Party Time!

Dana and I got an Evite to a dress-up party for adults this year. We were pretty excited. Of course we were trying to figure out what we could be. I felt like I should branch out beyond my velvety red cape and striped tights. But then we went to the "Spirit" store and soon realized I'd have to get a little creative unless I wanted to be a scandalous red riding hood, sexy senorita, etc. You know what I mean. Anyway we were in Old Navy which is next to a "Spirit" store and I saw some stick-on mustaches while we were in line. I had a flashback of my favorite video from college....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5rRZdiu1UE&NR=1

My fun husband loved my idea and we had a great time trying to find clothes, wigs, and everything we needed for our costumes.

(can you see the kids watching us? I think they were a little weirded-out but hopefully not scarred for life. They seemed a little surprised that we had a party to go to:)
Right off I realized a couple things dressed up as a guy. First and most obvious-

I'm a really nerdy, dorky looking dude.

Second- I have no idea how to stand or move my body like a guy.

Dana looked awesome. He was really cool and I was definitely feeling like the wanna-be side-kick.
I kinda look like a cross between Napoleon Dynamite and Meg Ryan :)
The best part about the party was dancing for like 2 hours! My husband can get down. I took off the mustache and wig after awhile for comforts sake but also cause I felt weird looking like 2 guys dancing together. Anyway-- Happy Halloween!

(Regular blog scheduling will resume in a few days with some cute kids in their Halloween costumes.)

It's a Good, Good Life (at the patch)

About a week and a half ago I got to go with my gal Sadie and many other preschool cuties to the pumpkin patch.
She loved the hay ride, feeding the goats, and going through the maze. But the bounce house was her favorite.

Or maybe it was decorating the little pumpkin they got to bring home.
It's hard to tell with that happy face!

A couple of the other moms, there with their youngest child, and I discussed the beauty of a pumpkin patch sans stroller, diaper bag, and fussy baby. It was so relaxing. But I think it's one of those things you can't fully appreciate until you've gone 10 times trying to feed a crying baby with a propped up bottle as you navigate the stroller with one hand over hay covered dirt mounds while meanwhile your diaper bag falls off you shoulder from your older child pulling you in another direction.

So if you're in the midst of all that now- just think how much you are helping yourself appreciate your future trips!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

With Amy's trip to New York and ours to St. George, our "Fall Breakfast" was postponed a couple weeks but it worked out well. This year it actually felt like fall. Which was quite heavenly.
We had a fun time cooking, cleaning, and decorating (all with open windows and cool air breezing in) and kind of skipping around the house.

And then of course eating up all the yummy food with some of our favorite people :)

Sadie keeps asking me when the leaves will fall even though I've explained 5 times or so that our leaves fall in the winter when it actually gets cold :)

Holly's Golden Birthday

7 years ago you were pink and soft and smelled so new. Of course we loved you from the start. But our love grows and grows as you sail through childhood just a little too fast. Your spirit inside is even more beautiful than you are. You light up our lives and bring joy to the world around you.
Here's some things we love about you :)

-You can play well with each of your siblings

-You love to be a helper

-You're so good at choosing the right

-The spontaneous, funny things you come up with

-Your cuddliness

- Your sweetness

Here's a funny little story: When we were talking about it being a "golden" birthday I said to Holly "Did you know on your golden birthday you don't get any presents?" At first she didn't believe me but then when Emma chimed in and said "yeah that's true Holly". And with Emma apparently being the final word in things, she had a slight disappointed look but then shrugged and said "oh okay". I love it- no expectations :)
Holly was supposed to have a "party year" but decided she wanted to go to Makutu's Island with our family instead (yea!). She asked for a Webkinz (see above pic) and a "puffy" pillow like dad's. On her birthday, Friday morning, she woke up to 7 golden balloons in her room (that was the extent of our celebrating the "golden" part), and a string with a note saying "follow me" which led to her new pillow. (This was a cop-out for me to not have to wrap it.) She brought mini-cupcakes to school and got to go out to lunch with mom and dad. She chose Subway and wanted to eat outside because it was a beautiful day about 75 deg.
Last night we had cake with cousins :) We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE you!

St George Finale

Dana did it again! On Saturday he conquered the St George marathon once more and probably for the last time for at least a few years. He also PR'ed again and ran it in 3 hrs 19:16 (average of 7:36 min per mile). His time qualifies him for Boston this next year.

Can you see him 4th back? It's so exciting when I spot him each year. Go Dana!!! This is as close-up as I got with my camera during the race because then I had to get ready to give him his requested "ice cold water" to pour on his head and to grab his water pack. Boy I'm a good wifey.
Emma, Hailey, Holly, Sadie, Eli, and Christian are all expert helpers at this water station. Sadie was the only one who diligently followed the rules and stayed behind the line. I was laughing because she just kept saying "water....water....water" from down where her reach is and standing further back. She did manage to give out 2 waters though and was super excited each time.
After awhile the trash piles up and it's a good task to keep the road clear. Somehow Eli got a hold of one of the brooms at some point.
Dana's cousin came in about an hour and half after him this time so Dana got a pretty lengthy recovery time before we found him just so....
He was in alot of pain. He pushed himself so hard. He was trying for 3:15 because Boston is moving their qualifying times up 5 mins and registration for next year was about a month ago. So he actually won't be able to run it (as far as we understand) year after next with his time. But he's not sad because it was such a huge feat to even get the time he got.

Here's Dana and Todd after their 5th marathon together.
Here they are barely walking over to get their official times.
Here's our fantastic 4 in front of the St George temple (although you can't really see the temple in this shot). It was a pretty warm day again this year and they were troopers.
Sadie chillin' in the shade.
So, so proud of my honey!
Our car was having some issues on the way home so we're so grateful to be home safely- with everyone healthy and in 1 piece :)