Halloween Pictures

I took Hyrum and Abi trick or treating. I just LOVE Abi's cute little face in the picture above - such a cute cheesy smile! Her Aunt Beka calls it her Chicken Run smile. Joe, Mel, and Ethan all went with friends from school. So that leaves Wesley - what did Wesley do for Halloween?

That's his Batman costume on the ground. We really tried to wake him up, several times, but that kids needs his sleep. So he slept through the whole thing. He woke up after the other kids were home and was sad that he didn't have any candy, but they all shared with him, and then he was happy.

Coyote Trail in Draper's Corner Canyon

On Friday Nov. 6th the kids didn't have school cause of Parent Teacher Conference weekend, and since it was a nice warm day I bribed the kids with a lunch at Chuck-a-Rama (they love the dessert buffet) if they'd endure a little hike in the mountains. (Corey was working, so I took all 7 kids by myself! Aren't I brave?!)


I'd seen the trailhead before after going to the temple, so it's been on my list to go check it out. It wasn't steep at all, so it was perfect for the kids. We walked for a half hour up and then a half hour back.
They were surprised to come over a slight bend and see the temple! ...I pointed out that we did just drive by it before we parked...

Can you see all three temples? (click on the image, and then click on it again to magnify it...)

We stopped after Abi started walking funny and seemed to have hurt her right foot/ankle. I think she and Wes would have kept on going otherwise. Now the older kids... they were moping from the start. Shouldn't that be the other way around?

Here's where we turned around after I made them let me get one last photo - Joe is in the back with his stick turned Harry Potter wand.

Then I thought I'd see if the kids could get a non-blurry shot of me too. Ethan did a good job on his first try! It's nice to have myself documented every now and again - someday to be used as proof that I was alive and a part of their upbringing. And here below is how my return hike started and ended, with Lili wrapped on front and Abi going piggy back...
It's not really that bad if you have a kid in front and back to balance each other out. :)

Look What My Kid Can Do

It's ironic, a bit unfair. I always wanted to be flexible, to be able to do the splits. I had dreams about it. I've always admired gymnasts, dancers, and yoga enthusiasts. Well, my little Melodie is on her way. Check out these limber joints -

Foot behind head

Toes to hair

Splits

She makes it look so easy. (Sigh) When I see her I start to recite Brian Regan (Funny Video Here!) - "This woman in a soothing voice: 'Simply take the bottom of your right foot and place it on the small of your back. Now take your left leg - throw it around your neck like a scarf, and breathe!' " (I love Brian Regan!)

Crazy Hair Day

Four Crazy Hair-do's (Can't do too much with the boy's hair. I told them it would grow back, but none of them would let me give them a reverse mohawk. Maybe when they're in high school...)

My kids love it when it's Red Ribbon Week, cause that means Crazy Hair Day is coming!


I think it's one of their favorite days of the year. We tried to get some volume in Mel's hair by putting velcro hair curlers in it - It was very tangled when she got home!

A Stress-Free Neck

I wish my muscles were this relaxed...

I don't think it looks very comfortable though. :)

Playing with Cups!

After seeing this on another blog, I put party cups on my shopping list. I came home with 150 cups and then me and the kids had a fun time stacking...


They are loud when they fall!


After the older kids came home from school, they wanted a turn. We made it on the counter to see how high we could get - didn't quite make it to the ceiling, but almost! Maybe we'll buy a few more bags of cups! :)