October is OVER...

Happy Halloween!!!

Here are the pumpkins we took all afternoon carving. Thank goodness Randy’s mom was there to help me. She has really bad arthritis in her hands it the tasks I was asking her to do were beyond painful. I was on my own today to get them done because Randy ended up having to stay at work. We buckled down and carved away and finished just before dark. She then made us dinner in a pumpkin. Brad loved peeking in the oven to watch the Jack-O-Lantern slowly wilt on the pan. After we were fully fed and happy we headed out to do some trick or treating. Randy and his brothers have rebuilt a golf cart so we all piled on and cruised the neighborhood in style. Brad had it all figured out. At every door he asked if he could have an extra piece of candy for his little sister knowing full well that he would end up eating it. When it started raining we headed back to grandmas for donuts and cider.
Before we went home we went to my parents house to see Brad’s cousins in costume. All the kids were on a sugar high so grandpa blasted the radio and we all danced until the sugar wore off. On the way home, the kids fell asleep in the car and are now in bed dreaming of candy bars and Laffy Taffy.

Pumpkin Shopping

My neighbor Krisin and I went to a Pumpkin Patch in Sandy this morning. They had a little maze built out of hay and lots of stuff to do. They also had this really cool pirate ship to play on. We got there early so we had the place to ourselves. By the time we left 3 bus loads of preschoolers were arriving. Talk about good timing.













The pumpkins were so expensive and I just couldn’t bring myself to spend $12-14 on a pumpkin when I knew I could just go down the street to Maceys and buy them dirt cheap. So we left empty handed, packed the kids in the car, drove down the street and got 4 huge pumpkins for $7. Now that is a price I can swallow. Sometimes it is rather inconvenient to be frugal.

Just because I wanted to

As I was rummaging through past years pictures trying to find pumpkin carving pictures, I also found past costumes of Bradley and just wanted to share. I know I am bias but I think he is so stinking cute. He has always wanted to be something scary or tough. In fact last year he scared some of the other kids in his preschool. One little boy was crying and wouldn’t go in the door because Brad scared him. I felt so bad.

Halloween traditions

I read a post my friend wrote and it sparked an idea. She shared her Halloween traditions. Her post made me think and remember why I love Halloween so much. Randy and I have been really lucky to have Halloween off together for the last few years. We have made it a tradition to carve pumpkins in the afternoon. It has been so fun to do. Each year it gets more fun and challenging.

2005
These were from the first year. This is where Randy got hooked. He was so proud of his hanging man. It was so fragile we were scared to breathe.





2006
Brad got a kick out of sponge bob. He had to show each trick or treater that stopped by.






2007
Last year we recruited Randy’s brothers to help out so we could crank out a bunch of them. My favorite was Jack Skellington. Brad’s request was for lightning Mcqueen.









It has been a really fun tradition. Stay tuned for this year’s carving.

What are some of your traditions??

Witches night at Gardner Village

Last night I went to witches night at Gardner Village with Kamie and Stacy. I had never been before and I could not believe the crazed fanatics there. It was a riot. The picture of all the witches dancing cracked me up. It looks like it was raining in the picture but it was just the dust flying in the air from all the witch boogying. I must say I felt a little undressed for the occasion. Next year I think I will go in costume… I won’t stand out so bad. After it closed we went hot tubing and gabbed and laughed. It was so fun.

Our hubbies had their own boys night out vegged out on the couch. We came home to Audric passed out on the floor and Braxten playing Halo with the big boys.

I think the girls had a MUCH better time.

Brad's (I mean Jack Sparrow's) Spooktakular Halloween Costume Party

Brad did it!!! He earned his Party with his friends. He worked so hard to earn it and I am so proud of him.

It took a whole crew of accomplices to pull it all off. It turned out incredible. Thank you to ALL of the people who helped.

We made witches Brew:
Recipe
Frog eyes (Marshmallow)
Dracula teeth (candy corn)
Scabs (Raisins)
Bat bones (pretzel)
Warts (chocolate chips)
Dead fish (Goldfish)

We did a piñata. Brad hit it so hard the whole piñata flew off the rope. But it was Kirsten’s swing that tore it apart and dropped the candy heaven.

Steven and Kari were mad scientists who came up with DEAD ED. Steven carved a melon for his brains, grapes and gel for eyes. Spaghetti and jello for guts, and big pretzels for his thigh bones. They even had licorice for his veins and gummy worms for his rotting limb. Steven even made the kids taste frosting that looked like ear wax and buggers. It was so funny and so cute. The kids got a kick out of it. Some of their faces were priceless.

A special thanks goes to the kitchen crew who make an incredible lunch. Mummy hotdogs, witches fingers, eyeballs, teeth, and pumpkin chips.

I hope Claire lived vicariously through Brad’s party because this caliber of Halloween festivity will not take place for a VERY long time.

I think Brad let him win...

My sister Kamie just gave me these darling pictures of Brad with his "Grandpa Great Fischer". Thank goodness she had her camera with her that day.

We visited Randy's Grandparents a few weeks ago and watched a BYU game. They live in Midway. Ramona (Brad's Grandma Great) made us quite the buffet of German food. Brats....sauerkraut...German potatoes...and taco salad. Yup, I said taco salad. All Randy’s brothers beg her to make her famous taco salad every time we go up there. No matter what she has planned, she always is gracious enough to take the extra time to make it. Taco salad has become a staple at their house. It goes with every party food theme. Don’t get me wrong…the salad it to die for. I just feel bad she has to cater to our cravings….

Anyway back to the pictures. Randy’s Grandpa loves soccer. Brad had been begging him through the whole game to go out and play. So at half time Grandpa Great went out back and they had a little match. Brad got a HUGE kick out of playing with him. He was giggling hysterically. It was fun to watch.

REWIND....

I have missed posting some things that are important to me, so I am going to do a BRIEF synopsis of the past few weeks. Please bear with me.
This picture pretty much sums up how the month has gone. Sinus infection, croup, bronchitis, and you name it has run rampant in our home. I swear if I have to wipe one more bugger nose I will go ballistic. Today we are on the road to recovery. I actually washed my hair and Claire is wearing something other than pajamas.
First of all… Claire is now 11 months old. I can’t believe how time is being stolen from me. I just want to pause time. I can’t believe we will be celebrating her birthday soon.
It has been a tradition for the last few years to have a sleepover at my parent’s house over General Conference. While the boys were at conference we made pumpkin cookies. The kids got bored after frosting the first 2 or 3… so mom, Julie and I ended up decorating the majority of them.

The kids all slept in the same room together and I was the dumb one and volunteered to sleep next door. Next year I call mom and dad’s trailer!!! It was a really fun weekend. I am sure my mom was good and ready to kick us out at the end.

Grandma and Grandpa Reimann are still struggling with their health. Grandma is on her 3rd round of chemo. She has lost all of her hair. I think she looks adorable but it is really hard for her not to be self conscious. My grandpa got her a wig for their anniversary. It looks good on her.

Grandpa has not come home yet. The doctors ended up amputating half of his foot due to a bone infection. His blood clotting levels are still not stabilized yet so they have him in a nursing home. It is really hard to see my grandparents get old.

Eric and I were put in charge of getting grandma and grandpa’s house ready for the winter. We planned a date for all of the grandkids to help. I was way impressed with how many showed up. It was fun to see everyone and the spirit of service brought tears to my eyes. We were finished with everything in about 2 hours. I LOVE my grandparents!!!!

My mom is putting together a book of our family. (Hence another reason for the blogging absence) Eric’s friend Steve drew the cover for our book. I think he did a great job!!! This really makes me laugh. He captured my dad PERFECT!!