Costumes

I have been a bit of a Halloween scrooge this year- it's not my favorite holiday, but I just wasn't feeling it this year. I didn't even put out all my decorations. We did manage to get costumes pulled off though. Kayden wanted to be a samari, but I didn't know this until it was too late to get a costume so we made him a zombie. Hailey wanted to be a bat. This girl always has such interesting costume choices and makes me work to put hers together. Carter is repeating his theme from last year and using his football uniform. I didn't mind since I was busy creating bat wings. Brendan picked Sonic. I had to search for that hat and payed way too much for it. He has worn it every second since it arrived though so I guess I am getting my moneys worth. 

Emery must have been feeling the same way I have been because she wasn't going to have anything to do with her costume. NOT. AT. ALL. She screamed just when I showed it to her. It was only a simple cowgirl costume. I wasn't even attempting to put the hat on or anything, just the little skirt and vest. But no way. Not even her boots, even though she wears them all the time.  Oh well, I don't think I will even bother and save it for next year, that way I am already way ahead of the game and have something planned already. 

Brendan and Hailey had a school trunk-r-treat, we went to our ward one on Saturday, and the kids all have had stuff in their classes. We have loads of candy so I think we can call it a holiday. Emery and I would be totally happy with that. Next year will be better, right, since I already have one costume taken care of?!!

My Favorites on Friday

Corey is kind of my favorite guy right now. He planned a mid week, overnight getaway for us. He arranged for his parents to come and take care of the kids and we took off to be tourists of our own town. It was so much fun and such an amazing surprise.

We started off with dinner at Maggiano's, which is always delicious. He had made reservations with a table by the window so we were able to see the strip while we ate.

Then we went to see this little show... you may have heard of it. Also amazing.

 In all the years that we have lived here, this is only the 2nd show we have seen. It was so good. I am thinking that maybe we should get out and see a few more.

Then we spent the night at the Trump Tower. I have used this word a few times already, but also amazing. We were on the 37th floor, and the view was... amazing. 

(my pictures, unfortunately, not so amazing. I didn't know where we were going and didn't think to grab my good camera so I had to rely on Corey's phone.)

 The room was... amazing. I think the best feature was the TV inside the bathroom mirror. (Seriously, how cool?)

We were able to sleep in, do a little shopping, and have a good lunch before we had to check back into reality. Such an amazing getaway without even going far. 

Yeah, Corey is my favorite, he is kind of amazing. And it was definitely my favorite way to spend the middle of the week.

Snapshots of life

 Hailey brings home all kinds of creations from school each day. This black cat hat is one of my favorites. 

If she is not making stuff at school, she is making stuff at home. She is constantly coloring, cutting, and using up every piece of paper we have. Honestly, between her and Emery, every single page of every notebook has some masterpiece on it. I even have to take the supplies away at meal time to get her to eat, it may be getting out of hand.

 Carter will have his last regular season game this weekend. It is going to be missed around here. It has been such a good thing for him.

 Even if he is not at practice, he is running drills and playing games with the younger kids. Emery and Brendan are usually happy to participate.

Emery started running a fever yesterday and spent the whole day laying around. She is a little better today, but not by  much.  She has tried desperately to play, but it has proved to be too much.

My Favorites on Friday

Favorite fall fashion accessories

Cowboy boots and you can't go wrong with necklaces

House of Cards

For the last few weeks, Kayden has been staying after school on Wednesdays to practice for a House of Cards competition that took place this last weekend. 

There were high school and middle school teams from all over the district. During their time after school, they had to come up with an idea of something to build, work out the details and then construct it. On the last meeting they had to practice constructing it from scratch in 2 hours to do a trial run for the competition. 

When we arrived, each team was given decks of cards, drafting dots, scissors, a hole punch, and markers. (they are allowed to use paints or other decoration, but nothing else to hold the cards together and decoration doesn't count in the judging)  And then they are given 2 hours to build. It was actually quite incredible the things that were made.

Kayden and the rest of his team were all new to this. But they did a great job. Their idea was to make a fast food tray with all the stuff on it. Cheeseburger, fries, drink, ice cream cone, and the prize that came with the meal.

 Another team from his school decided to replicate the painting, "Dogs Playing Poker", it was hilarious and amazing. They actually won 1st place in the middle school division.

 Don't you just love the hand of cards in the dog's paw?

These are just a few of the other creations that caught my eye. There was a big difference in the middle school creations compared to the high school ones. They have obviously had some experience at it.

 This dragon was unbelievable and won 1st place for the high schoolers. I couldn't even get back to get a picture of it completed. Once it started taking shape the table was surrounded. The eyes even lit up.

I just can't believe how creative these kids were and how they were able to pull these things together. Maybe we will have to have our own competition, although I am not sure that I could build much more than a tiny house.