Halloween 2011

Super late post, but I figured I better do it anyway... Well we had a really fun Halloween this year! We had our first little family party with the cousins. It was so fun to see all the costumes and soon to be an annual thing I hope! We enjoyed some fun Halloween snacks and food. Then we had a costume contest and all the kids got a prize, we had to get a little creative since there was so many kids... Mason won "Most Force", he thought is was pretty cool! We also had a pumpkin carving contest. Here is Mason's beauty! After everyone was done, they each got to vote on which one they liked best, but they could not vote for their own. I was worried that some kids might be sad or get offended but they were all really great sports. Jaden was the grand winner with her pumpkin trophy! I just spray painted a fake pumpkin gold and glued it to a plastic base, kinda cheesy, but she was proud! After all the fun and games the kids sat down and watched a movie. It was a super fun little night and I am already looking forward to next year's!

Notice I didn't post any pics of my kids yet... I was waiting to show you. I love when I can match them, and since Mason is older he chooses the theme. This year was Star Wars! He wanted to be a Jedi, I think mainly because he wanted a light-saber! So Avery had to be Princess Lea. She was excited to be a princess, but I don't think that this is what she had in mind... She wasn't too fond of it at first, especially that hat, but she eventually warmed up to it. They were so cute Trick or Treating together. I love this, but Avery will probably have her own opinion next year so we will see!

Milk & Cookies on the Farm Party

I am finally posting a few pics from Avery's birthday party. We did it this year at Wheeler Farm in Salt Lake, and it was a huge hit. Everyone loved the animals and there was enough things to do that I didn't have to plan any games. We had a milk and cookie buffet for refreshments.





Cookie Dough cupcakes


For party favors, the kids made their own special cookie mixes. I had all the dry ingredients in a jar and they added their own chocolate chips, m&m's, oats, etc.



Milk bottle favors
There were activities around the farm that the kids did...





Then we had a cute little photo booth that everyone could pose for some fun photos with milk mustaches and milk and cookie props





Well there was Avery's party. I loved every little detail about it and it was so much less stress than Mason's was. I blogged more photos and all the details here that you can check out if you like. Happy birthday again little Avery, we love you!!!

Avery turns 2!

My sweet little girl turns 2 today! I can't believe how fast these past years have gone by. With Mason things seemed so much slower, probably because he was our first and we hovered over his every move. It just flew by with Avery, I must be getting old(er). She is still little and petite, but she is just a smartie pants. She talks SO much! You can have a complete conversation with her and she really understands a lot. She is also a little mover... always doing something. I know if I don't hear anything from her than she is getting into something, and usually not good! Avery is such a climber, in and out of her crib, table, chairs, counters, etc. If there is something she wants, she will find a way to get it! She keeps my busy and always on my toes, but we love her so much and are so grateful that she is part of our family.

A couple weeks ago we celebrated her birthday early due to weather and work schedules. We had a Milk and Cookies party at Wheeler Farm in SL and celebrated with family and some close friends. David's cousin was there again to take pictures, life saver! I thought I would share some she took of Avery for her birthday. She is so dang cute I couldn't pick just one...
Happy Birthday Avery! We love you so much!

Upside Down Evening

For family night last week we had an upside down evening! I found the idea in a family magazine and thought that it would be fun. We served dinner upside down and put a table cloth down and ate underneath the table... It was a little uncomfortable for David, but the kids thought it was silly. We had chicken put pies turned upside down, and I got little juice bottles at the store and cut a hole in the bottom and put a straw in for their drinks. We played Chutes and Ladders for our activity, but in reverse. We started at the finish and worked our way to the beginning. Also we went up slides instead of down, and down ladders instead of up! It was a little crazy at first but we got the hang of it. For dessert I really wanted to do upside down sundaes, with the cherry and toppings on the bottom and the banana on top, but totally forgot to get everything when I was at the store. So we improvised with an upside down chocolate pie. I didn't get a picture because the graham cracker crust totally cracked and fell apart when I flipped it. Oh well, it still tasted good. We had a good time and enjoyed the little twist on the evening. I want to try doing some more things that are fun and unusual for family time too so it's not the same every week. I will keep you posted on new things....