Actual Halloween

I think Halloween should be on a Saturday every year! We woke up and got going on some pumpkin cookies and pumpkin carving. It was about time we start an actual tradition. Brad and I weren't even engaged last time we carved pumpkins.

Fun to get the goop out! That was about the extent of David's involvement.

William ate and watched.

Brad carved a Thomas train for David.

(And stole my nice candle to test it out.)

It did look pretty cool, don't worry we took that candle out.

Brad took David to our new favorite park. I think he tried to walk this dog most of the time. Brad said both the owners and the dog were really kind.

David has a cousin very close to his age that also loves dogs, or at least loves to tell them to sit! What is it with boys and dogs anyway?

The really big slide that gives you a great view of Boston. You can get going pretty fast with a towel underneath. David had a lot of fun until one very hard landing. Brad reports that it was made worse by the loud gasps from all the spectator parents.

A dentist and an engineer...er, uh...a pirate and a beekeeper.

TMINTYH and a scary spider.

I forget. But they were both really really funny.

Beekeepers with their cute baby bee.

Gotta love how the eight month old monkey outsizes the older baby pirate!

Arrrrgh...

It was such a fun evening. Good to get together before the kids bedtime and even play a game. But after David stuck keys into an electrical socket and I dropped an entire plate of food on basically white carpet we figured it was time for us to go. Happy Halloween!!

Jan's Halloween Bash

My friend Jan had the grand idea of throwing a little Halloween party for the Mom's and kids who are involved in the visiting teaching program. She was so creative and came up with all kinds of awesome food ideas.

Mummy Hotdogs

(I didn't make them, but they were cute)

Scary Apple Teeth

A Plate of Scary Apple Teeth

Vegetable and Dip Skeleton

I did the apple teeth and the skeleton but I'll admit Jan sent me the specific ideas. I was surprised by how easy they were (and by how not brown the orange juice kept the apples!) maybe someday I'll come up with this stuff on my own.

David wouldn't eat much but instead played with a whole new world of cars and trains. William climbed the stairs while I was working in the kitchen...but didn't fall. It was fun to get together and I think the kids really enjoyed it.

Pre-Halloween Party

This was the second time we were able to dress up the kids. Gotta get all you can out of those costumes! Our apartment complex has a little party with free food. How could I refuse a night without cooking?

Our Little Monkey

Brad went as a...doctor? Dentist? I'm not sure. I've never seen a stethoscope wearing dentist before!

Mommy with her monkey

I was lame and didn't dress up as anything. It was funny going to this event. The kids got so much attention and were some of the smallest there. It always surprises me since we spend most of our time with other families who have young children. Again, David only wanted cotton candy and cookies. What a good dinner!

Trunk or Treat

Last year there was no sewing. I attempted a tie this year. My Mom will be happy to know her sewing machine engagement present to me (from almost five years ago!) went on its maiden voyage. We won't talk about how fabric glue saved me.

Presenting....

The Man in the Yellow Hat

I'm not sure if David really knew who he was. But he kept asking for the hat.

Getting into character before his big debut.

Will was the last to get ready.

George, Professor Wiseman, Bill, and TMITYH

I was able to take David around around to the trunks. How do you explain that all that candy isn't for eating right away? He was okay when the candy was put in his bag. He had a harder time when it was put into his hand or when he got to pick it out.

William er George sat in his brown stroller while Dad passed out candy and little toys from our undecorated trunk. Thankfully the monkey costume was very warm. It was a chilly night.

Stair Master

My Mom requested pictures of Will. I snuck this one in while David was still sleeping.

Later I went upstairs with David for a few minutes. I headed to retrive William whom I thought was whining at the bottom of the stairs. Open the baby gate to find...

William whining at the TOP of the stairs. Good job baby, I've only ever seen you climb one stair. I've given myself the mother of the year award often but this one is probably the top contender. I'm glad he didn't fall. Time for the bottom gate and lessons on going down. I just want to know when he decided to practice this skill?!

I'm really impressed Will, why oh why do you have to grow?

October Snow

Friday October 16th, 2009

The weather report said that there was snow in Lexington (yes like the battles of Lexington and Concord Lexington) which our Waltham apartment borders. It was early. I thought I was dreaming but no. Brad had to bundle up a bit more than planned.

A light dusting.

It may be a stretch but there is a thin line of white.

Sunday October 18th, 2009

The Nor'Easter dumped a lot of rain down this morning but in the afternoon it froze.

A more substantial frosting

Just for comparisons sake

I drove to Children's Hospital this evening. Storrow Drive was more than a little scary in the bad weather. I couldn't believe that the Head of the Charles Regatta was still going. Those crew teams and spectators looked COLD. It was a strangely beautiful sight. Let's hope for better weather so we can go next year!

24 Flavors of Soft Serve/Weight Loss

Piqued your curiosity didn't I? Saw something interesting on the way up to the JSBP that had to be photographed on the way out. Brad was able to submit it to one of his favortie blogs and it got published. He's famous!

Joseph Smith Birthplace

We've talked about this outing since we moved here. Finally. We headed out to the Joseph Smith Birthplace in Sharon, Vermont. (Right after church of course.) David and Will slept and Brad and I were taken away by the leaves. Beautiful colors. Much more red than Utah.

David (being a little irreverent) and Will with me in the background.

A sister missionary gave us a personal tour of the visitors center. I felt a sweet spirit there. When Joseph F. Smith dedicated the granite monument he said that people would look upon it and feel peace. I did.

David ran around, rolled down the hills, and tried to touch everything he could.

William was happy to get some wiggles out too

David and I

The blustery weather didn't stop Will

The 38 and 1/2 foot tall monument

A foot for every year of Joseph's life

Family photo

I hope the boys will look at this someday.

I've always felt bad that David's birthday falls on December 27th, just two days after Christmas. I'm afraid that his birth won't be remembered and celebrated after the holidays. It was good for me to realize that the Prophet Joseph was born on December 23rd. I needed to remind myself how special David's birth was and that he came to us when he was supposed to!

Words cannot express my feelings here.

Site of the front porch--Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith home

Picture fall on the drive out.

You may not believe me but I promise there was a lot of beautiful red too.

Sometimes I feel far away. From the West, from Phoenix, from BYU, from family. Even from other Mormons. But other times I'm taken away by these experiences and wonder to myself if we'll settle somewhere "different." I was grateful for today.

Cranberry Festival

A friend of ours suggested checking out the cranberry festival that happens over Columbus Day weekend. We couldn't resist giving it a try. It started with a train ride over the bogs.

We were all looking at the camera!

I was a little disappointed with the cranberry bogs we drove through on the train. They weren't flooded and didn't look anything like the Ocean Spray commercial I'd hoped for.

The Clark Family (sans a studying Dad)

90% of our day was spent riding rides like "Jumbo" and the toddler train at Edaville USA. Our camera battery went dead and I didn't get to capture all of the fun.

William did a fantastic job even though he couldn't really ride much. David liked all the toddler rides and Jumbo but he wasn't too sure about the rocket ships. He loved to say "choo choooo" at the trains. Highlights for Brad and I were the Scrambler, and as the Clark's oldest put it, the "Tilterwhirl." I'd forgotten how fun cheesy carnival rides can be.

A Cranberry Bog

Doesn't look like much does it? But WAIT!

A flooded bog with the crimson berries floating on top. Wonderful!

We spent the last 10% of the time with the cranberries. We would have stayed longer but it was time for little boys to nap in the car and get home.

One sour face! David's expression can attest that the berries don't quite taste sweet.