Isaac's birthday and Halloween

     This week we had fun celebrating Isaac's 13th birthday.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Baker for the traditional card and cash, he put it directly in his savings account.

His only request was this toy machine gun and cash he needed to help him get to Disney World next spring.

Jello cheesecake

An awkward brother hug.

Carter gave him his air soft pistol, which explains the hugging.

    Then it was the traditional Halloween parade at the elementary school.

Our fairy princess waiting to see her big brothers walk by.

Hobo Carter

She insisted on sitting here all alone.

Next was Superman Brock.

Then it was time to pick up Spiderman McClane from preschool.

     We also enjoyed trick-or-treating in American Fork on Main street. I didn't get any photos during the event but this is the photo of the kids when we were all done.

Some are hyped up on sugar and a few are just exhausted from the collecting of candy and Mark is distracted by the puppy going potty.

     Kayli's been a busy girl working two jobs so she's missed out on most of our Halloween festivities.

      Halloween day Greg thought it would be fun to go to Goblin Valley, which is about 200 miles south of Alpine. We couldn't have asked for nicer weather! 

This was a cool rest stop we visited about an hour into our drive. Notice the hill behind them, this is a real train track and a real train came by just as all the boys were on the tracks in front of this train display and the real train blew it's horn and apparently McClane had a look of pure terror on his face. He thought for sure the train display was headed right for him and he was DEAD!

All of us but Greg and Kayli in this photo.

This is the steps leading down into Goblin Valley and that's Charlie, Greg and Smalls making their way down.

McClane was quick to follow.

That's Greg in the distance.

Charlie thought it was pretty awesome but her footing was a bit iffy.

The kids had a great time.

Mark was up for all the climbing and exploring.

This looks a lot like a real goblin face to me.

And to top it all off the state workers were there with pumpkins to be carved, which was on Brock's wish list of things to do.

Carving a pumpkin, on Halloween, in Goblin Valley, what more could a boy ask for?!

Greg was a good sport.

This is a happy boy!

And Smalls was a pretty good little traveler.

     We got home just in time to hit the highlights of our traditional Halloween stops. Grandma Sally's is always a favorite.

Headed in for yummy sloppy joes and the best hugs!

Matt is always there to make us feel welcome.

Grandma Sally, she's the best!

Just missing Kayli, but wait....

    Kayli worked it out to get off work in time to make a quick stop and visit as well. 

The two fairies finally were together to get a photo.

    Now let the sugar toxicity begin. Next weeks going to be a real let down after this weeks excitement. 

P.S. Look who got their first set of braces removed.

Carter has been looking forward to this day for quite some time.

    Now he gets to wear two retainers for two years and in another two years or so he'll be wearing another set of braces. Orthodontia is going to be the death of my finances! Lets hope he appreciates his straight and pretty teeth in a few years.

Fishing and sickies!

     This week has felt like two or three weeks. It started with a fun Monday morning at Strawberry Reservoir just me, Greg and his buddy Cal on Cal's boat. Greg and Cal were attempting some fishing while I just enjoyed a nice break from the kids and read a book. Unfortunately the fish weren't biting and the only thing reeled in was a crawfish. Greg didn't seem to mind though. Both he and Cal agreed that a lousy day fishing is still better than a good day at work :-)

A cold but pretty morning.

Living the dream!

A fun surprise on the line.

Not my best look but it was cold!

     The rest of the week has been a blur. The kids went back to school Tuesday after their five days off for fall break. Tuesday/Wednesday is when the real insanity began. Charlie threw up several times Tuesday afternoon and then it got to be my turn on Wednesday night. I haven't been that sick in a very long time and it was a long miserable night. Thankfully Greg took most of Thursday off and allowed me to rest and try to recover the best I could. Then Thursday night was just as long and miserable because it was Brock's turn and for some reason he never could make it to the restroom in time. Greg and I were up most of the night cleaning and dealing with nastiness. Isaac came home from school Thursday having thrown up on himself and the kids backpack in front of him. We still don't know if that kid ever found out that his backpack had been thrown up on. Yuck! Brock is definitely the one who's been hit the hardest so far but finally tonight he seems to be on the mend. Now we're just waiting for it to hit Greg. Mark and Carter have had what seems to be a mild version of this nasty stomach bug. Kayli is also feeling a little sick but hers is more cold related and not a stomach virus. Anyway, it's been a real crazy couple of nights and we've missed school, visiting teaching appointments, a super fun scout camp out and playing with friends. Let's hope we're all over this nastiness by the weekends end!

      

Friends

     This week we said good by to a dear friend of the family. Greg's buddy Jake lost his dad suddenly in a fatal car crash. The funeral was nice. Here's a photo of Greg and two of his closest friends.

Greg a.k.a. Mitch, Jake, and Greg, a.k.a. Cocker

   And here's a photo of McClane and his friend from down the street. 

Great minds think a like!

   And here's a photo of McClane and his best buddy.

This is how McClane gives Smalls a belly rub.

    Right now we're enjoying fall break, no school for five straight days. There's even a chance that Greg and I might be going fishing Monday.

     The best news is this week ends the pressurized watering season. Greg is nearly done with his 24/7 iPad attachment. He'll probably experience some minor withdrawals but it's going to be great to have a little more time to do some much needed work around the house.

A week!

     I can't believe another week has passed and we're almost in the middle of October. We really enjoyed General Conference this past weekend. I would have to say my favorite talk out of all the meetings was Elder Holland's. It was so great to get so much wonderful counsel from our prophet and apostles and other church leaders. After it was all said and done we made a little outing to the nearby park with all the kids. I really do love where I live!

Cute family but checkout those amazing mountains!

     For those who did listen to conference I'm sure you heard the wonderful talk from brother Durrant about ponderizing a scripture each week. Here's the first scripture our family is ponderizing courtesy of Mark.

Leave it to a 15 year old boy to know right where this scripture is in the Book of Mormon.

     I made a last-minute decision and took Charlie in for her first hair trim. It wasn't very good timing because I had just pulled on her arm and possibly pulled her elbow out of its socket for the second time in the past few weeks and she wasn't happy and then to have a stranger touching her hair just added to her anxiety.

I'm a mean mom!

    She survived though and it only took about five minutes total. The very next day I purchased a few new outfits for her for the upcoming winter season and here she is, all dolled up.

She's a cheeser!

Duck face!

Seriously, what's with all the posing!?

WARNING: UP CLOSE PHOTOS OF MY FEET!

     Then I had a little accident getting out of the car the other evening and more than likely broke my right foot pinky toe. I didn't think your pinky toe was so vital until now. I thought for sure I could continue to do my regular work out but it turns out your pinky toe is quite vital and it was not a pleasant feeling trying to push a stroller so my walk was short lived! Hopefully by Monday or Tuesday it'll be less painful and I can get back to my regular routine.

This is how my toe looks today compared to my healthy toe. It was much more colorful yesterday.

     So that's our week. We're looking forward to fall break next week and most especially we're looking forward to the end of the irrigation season so Greg can finally get his life back.

McClane is 5! (Etc.)

      Sometimes you just wear socks and shoes and carry around a stool turning lights on and off in the house.

Silly Charlie!

     Now on to McClane's big day! Of course we have to start with the balloons. Kayli insisted on him getting the BayMax balloon and he loved it.

    He was crowned the special helper at preschool and came home to a yummy sugar cookie and balloon from his primary teacher.

He was so happy!!

     In the evening he got what he had been most waiting for and that was a trip to Chuck E. Cheese's. 

Who needs a friend party when you got the best friends built right in!

     He was in heaven!

Let the token spending begin!

You can't leave without a photo taken with Chuck.

Brock's turn.

Now Charlie.

Birthday Boys turn.

Trolley ride.

You're never too big to enjoy Chuck E. Cheese's.

We may have had to rush the pumpkin pie and gift opening so we could get Mark to mutual.

"I get to open a present?!"

Aunt Heidi was sweet enough to join us!

Cool!

Pumpkin pie!

When you win nearly 300 tickets you buy these cool shades.

The look of 'fear/confusion' when you get up close to the Chuck E. 'robot'.

The Chuck E. robot.

     Because we rushed the pie at Chuck E. Cheese's we had to come home and do an official candle lighting and happy birthday singing for him and he also had one more gift to open.

My favorite 5 year old!

         What is this?! A Ziggle! 

Unassembled and a lot of confused looks.

Assembled and AWESOME!!

    And we can't forget the traditional birthday card and a little bit of cash from grandma and grandpa Baker.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

What, money too!? 

Yep, he used his dollars for a soda at the gas station.

    And just to show I'm not only decorating my exterior for fall/Halloween here's what I did inside the house. Here's all SIX of my Halloween decorations!

      Now it's October and I'm not sure how I feel about it but we'll enjoy all the festivities that come with fall. I won't be sad about soup for dinner anyway.