Halloween 2013

A while ago I quieted everyone around the dinner table and announced that we had something very important to discuss.  Preston was caught rolling his eyes when the "important matter" was our upcoming Halloween theme :)  But since it takes lots of planning and preparation and work I already felt behind.  And thankfully the kids were eager to discuss the matter.  And honestly, in talking with each other they came up with our theme all on their own... so ocean creatures it was!!!  Daddy got to be a crab, Mommy a jellyfish, Brynn a dolphin, Tyler a shark, Dylan (actually wanted to be an orca but settled on) a hammerhead shark, and Kate an octopus.  I ended up buying half of the costumes and making half of them.  Tyler has this hooded towel that is a shark - he loves playing with it and insisted that that was going to be his costume.  I showed him various other costumes trying to persuade him that something else might be better but he insisted his towel was the best there was and so PJ said I had to let him use it.  And when I bought him black sweats to go with it he was all on board and said it was cool because now he was a blacktip shark. 

There was a lot of fun this holiday.  But a lot of it culminated into this last week of the month.  Last year our Branch at church did not do a Trunk or Treat.  I wasn't okay with that.  So I took it upon myself to make sure we had one this year - which put me in charge, but we all know I'm okay with that.  It was a fun evening with a Chili Dinner and Trunk or Treat.  I think this is the first time we've ever actually decorated our trunk.

Then Sunday we had our Primary Program in Sacrament Meeting.  Then on Tuesday I hosted a Halloween party for our Playgroup Group.  I didn't get great pictures from that because I was busy but the kids got to play, color and stuff, had a spooky lunch, followed by a cupcake walk and costume "contest" where everyone was a winner...

Then last night (the night before Halloween) I spent my evening making monster donuts for breakfast, bones for the kids school snacks, and eyeball dip for PJ's work potluck. 

Brynn's hair for school...

After school the kids were extremely wound up and 5 o'clock didn't come soon enough.  Here are the costumes...

Once we were dressed and ready to go we headed next door to the DeSio's for dinner...

Then Preston took the kids around the neighborhood while I sat in the driveway and passed out the candy.  There were so many people and it was such beautiful weather!

With all the gobs of candy we now have from all the activities and awesome friends Kate has turned into a candy monster. 

Halloween 2013 didn't disappoint!

Dylan and Soccer

Dylan spent last spring sitting on the sidelines wishing so badly that he could go out and play baseball with Tyler.  And he's been asking to play basketball (only there isn't basketball going on right now).  So when I learned that soccer was starting up I figured that would be a great idea for him.  Only he said he didn't want to do it.  But I didn't think he understood what he was saying so I made an executive decision that he really did want to... and I signed him up anyway.  And no, I did not sign Tyler up, didn't even really bother to ask, because with school back in session he is very protective of his alone/play time and I was pretty sure he wouldn't have wanted to do it. 








Well as it turns out Dylan really didn't want to do it and of course Tyler did.  But it was a cute dynamic... Tyler was so excited for Dylan and tried to encourage him along and get him excited as well.  He even helped him get ready for his practices and first "big game".    

As it turns out, Dylan loved his first soccer practice and came home with a new attitude.  Phew!

Oh and did I mention that our good friend (Alec Sharp - aka Berlyn's dad) somehow became the coach and so Preston got pressured into being the Assistant :)

Unfortunately there was only that one "awesome" practice before their first game.  I say unfortunately because apparently Dylan needed a bit more time to figure out the game of soccer and what it is all about.  We got there and he was completely unprepared for what was going to happen and he must have been feeling overwhelmed because he refused to play.  We didn't know what was going on at the time but later put the pieces together.  When we could actually get him on the field he stayed as far away from the action as he could get... and he may have whined/cried a little...  

Not cool...

 He got pep talks from lots of people... Tyler, Mom, Assistant Coach Dad, Brynn, Coach Alec (pictured), Celes and Macy (who stopped by after their game to watch), Holen Mathews (also pictured)... pretty much everyone. 

But it didn't help a whole lot.  I loved seeing all the support he got but was frustrated with how the morning turned out.  So we left when the game was over, assessed the situation, helped him understand what went on, went to practice and learned a little more, handed out some bribery, and the next week went SO MUCH BETTER...

 Yep, he loves soccer now.  And we think he's turning out to be pretty dang good! 

 The girls entertaining themselves with the camera at one of the games...

And through it all Tyler has been right there by his brothers side - encouraging him along (and wishing he could play).  I absolutely LOVE that Dylan's big brother is his biggest fan and cheerleader...

Here's to another few weeks of our first soccer season! Go #7!