HaPPy HalLoWEen

We had a great Halloween this year!  Aidan made a great Cowboy and Jack stayed warm in his fleece turtle costume.

  

Aidan's preschool party was filled with bean bag tosses, Go Fish, and pin the nose on the pumpkin.  After making bags, they filled them full with lots of prizes.  I was able to enjoy lunch with friends.  Thank you Meghann and Happy Birthday!!

After dinner we made our way out Trick-or-Treating.  The trunk or treat was perfect for our little ones who were getting tired out with all our door-to-door walking.  We kept ourselves warm with yummy apple cider.  

After all the candy gathering fun, we put the kids to bed at Jess and Aric's and enjoyed scary Halloween movies.  

Some of my favorite things about this year:

- helping with Aidan's preschool party

- pumpkin scones from Starbucks

- Aidan refusing to wear anything else except the 2 sizes-too-big cowboy boots for his costume borrowed to him by his preschool teacher.  But, thank you Miss Teri.

- celebrating a friend's birthday

- Jack's sticky hands and face after taking taking his sucker all the way down past the tootsie

- Aidan calling a compliment to a skeleton costumed boy walking by, "I like your bones."

- our trick-or-treaters/"CUSTOMERS" as Aidan calls them

- crazy fire Jack-O-Lanterns provided by our neighbors, the Hunters

                                                            HaPPy HalLoWEen

finishing out family vacays

We tried FOREVER to take a good picture of all three kids.  This is all we got, but I love it because it shows how hard Aidan was trying to smile at the camera and keep the kids next to him at the same time.

My younger sister, Athena, came to visit this week with her 11 month old son, Dax.  She and I are only 15 months apart, so although we may have fought a lot in high school, we love each other to pieces now.  We had a great week and spent time together shopping, talking, and entertaining kids. 

Here we are at Harvest House.  Mike was great to take Aidan swimming while Athena and I took the youngest kids to the fall festival.  Really, I can't complain about going there twice because the pumpkin doughnuts were seriously initiative enough. 

Mike also bought tickets to Phantom of the Opera before Athena booked plane tickets, so now Mike and I are totally indebted to her after babysitting for us while we went.  

I'm so thankful to have a wonderful sister and we are all grateful she could visit.  She is such an example of kindness and patience.  Living away from family is challenging, so any time with them is priceless.  Aidan loves all his cousins, and loved being a big brother to Dax too!

PS  We missed Scott, Athena's husband, but we'll see you soon!

family filled 2 weeks

We love when family visits.  Mike's parents started it all off by visiting last weekend.  Aidan absolutely adores his grandparents.  I was excited they could see beautiful Spokane during fall.  

It was a very suspenseful wait with a 2 hour delayed 

flight... but they arrived at last!  We started 

the weekend off with shopping... for G.A.R.Y.  You see, my 

mother-in-law, Liz (how we love the fun she brings to our family) is determined to trend-up her husband.  So, we went jean and shoe shopping.  Next, comes the "Matt Lauer" haircut.  That would have to wait for another day, we didn't want to over stimulate the soon to be retiree.  We decided to treat Gary, for all his shopping patience, to a steakhouse dinner (his favorite)... but he actually ended up treating us.  Did I mention he was a great guy?  

Saturday was celebrated at Harvest House (see post below).  Wow!  Can I say the fresh, warm pumpkin doughnuts were unbelievable?  We also enjoyed hay mazes, clydesdale pulled wagon rides, and apple cider.  After Harvest House... a much needed nap for everyone... except the guys.  Our late night was filled with Game Show Network and The Cosby Show (which I forgot is pretty funny).

Sadly, their vacation came to a too quick end.  But, thanks for all the fun - We Miss You!

PS  Thanks grandma for the Halloween Paper Chain!!

Stay tuned for more from Athena and Dax...

I Am A Child Of God

The theme this year in primary is, "I Am A Child Of God."  Our primary introduced this theme to us through their primary program on Sunday.  As first time parents with a child in primary, we were so excited and  proud to watch Aidan perform.  He sang great and memorized his speaking part, "I can obey my parents and teachers."  We love to see how Aidan has grown this year, and we're thankful for his teachers and leaders.  

What's great about HarVesT HOusE?

Green Bluff Farms is great year round.  During fall, Harvest House hosts a pumpkin festival. We were lucky to have Grandma and Grandpa Sampson join us for the festivities.  AND, I'm glad we celebrated in the AM because by 1:00 cars had a VeRy, VeRy long wait before gaining entrance. 

We made it... and had a great time.  Here are a few of our highlights...

Pumpkin Doughnuts

Hay Rides

2 Trips to the Honey Buckets  :(

The Live Christian Rock Band

Pumpkins...

... and more Pumpkins

Corn Maze

Fresh Apple Cider

And, Of Course, My Child Who Eats Anything, Enjoyed EatInG Hay

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for having fun with us!  We're so glad you were here!