Grandma Eccles Visit

We had convinced Grandma Eccles to come visit us for the Halloween holiday.  We picked her up on Wednesday and it was the perfect day because the younger three kids didn't have school.  So we quickly grabbed some lunch at Taco Bell...

And then, since we were up that way, we decided to check out a new place we hadn't been before... Rock'It Lanes.  We bowled and then played arcade games...

Thursday all the kids had school so Annette and I headed to the beach so she could get a run in.  It was a gorgeous morning...

Story time at bedtime and Annette took this darling video of Kate singing one of her school Halloween songs...

Friday the younger three had school but Brynn did not.  That kinda worked out nicely.  Brynn has been growing so much.  So we took this opportunity to head up to Panama City Beach to do some shopping for her.  We had also hoped to eat at one of her favorite restaurants that just opened up there - Texas Roadhouse - but unfortunately we didn't realize it didn't open until dinner time so we ate at Red Robin instead.  Somehow I took no pictures of this.  Oops. 
But that night we made ghost and pumpkin pizzas to go with our movie night.  I bought Hocus Pocus for the kids to see for the first time. 

 Annette also brought supplies so the kids could make these minion pumpkins...

Weekend Activities

Friday night we went to our first Hearts Apart event - an activity that the Airmen and Family Readiness Center (AFRC) puts on for families of deployed military members.   We got to put together a package for Preston (complete with Girl Scout Cookies), have dinner, and eat popcorn while watching the movie Home.  They also took pictures of the kids to send to Preston. 

 It was a nice relaxing evening full of food and entertainment that I didn't have to take care of ;)

Then Saturday was the opposite... an evening full of food and entertainment that I did have to take care of.  The Primary was in charge of Trunk or Treat... only one of my counselors just had a baby so I didn't delegate anything to her.  And one of my counselors I did delegate the contests, prizes and judging too - only she didn't bother to show up until it was almost over (??!!?!?!) so that made it more work then if I had just taken care of it myself because I had to scramble at the last minute.  My friend Katie Hochhalter saw what was going on and really stepped up and helped me out.  But all in all I think everyone had a good time.  We were smart and set up the tables and chairs outside...

Then this morning we showed up to church - early as usual for meetings... and discovered the bears had enjoyed our Trunk or Treat left overs.  So the kids helped the missionaries clean it up before anyone else got there...

Snipits of October

Conference Weekend...

These two ran out in front of my car.  I can never get enough of them so watched them for a bit...

And the kids spotted this guy while playing at the park...

Because of summer craziness I was a little behind on getting the kids yearly well-checks done.  Finally got them appointments.  I took the three younger ones in the morning then went and got Brynn and took her in the afternoon.  Everyone looks good.... even Dylan - rashes still gone and head healing nicely.  Tyler had to get some blood drawn to check his cholesterol levels.  Brynn was due for shots.  And the whole family got the flu mist.  

Tyler has been so helpful around the house while Preston is gone.  Kate went to him when her bedroom light went out.  They had it changed before I even knew about it.  And then he noticed all on his own that mine was out as well so he handled that one too.

 Kate is following in her siblings footsteps with the mile run at school!...

Walking home from the park and the anthem comes on.  They know just what to do... <3

When asked to draw a set of object of course you should choose unicorns... :)

 Just Saturday morning rotations with these kiddos...

 Brynn hates to clean.  But give her something to organize and she is golden...