Fall Festival 2011

@ Mt. Olive Library

Each year, our library holds a fall festival for families in the area to enjoy. I have to say that the first one we went to was pretty small but they've improved it each year. This year, our kids had an absolute BLAST! Blake and I had a great time just watching them have so much fun!
Blake with the kids after getting their faces painted!

Addie holds very still for her heart and butterfly on her cheeks.
The kids had a blast going on a little pony ride. Grant did really well!
They had all sorts of animals to look at which the kids were totally enamored with.
The kids also got to go in a bounce house, get free treats, pick a pumpkin, etc. but the crowning event for Ethan was getting his face painted. Of course when we got home he immediately jumped into his Army uniform so he was totally authentic.

We had so much fun being together as a family. I just LOVE the fall!!

Our HAUNTED House!!
Halloween 2011

This year it was our turn to host the annual Halloween party that has become a tradition with the "younger" families in our ward (I love that we can still fit into this category!). We've had a lot of new families join our ward recently so we had a really large group this year. Unfortunately the only day we could do it was a Friday night which stresses me out because Blake can't be home to help me. But, we managed to pull it off and it was a blast.
Some of the table decorations before the party. Ethan had fun helping me find branches, spray painting them black and tracing and cutting out bats for our little Halloween tree.
Ethan also had fun helping me make some yummy Halloween pretzel treats!
This year Blake and I dressed up as Elvis and Priscilla Presley. Blake scored "best overall" at our party this year with his rockin' costume. Gotta love it!
Here are all the girls at the party! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the creativity!
Here are all the guys! They were all good sports as their wives dressed them up in all sorts of crazy costumes!

We had such a great time visiting with everyone, eating yummy foods and playing fun games. Thanks to everyone for making it such a fun evening!

Hacklebarney Cider Mill...
A Taste of Fall!

Recently I took the kids to the Hacklebarney Cider Mill with our friends, the Teeples. I LOVE the fall and this is one of our favorite traditions. This cider mill in Chester has wonderful apple cider and cider donuts which the kids devour! We had a great time eating donuts and letting the kids play on the grass and with the rocks!
Luckily I was able to get some pictures of them before the triple meltdown began. It started with Addie who was hysterically freaking out because I wouldn't let her play with my camera. She totally went crazy and was inconsolable. Grant was next. He lost it when I made him get off the tractor that he was determined to drive all day. Ethan always feels like he needs to be the parent and keep the twins in line, which, as you can imagine, doesn't go over well with them.

So, we had a great time but I think next time, I'll bring reinforcements!!

Birthday Fun!

My amazing friends must have known how I was dreading this birthday...number 36! I honestly don't know how this happened. I swear I was 25 YESTERDAY!! But, they made my day so much fun that I almost forgot how old I was. They surprised me and took me out to the Cheesecake Factory - my FAV!!! It was such a fun treat. They forced me to wear this pink boa and crown so needless to say...I got a few looks. People were asking if it was a bachelorette party!

Here's the gang from left to right: Colette Bomsta, Melanie Teeples, me, Kristy Cook, Heather Dominguez, Alene Conner, Andrea Stevenson and Nancy Kofford.

Here's my DELISH carrot cake cheesecake. YUM!

Thanks gals for making my birthday so terrific!

I also have to give a big thanks to Blake and my mom for making my birthday so great. Blake took the day off so I could have a break from mommy life. I spent the night at my parents' house and slept in...did some shopping...etc. Then my mom watched the kids so Blake and I could go out on a date. It was fabulous! I think I need a birthday at least every month!!