Caught Up!

I spent most of the afternoon playing catch up on the blog! We've had a lot of fun things going on over the past few weeks! And I know if I didn't catch up I would just get more behind with our activities this weekend: Elder's Quorum Halloween party, a friend's birthday party, ward Halloween carnival and trunk or treat, and then actual Halloween night! It's been a crazy month here but it's been a lot of fun. I love watching my kids get so into the holidays. I love the traditions we are starting with them! I just love them!

Happy Friday!

Shaun's Work Halloween Party

This afternoon was Shaun's work Halloween party! The kids went around to all of the different offices and cubicles to trick or treat! Not very many people there knew that Maisey and Gage were Max and Ruby, but they all thought they were still cute! We brought Peyton along with us too!

 Cupcake walk! Look at that cute tail!

 2:37 pm - Gage eating his cupcake he won from the walk.

2:41 pm - Gage threw the biggest fit because I wouldn't let him have another cupcake, so we left. It's hard when they plan things during nap time!

I wanted to get back up stairs to take a picture of my favorite decorated cubes but we didn't get to due to our quick exit, so I had Shaun take these on his phone! The Product Implement Team (PIT) made fun of all of the Occupy movements going on around the country! I totally loved it!

Thanks guys for a good laugh and a great party!

The Piccadilly Circus

We went to the Piccadilly Circus Wednesday evening. Overall, it was pretty lame. The kids enjoyed themselves, but I'm not sure we would go again. 

I think the highlight for the night was before the circus even started! The kids and Daddy got to ride an elephant. They thought it was WAY fun. . . once they were on. Maisey was a little nervous but acted brave. Gage was SCREAMING! But Shaun made him do it and once Shaun was on there with him he was fine and had fun! 

Gage and Daddy enjoying the show!

 The other favorite part of the night was when the elephants pooped all over the circus ring while performing. The crowd wasn't very into the circus all night, but when this happened everyone was laughing and clapping and cheering!

And that's it because nothing else was even worthy of mentioning. . . it was that lame! Oh well, at least we know for next time.

Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

We had Maisey's preschool pumpkin patch field trip on Wednesday. Shaun took the day off of work so he could be with us. Our family had a ton of fun along with all of the other kids that came. It started off FREEZE-ING!!!!! I didn't realize it was that cold outside so I didn't dress any of us super warm. Oops! But after about the first hour or so it warmed up a little, at least so my hands weren't numb!

 Gage and Dad on the hay ride out to the pumpkin patch!

 Maisey and Mom trying to stay warm.

Watching the worker make fresh apple cider! The best part of the field trip is the apple cider and the donuts! YUM!

 Don't you love that there is only a couple of inches between them?

 Mommy is forcing Maisey to feed the goat. Once it started eating off her hands she didn't mind it! She asked to do it again!

 The 5 preschool kids: Porter, Maisey, Peyton, Sadie, and Hudson

 Gage coming out of the tunnel slide from the kid's hay maze!

 Maisey and Daddy coming down the slide.

(I was very glad Daddy was there to do all of the activities with the kids. I got to just relax and visit with all of the other moms that were there! YAY for extra vacation days!)

All of the kids that came!

After the field trip was over, you could pay a dollar and stay and play the rest of the day! So we and a few other families did that!

The kids went to the hazelnut pit and had a great time!

 Maisey was making nut angels!

 All the kids were burying Shaun!

 They couldn't see him anymore so they started jumping on him!

 And then he emerged and got all of the kids! They sure had a good time in there!

 They also went down a HUGE tunnel slide!

And climbed on the climbing wall!

By about noon, we were all exhausted. We bought another bag of donuts from the store and went home and had donuts and apple cider for lunch then took some long naps!

It was a great field trip!

Pumpkin Carving

For FHE on Monday night we carved the pumpkins from our garden. We've never carved pumpkins with the kids before, so we weren't sure what to expect.

 We started off with a little Monster Mash dancing!

Then we got right to the carving!

Both the kids thought it was really gross to reach  in and feel all the guts!

 Lets just say this was Gage after the first 2 minutes.

 Daddy ended up doing most of the work. I think next year we might stick to painting them again!

 The finished products.

Left to Right: Mom's with a smile in dire need of an orthodontist. Maisey's Minnie Mouse, Gage's Mickey Mouse, and Dad's perfectly symmetrical smile.

Hide the Pumpkin

 One night while Daddy was gone we decided to get festive. The kids wore their Halloween jammies and we played hide the pumpkin. They loved the game, so we've played it several more times since.

 Jammie time!!! 

 Looking for the pumpkin.

Gage always puts his finger to his mouth and says, "Hmmmmm, let's see." He was doing that all night. It was so cute.

 Ta da!!!

And, she found it behind the pillow!

When it was Gage's turn to hide the pumpkin, he threw it in the middle of the floor and then he and Maisey ran after it.

It was a pretty fun night!

2.5

2.5 years today, that is. Gage is such a big boy and does so many funny things. I asked everyone what their favorite thing about Gage was and what makes Gage so funny. Here are the answers:

 Daddy -

* My favorite thing about Gage is that he is always the first one to come and give me a love when I get home from work.

* Gage is funny because of the new phrases he is constantly saying. Like the other day he found his Swiper stuffed animal and came to me and said, "Swiper no swiping, Swiper no swiping, Swiper no swiping, Ooooo Man!" while trying to snap his fingers at the end.

Mommy -

* My favorite thing about Gage is that he always has to give "Mama loves". Any night Shaun is home (which isn't much) Shaun puts him to bed, but before his door gets shut he always has to beg Shaun to let him do "mama loves". He will come and find me and give me a little snuggle then run off back to his room.

* Gage is funny because ALL.DAY.LONG. I hear "look mama" and then he does something silly or naughty. For example, he will spin around until he gets so dizzy he falls over, he will throw his trains, he will crash his cars together, he will jump off the ottoman, or he'll point out something funny in a book.

Maisey -

* My favorite thing about Gage is that he sometimes shares his choo choos with me.

* Gage is funny because he jumps on the couch even though it's against Mommy's rules.

We love Gage so much and enjoy watching his the wheels in his little tiny brain turn and turn as he learns a million new things everyday. This is such a fun stage, but it's a lot of work! We wouldn't trade it for anything.

Love you big boy!

3rd Annual Pumpkin Party

This year's pumpkin party started out with the kids eating breakfast in the playroom because Shaun and I stayed up until almost 1 am the night before getting the family room and dining room all set up.

Then I got the kids dressed in the costumes. They are Max and Ruby this year. We've been planning it for months and I made their costumes, then this morning Maisey tells me she doesn't want to be Ruby anymore and throws a major fit. I talk her into it by making her face look like Ruby's with a pink nose and some black whiskers. Gage also hated his costume (which I'm not sure why, it's just overalls and a shirt) and went around all morning pulling at his clothes and yelling, "Me not like Max!" This was one of those moments when I thought to myself, "Why even bother doing something cute and creative with them."

Anyway, here are pics of their costumes

 Gage's ears lasted for that picture only then he wouldn't put them back on for the rest of the morning.

I sewed (don't be too surprised! haha!) bunny tails for each of them.

Then it was time for the party to start. We played pass the pumpkin and then each of the kids got to decorate their pumpkins. The past two years we've done paint. This year I opted for stickers, foam stickers, glitter glue pens, and googly eyes. The kids didn't seem to miss the paint to much and I definitely didn't miss the mess! After decorating the pumpkins we had a spooky lunch (Kids: mummy hotdogs, jack o' lantern cheese balls, and orange Jell-o jigglers with spooky cider to drink. Moms: salad with Halloween pasta, witches broomsticks, and haunted h2o.) After lunch we ate treats. I made rice krispy treat ghosts for the kids which they gobbled right up. I also made a yummy apple cake for the moms, but in all the craziness of the party I forgot to pass it out. Sorry moms! Then we played one more quick game of BINGO where everyone won Halloween silly bands. It was another great party this year! Thanks for coming everyone!

 Gage's pumpkin!

 All the kids decorating!

 Maisey's pumpkin!

 The spooky lunches!

And some food pics: