Halloween Weekend

Here are some highlights from Halloween weekend (Saturday - Monday).

Saturday morning Steve went duck hunting.  He went w/ our neighbor Tim again.  

Waiting for shooting light.

They got a Ruddy Duck.  Beautiful sunrise over Farmington Bay.

While Steve was out duck hunting, Hudson was also busy.  The night before I got up at 6am to use the bathroom.  I came back to bed and had a thought to check on Hudson, even though he was quiet and wasn't making noise.  I pulled up the camera on my phone, and as I was looking at him, he looked naked.  I didn't have my glasses on so I turned it over to Steve and asked if he looked naked to him.  Steve said yes, then pretty much went right back to bed.  I put on my glasses and checked again, and sure enough he didn't have any clothes on.  He was just sitting there though, all quiet, not making any noises.  I went in his room and he said "hi mom."  I then grabbed his PJs which were in his crib and his diaper, which was in another spot.  He had peed in his crib since taking off his diaper, so after putting on another diaper, I then changed his crib sheets.  I then gave him a drink of water and laid him down.  He thankfully went right back to bed.

It was so funny, but I didn't get any pictures to prove it.  Well thankfully Hudson did it the next night/morning also.  After Steve was gone duck hunting that morning, at about 7am, I looked at my phone to check on Hudson, and he was butt naked again!  I took a couple quick pictures because it's so funny to me, then went and dressed him again.  Thankfully this time he didn't pee in his crib.  Silly kid.  Nyles used to do this also.  He figured out how to unzip his PJs.  We finally had to put zip-ties on his PJs then take the zipt-ie off w/ pliers the next morning.  Ironically Hudson hasn't tried it again.  I put on 2 layers of PJs after he did it the 2nd time, and so far he hasn't tried again.

Silly Hudson, took off his PJs and diaper.

Another time, Hudson being silly in his crib.

The boys playing w/ swords.

Silly Piper.  She loves to lay on any blankets she can find.  We were putting the blankets away when she decided to lay on them.  Hudson LOVES to draw and color any chance he gets.

Saturday evening we had a Halloween Party up at Melanie/Brandon's place in Midway.  Steve and I were M&Ms, Nyles was Captain Jack Sparrow, Carter was a Pokémon character, and Hudson was an Incredible Hero.  Rob was a Viking.

Kim, Alexa, Jeff and Cameron.  London Claire, Stacie, Conor and Phill.  Ryan and Lynsie.

Dave and Joann.  Noah, Olivia, Brandon, Melanie, Chandler and Ethan.  Diane as Cruella de Vil.

Stacie was also and M&M.  Cute Hudson w/ Joann as a scarecrow.

We had soup for dinner.

Fun times.  Aunt Diane (Cruella de Vil) w/ Hudson.

Carter, Nyles and Conor.  We played a game of which team could put together a skeleton first.  

Our team won (granted we didn't have any kids on our team).

We played another game w/ a story and some candy.  We also played a game of unraveling a big spider web.  Steve and Jeff trying to see who was taller.

Hudson's turn w/ the candy pumpkin.  

Carter giving their dog Dusty some love, then having a turn on the game.

Lastly was our game of "Mummy Wrap."  Just about everyone wanted to participate.

Carter all wrapped up.  Everyone ready to go, to get unwrapped.

Nyles and Conor ready to go.  Alexa, London Claire and Olivia after getting unwrapped.

Everyone getting unwrapped from "Mummy Wrapped"

Great quote.  Cute Piper snuggling w/ the stuffed animals.  The boys giving Steve a foot massage.

Silly Piper chasing the reflection on Steve's phone.

Sunday evening we went for a short walk near Little Cottonwood Canyon.  The leaves have changed quickly this year as the temperatures have dropped suddenly.  It was beautiful though.

Such gorgeous surroundings.

Beautiful colors.

On Monday, Halloween Day, Steve went and put up LuDean's Christmas lights around her house since it was only supposed to get even colder later in the week.  Diane watched Hudson while 

Steve put up the lights.  Hudson had fun playing w/ balloons and watching Curious George.

That night Steve smoked a beef roast.  It was really tasty!  Steve is getting really good at smoking!

Cute Hudson taking a nap after a fun morning.

After dinner the kids went Trick-or-Treating.  Conor came down and joined in the fun.  Hudson didn't last but a few houses walking.  We then put him in the stroller the rest of the way around the block.  I then came home w/ him and put him to bed.  He was definitely ready!  He wanted to bring a fire truck w/ him to bed.  I told him he could as long as he went right to bed.  And he did!  Funny, Nyles used to do the same thing.  He always wanted a toy or stuffed animal w/ him when he went to bed, but he would actually go to bed, so we let him.

Hudson decided to be a frog this time on Halloween Night, Carter was a Policeman, and Nyles Captain Jack Sparrow again.  Conor was a scary clown.

Cute Hudson saying "Cheese" while I try to get a picture.

It was a fun Halloween Weekend.  The boys got way too much candy, so we're rationing it for them :)  We're thankful for family and friends to spend time with.

Great quotes.

Last Week of October

 Here are some highlights from the last week of October.

Steve got Hudson a donut one day after dropping the boys off.  They went to the park and Hudson just sat in his swing and ate it all up.  Beautiful Mums in bloom in our yard.

Carter and Hudson blowing bubbles.

Our trees in our park-strip died after Steve cut into their roots while taking out the lawn.  We decided we'd better cut them down now before they fall down.  Plus our fall garbage pick up day was coming up the next week, so we wanted to have them out and ready to get taken away.

On Wednesday, October 26th we had a joint Halloween Party w/ both the girls and boys in our Primary Activity Days.  The kids could come dressed up in their Halloween costume.  We then had 4 stations where we had the kids rotate around to, in about 10 minutes increments.  Steve brought the boys and helped me set up my game, the donut game.  Carter joined in on the fun since he was there w/ us.

Playing Scategories and moving M&Ms between plates.

Carter and Nyles trying to eat a donut on the string.

Steve trying to finish cutting up the last of the tree, but it started to snow.

Steve cutting down the trees in the snow.

On Friday, October 28th the boys got to wear a Halloween Costume to school.  

Hudson asleep in his crib.  Silly Piper in our room while I work.

The boys had a Halloween Parade at the school, so Steve and Hudson went to see them.  

Dave and Joann met them there as well.

Nyles coming in with his class.  He's dressed up as Captain Jack Sparrow.

Then Carter came in, dressed up as a Policeman.  Hudson was watching a show on Steve's phone, then he took it to take pictures of Nyles and Carter, and he wasn't very happy about it.  He's so cute, even when he gives you his grumpy face.

That night we had a Trunk-or-Treat at our Stake that the Singles Ward put on.  Dave and Joann came over and brought Lynsie w/ them.  We had dinner together, then went to the event.  It was a lot of fun!

Walking around getting candy.  A Mater Car.

Lynsie, Carter, Nyles, Steve, Joann, Dave, and Hudson in the wagon.  Nyles and Lynsie posing by a big spider.  Later back at home, Hudson showing us his "incredible" strength.

It was Dave's birthday, so we had cake after the Trunk-or-Treat.

Singing Happy Birthday to Dave.

Singing Happy Birthday and eating cake for Dave's Birthday.

Hudson saying Rrrahh

Hudson thought it was so funny to pretend to be a dinosaur and try and scare everyone.  

Then later asleep in his crib.  He "borrowed" Carter's Pluto pillowcase he made and also has a Mickey Mouse stuffed animal in his crib. 

Great quote and reminders.

Last couple days of the 3rd week of October

The kids had UEA on Thursday (the day we got home) and Friday.  I also took Friday off since I knew we'd have laundry to catch up on, let alone our sleep.  

Pauline asked if we wanted to go to the "new" Draper Park Friday morning.  It opened on Tuesday, but since many kids were out of school this week for UEA, it was super busy!  It was still fun and we'll look forward to going back often.  

On a huge teeter-totter.  Hudson LOVES the swings.  Later taking a long nap.

Saturday morning, Dave/Joann came and picked up Steve and Nyles and the went up to the cabin.  The weather was changing quickly, so they figured they'd better winterized before the pipes freeze up.  They finished up quickly, then came home.  Steve then went duck hunting w/ Rob and our neighbor Tim.

While Steve was up at the cabin, I took Carter and Hudson to a Trick-or-Treat event at Lowe's (something you had to sign up for).  Hudson immediately recognized "mouse" ie Mickey Mouse and wanted to get a picture.  Too cute!  The funny thing is that Mickey and Minnie Mouse were just next to the backdrops to take a picture by, they weren't the focus.  They gave them a bag of candy, one for Nyles too, which was awesome.

On Sunday the boys made a "fort" like they do many days throughout the week with all the soft cushions.  They then took Steve's phone and documented it :)

Nyles also helped Steve make smoked ribs to take to Diane's to officially celebrate her birthday.  They turned out great and were super yummy!  Good work Steve and Nyles!

We got snow that night, like they said it would.  A huge leaf as big as Carter's head.

It snowed on our way home from Diane/LuDean's as well.  Steve letting Hudson touch the snow.

Great quote.

Getting off the cruise ship, and flying home.

On Thursday, October 20th, we loaded up the last few remaining items in our staterooms, then went up to Cabanas for breakfast.  After breakfast we were able to get off the ship and catch our shuttle from Miami up to Fort Lauderdale.  We decided to fly out of Fort Lauderdale instead of Miami since the time worked better (evening vs early morning).  We then stayed at a hotel for a few hours until it was time to catch our flight.

Getting some breakfast at Cabanas.  Nyles and Joann by a Pelican, Joann's favorite bird :)  Hudson getting cozy on the hotel bed.  Carter and Nyles having a snack and watching a show at the hotel.

After getting to the hotel, we sorted through our stuff again and decided which things we could check in at the airport so we didn't have to carry it on w/ us.  We popped some popcorn again for a snack while the kids watched a quick show.  Steve took Nyles and Carter down to go swim in the pool, while I put Hudson down for a nap and laid down myself.  My head was spinning and I felt dizzy, even though we were off the ship.

After getting through security, we grabbed a bite to eat, then waited for our turn to board the airplane.  Hudson enjoyed watching the airplanes outside.

Thankfully we had no delays and took off on time.  

We were also able to sit next to each other coming home, which was also nice.

Hudson all ready to go.  The beautiful sunset as we were flying.  Later Hudson went to sit w/ Diane for a few minutes.  And finally he crashed for a while.

After we got off the plane, we got our bags, then Rob and our neighbor Jacob came to pick us all up.  All 3 boys fell asleep as soon as we got in the car.

We had such a great trip!  It went too fast of course.  Such a fun experience as a family.  Until next time...