Halloween 2009

Yes, I must admit, this is indeed my son. What a fantasticly fun Halloween! The weather was way too cold, but we had a blast coming up with these crazy NERD costumes! Grant truly embraced his "inner nerd". As soon as he put the whole costume on he really got into the character and had a great time.

Trent went over the top with the whole "cool-nerd" look. Look closely, that IS the Goodwill $2.99 price tag on his left shoulder!

He said that when he entered his fourth-grade class, ready for the school parade, his classmates all busted up laughing and thought he looked awesome! I am so glad that both boys have enough self-confidence and fun-loving-spirit to pull this off.

It wasn't all stupidity. Brooke was precious as Tinkerbell. She was so lovely. Of course, for Beggar's Night she had on several layers and eventually had to put her wings on over her coat.

Yes, Grant's shirt tail is sticking out of his fly, on purpose!

And lastly - Brooke convinced Daddy to carve the Black Cat in the pumpkin. It was so awesome!

We capped off the night with dinner at Steak & Shake. It has become a tradition for several years now to take the kids out to dinner in their costumes. We got alot of strange looks and snickers but it was fun. Grant, Brooke and I shared a mint-chip shake and Daddy and Trent shared the carmel-apple shake. Yummy.

Happy 8th Birthday Grant!

We celebrated Grant's 8th birthday at home on October 25th. He had eight friends join him for a Star Wars Clone Wars party. It was so much fun! I am delighted that my kids still love "theme" parties. I enjoy decorating the house in their chosen theme and doing the cake. Grant was really thrilled with his Yoda Cake and wished we could keep it instead of cutting into it!

We served cheese pizza and I made "Yoda Punch" (green Koolaid with Sprite).

The weather held off and the rain stayed away. It was just right for a few games before the sun set. We had "Pod Races" (marshmallow on the spoon), "Asteriod Showers" (played like "clean the yard"), musical chairs, freeze dance and "Light Saber Duels". I made 12 Light Sabers out of pipe insulation foam and colored duct tape. It was team "Yoda" vs team "Darth". When the duels were over I released them to just chase each other around the yard with their Light Sabers which they loved of course!

The boys got to take their Sabers home. Many boys said that it was the "coolest party favor ever!"-

Happy Birthday Baby Boy! Every year I tell you that I am not going to allow you to have another birthday because I want you to stay little forever. But, every year you grow a little older, a little sweeter, a little smarter and I love you a whole lot more than I ever dreamed possible. You will always be my "Mr. Sunshine".

XOXOXO,

Mom