Ethan's Halloween Party

We had Ethan's Halloween party today at school. He is in the same class with two other boys from our neighborhood and they are good friends. It just so happens that they sit next to each other too and are on a "table team." They were so cute.

I am one of the room moms so I got a craft ready, a game and made some cookies for the kids to bake. Some other moms brought frosting stuff, more games and some books. They first had a parade to show off all their costumes. The classes took turns parading through the classrooms and then they did a loop outside. When all the classes had finished the loop, they ended up at the basketball court outside and the entire school danced the "Chicken Dance," "Stomp," and the "Monster Mash." It was hilarious!

Ethan was a bit nervous about the dancing so we practiced the "Chicken Dance" before school but the "Stomp" song was a bit un-nerving for him. The song gives you instructions like "Slide to the right," or "Left foot three times." He had to concentrate at first so hard that it didn't look like he was having any fun, but by the end he was smiling and enjoying himself. On the "Monster Mash" they let the kids dance "freestyle" and Ethan didn't really know what to do. The school librarian went over and danced with him and then he loosened up and had fun.

After the dance we went back in the school (it was really cold outside, by the way) and had their party. There was a straw game, Bingo, Memory and a craft. They rotated around and then while they decorated and ate their cookies, a mom told a story. Ethan was hilarious when he decorated his cookie. They had M&Ms and candy corn to decorate their cookie with. Ethan decorated with "one on the cookie, one in my mouth, one on the cookie, one in my mouth." He also didn't want any frosting to go to waste and used his knife to get every bit of frosting from his cup and eat it. I laughed so hard! It was a fun and easy party!

Here are some photos:

Ghost Tours

Last night we went on the Santa Clara Ghost Tour. Ethan had heard about it and wanted to go. Bryan wasn't so excited and we thought, last week, about just Ethan and I going but Courtney got wind of the idea and objected. So...we loaded into the car last night and went on the Ghost Tour.

First off, it was LATE for our kids. Bedtime for the kids is 7:30 and that's when the tour began. Secondly, it was EXPENSIVE. I couldn't believe what they charged and we decided that this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip because it's too much money. Thirdly, it's COLD! We had the kids all bundled up but I am too used to southern Utah apparently because I didn't realize I was in flip flops until we got there. I froze my little toes off. Lastly, it was LONG!! We didn't get back home until around 9:30 and we were all ready for it to be over when we were only half-way done.

But...we had fun. We met 6 ghosts. I didn't know what to expect but they advertised it as "family friendly" so I wasn't too worried until but there were some parts that were scary. The ghosts were pretty good and Ethan and I were asked to help one ghost do a magic act for everyone. We saw a magician, a gypsy, an old prospector that was blown up by the fumes from an "ol' two holer" (he was funny), Sitting Bull and Wild Bill. It was way too long and so by the time we got to Jacob Hamblins home for the last two ghosts, we were freezing and ready to be done, but it was fun. There were some creepy indian ghost kids that I didn't appreciate but all in all it was fun and the kids liked it. I would shorten it a bit, if it were me.

Courtney told my mom this morning that the ghosts weren't real because real ghosts say "ooohhhhh, aaaahhhhh" and stuff like that. The ghosts we saw were fake because they talked. ;)

Mommy Date Photos

I forgot to post photos of Ethan's mommy date last week. Here's a cute one. He loved bowling. A couple days after we went, Ethan was invited to go with a friend back to the bowling alley to play. He had a great time!!

Courtney's Preschool Party

On Wednesday Courtney had her preschool Halloween party. I volunteered to help so I drove carpool that day. Ever since last Halloween Courtney has wanted to be a BYU cheerleader. Her best friend Hayley had the costume last year and Courtney loved it. So Courtney asked Hayley if she could borrow it and Hayley said she could. I bought a turtleneck to go under it and we were set. (So easy!!)

The party was fun. They had a bunch of little games to play like "Pin the Tail on the Cat," beanbag toss, guessing games, etc. The kids loved it and they won a little prize from each game. They sang songs, danced around, did puzzles, decorated and at cookies. I got to read them a story toward the end and that was a lot of fun.

Courtney really loved preschool and I can tell why. Her teacher has things under control and is so much fun. Now she can't wait until it's really Halloween. I'm dreading the day we have to give the cheerleading costume back to Hayley. That's going to be interesting! ;)

Getting Pumpkins

We went to the store on Tuesday night (Bryan was trying to give me a break from the kids so I could do Ethan's costume, but I wanted to go along) to buy some pumpkins. The kids loved it and there were still some good pumpkins for sale.

Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Have you ever read that book? I love that book because everything that can go wrong does to the little boy. It's so my life. And yesterday was my terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day!

Bryan noticed when he drove home on Tuesday night that there was a puddle of oil on his parking spot at work. When he checked the oil it was bone dry. It was due for an oil change anyway so I made an appointment and then he drove it back to work on Wednesday morning so it could sit there until Thursday and the appointment. Since he bikes every day except Tuesday night/Wednesday morning we figured it wouldn't be a problem.

Ethan finally decided what he wanted to be for Halloween...a jedi! So I found a pattern on Monday, bought the fabric and fitted the pattern on Tuesday and was going to spend Courtney's nap time cutting out and sewing the costume so he would be ready for the Halloween parade at school on Friday.

Wednesday morning things were going well. I helped out at Courtney's Halloween party at preschool (I'll post about that in a minute) and they had a great time. I drove carpool because I was going to be there already. It was FREEZING that day and I had just braved the freezing winds to drop the last girl off when the "check engine" light went on in the van. I don't mess with things like that so I immediately went home and called the dealership The woman made an appointment for 30 minutes later at 12:30. Courtney and I hopped back in the van, ran to a auto parts store to buy oil for Bryan's car, ran and put the bag of oil cans in his car, got McDonalds (I had the best tasting, awful-for-you salad ever, I don't think it should be labeled "healthy" if it is doused in bacon, cheese and ranch dressing), then drove fast to the dealership and got there 10 minutes late.

The guy checking us in was nice but then informed me that all the mechanics were at lunch from 12:30 until 1:30 so it wouldn't be until 1:30 when they could even think of looking at the van and then wouldn't be able to give me an estimate (at $85 per hour) until at least 2:30. Courtney and I ate our lunch and then I called Bryan. He filled up his oil, came and got us, then we drove him back to his office so we could have the car.

We got home just fine but I had to call and change the appointment for the oil change on Bryan's car because we couldn't go without a car. Courtney then fought taking a nap, which really is a necessity for her. She screamed and yelled at me and spent most of the time in time-out. Then it was time for her dance class Halloween party. We carpool and I drive to dance and the other mom brings them home. I got Courtney ready, picked up her friend and as we were leaving the mom asked me what treat Courtney was taking. This was news to me! Apparently I didn't read the note that said they had to bring 12 treats to share. We ran home, grabbed 12 pieces of Halloween candy and took off.

Finally! I was home and started on Ethan's costume but he arrived home about 15 minutes after I got home, so it wasn't quiet for long. I needed him to try something on for me and he was grumpy and fought me. He finally tried it on and I fitted it to him but he was worried that I would poke him with a pin.

The car dealership then called to tell me that there is a leak in a fuel thing in front and we are losing fuel (not something you want to do at present gas prices) so they are fixing it but they need the car until Friday night.

To make a long story short (too late, I know) the rest of the night was crazy. I forgot to make anything for dinner because I was working on the Jedi costume. Bryan got home at 5:45 on his bike and had to leave at 6 p.m. for mutual. The kids fought with each other all night.

But...ever time I had to turn left without a stop light, traffic was clear. Ethan LOVES, LOVES, LOVES his costume and didn't fight me on any of the fittings later in the evening. I didn't have to unpick any seams. And Courtney gave me a big hug before bed. So there were some silver linings!

What did I just say?!

Last week we had a Relief Society Meeting where we made emergency sanitation kits for those in the ward who wanted one. For those of you who don't know, an emergency sanitation kit is...well...it's basically a big bucket with cleaning supplies and in an emergency the bucket becomes your...um...TOILET! Gross, but it is a necessity when in emergency times.

Anyway, I was conducting Relief Society today and thanked all the women who made the kits and reported that we had 41 kits that were made. Then I said, "It's good to know that our ward is covered on that end." I paused, not sure that had come out the way it sounded to me, then the giggles began. I went bright red and tried to backtrack but didn't do it very well. We all ended up giggling and it was a bonding experience for all involved. FUNNY!! I did have one woman after ask if we were going to start working on food storage so "the other end would be covered too." Yeah, funny women in the ward! ;)