Grandma helps make things more festive...

Growing up with my grandparents close by, was awesome! Every holiday we would do a number of arts and crafts. We would paint ceramics, make pipe cleaner wreaths, create witches with readers digests painted black and many other fun activities. I loved what it meant to prepare for the holidays.

My mom has carried on the tradition of arts and crafts with her grand kids. (My cousin Cass, has also continued to this tradition).

This Halloween the kids all got together and made monsters. I was lucky enough to get to do one too.

This year, grandma also made nightgowns for the girls and pj pants for the boys. The girls love them. Ivy asked for a pocket, so the girls each got pockets with cute spiders- made by grandma and stuffed by the girls.

One way to know that you have a 2 year old...

The other day, I was putting something in the backseat of the car. I noticed something in the door handle on Ivy's side. As I looked a little closer, I realized what it was. Can you tell what it is?

The rest of her McDonald's ice cream cone.

Hello? Anyone still there? Sorry to say it's been a while since I have posted. Not for the lack of things to post- simply the lack of time.

The past week and a half has been crazy busy. My job has changed a bit and I'll be transitioning into a new role at the start of the year. In the meantime, I'm doing both of the jobs (and my old job was really more like 4 jobs). As a result of the new job, I will be doing more traveling. Last week I was in Phoenix for a customer event and this week I was in Raleigh.

I still have Disneyland posts to do, karate belt advancement, Halloween arts and crafts, cute stories of the girls and many other things.

Yummy Pizza Rolls

November 1st and Ivy Rose

Ivy has a syndrome called PFAPA. We started her on a vitamin drink back in February. Her episodes got less severe and shorter. In April, we took her off of her seizure medicine. Since then, she has had several extremely mild episodes. Ones that don't upset our day, let a lone our week. On our drive to California, I looked at her and noticed her eyes were kind of droopy and sad. I reached back to feel her forehead. It was the hottest it had been since April. That was on the Friday portion of the drive. Her episode continued until Sunday afternoon. Then the fever broke. Phew. She was healthy for Disneyland.

I took a few pictures of her today. She's healthy, happy and fever free. Which means some cute faces and pretty smiles.

Last Halloween Post...

I know I said I wouldn't do anymore of these picture grids, but I wanted to do a quick "Halloween at my house" post. But I took so many pictures it just didn't make sense to use them all full size. :) My sister's post on her Halloween decorations inspired me.

Our Halloween...

Well, based on the number of posts, you can tell we had quite the day. And I forgot to take pictures at three of the festivities we attended.

Here's a recap of the day...

Got up and got vamped.
Took lots of scary pictures
Went to Jade's Halloween Party
Went to work and the girls had lunch
The girls came up to my work
We Sped to Scott's work
Went to Grandma and Grandpa's early for the party, but had some nice one on one time
Went to the Christensen's ward activity that Cass was in charge of. While we were there, the girls did some trick or trunking, danced the Chicken Dance, learned YMCA and the Hokie Pokie, and joined in their parade
Went home and Kat came by with the boys (Jon counts as one of the boys)
Scott took the girls Trick or Treating and I stayed home to hand out candy
Put the girls in the bath
Went to bed

Talk about scary vampires. I think the teeth were not the best addition. But, for 89 cents, they were probably worth it to her.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN and we'll see you next year!

Jade's school party

Renaissance decided not to do a parade. Instead they had a party for each grade. Jade's class had 7 stations. They did musical chairs, story time, decorated pumpkins, ghost bowling, cookie decorating, Halloween movie, and Halloween bingo. It was fun getting to watch Jade with her friends. Unfortunately, I was pretty busy at the pumpkin station, so I didn't get to watch much. Grandma and Grandpa came by and I let Grandma take my camera around to capture some of the event.

The teachers and their aids were all dressed up like Disney villains. Above is Jade's teacher. Pretty great costumes!

The office on Halloween...

This is the first year that my work has had a real trick or treat party planned. Unfortunately, it conflicted with Scott's. The girls came up to mine, and then we sped down to Scott's. Sadly, everyone at his work was completely out of candy. Except his boss, Rich, and he was kind enough to hid a necklace for each of the girls.


Here are my two girls with Mike's girls. (Mike is who I started working for 3 1/2 years ago). His daughters are 9, 6 and 2. The youngest is 2 weeks older than Ivy.

KISS came to see us on Halloween, with the Village People opening for them. Okay, so KISS is our executive staff and the Village People are all the women on the Inside Sales Team. (I have to point out that Amy, the policeman, wore a completely different outfit for her evening festivities. Her son told her that he though he'd outgrow Halloween before she did. I dare say, he might be right).

Here is another picture of our Executives.

Two Vampire Princesses... and a witch

Here are a few of them playing around this morning.

And one with me...

Vampire Princess Ivy

Talk about a sweet vampire! "I want to suck your blood."

Princess Vampire Jade

Starting the morning out, looking hauntingly beautiful!

Woody's Halloween Roundup

Here is a cute sticker that Jade got from the fun performers at Woody's Roundup.

A break from California Posts...

This year Grandma and Grandpa gave us a fun Halloween activity- a Gingerbread Scary House.

I got the girls all decked out in there Junior Pampered Chef aprons and hats. They were really excited and they looked adorable.

Sometimes Ivy is a little shy.

I built it and then the girls decorated it. Jade picked one of the patterns from the box and that was exactly what we did. I should have taken a picture of the picture on the box to show you just how close we were.

Here is the final product. It turned out very cute and sits happily on our family room mantel.

I really love Halloween and think it is one of, if not the best holidays.

They Match

Ivy was so excited when we arrived at the hotel because there was a Mickey Mouse and she has a Mickey Mouse doll. As soon as she saw him she started yelling "They match!" and wanted to show how they matched.

She had to do the same with the picture.