Halloween Parade

Every year when we were kids, my mom made us the most amazing Halloween costumes. They were unique and awesome. I always thought it was cool that my mom could make our costumes so we didn't have to have one of the cheapie costumes from the store. Unfortunately I did not inherit any amazing seamstress genes. But I thought this year that I would attempt to make (or really just modify) simple costumes for the boys. Gage has been SO excited about this costume for weeks. He has been talking about being a superhero, asking when his costume will be done, begging to wear it all the time when it is done, and pretending to fly around the house. So yesterday was the costume parade at Gage's school and the official unveiling of the costume I created for him. He gave me a huge hug after I showed it to him and said "I LOVE it mom! Thank you for making my super hero costume!" Tonight is our ward Trunk or Treat so Brigg will get to test out his matching costume soon.





Gage goes to the BEST special-ed preschool (EMECEC). He adores his teachers and they go to this campus that is designated solely for preschool. So most of the special-ed preschools from the east mesa schools all go to this one campus. Every Halloween they have a costume parade & carnival for all the preschool classes. It is so fun and the kids absolutely love it. They invite the parents to come and take pictures. Gage's class is so cute! I really wish I could have this kid named Frankie. He's the one dressed like the astronaut in the class picture. He's SO funny and cute. I think he gives Miss Debbie a run for her money, but definitely no more than Gage does. Gage told me one day that Frankie bit him. Gage and Frankie are a match made in heaven.

Pumpkin Carving Party

We had our annual neighborhood pumpkin carving party last weekend. It was fun!! It's great to have so many good friends in our neighborhood.

The FRIENDS!










The FOOD!
Our friends are impressive cooks!
I totally want to make this veggie pizza that Jen brought! It was as tasty as it was pretty.


Jen made this awesome pumpkin fluff too. Kyle loved it!


These Alien cupcakes that Lisa and Lauren made were a huge hit. They were gone immediately. Are they not the cutest things you have ever seen?!


We dry-iced the rootbeer (witches brew). It started out a little scary but it didn't explode and ended up being really cool after it calmed down a bit. :)


We ate wayyy too much good food.


Bring on the FUN!






The PUMPKINS!

Thank you craigslist!

After a long and boring summer spent desperately trying to think of things to do while Gage was out of school, we finally found this great deal on craigslist just in time for the weather to be too cold to use it. :) We put it up for two days and Gage was in heaven! Brigg was terrified so he just watched from the grass. We now have something cool enough to lure all the neighborhood kids to our house. Hooray! :)

Camping

Last month we went camping! I LOVE camping (real camping with tents and campfires). Kyle is not a big fan. So we compromised and camped out in the backyard of the Harbeck's cabin in Forest Lakes. It was so fun! I still got to cook over the campfire and sleep in a tent, but we had friends to hang out with the whole weekend (and clean bathrooms to use) so it was a great experience all around. Gage kept telling me all weekend, "I love camping mom! Thanks for taking me camping!" He loved sleeping in the tent. Brigg didn't like that as much so he was a little tired and cranky. But we all managed to have a great time.

Gage loved running around outside!


Brigg loved throwing rocks into the pond.


Anden taught Gage how to catch bugs and frogs in the net.
Gage is a bit grossed out by the actual bugs and frogs, but loves the fun of catching them.


Gandpa Pasko came with us on the camping trip. The boys loved having grandpa around.


Kyle took the boys for many fun rides on Anden's little quad. They LOVED it.
I am NEVER buying one of those. :)


I spent a lot of time trying to keep Brigg happy despite his exhaustion.




Gage had so much fun playing with his friends, Anden & Taylee!

4th of July

As soon as I got home from girls camp, I showered (oh my gosh, it was SO great to shower after spending several days living outside!) and we headed up to Anthem to spend the fourth of July with the Harbecks! We love the Harbecks, not only because they are SO fun and great friends, but because they always host the fun holiday weekends so we have somewhere to go and something fun to do. ;) We went to the Anthem fireworks where Gage spent a couple hours going on every one of the 10 or so inflatable waterslides over and over and over. He LOVED it. Then we settled down to watch the fireworks and then headed back to Katie and Jeremy's house. The next day we hung out and let the kids play in their fun backyard and bbqed. It was a great fourth of july. Katie gets major props for hosting the party despite being deathly ill all weekend!

Girls Camp 2010

This year I had the awesome opportunity to go to girls camp with my young women. I have never been to girls camp as a leader before and it was SO fun. I have the most awesome girls and it was so fun to hang out, learn and work with them for a week. Of course we had the usual problems with bugs and mice, a few bouts of homesickness, a hair color catastrophe, and some vomit her and there, but overall we had a great time!

The boys

Our boys are growing up fast. Brigg has crazy long hair that we need to cut. Gage is just crazy. But we are having so much fun with them. This has been a fun, but kind of long summer. Gage is excited to go back to school soon. And Brigg is excited for Gage to go back to school soon. :)