Halloween

We partied it up through another Halloween and have PILES of candy to show for it. It was a good one. I like all the action. I should also admit that I really like all the candy . . . for me. And the kids love dressing up every day for a week straight. Everyone is happy.

Presenting . . . the costumes of Halloween 2012:

Our first day out in our new (used from Kid to Kid) costumes. Off to Scott's work party.

 

We were right by Grandma Great's house so we stopped by to trick or treat and say good bye to her before she left for St. George the next morning.

 Halloweeny snacks after school.

 Evan spent Monday with us. We had a lovey afternoon up Millcreek Canyon and then came home to carve pumpkins for FHE.

 Kate is not loving the raw pumpkin.

 Finished products. Each of the kids is acting out what their pumpkin is (Brie's idea). Brielle's is a kitty. Ava's is a jack-o-lantern. Zachary had a wicked cool mom that carved a Batman sign in his pumpkin.

 So proud.

 Best part of the goopy mess that is pumpkin carving are Scott's DELICIOUS roasted pumpkin seeds. They are seriously so good. He found a recipe that I will look forward to for years to come.

 The girls (and Zachary) got to dress up for ballet class.

Look at Ava's big red hair bouncing around.

 Brielle's class mixing up a witches brew.

 The ward Trunk or Treat. Everybody was very excited about this night. One of Scott's co-workers gave us a wooden, painted bean bag toss game. The kids all lined up for it over and over. They loved it. And . . . .it means I never have to worry about decorating our trunk again. Wahoo!

 A VERY happy boy with all his candy!

 Our costumes.

 This is how our baby gold fish came home. I should admit also that I couldn't stop laughing every time I put her in this costume. I thought it was so funny. She seemed to like being in her own little sleeping bag.

We had both Ava's preschool parade and Brielle's elementary school parade on Halloween morning. 

Ava marching up the street with her preschool friends.

That afternoon the kids played in the yard with the bean bag toss game because it was so WARM. I mean seriously warmer than I remember any Halloween being. It was 76 degrees. 

 A warm evening meant no coats and out trick or treating for almost three hours!

 And then . . . the piles of loot and a fair amount of trading candy. Oh, and a mom tax of all the chocolate ones that I like. And a Happy Halloween to all!

"I think I'll go run a marathon."

So, this happened a few weeks ago, but sad to say, it was done so nonchalantly I kind of just forgot to blog about it. How rude, huh? When really, it is a major accomplishment. A marathon. 26 miles!!! That is a big deal. 

Scott had kind of mentioned the Utah Marathon (an inaugural marathon in Salt Lake City), but wasn't for sure yet if he was going to do it. He did not train at all. He went out one morning and just ran 18 miles and figured he could pull it off. The night before the marathon I asked him what he was planning and he said, "I'm going to go to sleep at the same time as normal. Wake up. And then just go run it." As if it was nothing. He did eat pasta that night. 

In the morning, the kids and I went to see just how far he had made it. The course was all along his parent's and brother's neighborhoods. He could duck out to someone's couch anytime he wanted. 

We waited up at the Capital building. I have to insert here what a perfect, fall day it was. It was chilly and crisp outside with spectacular colors on the leaves. A perfect day for a run. We waited and waited and watched and watched. Nothing. And then all three kids decided they needed to go to the bathroom in the outhouses. I was helping Zachary on the pot with one hand, holding Kate in the other arm, propping the door open with one foot and that is when I looked up the road and saw Scott coming our way. I started yelling to the kids, "He's coming! He's coming! Come out!" They all came scurrying out of their respective latrines to cheer on and and say hi to Scott as he went by at mile 23. He looked so good. So happy and feeling great. Amazing. 

 He went running away to finish the marathon and I looked up to see Zachary chasing after him down the road. He did wear what he calls his "fast, running shoes". I made him come back and he sobbed! So sad.

 The kids and I drove downtown to the finish line and got to the final turn before the finish just in time to see Scott coming. Brielle, Ava and Zachary jumped in to run him to the end. It really was so cute.

They also ran with a woman Scott met along the course and became best friends with. They ran most of the marathon together (Her 29th marathon. She looked about 60.) and talked together the whole time.

 Our friend Dave Guzy came in just after Scott.

 We were so proud of Scott at the end of his 4th marathon. He says this was his favorite marathon. So happy for him.

Red Ribbon Week

It is a good thing Brielle is so into dressing up. She had a blast with her school's Red Ribbon Week teaching the kids to "Say No to Drugs!". She was so excited about what she was going to put together each day that she was ready and waiting to go to school early every day. Miracle.

Crazy Day.

 Rock Star Day.

 All Red Day.

For twin day she wore some crazy combination of dress, leggings and sweatshirt that matched the clothes her friend Lily had. She was thrilled.