Ward Carnival

October 15

 Here are the pictures from the Ward Carnival. When it was first announced, I thought it was in place of the ward Trunk-or-Treat, but it was just an activity for some extra fun! Grandma and Grandpa came down for the Grandparent's Tea the night before, so they tagged along with us. Ian stuck by my side most of the time. Elisa ran off with her friend Lily. Gabe roamed around, and I didn't see much of him. I think the kids had a really good time. I was slightly bored, but at least I got to watch Ian enjoy himself. Elisa ate 5 too many cotton candies--I'm surprised she didn't throw them all up!

Basic carnival game stands were set up in the gym and in the foyer such as mini golf, face painting, football throwing, balloon twisting, ring toss, basketball, and a few others that I can't recall. The missionaries helped man each stand. There were bingo cards to fill out, too--each had a square for every activity, when that activity was completed, you would cross that box. Ian enjoyed filling out his bingo card. If you got a bingo (easy to do, and they weren't strict on that at all) then you could throw a whipped cream pie at the bishop's face at the end! Other activities include pumpkin painting, pie eating contest (no one in our family wanted to participate) sitting in a police car, "bull" riding, rubber duck grabbing, a cakewalk, and making s'mores over a fire pit. Here are the pictures of our fun afternoon:

This cutie in front of the backdrop. I guess I wasn't meant to get the floor in the picture. Whoops.

Elisa, consuming one of her many, many cotton candies.

Trying to knock those blocks down

Elisa and one of her bffs, Lily.

Pumpkin painting!

Gwilly with her face painting. She chose candy corns to match her dress.

Ian getting his face painted. 

Getting into the police car...hopefully her one and only time!

The seats in the back were hard plastic

Ian was given permission to turn the siren on, but he refused.

Ian enjoyed doing the cakewalk, until he slipped and fell. He was okay though.

This soda pop ring toss was near impossible! I tried so many times and never got a ring around the neck of any bottle. Finally, toward the end, the missionaries just let us take a bottle even if we didn't get a ring around a bottle. Then they left and we all just grabbed whatever bottle we wanted! We came home with about 5 or 6 different sodas! 

Ian sure got some belly laughs in after throwing a whipped cream pie in the bishop's face!

I was suprised that anyone would volunteer to get a pie in the face!

This cutie and her silly hat! She was also holding a little chick!

Random October Happenings, Part I

The month of October is busy but fun! Here are the pictures:

Oct. 3

We had one crazy day of wind!

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Oct.3

Ian wanted to be Toad (from Super Mario Bros) but then at a random trip to Goodwill, we came across a Mario riding Yoshi costume for 5 bucks. It was missing the fan, but I ordered on of Amazon that worked great with the costume. Here he is trying it on!

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Oct. 6

The kids and I made our own personal-sized pizzas! I can't decide if what they enjoyed more--making the pizza or eating the pizza!

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Oct.12

Just one of many dinners Cafe Rio. The kids always seem to like going there.

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Oct. 13

Just Chillin' with Mr. Skeleton. The kids gave him a name but I can't remember what it was.

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Oct. 13

Gabe embarked on an ambitious project to make his own train costume. I think he did a really good, creative job, even if it didn't quiet hold up. It fell apart before he could use it. 

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Oct. 14

All the candy I bought on sale at Fry's. It was plenty!

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Oct. 14

I had fun drawing this scary clown for one of Ian's Halloween-themed drawing contests

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Oct. 15

I enrolled Ian and Elisa in a painting class (some lady does it out of her home) to paint turtles. It got rescheduled to a very busy day, so the kids were worn out by the time the class started. But I think they enjoyed painting their turtles regardless.

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Oct. 17

Ian playing a piano number that he liked from his Piano Adventures book.

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Oct. 20

Still good friends with her friend Kassidy, it's been 7 on-going years!

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Oct. 23

I thought this was pertinent and appropriate mantra for the upcoming holiday season for me. It was printed in the box of one of my cosmetics.

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Trip to St. George (Fall Break)

The kids had some time off for "fall break" (second week of October) so we went up to St. George for a few days, just to visit family. The kids loved playing with the dogs, doing puzzles, messing up the basement. They especially liked going to the cabin to ride the 4-wheeler and to just hang out. My mom and Michael were also able to come down for the visit! My mom got a massage with me at Zion Massage school. Unfortunately, my masseuse wasn't very good, and her breath was rank. After the massage Michael and also Makayla met us at Red Fort for Lunch. So yum! Their butter chicken is the best ever, but everything on their menu is delish. Then we went shopping at Ross where I found a glass piano figurine for myself, but other than that I didn't find anything. I don't completely remember the order of everything, thank goodness I take pictures, or I wouldn't remember much! Other highlights include Makayla buying us huge, delicious cookies from Dirty Dough, seeing Bryce's Halloween decorations, drawing on the driveway with chalk, eating at Red Lobster with Grandma and Grandpa and Grandma Julie and Uncle Michael, and seeing Mary Poppins at Tuacahn with Erik. That was my first time going there despite our many, many trips up to St. George. I was hoping to see Joseph, but it wasn't playing the night we were there, but I was happy to see Mary Poppins anyway--it was really good! On Sunday we went to first hour of church where the speaker also performed the special musical number (which I thought was strange, especially since the music didn't have much to do with the song--at least I didn't recognize it. We left on Monday, since the kids had school Tuesday and Erik had work.

Pictures taken October 8th (Saturday):

Grandma always has puzzles ready for the kids to put together when we visit.

I went to visit Minnie. I picked her up and was reminded of why I decided to give her away. Yikes. What a spaz.

The kids (and me!) enjoyed decorating the driveway with Halloween chalk drawings

Ian in front of one of Bryce's many impressive Halloween decorations!

Makayla, My mom, and the box of yummy cookies!

The moon over the butte near Tuacahn. It was much prettier and impressive in person.

I snuck a few pictures of the Mary Poppins Play.

Pictures taken the next day, October 9 (Sunday):

We went for 1 hour of church. They kids were ready to get outta there. They could not be convinced to stay for the next hour. We walked home, which wasn't the best idea for me, wearing my heels.

Ian had fun playing Hi Jack with dad

Riding on the 4-wheeler

Playing St. Georgopoly with Dad! Ian loves playing board games!

October 10 (Monday). A few more fun things before we left to go home:

Cute Lea!

Lunch with everyone (minus Bryce and Makayla) at Red Lobster before we hit the road