Happy Halloween!

We had a very busy and fun Halloween season this year -

Our annual Brown family (that live in Utah) Halloween party.  Savanna was being a real gem that night, as you can see.  We also got together with Randall's side and I forgot my dang camera!  I also forgot to take pictures when we painted pumpkins with my cousin Alexis and her kids.  Dang it! 

Savanna "Princess Bella" was more interested in playing with the leaves than getting her picture taken -

 I eventually got her to look at me long enough to snap a quick shot -

I love this picture of Superman "flying"-

 and the classic muscle flexing -

Lydia decided to be a "vampire fairy princess" this year -

I didn't feel like putting on makeup and dealing with vampire teeth at every party (my side, Randall's side, Activity Days, Randall's work, Halloween), so she was also just a plain old fairy princess on occassion.

Meleah, the spunky "nice witch" -

 

And Carter the lethal blue ninja -

Halloween was a little bit crazy.  We started out the day with the school parade.  Then at noon, I got a call from Carter asking me where I was because the class party (that I was IN CHARGE of) was starting.  Apparently his teacher has the wrong e-mail for me, so I didn't know that it started early.  So, since the babysitter that I had planned wasn't available yet, I woke the baby up, threw the kids and bin of party activities in the car, and raced to the school. (Discovering after we walked into Carter's classroom that Savanna wasn't wearing any shoes...) Fortunately I sent a Mad Libs activity and crossword puzzle a few days earlier so the kids had something to do while they waited for me.  In the end, it all worked out okay.  Cameron, Savanna, and Emma were really good during the party and I think Carter's class had fun.  I was obviously too frazzled to remember my camera. 

Our dreaded "I'm on a diet" candy bowl complete with fruit rollups, licorice (the nastiest candy known to man), and "glow in the dark" vampire teeth that don't actually glow in the dark. (Thanks a lot Oriental Trading!)  Not a stitch of chocolate to be found.  I know...LAME.

Lydia wouldn't pass by without posing for a picture and giving me a hug and kiss. 

Meleah took more of the walk quickly and pretend they're not your family approach.  ;)

I saved Emma for last for a Flashback Friday.  Emma wore the usual baby ducky (or as Savanna would say "rubber ducky") costume.  It was pretty tricky to get a picture because she kept trying to crawl away the entire time.

 I love how she always holds her little hands together -

Savanna (2011) -

Meleah (2007) -

Lydia (2005) -

And just so they don't feel left out, I'll include the boys even though they didn't wear the ducky costume.

Carter (2003)-

Cameron (2009) -



Spirit Week

Here are some pics of the kids "spirit week" -

 Fake Injury Day

 Pajama/Crazy Hair Day

 Future Career Day

 Carter was a Scientist and the girls were teachers in case you can't tell.

Mustache Day

I didn't take a picture of Carter before he left for school with his friend, and Meleah was "too shy" to have a mustache, but Lydia was all for it.  Wednesday was crazy socks and shoes day, but it was also picture day so I was too busy curling and styling to worry about crazy socks.  Carter did wear a pair of mismatched Christmas light socks and a my pink and black star slip-on shoes (Hey, they were only FOUR DOLLARS!) ;)  They all had lots of fun, and now I'm ready to get back to my usual "just get your kids ready and don't worry about what the stinkin' theme for the day is" routine.

My Poor Baby

Randall had a small cyst on his cheek removed the year that we got married, and it has slowly been growing back ever since.  We finally decided to have it removed again, and it was a bit of an ordeal. 

Last time the other Dr. just opened it up, removed the cyst, put on a little bandaid, and was done in about 5 minutes.  Well, this time there was apparently a lot more tugging, pulling, cauterizing, and who knows what else to make sure the dang thing didn't come back again.  I felt bad that I didn't go with him once I heard that it was a little bit traumatizing, but Randall said he didn't really need me passed out on the floor or over on the sidelines breathing heavy to prevent puking to add to his stress.  ;) I almost passed out just watching him pull out the foot long piece of gauze the doctor left in there to prevent infection! (Seriously, DISGUSTING!)  Anyway, the pictures really don't do it justice but his face swelled up SO HUGE on one side.  I have to admit that it was pretty hilarious.  My favorite part was how the swelling pushed down one side of his lip, making him look a bit stroke-patient-esque. 

The REALLY funny thing is that we had Stewart family pictures 2 days after the procedure.  Our nephew Conner is going on his mission in a couple of weeks so Jill wanted to get pictures taken before he leaves.  We were worried about finding a bandaid that didn't show up too much in the pictures.  Little did we know that that would be the LEAST of our problems!  To add to the hilarity, Savanna apparently found a black marker somewhere in their room in the middle of the night and came down looking like this the morning of the pictures  -

This was actually after I had already started to remove it.  I was able to get it MOSTLY off... AND then my children proceeded to play at the park before the pictures were taken.  Apparently to them "Do NOT get dirty AT ALL!" means jump in mud puddles and basically roll around in a big pile of dirt while wearing your Sunday best.  I have yet to see the pics, but needles to say, my expectations are NOT high.  ;)

p.s.  Randall is doing much better now, and is almost completely back to his usual adorably handsome self. 

More Summer Stuff

Swim Lessons

Carter, Lydia, and Meleah earned enough "points" to buy their own swimming lessons in July.  (LOVE my new chore chart/points program!)  They were held in someone's back yard, and we all LOVED it!  It's A LOT easier to take Lydia when I don't have to walk her all the way through the Rec Center's slippery wet floors (especially dangerous with canes), change her in the yucky slimy bathrooms, etc. 

The one downside is Carter and the girls classes weren't at the same time like at the Rec Center, but who minds relaxing by the pool on a warm summer morning?  Not me!  Kinda made me want to put a pool in my backyard... if only I would be able to use it more than 3 months of the year.

Even Emma didn't mind hangin' by the pool every day.  She was a little angel the whole time.

Meleah was the Queen of the class, and did AWESOME at everything. 

Lydia was a little more apprehensive...

but by the end of the week she went down the slide AND off the diving board!  I was so proud, and VERY impressed with their teachers.  To go from prying Lydia's fingers off the edge of the pool at the beginning of the week, to diving into the deep end by the end is pretty impressive. 

Carter LOVED it and was totally fearless.  If it wasn't so far away, I would sign him up for swim lessons year round. 

Alpine Splash Park

Bob and Jill watched Cameron and Savanna most of the days that we had swim lessons (Thank goodness!), but I brought them with us one of the days so that we could go to the Alpine Splash Park afterwards.  It was a little tricky getting the littles to be patient and not jump into the pool while the older kids had lessons, but everyone had a blast at the splash pad.

 Emma's first taste of watermelon.  I think she likes it!

 I KNOW Savanna does!

 Even Emma got to put her cute little toesies in the water for a while.

After the Splash pad we headed to Provo to get Lydia 's legs casted for her new braces.  Her doctor was nice enough to let Meleah help him.  She did a great job!

 We finished off our CRAZY day at Costa Vida for dinner. 

Our Traditional 24th of July at the Clements' House

 Traditional water balloon volleyball -

 Traditional happy toddler with enormous water balloon...

Traditional not quite so happy, and slightly wet toddler WITHOUT a water balloon -

 

 and Traditional AWESOME fireworks show!

Camp Jeremiah Johnson

Both Lydia and Carter were able to go to Camp Jeremiah Johnson with Acitvity Days and Scouts this summer.  I went with Lydia's group, and we had a blast!

I didn't go with Carter, but fortunately his leaders posted lots of pictures for me -

 

Sleepover/Baptism/Wedding

We had an EXTREMELY busy weekend in the beginning of August.  Randall took the boys to the Father/Son campout for our ward and we girls spent the night at Jana's house.  Then the next day, Randall took the boys to Chaston's baptism, and the girls and I went to Jayden's baptism and my cousin Shay's wedding.  It was CRAZY, but fun.  I had to leave the wedding a little earlier than I would have liked because I had this weird neck muscle spasm thing going on, but it was still awesome to see my family and beautiful cousin Shay.  Unfortunately, Randall didn't take any pictures, but here are some shots of what the girls and I were up to -

The girls LOVED the sleepover at Jana's and actually slept really well. 

As I've said previously, this girl does NOT smile easily, but she was so happy sitting with her cousin Stryder -

It was a bummer that I couldn't see both of my adorable nephews get baptized, but I guess that's just how it goes when you have 6 nieces and nephews (PLUS a daughter), all in the same school year. 
(Luckily I snapped this picture of Chaz in his suit for Jenny a few weeks before the baptism, so I still have a pic of him lookin' all snazzy even though Randall didn't take any!)

These two cuties loved to dance to the music at the wedding -

This picture is perfect, because Meleah has always LOVED to be with her Aunt Jana.  (And I don't think it's just because she gives her gum.) ;) 

 

Fashion Show With Cousins

We had Cari's kids over so that she could go on a date for her Birthday, and the girls had a blast dressing up and putting on a fashion show.  The boys were also having a blast playing video games (and pretending to watch the fashion show), but I didn't think to take a picture of them, dang it! 

Thunderstorm Watching

We've had quite a few fun thunder/hail storms this summer so we've been spending lots of time watching all the action on the front porch...or even out in the rain.

I'm pretty sure this is my last summer post.  Hallelujah!  (So sick of uploading photos, I could just die!)  ;)  This summer was seriously AWESOME!  I really feel like we made the most of it.  And now, bring on the holidays! (But not the snow... Unless it's Christmas Day... But that might be difficult for families traveling to Christmas parties... Maybe it could snow two days before Christmas, but be cold enough to make it last through the holiday...?)