I love this time of year!

We just had our annual family pumpkin carving contest. We have done this every year since I can remember. Each year it gets better and better with the ideas that everyone does for their pumpkin. This is something that we take serious and no one knows what the other is doing, it is a complete surprise. There is a lot at stake with this contest, especially pride! But all in all it is just another great excuse to get together. We have local neighbors come over and judge the pumpkins in order to make it fair. This year Gav did a cyclops and Bre did a princess coach. They took Grand prize and 1st place, which was a surprise. Gav loved poking holes into the pumpkins and Bre just loved running around.












On Saturday, I got together with Chad's family, just the girls and we made some halloween candy. This picture does no justice and shows only part of the things we made. We had a great time talking, eating, and making delicious candies. Thanks for a great time!

Chocolate covered strawberries, cinnamon bears, and peanut butter eyeballs. Missing are the caramel apples, popcorn and the cookie ghosts.

We had our 4th annual friend Halloween party and it was anything but calm. We had a little ghost hunt for the kiddies, Chad was in charge of the pictures for that and as you can see nothing! We had donut eating contests and then just played some games. The food and company were both great, I just love hanging out with these guys. I look forward to each months parties because of them.





My friend Jannette and I took our kiddies to the Pumpkin Festival in Herriman. We had a good time. The kids got to play around and look for candy everywhere. Towards the end we let them go play on the playground, where I turned around and found Gav peeing by the slide. He then told me that when we are outside and there are no bathrooms, we can go in the sand! Thanks Chad! Anyways, Gavin loved having a buddy with him instead of always being with the girlies! Later, we took them to the pumpkin patch to pick out their pumpkins for our pumpkin contest!





For one of our family nights we made PVC skeletons. They turned out really cute and the kids loved them. Afterwards, they couldn't help but go through grandma's costumes and try them all on.




Gavin had his last soccer game on Sat. He scored a goal and was so proud of himself. He got his trophy and made sure that we all new that only good soccer players get trophies!



I love this time of year and all the many foods and activities that come with it. I babysit my nephews and niece on Tuesdays, so I thought that we would do a little project of cupcake decorating. They were excited and actually didn't make as big of a mess as I anticipated!



The morning of the first snow of the season, Gav was up and in his gear before I was even out of bed. He came into our room, looked out of the window and said Holy cow! He loves the snow and just being outside in general. So at 7:30 in the morning we were outside playing and loving this time of year.

Thanks Naomi!

My KMart loot!

My bags of Malt-O-Meal cereal!

My deal on scrapbooking supplies. I got three boxes full of paper and stickers for free! If anyone is in need of paper, stickers, embellishments, etc, I have a ton! Thanks Dolly for calling me, I love ya!

My friend Naomi has been doing this coupon thing for years. Everytime we would meet with our group of friends we were always amazed at the deals she found. I have wanted to get into it, but I could never figure it out or just be organized enough and patient enough to do it. I am not going to mention the fact that her and Mothagoose have formed this new alliance up north and fail to include the people from the south in some of their excursions:) However, the last couple of weeks she has once again shown what a saver she is. She helped me get 12 bags of Malt-o-Meal cereal for $4.00. Then my little sis and I went dumpster diving for coupons (yes, that's right Mothagoose and Naomi we can hang with you) because Kmart was doubling coupons last week (Sorry, we didn't take any pictures of that experience). Then Alli and I headed off to KMart in good old West Valley. I would have spent over $85.00 on all my items, but after coupons I spent $30.00! Now, I am sure that the experts (Naomi and her apprentice Mothagoose) would look at this and laugh, but for a rookie that is not too bad, so I want no comments for the both of you!:)
Hopefully with Naomi's class on Tuesday, I will be putting those lessons into practice more often. It is nice to save money!

Also, I just have to tell Tracy congratulations! She just called to tell me that she is expecting her 2nd baby. She is due on March 24th!
Also, congratulations to my other friend who will go nameless for now in case she still doesn't want people to know. You know who you are and I am so excited to be their aunt:)

Not So Much!

Ok so I am not as back in business as I thought. My evenings now are spent grading and correcting. I need to find a happy balance or just leave work at school! There is nothing like grading 120 writing pieces! O'well, I wouldn't have it any other way. These pictures are from Bre's birthday, the State Fair, and Gavin's soccer. My favorite is Gavin dressing up in Bre's princess clothes. He told me not to worry and that he was just playing. He reassured me that boys can dress-up when it is just for play and not for real. He has the best sense of humor and I just love talking to him. Bre keeps surprising me everyday with new things she is saying and sentences she is putting together. One of my favorite moments was when she was running to get on the trampoline, she just stopped and blew me a kiss. She is such a sweetie and she makes me smile.

At Bre's birthday, my dad found a grasshopper and put it on the trampoline. Gavin loved it and was entertained for quite awhile. The grasshopper on the other hand was not!