Halloween Week

I think I might say this every year, but Halloween is becoming more and more fun every year. I love all the holidays this time of year, but I am loving Halloween. It takes a lot of work and it sometimes sneaks up on my, but I haven't missed it yet and I love it. This year was even more fun than last year.

As per our annual Halloween traditions Gaupo and I started watching Halloween movies toward the beginning of the month. We actually did a good job at watching most of them. I didn't watch Earnest Scared Stupid this year, but Gaupo did and we didn't watch Casper, but all other we watched which is pretty good. We even got some kid ones and watch those with the girls. It was so great. Also, as our Halloween traditions go we made goulish food all week. Sadly a couple of Gaupo and I's favorite meals the girls don't like, but for the most part we have found what our family likes and it is so good. So, here they are.

The traditional kick-off meal. Autumn Sausage casserole. (Eaten on Mon and Wednesday)

Spider Sliders. (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Jack-O-Lantern Cassadias. (Thursday)

Pumpkin shaped pizza. The kid one. (Friday)

Stuffed pizza in the shape of a pumpkin-Adults. (Friday)

Trick-or-Treat Turnovers. (Saturday)

Dirt Cake. Dessert on Sunday

The girls thought this handed needed candles. (Monday)

Meatloaf hand. (Monday)

Molded Mac-n-Cheese and Worms (Tuesday)

Also, as most people do on Halloween we get dressed-up and go trick-or-treating. My girls started out wanting to be Maona (Kylee) and Maui (Tia). Then they moved on to being a ghost (Tia) and a star (Kylee). Finally, they settled on Toothless and Stormfly. Both are dragons from the movie How to Train Your Dragon. The girls insisted that I dress up too, and that is really where the idea for their costumes came from, but it was really cool and fun. I went as Astrid one of the main girls from How to Train Your Dragon. You definitely have to use your imaginations with our costumes and most people didn't know what they were, but the girls loved them and we had fun. Plus it was easy to make them warmer as this year it was really cold on Halloween. Anyway, we went trick-or-treating. We went up the street and into the neighborhood at the top of the hill and the girls filled their buckets. We have so much candy. In a lot of ways I understand why my parents just had us stay on our street and not go door-to-door because there is so much candy it is crazy. They love and they enjoyed dumping it out, sifting through it, and then eating way more than they usually get in a whole day. I did have to stop Tia because she would have made herself sick, and Kylee says she might throw-up tonight, but we will see. I think she will be okay. Anyway, it was a really fun night. I wish Gaupo could have been home to hangout with us when we got back and handout candy instead of being some of the slightly lame ones that just leave a bowl out, but hey at least I did that.

Kylee Back.

Kylee Front.

Tia Front.

Tia Back.

Tia and Kylee.

Tia, Me, and Kylee.

Tia and her candy stash.

Kylee and her stash.

Kylee and Tia together.

I love this holiday because I feel like it is one that Gaupo and I have kind of made out own. Neither one of our families is super into it. They both let us dress up and go trick-or-treating, but much more than that we didn't do. Gaupo's family I think did a bit more, but not too much. However, he is the reason it is celebrated so long here. However, I love it. I love that we have traditions that stay the same and change. Making Halloween meals is a lot of work, but it is fun and the kids look forward to it. We usually invent our costumes, which I think is fun, but in a lot of ways I don't know if that one will be able to hang on because it just isn't the cool thing anymore, but I will do it as long as my kids enjoy it. This year we read The Best Halloween Ever as a family and it was fun to gather and read a book together. Our traditions cause us to gather at night and want to be home and partake in these things and that is what I love. I love that our family spends time together. We make memories like blowing into the rootbeer that has dry ice and carving pumpkins and laughing at the kid (Tia this year. It has been Kylee in years past) who can not stand the thought of putting their hand in the pumpkin to clean it out. Then laughing more when they squeal with disgust when they actually try it once. I mean none of this stuff is big, but its fun. It makes being a family a true delight. I love that my family gets to celebrate and play together. So, I will always be grateful to Gaupo for really urging us to celebrate Halloween when I was originally, so opposed to it.

Me helping carve the pumpkin.

Kylee pondering about what else to color on hers.

Kylee helping clean this pumpkin out.

Blowing into the rootbeer

Kylee in the costume parade at school.

Tia in the costume parade at school.

What A Week!!

This past week was pretty crazy. It was fun, and full of really good maybe even the best thing, but that didn't make it any less crazy. Monday was the really chill day of the week. The girls didn't have school and I let them decided if they wanted to stay here and go swimming and to the library or if they wanted to go into the mountains and go on a hike. They chose to stay here and to be honest it is probably for the best because the rest of the week was nuts. Anyway, we played at the pool and then went to the library. Then we had lunch and quiet time. When they woke up we read some books and just kind of lazed around a bit. Around 4ish we had my friend Bethany and her boys Jensen and Calvin drop by.  I took the boys for just a little bit while she ran to the store. The kids had a lot of fun jumping on the tramp and playing in the leaves. Tia as always loved having Calvin (a baby) around and wanted to show him all her tricks, help him sit, give and take toys from him, and just love on him. It was pretty fun. Monday was good.

Tuesday Kylee had a field trip and I offered to watch Calvin so that Bethany could go on the field trip with them. So, Kylee and Tia went to school and Calvin and I did Relief Society visits. It was so great. He was the prefect kid. He played and was content he didn't start getting upset until the very end of the last visit and then we ran a couple errands and he fell asleep. So, when we went to get Tia I just put him in the stroller and he slept in there and then we walked back to the car. It sounds so plain and ordinary, but it was so awesome. I use to dream that I would have days like that with my girls and a baby. I know not all days would be that peaceful and perfect, but still it was a moment that was like 'Oh, this would be so fun and so perfect. I wouldn't have to be alone, but I could still get stuff done and it would be great.' It was great. Well, then I picked up Tia from school and I got a little bit of a reality check on what it would really be like because Tia cannot keep her hands of of him. I had to watch him very closely to make sure she wasn't trying to lug him around the house or fold him up to tight, taking all his toys, or squishing him. It was not very relaxing, but I was still a tiny bit sad when his mom came to get him because I sure loved having him around. However, it was  great to have Kylee home. Tori and Tia don't exactly know what to do when Kylee isn't home, so I was really glad to have her back and she had a great time on her field trip and was so excited to ride the school bus.

Tuesday afternoon was pretty normal. Gaupo's schedule got switched up though, so he was home at a normal time, so that was kind of weird, but also good. It actually worked out perfect though because we had RS meeting that night and since he was home I didn't have to get a babysitter. The activity was really fun. We did Cars, Cars, Cars and we had some men in our ward come and help us learn about basic car stuff like how to change a tire, how to jump a car, how to change the oil, and what to have in your car in case of an emergency. It was really fun, but we were having a committee meeting after and the activity ran kind of late, and then people were just talking and kind of wouldn't leave and they weren't the people you could just tell to leave you kind of needed to talk with them. So, finally we got to our meeting and planned the next couple and I finally got home around 10:30. It was late and I was done. I am glad we had the meeting and all, but it was just late.

It seem really late because Wednesday was a full day too. Well actually the morning was suppose to be empty, and I kind of soaked that in more than I should. I didn't go on a run till after Kylee was at school. I took Tia in the stroller and while we were out running I asked her if she wanted to run by the park. She said yes, but she wanted our friend Jacob to come. So, we finished running and got home and called Jacob's mom to see if they could come. We went over to the park and met them there. It was really fun to visit with his mom and watch the kids play. It kind of takes kids awhile to figure out how to play WITH each other, but they finally got it and they got to do it for a bit, but then we had to rush to the school to get Kylee and Jensen. Once we had them, I dropped Jensen off at home and came back. The plan was to just play and have lunch and quiet time, but then Bethany texted wondering if I needed any kitchen stuff. It was too hard to decide through pictures, so I went over and it was good to go over, but then our lunch was super late and that of course delayed quiet time and I still needed a shower. So, I got that done real quick and I was just sitting down to do some PPC work and doorbell rings. It was the kids I was going to watch while their mom went to the doctor. So, I didn't get work done and these kids had just gotten out of the car after like 8 hours, so they were crazy. I have watched them before and sometimes its good and sometimes it crazy. There are three of them, so when they come I have 7 kids. WOOF!! Most times they just run around in a couple of packs, so its really like only watching about 4 kids, but not this time, nope it was every kid for himself. I had to keep track of all of them and they were not in the best behaving mode, and I also had to deal out a punishment for Tia and Tori because they stuck my church keys in my car ignition earlier, so I was trying to do all this while 6 other kids are running around one of which is an 18 month old who keeps getting up on my tramp that doesn't have a net and the other kids think that is so great and jump him AGHHHHH!! I run and get him and move the steps away, but then of course I have to go do something and before I know it the other kids have moved it back and he is up there again. He finally had to stay inside. AUGH! Anyway, by the end I was so done. I was fried, fried, fried. When all the kids left I managed to help with homework and get to swim lessons, but at swim lessons I did the work I had as fast as I could and then I just sat there and was still and quiet. It was so needed and so great. Then we went home had dinner and then I rushed off to help Bethany with some packing and moving. When I got home about 9:00, I didn't do anything just talked to Gaupo for a bit and went to bed.

Thursday was a whole new day. I got up and I think I managed to go running I don't remember, but I did make granola bars because I had a pot luck at 11:30, but I was volunteering all day in Tia's class and so I wouldn't be home to make anything and I obviously didn't get it done the day before. So, I got those done, got the kids to school and helped all morning it Tia's class. It was actually really fun. Her teachers have a rhythm and they are so good at what they do. They help the kids develop so many great skills. I am so glad I got to go and be there it was so fun to just enjoy preschool and see and interact with the kids and the other mom there. It was awesome, definitely time well spent. So, I gathered the kids from school and then ran over and picked up a boy named Gideon that I was going to watch that afternoon. His dad is such a great dad, but I was in a little bit of a hurry, so all the explaining, changing of the diaper, and all the stuff delayed me more than I thought it would but it all worked out. We got to the potluck and I enjoyed it there at least until the end, when I hear this screaming from where they kids are. I think its Tori, but then Tia is the one walking up the stairs. I ask her what is wrong and she was kind of hard to understand, and so I thought she was just complaining that the kids weren't doing what she wanted them to, so I told her to go figure it out. Well while she was turning to back downstairs I noticed her elbow was all bloody. Well, I called her back and asked her again what happened and I still didn't get it except that it happened on the treadmill. I later learned when Kitt asked her that she was on the treadmill and it was moving and she was doing fine until the boys came on and pushed her out of the way. So, really I am SOOOOOOOO lucky that she wasn't hurt worse because I had no idea. No one did. I didn't even know there was a treadmill down there, but it wasn't too bad, but it could of been. We were blessed. So anyway we got that bandaged up and by this time I am kind of frazzled because my kid just got hurt, Gideon now only wants to be held, and its just time to go. We eventually go, but the kids didn't eat at the potluck, so I had to make them some lunch which was late and then quiet time was late and then Gideon did not want to sleep. He probably only slept for like 30 minutes and I really wanted more me time than that, but it didn't happen. So, I was really glad when all the kids went home and it was just our house again. We had dinner and then Gaupo and I watched a movie. Sadly it wasn't that great, so I didn't get the full relaxation I wanted from it but it wasn't a bad movie, so that was good. (Double, Toil, and Trouble with Mary Kate and Ashely Olsen) Anyway, we then went to bed.

Friday I was ready to just have me and Tia in the morning, but Bethany called and needed me to watch Calvin, so I said yes. So, I tried to get Tia to work on a project she needed to do for school, but that was just frustrating to everyone, so I finally gave up and just let her play. Then we went to speech and Tia got to push Calvin in the stroller and she loved every minute of that. She also really likes speech and loved having Calvin there. Those two were so cute on the way. Tia just got Calvin laughing and it was so cute. When we got home we had Bethany over for lunch and a visit. When she was getting ready to leave, someone came and knocked on our door. It was Kitt and Matthew. They had come to visit me. I was so surprised and excited for two reasons. One they were at my house, but two they got engaged!! Wahoooo!! I am really excited for them. They came in and I got the kiddos down, and then we chatted for awhile during which time we through me invited them to join us for our stay at home date. They agreed as long as they could spend time calling people. I said and yes and so they stayed. It is a good thing they did because Calvin's formula got left at my house and I needed to run to the person who was watching him that afternoon. So, they stayed home and I ran the formula over, visited for a bit, then ran to the store and got the stuff to make fancy carmel apples. The rest of the afternoon was pretty normal. Once Trent and Tori left I got started on our dinner. I got it in the oven and spent some time with my kids. Then dinner is getting almost done and I get a text from Gaupo saying when is too late to get back? He was helping Bethany move one because he is a nice guy and two because he is their home teacher. Anyway, I told him 20 min, but he said he wasn't going to make it because he needed to go to Firestone with them. I was crushed because I had our 'fancy' dishes out and the table look great, I had a new and good dinner ready to come out, we were suppose to have a date, and he wasn't going to be home and when he got home it he would be exhausted. Well, I got over it and I waited for Kitt and Matthew for a bit, but then I got tired of waiting for them to be done, so I just called the kids for dinner and we ate together. It was actually really nice just the three of us because we got to visit and enjoy each other. We were finishing up when Matthew and Kitt joined us and they are pretty quick eaters, so we all finished about the same time and had ice cream for dessert. Then we watch Cat In the Hat Trick-or-Treat. Gaupo got home in the middle and had dinner. Then we put the kids to bed. I had thought our date would be cancelled, but Gaupo insisted he was up for it, so we made scrumptious carmel apples it was so good. We got done and visited for a bit and then sent Kitt and Matthew on their way and then just went to bed.

Saturday dawned early because I needed to make a batch of bread so I could take it to Women's conference at 10:00. I went to the conference and it was good, but I was also on the clean-up committee and we were there till 3:30. It was AWFUL!! It took so long to clean up I couldn't believe it. By the time I got back on Saturday I was done. However, my family needed me, so I spent time with them and got them into  bed and then I still needed to do some grocery shopping, so I did that and got home around 8:00. Gaupo and I spent some time together and went to bed.

Sunday was a day of rest. It was so great. We just had church that is it. It was so awesome. A very much needed break. Yesterday and Today have been busier than Sunday but nothing to crazy. Tia and I got to work on her pages for her VIP book for preschool and she did a great job. I meant to take pictures, but I forgot. We enjoyed being with each other and enjoyed just doing what we needed to. I also made white bread which made Gaupo super happy and I watched Gideon again today and this time he took a 2 hour nap. So, things have leveled out some but man last week was crazy. I totally felt like I was just keeping my head above water, yet I know Heavenly Father needed me where I was last week and doing the things I was doing because I did everything I needed to. Somethings didn't get done, but they were just extra things, but the things that mattered or needed to be done got done and I think that, that was Heavenly Father blessing me to have the strength, energy, and ability to do the thing that needed to be done. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father cares about his children in both the big and the little things. He helped Kitt find her key chain and Klaire a parking spot when I said prayer that both of those things would happen. He allowed me to be able to do, for the most part enjoy, and not feel guilty about a busy and good week. Heavenly Father is in the details. He love us. He loves ME.

A Little Blurb

I don't have a lot of time to write this post because quiet time is almost over, but I decided instead of wast time on Facebook maybe I would try to write something about what I do and I why I am not blogging as regularly.

Mostly the reason I don't blog is because now that school is back in and we have fallen into a rhythm I don't feel like we do a whole. We go to school, the kids come home, we eat, sleep, play, do swim lessons, eat and go to bed. On weekends we just kind of hangout. Okay, that last statement isn't really true we have done a lot of great stuff on weekends, and they have been really full. Like this past Saturday I canned applesauce. Yes, I finally did it. After enough complaining and procrastinating I got it done. It wasn't so bad making it and processing it, but wow clean-up took FOREVER, and I was already tired from canning it, then my house was a disaster because my kids had been neglected all day, and man there was just a lot of mess. However, with my family's help we got it all done before the Fiesta were they served us dinner. The girls helped clean up their toys and stuff and Gaupo helped me clean-up the garage. The garage needed cleaning because that is were we had to process the jars because it was so windy outside. Oh well, applesauce is done along with 20 pints of both pinto beans and black beans. I still have a few empty quart jars, but I now have more jars full than I every have before, so that is great. It feels really good to have full shelves, the canning stuff put away, and a somewhat clean house.

Although, I do need to give a shout-out to Gaupo. He has helped me out so much with things lately, and it has made a huge difference in my ability to do the other things that need doing. He cleaned my bathroom for me a week ago this past Tuesday. He scrubbed everything including the walls. It looked amazing. I was so grateful, it needed to be done, but because of how thing in the week were falling I wasn't going to be able to get to it and he had some time, so he served me and it was amazing. Then this last week with applesauce he not only cleaned the garage up, but he ran most of the apple through the processor which allowed me to the other canning processes, so even though making applesauce still took forever, it went a lot faster and better because he helped me. He has also been great about me taking a off a few times to help my friend Bethany with packing and cleaning her house. He is just I don't know, but I guess managing to pick-up a few of the things that I am not quite handling right now and it has been great. He is amazing at everything he can mange to do and help and do. I am so grateful for him and that he doesn't shy away from 'wifey' things, and doesn't get made when sometimes I do 'husband' things, we just help each other out and are who we are and it is so great. I feel so blessed to have Gaupo here with me and be working at life together.

Well I know that isn't much of an update, but I told you it would be short. The kids are awaking and I need to get some beans in the pot for dinner tonight.

Roller Coaster

Today Kylee, Tori, and Tia decided to build a roller coaster. I am horrible at filming and taking pictures, but they put a lot of effort into this roller coaster. It went all the way up the stairs around the loop and then back down again. They felt so accomplish and really I didn't realize all of it until I looked at the video's again and I highly doubt that I caught a good enough video for you guys to see their hard work, but here it. Just remember they came up with idea and did this all on their own. I am really impressed with how long they stuck to it, how they worked together, and how accomplished they felt at building their roller coaster.

Blurry pic of them at the start of the coaster

Another one a little less blurry.

Girl Party

This past Saturday and Sunday were General Conference. I love conference, but sometimes it gets a little tricky to get into the spirit of it and enjoy it with my kids. This year was really good. They did pretty well at playing, coloring, and enjoy being with Mom and Dad. However, this year my favorite part of conference was the Priesthood session. It isn't because we watched it but because I got to play with Tia and Kylee. I got a couple offers from friends to come play during that time, but before I got those offers I had decided that we were going to paint piggies and watch Moana. It was sure tempting to take my friends offers and go chat with them while the kids played. It would have been fun and fine, but I am really glad I didn't because me and my girls needed us time.

Between school and watching Trent and Tori, we really don't get a whole lot of time to be just us and to play. I always feel like we have other people around. That isn't all bad, actually most of the time it is really nice and I think my kids learn a lot from playing with friends and learning how to navigate those situations within the safety of our home. However, it totally crunches my let's go head off and do whatever we want-ness. I could do it with the other kids in tow, but those kids aren't mine and so they don't handle things like my kids do and sometimes I want to be just us. (Disclaimer: Even though I feel this way sometimes, I feel so grateful to watch Trent and Tori. I love that even though our kids spend 25 hours a week together, they still want to spend more time together. I love that Tori and Trent know me, and obey me. They understand our rules and are really good kids. So I am very glad I get to watch them.) 

That said it was time for us girls to party. We painted our piggies. We did them festively in Halloween colors and images. Then the three of us curled up on the couch and watched Moana together. We were later joined by our dad. There is just something about all of your family being together and loving that it special. I talk or write about this little girl party we had together and I think what was so special about it? I think what was special is that we all loved it. I loved that when Kylee knew the plan she said, "I want to paint piggies and watch Moana, so I want to stay home." I love that Tia sat still enough for us to do ghosts on her toes. I love that we enjoyed being together. Every now and then I wonder why we don't have more kids, or what exactly the plan was for not having Derek live here on earth. I don't know why, but more importantly I can see how I have been blessed. I have had time to really love and cherish my girls. I have had time to make important decisions about how to help them each with their individual struggles. I have learned to play and love my kids. I feel like a path has been made for me to be the mom I want to be and feel about my kids the way I have always wanted to feel about them. I don't know if any of this makes sense, but I hope it does. I love the time I get with my girls and I love being their mom. Yeah, there are time I make them mad and times they make me go gray, or mad, but I wouldn't want my life with out them. Moments like Saturday night remind me that this--my Tia, Kylee, and Gaupo are my everything and I love them and the moments we get to cherish together.