Halloween

We had a fun Halloween this year.  We had all the kids activities during the week.  Clayton got to get in his costume for school and Cooper had a Halloween parade at school. We also had our ward Parade and dinner and the kids cashed in on lots of candy.  We couldn't find Clayton afterwards and we were starting to worry because it was getting dark.  Turns out he was going for a second round to get more candy!

I was back and forth of whether I wanted to dress Parker up, but I ended up finding this cute Sunflower costume and she looked so adorable in it.  She wasn't quite sure why she had it around her face, but she smiled and looked so cute in it.  During the parade, I ripped a small hole in the wrapper of a sucker.  She loved eating and sucking on that thing.  It was her real taste of sugar!

Cooper really wanted to be a Samurai for Halloween. We looked for costumes, but we couldn't find anything.  Bryce brought home some stuff laying around the shop and ended up making this awesome costume for Cooper.  He spent a lot of time on it and Cooper loved it.  I thought he did a great job.  He is creative and I am always amazed at the things he comes up with. 

We finally carved pumpkins a couple of nights before Halloween.  The boys had picked their own pumpkins at a patch and then they had a blast pulling and scraping the "guts" out of them.  Parker even enjoyed watching them.  On Halloween night, we actually went up to Steph's house to eat dinner and let the cousins all trick or treat together. 

Fall Leaves

This year we decided to stay on top of the leaf clean up and disposal.  Most years we are lazy and just let them sit on the ground and get gross from all the snow.  We had such warm weather this Fall and so the kids had a good time playing in the leaves.  Parker wasn't quite sure what to think about them, but Clayton had a blast running and jumping into the piles of leaves.

Fall Family Fun

I am assistant den leader for the Bears.  I enjoy doing this because I get to spend time with Cooper and Clayton and they get to have fun experiences and opportunities.  A couple of weeks before Halloween, we took the kids out to Hooper to let them pick their own pumpkin from a pumpkin patch.  All the scouts had a great time picking unique pumpkins. 

In October, we met Mandy and Weston up at the campgrounds in Mantua.  We brought one of the four wheelers and took the kids for small rides around the campsite.  We also started a fire and sat around visiting and eating roasted hot links and smores and drinking Dr. Pepper.  It was so pretty up there and the temperatures were somewhat warm for that time of year.

Later that night, as I was putting Parker in bed, I somehow threw up the hot link back into my throat and it took my breath away. I literally could not breathe and was heaving to get any sort of air into my lungs. It scared me really bad.  Bryce ran into the room and talked me through it.  After I finally caught some air and started into a bit of shock, Bryce gave me a priesthood blessing.  I almost lost my voice, but rested well that night and was fine the next day. 

Also in October, Clayton and his Best Friends Preschool class went to Black Island Farms.  I took Parker and they had a fun time riding on the hay wagon. The driver showed the kids some carrots and a fresh head of cabbage.  He then let them each go out and pick a small pumpkin.  The wagon was packed with people and it stressed Parker out, which stressed me out, but it ended up being ok. 

After the wagon ride, we went out to the field to play.  Clayton loved the big white slides.  He spent a lot of time climbing up the net ladders and going down the slides.  He also went on the little cart ride that was pulled by a small tractor.  We ate some nachos, had a drink, and then went out to the slides again!  He didn't want to go home. The weather was beautiful and perfect!

Cooper Days

For scouts, Cooper and Bryce had to make a boat to race in the Raingutter Regatta. Using the paint that Bryce had in the garage, they created the masterpiece called the "Banana Split". Cooper had a fun time racing the other kids.  He has really enjoyed the scout program and loves all the activities.  Right now, my calling is Assistant Den Leader, so I get to be with him for scouts.

Cooper started fourth grade this year and he has Mr. Johnson.  He has really enjoyed school so far.  He has struggled with Math, but excels in Reading and Science.  He likes Mr. Johnson and he has some good friends in his class.

We put a fire pit in our backyard earlier this year, so the kids have loved having fires in the evening.  Its been a fun family activity and the kids love the fire. 

Cooper has really taken to Parker these last few months.  As he has gotten stronger, he has asked to hold her more often.  He can get her in and out of her crib and especially likes holding her at church.  Her eyes light up when he walks into the room.  She is so lucky to have such amazing brothers.

Cooper started Tae Kwan Do in September over at a place near Kents.  It's kind of expensive ($100 a month) but he can go six days a week and sometimes he will even do 2 classes a night.  His instructor is Mr. Hugh. He is learning many things other than just self defense. Mr. Hugh expects the students to be respectful of each other and they are very encouraging to everyone.  Cooper has really enjoyed it and continues to get stronger and develop confidence.

When we go sell kettle corn at different locations, they always have people there that paint faces.  The boys love to get their faces painted and this is Coopers favorite design. He likes to look like a cowboy!

Gigem' Aggies

I love this little beanie that Julie Clark made for Parker. It is a monkey but its in the Aggie colors.  Since I don't have anyone to shout and cheer with me for the football games, I decided to put this hat on her and bring her downstairs to watch the game with me!

Sometimes when I watch the games by myself, it makes me sad and wishing that I was in College Station with my family on game days.  The whole city is pumped and excited for these games and it would be so fun to be down there celebrating with the family.  Anyway, one day I was watching a game, when my awesome husband showed up with a small "taste of home" for me.  He brought be Dr. Pepper and some medium Buffalo Wings to help me enjoy the game a little better and feel like I was in Texas for a few minutes!