Halloween

What a fun busy last few weeks we've had!  Camping, a visit from my mom, the primary program, my birthday, and Halloween.  It's been a lot of fun.

As soon as soccer was over and we had a Saturday free, we went camping with some friends of ours.  I have to admit that I wasn't all that excited to go because originally it was going to be Kelly's trip with the kids to have some quality time with them while I got some quality time with  my book. I was going to read, sleep, and clean the house before my mom visited. The situation changed, though, and I ended up kind of being guilted into going.  In the end I'm glad I went.  My house ended up being a mess for my mom, but it was a lot of fun outdoors.

 Only downside - the dumb rain that didn't let up nearly the whole second day.  Jackets and a rain fly over the picnic table solved most of that, though.  The kids were great sports.  They had fun playing on the playground, at the beach, and around the campsite.  Not until they were all soaking wet did they start to grumble...and sing "This is the song that never ends..." Incessantly.  That's when we packed up and headed home.  Not a moment too soon.

The next day my mom came and we had a great time as she did my dishes every day and bought everyone new clothes and toys. :)  We also enjoyed time at Greenfield Village and various playgrounds and restaurants. 

 She and Benjamin also went alone to Best Buy to check out all the fun gadgets - the highlight of his week. Used to be that he'd ask my mom to take him to Toys R Us.  Now the "toy store" is Best Buy.  My little boy is growing up ;)

At the end of her visit, we had the primary program in church.  That's were all the kids 3-11 years old give talks and sing songs and basically take over all of the service in the chapel, or in Mormon terms, "sacrament meeting."  Since I'm primary president, I was in charge of writing and directing the entire thing.  That was stressful, but the kids were wonderful.  Benjamin and Bella had their parts memorized and had practiced so much at home that Christian even learned Bella's part.  They got up there without fear or trouble and it was wonderful.  There were several people in the audience crying so I know the spirit was strongly felt and I'm glad.  It makes the stress worth it.

Just cute photos of Christian reading to Mumbo and napping with Mumbo sometime this week.  How he loves that cat!

Finally it was Halloween.  I am so jealous of those who get adorable photos of their kids in costume.  I have neither a good camera nor any good skills and I completely forgot to take pictures of trick-or-treating until after it was over when we all looked like drowned, muddy rats from being out all evening in the rain.  So, that picture will not get posted, but here's a cute one of me and Bella before the church's Halloween party and one of the kids at church.  Christian was a train conductor for his preschool party and at church, but switched to being a mailman for trick-or-treating.  Benjamin was a Dragon Ninja but the head cloth bothered his face, so people kept asking "Are you a knight?"  After 3 or 4 times of being asked that, he got a sword and started saying "yes."  Bella was originally going to be a witch with me but at the last minute I found a gypsy costume that was just so Isabella that I couldn't pass it up.  Purple, sparkly, and with the fake midriff, it just screamed Bella.  Sure enough, she loved it so much that the witch costume was forgotten.  She was a happy tinkling gypsy for days.

I also had a great birthday.  Kelly bought me chocolate cheerios as my present.  What more could I ask for?  My visiting teacher brought me dinner so I wouldn't have to cook (my least favorite thing to do) on my birthday.  That was inspired.  I couldn't have been happier at that moment.  The kids made their beds so I wouldn't have to.  I felt very loved. :)

I also had a friend of mine watch Bella and Christian so I could help out at Benjamin's school halloween party.  I really wanted to see how he interacted in school with his friends.  It was pretty much what I expected - he doesn't really interact.  He's alone a lot.  That was sad to see, but not surprising.  He's been telling me that he's having a hard time making friends and that he's alone most of the time.  I didn't know what to tell him.  I saw the Indian kids hanging out in groups of Indian kids and the white kids hanging out with other white kids and then Benjamin not really with either group.  He likes school and we're very happy with the program and the academics, but I hope he manages to find someone he can connect with on a more personal level.

 Now it's on to Thanksgiving and Christmas!  I'm excited.  Once my birthday is over, I'm okay with all the Christmas garishness in the stores.  It's at that point that I start to enjoy it and get excited too.  This time of year is really so much fun.