Halloween 2013

This year we started off our Halloween celebrations by visiting the annual Jack-o-Lantern festival at the Riverwoods. Kids get to dress up and go trick-or-treating from shop to shop. Even though Jayne didn't really know what was going on, we got us her a few candies and had lots of fun admiring all the cute kids in their costumes.

Here's our little cutie!

They had really cool pumpkin displays. This one is angry birds (for you mom!) 

And Despicable Me (for you Leo!)

We had to carve pumpkins this year as Mum B. had never ever carved one. Yup, NEVER! I didn't think much of it until she asked me if I'd done this every year of my life...yep! Can't remember a year that I haven't. Even in Australia we made it happen. Needless to say, she was excited!

Ready to go!

Pumpkin guts! 

  

Both Mum and Phil chose a template from our book. I thought we'd be carving for ages with those templates and these newbies (3rd time for Phil) but they whipped through those things in a jiffy!

Mum did a black cat and Phil did a bat...vampire...vampire bat?...

And the finished projects. Mine is a measly free-hand bat surrounded by our template pros! But Batman did respond to my call that night so it was a success :)

We also went on a walk to a spooky house around the corner from us. Its creepy at night!

Then for actual Halloween we dressed up and went trick-or-treating in my parent's neighborhood. We tried to dress up Koda as a soldier...but the vest was too small and well, you can just see how much he loves the hat from this picture...

He kind of looks like a muscle man! haha!

He just wanted to be super dog instead! I guess even dogs dream of having super powers.

My mom was a warrior

Mum B. was a witch 

Jocelyn was an Egyptian and her friend was an Egyptian cat

And we were an M&M family. 

It was a lot of fun to see Mum in awe of all the trick-or-treaters and loving their costumes. It was such a perfect warm night too!

One neighbor had hot chocolate and a fire to roast hot dogs on. Yum!!

We ended the night at a really cool house that is always decked out for Halloween. Its amazing! The entire yard is FULL of scary stuff. They even had a blow-up dinosaur that was about 30 feet tall!

Even the headless horseman made an appearance

The house and crowd from across the street (where "Thriller" was playing on a giant blow-up screen) 

Thanks for spending Halloween with us Mum B! Made it more exciting to have a newbie around!

Cornbelly's 2013

Phil kind of has a thing for Cornbelly's. We're talking like a serious crush. We get season passes every year and Phil looks forward to when they come on sale like it's his birthday, or Christmas (and those of you who know Phil...he loves Christmas) so to be on par with Christmas, it serious. Add in showing a fellow Aussie the ropes for their first time and Phil was in heaven.

The newbie this year was Phil's mum. Last time we tried to go it was rainy and muddy :( so it doesn't count! Oh yeah, and Jayne! It was a lot of fun and as always, Cornbelly's did not disappoint.

We went twice during the day and three times at night (for the haunted stuff). We played beanbags like pros...

 ...went down the giant slide like little kids...

 

...rode the mechanical bull (Mum B & Phil)...

...and got lost in the corn maze. 

It was a lot of fun to be there with our little one for the first time. Jayne did so great! 

She even begged us to let her go through all the haunted stuff in the baby carrier. Naturally as first time parents, we gave in!

:) 

She actually slept right through it all. What a good girl!

 "Headless Jayne" shot...she conked out during every visit I think!

Here's a couple pics of The Creature and the clown maze- some of the haunted attractions- during the day. They may not look like much to the day-timer eye, but at night...well let's just say I may have peed my pants!

We sure do love our Cornbelly's and sharing it with Mum B! 

Can't wait until next year when Miss Jayne will understand a bit more of what is going on! Until then!

Jayne's Baby Blessing

We blessed Jayne in church on October 27th. It was such a memorable day. I couldn't believe that Phil would be blessing our child. (Yes, sometimes I still have to remind myself that I'm a mom!) 

Jayne wore the dress that her Aunt Chantel and Aunt Jocelyn were blessed in. It was very special as I got her ready and dressed her in her beautiful white dress. It was a moment I'll never forget.

We had family members and friends come over to our house afterwards to eat and celebrate. Because it was so close to Halloween we had witches hat cookies, pumpkin cupcakes and skeleton & pumpkin shaped veggies. YUM!

I didn't get pictures of most people, but here's a few...

(Shelley, my Dad, Phil, Ben & Carolyn Roden)

(Shelley and I...crazy how things have changed since freshman year)

(Phil's mum...so glad Phil's mum could make the trip to be here for Jayne's blessing)

(Great grandma and grandpa Grover)

Phil gave Jayne a beautiful blessing and Jayne didn't even cry. For some reason I was worried about that but we made it through! :) I'm just so grateful that Heavenly Father has trusted Phil & I with this beautiful girl. 

This little girl just melts our hearts! 

 We love her very much and recognize the blessing she is in our lives everyday. We just love our little family.

Love you baby J!