Trick-or-Treating 2015

This year most townships had trick-or-treat on Thursday, October 29th.  Our township is having theirs tonight on actual Halloween, but we'll just stay home and hand out candy here.  We decided getting it done early wouldn't be a bad thing and we had been invited by some friends to come to their neighborhood which is far more conducive to trick-or-treating, so we figured we should take them up on it.  We had a fun themed dinner before we headed out, and then the boys all got more than their share of candy and treats.  Tanner came back so loaded he had to stuff all of his pockets just to fit it all.  Thanks for a great night Greens!

This neighbor had a complete Zombie quarantine with zombies roaming the yard.  

Senior Trick-or-Treat 2015

My absolute favorite activity of the year is when our Ward puts on the "Senior Trick-or-Treat" night at a local rehabilitation center.  We all decorate boxes to make a cardboard town for the patients to come trick or treating through.  Some people hand out treats, while others help wheel them through the Halloween town.  I've always had a special place in my heart for the elderly and I love that this is a service activity my boys can participate in and start to learn how good it feels when you serve others.  It's so fun to see the patients faces light up when they see everyone all dressed up and they always love the little kids the best.  This year we weren't sure if we'd make it with baby's arrival pending.  Obviously baby is still baking so we could go, but Landon ended up with a serious stomach bug the day of the activity so he and I had to stay home.  Dean took Tanner and Braddock and even managed to take some pictures for me.  It was another smashing success.  If you're curious here's a peek at years past 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009. And some pictures from this year...

Zach dressed up like me for Halloween! Hahahaha!

Costume Parade and a Lesson in Prayer

Yesterday the boys had a big day at school full of class Halloween parties, their Monster-Move-A-Thon, and the Costume Parade.  I kept a low profile this year not knowing whether or not I'd be in labor, so I just sent in a snack for Tanner's class and didn't have anything to do with Landon's class party.  Since I wasn't in labor, Braddock and I figured we'd run on over to watch the costume parade.  On the drive there I got a call from the school and it was Landon.  He was a bit frantic and said he couldn't find his costume anywhere.  I had actually dropped them off that morning rather than sending them on the bus, so I knew for a fact he had walked through the front doors with it in his hands.  I told him I'd be there soon and I'd help look.  When I got to his classroom his teacher said they had looked EVERYWHERE.  They said there was another classroom full of extra costumes he could go pick from, and not knowing what else to do, we ran down there to check them out.  Well, Landon was SO upset.  He didn't want another costume, he wanted HIS costume.  I begged him just to be a quick ninja for the parade and then we'd continue the hunt for his costume later, but he wasn't having it.  So I whispered in his ear that we could say a little prayer and go look one more time.  We ran back to his room and began the faith-filled search.  Low and behold in less than one minute we had found his costume.  Believe it or not it was actually hanging right on his hook behind his backpack in a spot that I'm positive had been checked hundreds of times.  He quickly ran to the bathroom and got changed just in time for the parade.  When we got home I asked him if he knew why we were able to find that costume.  He immediately answered that it was because of the prayer and Heavenly Father's help.  Man am I grateful for sweet little answers to a child's simple prayer.  It made for a costume parade we won't soon forget.

Wonder Woman - a.k.a. Mrs. Patton

Dave the Minion - a.k.a. Tanner

Mrs. Pumpkin - a.k.a. Mrs. Cecela

Kevin the Minion - a.k.a. Landon

Pumpkin Carving 2015

Tonight we ran over to Mom and Dad's for our annual pumpkin carving with them and Janna.  The boys did great, and Tanner even did most of his completely on his own this year.  Now we're just playing the waiting game to see how many more Halloween activities we can squeeze in this week before baby boy arrives.

Janna's - Tanner's - Landon's - Braddock's

Trunk-or-Treat

Tonight was our Ward Trunk-or-Treat activity.  It was supposed to be outside with bonfires, hayrides, and crock-pot dinners.  Last minute they had to make the call to move it to the Church due to rain, but man did they pull it off!  Everyone decorated a classroom door and we just trick-or-treated around the building.  I love seeing how creative everyone is.  They had games and face painting and the night was perfect.  We got to debut our costumes and I'm happy with how they turned out.  I think Dean won't be sporting a bald wig ever again though so I'm glad snagged a picture.

 Gru - Lucy - Tom - Dave - Kevin

So Blessed

This week a bunch of friends from Church put together a little "Girls Night Out" baby shower for me.  We met up at Panera and enjoyed the night away from kids and responsibilities.  They went all out with balloons and table decor and even picked up blue boy cupcakes from the bakery.  I was spoiled with some seriously generous gifts and even better was that they all came and showed their love and friendship.  I've been truly overwhelmed the past few weeks at how blessed I am to have so many people in my life who love and care about me and my little family.  I'm not sure what I've ever done to deserve it, but I thank my Heavenly Father every day for it.  Several of them had a meeting so they had to come late.  Panera was closing so we had a little "after party" at Eat'n'Park.  Now that we've partied I guess this little guy can feel free to arrive anytime.  We can't wait!

I look HUGE in this picture.  Maybe that's why I've been feeling huge lately. ;)

This was the funniest gift ever.  We've got to get working on that belly cast before baby arrives.  And the jar is to collect amniotic fluid when my water breaks.  We made the mistake of telling some of our friends about how we did that when it broke with Tanner(that's what they said to do in our prenatal classes) and in the rush to get to the hospital we forgot all about it until we found it on the kitchen table a couple days later after arriving home from the hospital with our new baby.  They thought it was so funny they've never let us live it down.  Now we have the official collection jar complete with vinyl and ribbon, so we're good to go!  Thanks Greens!

Leaf Peeping

After school today we loaded the boys up and headed out for a nice fall drive to see all the leaves.  It's so pretty and peaceful driving through tree covered roads just enjoying time as a family.  Tanner went all out and made tickets for everyone and even punched them as we got in the van.  Landon must have been extra tired from school all day because he konked out in the back seat before we made it home.

Pumpkin Patch 2015

Yesterday we picked the boys up from school so we could get on the road and hit up the local pumpkin patch while the weather's still decent and before this baby decides to show up.  This is by far one of our favorite yearly traditions and going on a weekday means we usually have the place almost to ourselves.  It's always funny when we're out in public with all three boys everyone wants to know if we're expecting a boy or a girl and their reactions are priceless when they hear it's boy #4.  Man are we getting excited to meet him!

That poor black goat ended up with his head stuck in the bucket.  After some serious goat hollering, Dean was able to set him free.

  

 

  

Wish these three would quit growing up!