HALLOWEEN 2015

Halloween at our house just isn't the big deal it used to be. I am torn about it. In some ways it's nice to be so laid back, but I really miss dressing my little kids up and taking them to trick or treat! The level of excitement is very diminished.

Pumpkin carving for Family Night at the barn with all the cousins.

Princess P went trick or treating with her friends this year. She's my last. *sniff*

HALLOWEEN CONCERT

Princess P has started playing the cello this year in Middle School. She is actually pretty excited about it and I am thrilled! She's always been so good to practice piano, that's why I let her do two instruments. So far, so good...

Princess P as a witch for the Halloween Concert and her teacher as the good fairy from Wizard of Oz.

Princess P playing in the orchestra.

Two of her good friends are in orchestra with her, so that makes it doubly fun!

PUMPKIN TRADITION

We love to go down to Centerfield to the pumpkin patch for Family Night with the Gordon cousins. It's become quite the tradition for about 5 years now. We go down and pick out our pumpkins, go through the hay maze, play on the playground, take photos and then go to the park for treats (usually donuts and hot chocolate). It sure is a fun way to get into the Halloween spirit!

Miss G, Cousin W, C Man and Princess P are picking their pumpkins.

Quick Wizard of Oz pic!

The cousins!! What a good looking bunch!

HALLOWEEN WEEK

This was a big week for Princess P. She got her braces on. I have to say she looks SO CUTE! I never looked cute with my braces. 

My latest brace face. Grandpa C would be thrilled!

 It was also Red Ribbon week for her too, so she dressed up everyday and had a blast with that too.

Crazy hair day.

This is the last Halloween costume parade my kids will be in. It was a bittersweet experience. I can't believe my kids are getting so old (and so am I!).

Princess P as a ghost. Can you believe it was warm enough for her to wear her sandals??

That night was trick or treat time! She went with two of her friends from the neighborhood. Little C went to a Halloween party instead of hanging out with us. It was a strange year. Very low-key. 

Princess P and buddies on the porch.

Little C dressed up as a zombie soccer player. 

CARNIVAL & CARVING

Halloween activities are in full swing this week! It's been fun! We got reminded of the elementary school carnival, Saturday, at the last minute, so we went over for a few minutes. The kids were actually pretty over it this year. 

Princess P (the ghost in the middle) with her two friends.

I think they are just getting too old for all the games and got bored pretty quick. Little C didn't even stay. 

Baby W as the old man from Up. What a cutie!

Yesterday, we took our pumpkins up the farm and carved them at the barn for Family Night. 

Little C gutting his pumpkin.

 Little C did the Real Salt Lake soccer team symbol in his.

Mom and Princess P

 Princess P carved a traditional jack 'o lantern face into hers.

Getting the guts! Yuck!

The Gordon family pumpkins for 2014.

PUMPKIN PATCH

We all love the tradition of going to the pumpkin patch in Centerfield for Family Home Evening. It is such a cute place and the kids all love playing there and picking out their own pumpkins.

Little C pushes the girls in the swing.

Big C gives Baby W a shoulder ride. 

Princess P and Miss G. Cousins and friends!

Look at our awesome pumpkins we found! 

This year they had quite the hay bale maze.

Miss G, Princess P and Little G pose by the decor. 

Baby W rides in the wagon.

SHENANIGANS WITH PRINCESS P & AWESOME A

Princess P is a very creative girl (like her sister before her). I just love the things she comes up with. She went to the pumpkin patch on a field trip with her class and came home with this pumpkin, telling me that she was going to make it into a witch. I love the way it turned out! She's awesome!

The green witch (notice the wart with the hair on her chin) and Princess P.

 This past week was Red Ribbon Week, so Princess P and Little C had to dress up everyday. They loved it. I don't have any photos of Little C (he takes off so fast I never got a chance), but here are two of Princess P.

Nerd Day and Crazy Hair and Sock Day.

A is a wild and crazy kid. Here are some photos to prove it... 

A loves his calculus homework. If that isn't crazy, I don't know what is.

 He has a great sense of humor, even about himself. Here is proof! Not many kids would even think to laugh about a missing finger, but he came up with this one.

That is actually a Body Parts gummy candy. hahaha! 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

HALLOWEEN 2013

Yesterday was the big day! Halloween was finally here. It used to be a wild and crazy day, but now that they've changed the carnival to a different day and I don't have any little kids anymore it is a breeze. Sister A and I went to watch our kids in the elementary costume parade. They were SO CUTE!!

Miss B as a nerd, Princess P as a nurse.

That evening Little C had his Aunt J do his make up like a zombie (like D's last year) and he went with a bunch of friends to go trick or treating.

Little C (bloody face by the post) and his group of friends.

Sister A and I took Princess P and Miss B around town. It was fun! I haven't been trick or treating for quite a while and we had a good time. The weather was just right.

Our cute girls!!

 After trick or treating we went over to my BIL for his birthday. They fed us chili and we watched Hocus Pocus (which I had never seen- it was cute!).  It was a great way to wind down and we enjoyed hanging with the family.

Watching Hocus Pocus.

Baby W as a tiger and Little Miss C as Wonder Woman.

FAMILY NIGHT CARVING

We traditionally get together with the cousins at the Barn to carve pumpkins every year. This year we did it again. It is fun to see what everyone carves up. 

C, J, C, Little C and Little Miss C

Me, A, Aunt P and Sister A.

Big C helps Princess P paint her pumpkin green to make it a witch.

Here's all the pumpkins and the kids. There's quite a variety, huh! I did the green 'Gordon' one and Princess P did her green witch. Awesome A did the Feed Me face (behind and left of mine). Little C did the Monstercat one (behind and right of Princess P's). My boys always do electronic dance music themes. Maybe someday they'll come up with something more clever... ;)

Kids and pumpkins.

*Thanks to my SIL, N, for all the photos. I forgot my camera.

QUICK CARNIVAL & MORE MAPLE

Well, Halloween season is upon us. Today was the elementary school Halloween Carnival. It used to be on Halloween, but they moved it and I am so glad! It made Halloween hectic and overwhelming. Now it is just a way to get us in the mood for the Trick or Treat night.

Princess P as a nurse, Little C as a banana, Sister A as Hello Kitty, Miss B as a Minecraft zombie

Big C wanted to go climbing with the family again, so we were just going to go for an hour, but we ended up staying longer than that. It was a pretty good year (except the line for the tickets was out the door and around the block...). They did a new corn maze that had a Wizard of Oz theme. The kids loved it! 

Miss B and Princess P by the entrance to the maze. I loved the witch legs.

After the carnival we headed up to Maple Canyon... again. I really think we need to build a second home up there. It would get used at least once a week! Big C just can't get enough. 

Cousins in the canyon.

All the in-town Gordon family were there. We had a good time together, but it was pretty chilly. The leaves are almost all gone now, but it is still a beautiful place to be.

Big C climbing barefoot. Yes, I am serious.

Little C reading his Spiderman comic.

Princess P and Aunt N on the wall.

Me holding Baby W! He's so cute I have to grit my teeth so I don't squeeze him too hard.

OUR AMAZING HALLOWEEN

We had an awesome Halloween! It was super busy, like it always is, but it was extra special yesterday...

The older kids in their costumes.

 We did all the normal Halloween activities like the elementary school parade.

Little C went to school as the Joker.

 The kids went trick or treating, of course.

The neighborhood trick or treaters. 

 We also had a party. Lots of friends and family came. Then we went to two more after ours was over. Busy busy!!

D and my sister, A. The walking dead of the family.

S and I spent all day making treats she found on pinterest. They were yummy!!

We always need more treats on Halloween!

The most exciting thing that happened all day, however, was that S received her mission call! She had friends over and we had lots of family come too. We are so excited for her!

A happy sister missionary-to-be in her doll costume.

She will be serving in the Florida, Ft. Lauderdale mission, spanish speaking (we realized 10 minutes later). We only have 2 and a half months to get her ready! I am so proud of her and excited for her, I can't quit smiling!