Trunk or Treat

I am the Ward Activity Chairperson at church and Jason is on my committee. So, we have been really busy preparing for the Trunk or Treat Activity. It is our biggest activity of the year and we had a couple hundred people there. We had a really busy day yesterday pulling all the last minute things together to make this a success. We ran for an hour in the morning, went to a soccer game and then spent the rest of the day setting up, doing the activity and cleaning up. I was ready to collapse last night. Thank goodness for my parents who were a huge help all day and my committee who were so helpful!

Jason was in charge of the spook alley and it turned out really good. He remembered going through a box maze in a spook alley when he was a kid and wanted to re-create it. It was a lot of work, but it turned out great, aside from Jason's slashed thumb that almost required stiches!  Dawson wouldn't crawl through the maze - but he went in the back door and hid with Jason and scared a few people. He thought that was pretty cool. We did not attempt to take Taya in there after her scene at the Halloween store....I took her and Dawson to a Halloween store to look for a ninja sword. No big deal - right? Well, there was a Halloween decor "scary guy" who chopped an ax and screamed at you when you walked in. It went down hill from there. She saw all these scary masks and lost it. She started screaming like Freddie Crugar himself was chasing her. I am trying to make a b-line for the door and Dawson won’t leave. He’s looking at all the gory masks saying “that’s so cool…look at that one”. Everyone in the whole store just starred at me and I couldn’t help but laugh. We had to pass the “chopping guy” again when we left. You can imagine how Taya reacted. I eventually made it out with both kids and vowed not to take Taya to anything even remotely spooky.

I was really happy with how it turned out. We did carnival style games including Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin, Bean Bag Toss, Face Painting, Fishing Game, Donut Eating, Cake Walk, Activity Table and a Spook Alley.

Dawson eating his cake walk prize (with a squint).  He was pretty excited about his Ninja sword backpack.

Holden had a good time walking around and checking out everyone's costumes.

Taya, my Southern Belle (or maybe Little Bo Peep).  She wanted to wear her dance recital costume for Halloween - perfect!  She said the cake walk was a really hard game.  She had to give up and get a cupcake from the dessert table.

My nanny, Linda, came with her grandkids.  Sam was the UPS guy - too funny!

My neighbors, the Millers, joined us as well.  Jen and I went through the spook alley together and she got scared!  Classic!

Dawson in the donut eating contest

The main event - Trunk or Treating.  I caught up with the kids for a minute to snap a picture.  And no, that's not my normal attire.  But, it was my mother's in the 70's :)

Holden and Grandpa

Holden's official first word is "Bam-pa" (Grandpa), which is fitting since he is Holden's favorite person in the world. He says mama, dada - but I am not really sure he says it about us or if he is just babbling. But, the word Grandpa is very clear and only when Grandpa is around. So cute! When Holden hears his voice, he squeals with delight and runs to find him. If I am holding him, he will start leaning toward Grandpa. He wants Grandpa’s 100% attention when he is around. And, of course, when Grandpa leaves, there are tears. These two just have a special connection that I love to see and I hope it will only grow and blossom over the years.

As a side note and for my own records, I never posted Holden's one year check-up info.  He is a big boy - but pretty even at least with his height and weight percentage.  He is getting so big!

9/11/09 – 13.5 months old

Weight - 25 lb. 13.8 oz., 79%

Height - 31 3/4", 86%

Head – 18.27”, 38%

I'm a Runner...Maybe

So, I am training to run a 10K (6.2 miles) on Thanksgiving Day.  I almost cried and gave up when I saw the training schedule.  I went from not running AT ALL - EVER - to running 30 minutes the first day, 50 minutes the second day, etc.  I am on week 3 of training and I run five days a week for an average of 45-50 minutes per run.  Who knew I could do this?  Well, I'm not fast (although my speed is improving) and I don't have great form - but I can run without stopping.  I am pretty impressed with myself!  I told my dad we were runners now and he said you are not really a runner until you enjoy it.  So, I guess I am not really a runner yet...

Our longest training run so far was on Saturday for 60 minutes.

The runners:  Dawson (yes, he runs too), my mom and dad, me and Jason.  I am especially impressed with my parents - they are training as well and are both doing so well.  My dad is fast!  I have to work hard to keep up.

The girls - Lisa and I have been training together as much as our schedules permit.  I love running with her since we run at a similar pace.

I think Dawson is a natural runner.  He really makes it look easy.  He has been running with us and can run 4 miles without stopping.  That is about his breaking point - about 45 minutes is his max.  But, he got sooooo MAD on Saturday when we made him ride his scooter for the last 15 minutes.  He wants to run.  So, we are going to include him on as many of the weekday runs as possible so he can have more training to build up his endurance for the long runs.  He wants to run the 10K with us and I really think he can do it.  We'll see...

Grandpa and Dawson were twins running together - so cute!

Dawson's Turn...

Today was Dawson's turn for a field trip to Bishop's Pumpkin Patch.  It was a bit muddy from the rain the past few days.  But, we lucked out with great weather today.  This is his last year having a field trip to the pumpkin patch.  I guess he's too big in second grade :(   We'll have to make a family trip next year so he can enjoy it as well.  Aside from a LOT of screaming on the train, it was a great day - hayride, choosing a pumpkin, petting zoo, train ride, lunch and some play time.  I love that I can spend this time with my kids building great memories.

Dawson's Big Debut

Dawson had a solo speaking part in the Primary program in church.  He did so well.  He memorized and recited “The Family: A Proclamation to the World teaches that ‘Successful...families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, and forgiveness.’”  He spoke so clearly and remebered it perfectly.  We were really proud of him.  Even our nanny, Linda, came to see his big debut :) 

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

We had 80's night for Bunco this month.  So fun!  The sad thing is, this is pretty reflective of how I dressed in the 80's.  Pink and blue eyeshadow, neon, banaba clips and leg warmers.  The banana clip is an original - I just had a feeling it is one of those items that would be a classic :)  Thanks ladies - it was a blast!

Michelle, Sandi, Jen, Tammy, Lisa, Crystal, Shana, Liz, Cherrie, Connie and Meredith

Love Meredith's BoomBox costume

Shana well deserved the best costume.  Anyone ballsie enough to show up in a leotard automatically wins!

When You Have a Sister...

This is what happens when you have a sister...Sorry Holden!

Long Time, No Blog...

Well, it's been a while! I am going to try to catch up over the next few days with my blogging - I am over a month behind now. A lot has happened! Holden is walking now...all over the place. He is really starting to pick up his speed. He started right at 14 months. We sold our old house - sick of being landlords. Someone backed into my car in a parking lot - not cool. We finished the BBQ Island and now we are working on the fire pit. I started a "Biggest Looser" group with some girlfriends. It is really helping to keep me motivated and I have lost almost 10 pounds in 4 weeks. I started training for a 10K race that takes place on Thanksgiving morning. It is HARD work for someone who is not a runner at all! .... So, there is the quick catch up. I will post more over the next few days.

Taya's trip to the patch

Taya had a great time at her preschool field trip to Bishop's Pumpkin Patch.  That place is so fun, so much to do...but WOW was it crowded.  We enjoyed a hay ride, picking a pumpkin, piggie races, train ride and topped it off with some yummy apple cider.

Soccer

I have really enjoyed watching Dawson's soccer games a lot more this year. The players are so much better and it is actually fun to watch the competition. Dawson loves defense and that is the only position he has played all year. He always asks his coach to play defense. He is really getting good at it. He can kick the ball pretty far. We are really proud of him! And can I just make a side comment that getting to soccer games is MUCH easier with a one year old than a newborn baby. It seemed so hard last year. This year, it is no big deal. We are enjoying it.

Dawson kicked this poor boy in the face - oops!

Nice hussle defense!

Soccer pictures were on Sunday again in the middle of church...UGH.  So, this is the best we have for now.