasted about a minute.  Who could stay mad at the Grandma who doesn't say no?!

Halloween day- we dressed up the babies and visited my great-aunt Pat.

 And great-aunt El.

After naps, we headed back over to the Yeakey's for their traditional Halloween dinner, and then ran over to our lifelong friends, the McMenamins, for chili and Caren's famous sugar cookies.  Yum!

Thanks to John for documenting... I think I stopped taking pictures by the time Halloween actually came around.

 Scarlett got to play with her sweet friend Emerson who also stopped by.

 John and Caren have photos of every family who has come for the last 20 Halloweens?  Maybe more?

Since it was raining, and Scarlett really has no clue that kids go door-to-door for hours asking for candy, we didn't really do trick or treating.  She got an amazing goody bag from the Yeakeys, and all the candy and sugar cookies she could ever dream of from the McMenamins, so we called it a night.

Happy Halloween!  And here's to moving on!