Birthdays galore and an ode to Erika

Fall not only marks the changing of the seasons, it marks the beginning of a very busy birthday season.

Justin's birthday was on November 3rd. I will not disclose his age in respect for him but it is smack dab in the middle of 30 and 40. We were planning to go out to dinner that night but Luke was sick so we just had a little party at home and he received some apparel to show his Utah man spirit appropriately in this heavily populated BYU fan neighborhood we live in. Happy birthday love!

On Friday night, my parents took the older two boys out shopping and to dinner for their upcoming birthdays. Justin and I took the younger ones out to dinner and then we came home and watched a movie. I fell asleep about five minutes into it but at least I was there in body, right?

The next morning we headed to Boondocks for the combined friend birthday party for Nick and Andrew. I told Nick last year that we were done having friend birthday parties when they turned 10...he could invite a couple friends to dinner or to a movie...but it was just easier to have one friend party and we will just have to play it by ear next year. They are only young once.

Let me tell you, Boondocks is an awesome place to party. Everyone was able to run around and do their own thing and we had originally planned to just stay inside the whole time because November is so iffy in the weather department, but the weather cooperated and was absolutely gorgeous so we played outside too.

Andrew and his buddy Jacob

Ryker, Nick, Justin, Reese, Turner

Andrew and Jaxon

Then after the birthday party, Nick and Andrew went to the U game with my dad and my sister, Erika. Nick opened up one of his presents early to wear to the game:

On November 4, Liam also wanted to write a note to my sister, Erika. He dictated it to me and I wrote it down to give it to her. I thought it was so cute that I didn't want to forget it. Ever. It said:

Dear Erika,

You are so nice, ever.

Ever, she is so nice, ever.

(giggle)

I love Erika.

I love her.

Simple, yet so satisfying

Today Luke was sick. I always love an opportunity for my little Lukey to stay home because he is such a love. He wasn't so sick though that we couldn't meet Justin for lunch at Paradise and do a bit of shopping.

I was not in the best mood when we headed to Salt Lake. I was blasting my music, singing along and felt the black plague enter my heart because while Justin was making me upset as I was talking to him on the phone, Luke and Liam were just sitting there in the back seat, quiet while Lady Antebellum latest hit was blaring. I think I just wanted to feel sorry for myself. I wanted the boys to feel as sad as I did. Really? What kind of a mother am I?

With one push of a button, Liam's CD came on and the mood changed. If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. The boys, singing along with Liam's little arm shooting up into the air shouting "Hooray!"

We went to lunch and then went shopping. Not to kid friendly stores, but stores like TJ Maxx, Kohl's, and Roberts. I wanted to get a birthday gift for Justin and see if there were any decent Thanksgiving decorations left out there. The boys were delightful. Yes, crazy running pell mell throughout TJ Maxx dancing to the random ringtones on my phone, but delightful. We didn't find anything so walked down to Kohl's. They had to climb through the big hole made in the brick wall and Liam didn't want any help. We walked all over because of course they had to use the restroom but it didn't seem cumbersome.

We went to Robert's next. They squished together in the little cart and sang and laughed the entire time. At the end, they received a free red balloon. I had my camera but left it in the car and I was bummed that I couldn't capture one of the cutest things I have ever seen. As we went outside, they were running and laughing like this free balloon was the best present they had ever received. Luke wanted his tied around his wrist and so Liam wanted his done the exact same way. Liam was squealing with glee. After they were tied securely to their wrists, more skipping and looking behind them at their balloons following them, dancing in the breeze. Two adorable boys enjoying being little. I am so glad that I have this memory.

Happy Halloween!

I think we can open up our own candy store. Trunk or treat on Tuesday night, Justin's work party before their school fall carnival on Friday, Saturday they plundered the neighborhood trick or treating then a party at our neighbor's after with tons of yummy food, donughts, and making smores. No better way to get the kids all souped up on candy and sugar. At least there was an extra hour of sleep to have visions of sugarplums dance in their heads...oh wait, that is not for a couple months yet!

Cutest bunch of trick or treaters around!

                                                                                       Luke as Spiderman

Nick as Michael Jackson

                                                                        Andrew as Commander Cody

Liam as Mover Scott from Imagination Movers

                                                                              Showing off his Wobble Goggles!

Disgustingly delicious

 This year I just could not get motivated enough to plan the Halloween dinner party I have had for the last couple years. Total bummer.

I don't know, I think I was tired, too many darn things at night with football practice and games and then the lovely place called work kept beckoning to me. Really, can't a money tree just up and grow in my backyard?

So tonight I cooked a delightful dinner for my family complete with Halloween fare. And if I do say so myself, it was muy delicioso.

I am not the best at taking food pictures, but I will post some anyway.

The dinner menu:

Ghost soup (Cauliflower Soup)

Witches broomsticks (breadsticks snipped at the ends before baking to look like broomsticks)

Fungus salad with toenails, scabs, dandruff, and used bandaids (A delicious salad recipe my mother in law gave me)

Putrid punch (This is what it is really called)

And for dessert we had:

Dirt cake

and

Candy Corn jello

The picture that I took was too dark... but I promise it was super cute. It was a yellow layer on the bottom, a white layer in the middle, and an orange layer on the top. I could eat jello all day everyday. I love it.

No, there was no kitty litter cake this year. Although I could probably eat that every day as well.

Yay for Halloween and all of the fun food ideas!

Thank goodness for digital cameras

Just in case you were wondering what the back of our entertainment center looks like--there are 41 pictures just like this one so I don't forget either. I think Liam is telling me I need to dust more often.

Boo at the Zoo!

After Nick's football game on Saturday, Justin and his dad took the two older boys out on a quick hunting trip. While they were having their fun, my mom and I took the younger two to the zoo.

Upon entering the zoo, I noticed many little ones dressed up in their costumes and then it hit me. It was Boo at the Zoo! I felt a little bad that I wasn't on top of things and didn't have the boys dressed up, but they didn't seem to mind and they were just thrilled that they got candy even without their costumes. I was also very pleasantly surprised because Justin said he was going to take my camera hunting but it was still in my purse--yay! Luke and Liam were being absolutely darling and cute to each other so I am glad that I was able to capture it in pictures.

This wasn't even posed!

For how full the parking lot was, I was scared that it was going to be a mad house inside the zoo. I was delighted that it was not too crowded...we were able to get a view of the baby elephant-still so stinking cute by the way-, got right on the merry go round, only had to wait one round to get on the train, and all of the animals were awake and entertaining. Our train ride was quite exciting as well-the train stopped right before the tunnel and we had to be pushed for a while. Luckily we were done after our train ride because the rain started pouring as we were walking to our car. Perfect timing.

A little side note...Luke now has a superpower.

At the football game, Andrew, my two nephews, and my niece were at the park playing. After the game, we told Luke to run over to the park and get them. He said no but just then I noticed that they were all walking over to us anyway. I told him that they must have read his mind and come over. Luke said "Yep, that is why I didn't go over there!" Later at the zoo, he and Liam were running around the giraffe house, going up and down the stairs. Luke came down and we were ready to go and so I told him to run upstairs really fast and get Liam. He said no, but at the same time, Liam was on his way down the stairs. Luke said "See, I just used my heat vision again!"

Activities...

On Thursday night, the older two boys had a violin recital. Justin and I were commenting on how they grumble so much about practicing and say they want to quit every other day but when it comes to recital day and they tear it up, they are so proud and beam from ear to ear. Nicholas received a trophy from Suzuki because he has received three superior ratings at Federation. Yay, Nick!



Liam and I went to the Scarecrow Festival on Friday. He had a free admission ticket for him in his backpack when he got home from school the other day so why not? He loved it. We got his hand painted, went on the train, there were a million blow up slides and obstacle courses, a fishing pond, games, and a haunted house that we took about 5 steps into and then he stopped short and it was a no go. It was such a beautiful day and we got a treat and sat on the lawn to enjoy what would most likely be one of the last warm days of the season. Although I am home with Liam all day, it was nice to have a lazy day to spend with him just laughing and running around in the fresh air and not running around doing errands.









Saturday night Justin and I went on a date to see Thriller. Seriously, if you haven't seen this amazing production by the Odyssey Dance Theater...you MUST go. It was incredible. It even received Justin's stamp of approval. Dancing is one talent I wish I had--I am quite uncoordinated so the only ones that get to see my pirouettes in my pjs on my kitchen floor are my boys. Sorry to disappoint.



To wrap up the weekend we headed out to the Alpine Loop on Sunday to view the fall foliage. And of course, it was beautiful.







And here are a couple pictures of bugs outside our house...