A Cold and Blustery Halloween

This year was the first since 2006 that the trick or treating weather has been almost unbearable.  Between the wind and the freezing rain, Lillian lasted about 7 minutes and the older ones made it for about 25.  Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa and our neighbors, who got a total of about 15 trick or treaters, they still had bags literally overflowing with candy so I don't think that it mattered much to them.  Despite the cold it made me so happy to watch the kids run from door to door with their cousins and shout "trick or treat" and then come racing to the side walk with treat bags open wide to show us what  new goody was added to their hoard.  I knew that pictures tonight would be rushed so I made sure to get pictures of the three of them earlier in the day. 

 

Little Red Riding Hood

Could this girl be any more gorgeous?!?

 

Bumble Bee (the Transformer)

 

 

Getting Walker  to hold still in this costume is virtually impossible, he's usually too busy kicking an imaginary Decepticon's butt.

 

Our Baby Chick/Duckling

(she can say "quack, quack" so we decided she was a duckling)

 

 

Lillian making her pucker face for Walker.

 

 LOVE this picture!!

 

Happy Halloween!!!

Jack O' Lanterns

We are getting ready for Emma's birthday party on Saturday so instead of our traditional Family Home Evening pumpkin carving we did it tonight.  I am the designated gutter and Allan is the carver, mostly because it makes him nervous when I wield large knives and if I carve the pumpkins then he can't pretend to cut off his fingers like he does every year.

 

 

These pictures all came from the first 5 minutes of the "gutting" because after that they got bored and it became my job.

 

 

 

Allan always tries his best to make the kids whatever pumpkin they want.  Emma wanted a pumpkin carving of her face so she drew it for him, Walker had to have a superhero and decided on Spiderman and Lillian got a cute baby face one.  They were very thrilled with the finished product. (Except for Lillian who was CRAZY grumpy and had to go to bed early but I'm sure she will be very excited tomorrow.)

 

 

 

 

 

Then Allan played around with the camera a little bit and got some neat pictures.

 

 

6 Year Old Emma

Our beautiful Emma turned 6 years old today.  She has been counting down for months for today to arrive and I think we were able to meet her expectations.  She woke up to a "heart attack" on her door this morning and Allan and I chuckled as we listened to she and Walker discover the hearts and Walker excitedly point out which ones were from him.

 

 

 

We had the usual suspects for her birthday celebration and two unusual ones, Auntie Kelsey and little Eli.  We are so grateful to have family and friends close by to celebrate with.

 

 

This mysterious stranger made an appearance as well.

 

Always the original, Emma wanted purple waffles for dinner and strawberry cake with chocolate frosting.  I was a little sceptical about the two flavors together but it turned out to be pretty good.

 

 

Clearly Lillian hated it!!

 

 Emma using her new oil pastels and sketch pads.

It's hard for me to believe that 6 years ago Allan and I were on our own without any busy little babies to occupy our time and energy.  With her arrival came more joy and happiness than I could have ever imagined and it has only been added upon as each child has entered our home.  Here are 6 of the reasons that I love her so much.

1)  She is the best big sister.  I am so grateful to have such a kind and gentle child as our eldest, one who has such a sweet spirit and is so sensitive to the needs and feeling of others.  There are so many times that she puts her own wants below those of her little brother and sister.

2)  She is our sweet songbird.  There is always a tune in her head and I love to hear her pretty little voice singing or humming primary songs throughout the house.

3)  Her laugh is contagious.  I love it when she finds something really hilarious and laughs so hard she can't stop.

4)  She is creative and inventive.  I love to watch her draw and color and see the picture and projects that she comes up with after long minutes of intense concentration.

5)  She loves to learn, whether it is at school, home or church and I can share my love of literature with her!

6)  She always wants to do what's right and is a great example to those around her.

 

We love you sweet girl!!

Temple Open House

  

 

 "Temples are more than stone and mortar. They are filled with faith and fasting. They are built of trials and testimonies. They are sanctified by sacrifice and service."

- President Thomas S. Monson

 

 

This weekend we had the opportunity to attend the Calgary, Alberta Temple open house with Penny and her family.  The kids were so excited to spend the day together and enter one of these holy places that they learn and sing about so often.  All of them, excluding Lillian who was a little restless from our drive down, were reverent and respectful as we walked the halls and entered each beautiful room.  I felt so grateful to be there with my husband and our three great kids and to be able to teach them again about the sealing power of the priesthood as we stood together in one of the sealing rooms.  As we drove home Emma told us that she couldn't stop smiling on our tour of the temple and then added "I think I felt the gospel!"  How fortunate we are to have temples in our midst that bless our lives and the lives of those that have gone before us.

 

The Three Musketeers

 

 

The Corn Maze

On Saturday we decided to take a trip to the Edmonton Corn Maze.  The last time I was there was when I was just a teenager.  There was a lot more to do than I remember, including a haunted house inside of an old abandoned barn that I'm trying to convince Allan is a great idea for a date night.  The kids had a great time despite the fact that they were desperate to get out of the corn maze halfway through it.  They were far more interested in the "Bouncy Pillow" and mountain of hay bales.

The question posts that would point you in the right direction...sort of.

 

 

 Our very own little farm animals.

 

 

 

It was so hilarious to watch these two on the bouncy pillow, particularly because Walker could not make it up to the top for the life of him and usually just ended up rolling into the sand at the bottom.

 

 

 

I think this is my favorite picture because Walker is helplessly sliding down toward the ground and Emma is laughing too hard to help him.

 

This is how Walker spent most of his time on the bouncy pillow.

 

Who's that hottie with those three gorgeous kids!!

 

Our little pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.