Halloween?!?!?

Okay, I know it's December, but we got a new computer that I didn't know how to use very well and haven't blogged in a while.  So, it's catch up time, and today, it's all about Halloween!

I am not a crafty person.  Big shocker, I know.  However, this year, I decided that I was going to make Riley and Tanner's Halloween costumes.  This was my year!  So, I went to Goodwill to find some blazers, shirts and ties. I cut those babies up and smeared them with mud (which was actually brown paint) and voila! The boys were zombies!  The bucket head zombie and the cone head zombie to be exact.  (If your kids don't play Plants vs. Zombies then you may not know what the heck I am talking about.)

After a lot of hard work getting their costumes to look just right, Riley decided that he was just going to be a super hero on Halloween night...but his super hero was going to wear jeans and a t-shirt...and a cape.  If this is how all my hard work is going to pay off, then maybe it's a good thing I'm not crafty.

The best thing about trick-or-treating for every generation is getting home and counting, sorting, stacking, and trading your candy.  It was for me.  It is for my boys.

Sweet Moments

I walked past Ava's room the other night to find this:

Really folks, is there anything better than seeing your 5-year old reading a bedtime story to your 3-year old? I'm pretty sure there isn't.

Riley turns 8!

I cannot believe my Riley-Boy is EIGHT!  He is such a great, fantastic, smart, sweet, loving, fun and creative boy.  We are lucky to have him in our family!  Todd took Riley out to a church near our home to take some 8-year old photos.  They turned out pretty fantastic!

The BIG day!  It was a bit stressful...we got to church and the font was locked, so we weren't

sure if it was filled or not.  No Bishopbric member was there to unlock it for us, and when 

we called 2 of the counselors, they were very confused and didn't know they were supposed to be there!

Finally, they showed up and good news was to be had...the font was filled!

However, the water was FREEZING! Everyone chuckled when Riley stepped into the font and shivered out loud because of the cold.  Then when he was lifted out of the water, he was shaking so badly that everyone laughed out loud.  Poor kid.  

Nana and Lauren came for the baptism.  It was so much fun to have them here.  Lauren sang the most beautiful song, "He Came For Us" from the April 2011 Friend.  She did such a fantastic job!  

Nana gave a very sweet talk on baptism.  She, of course, cried...and so did I!  Nana also accompanied all the songs for Riley's baptism. Riley wanted to sing "When I Hear The Prophet's Voice" and "I Know That My Savior Loves Me."  (Two of my favorite children's hymns!)

Lauren is ADORABLE!  Holy Moly...she grew up fast!  The kids ALL loved playing with their cousin, and she was nice enough to play right back with them.  Lauren dutifully followed Ava wherever Ava told her to go, and she dutifully did whatever Ava told her to do.  Lauren is a 3-year olds dream come true!

Ava and her bestie, Ruthie. 

Riley's baptism wouldn't be complete without Anneka!  We were so glad that she was able to make it.

Riley and Bishop Challis.

After Riley's baptism, we went out to eat at Red Robin where Riley got TWO rootbeer floats...it was his birthday after all.  Then we hopped on over to Toys R Us where Riley was able to pick out his birthday gift. He spoke with Aunt Jenny later in the evening.  She asked him how he felt now that he was baptised.  He replied, "I just feel really happy."

Quote of the Day

Tanner had a friend over yesterday for a play date after school.  They were playing so well together...and then I heard Tanner's friend ask Tanner what they should do.  This is how Tanner responded:

Tanner: "Oh!  I know!  I have a fun game.  It's called, A Beanbag, A Couch...and A Wall!"

Needless to say, it turned out to be a REALLY fun game!