Happy Halloween from Hotel Transylvania...bleh bleh bleh

 Happy Halloween from Hotel Transylvania...bleh bleh bleh!

j

Marvis (the bat)

Winnie the Wolf

Mavis

Dennis

 Murray the Mummy

Frank the Frankenstein

Dracula

Derek made his own fangs!

Impressive!

For Desi and Claire's preschool we did a field trip at a local pumpkin patch.  The girls had a great time and so did Emmett.

Every pumpkin he saw, he wanted to pick it up.

  

Pictures at the preschool bulletin

We started to do a math program for mommy school!

She loved it!

For date night we played racquetball at the gym.  We sure had fun!

We enjoy our family walks

We were so happy to have nana and grandpa here for halloween!  We did our tradition to go to IHOP for scary pancakes at 6 am!

We went to Ashlyn's and Brinley's Halloween Parties

Harry Potter must have been a theme....

Look what we found trick or treating...

They love cuddling up with Nana

The picture is blurry, but I wanted to share how special this moment is for Ashlyn and Grandpa.  They are reading the third Harry Potter book!

Ashlyn loves reading with Grandpa

Ashlyn is showing Nana her piano skills

Precious moments

We are so glad that they could come out to visit.  They are so invested in their time with these cute kids.  I was especially grateful because they helped out so much with the kids, while I was in bed sick most of the time (which I found out that I have bronchitis----still (going on week 4)).

The kids love to spend time playing games, reading books, going on walks, playing outside, and soaking up their time together.  

Nana let Ashlyn borrow this Christmas book and Ashlyn has been practicing Silent Night. 

She really love piano and works so hard at it.

 Harry Potter continues....

The younger kids and I went to a field trip that Ashlyn's class went to and met at the park for lunch.  It was so fun to see Ashlyn love on her sisters and play with her friends in her class Paige and Ava.

Beautiful

Claire and Desi had crazy hair day at school and Daddy wanted to join the fun!

When they got to school, they let us spray paint their hair.

Fried Ice Cream for lunch!

Whenever someone asks a question....Emmett will raise his hand and yell, "MMMEEEEE!!!!"

It is so cute!

This Sunday we had an opportunity in our ward to do a service project for a family in our ward.  It was cool to see most of the ward involved.  I loved working next to these two cutes.  I hope they can learn young the value of serving others. 

To be honest, I don't know how much they helped out, but they sure had fun with Sable!

The new adventure toy outside.

We had a family talent show on Sunday and each person did a performance with music and christmas.  Some played the guitar, some piano, and some did dancing.  It was a lot of fun!

Love this cute girl!

School Picture

I have been very blessed to be called as the young women president of our ward.  There have been some great experiences and friendships made, but it has taken a great sacrifice of my mental space and a lot of time.  I have had a difficult time dealing with how much time it has taken away from my family.  I think it would be a lot easier if my girls were in young womens.  Also the church is pushing toward the youth leading and we have been trying to figure out what that means exactly and how to balance leading the youth take charge, but them still learning and being guided by us leaders.  It is such a great time to serve in young women's when all these changes are taking place.  I am learning so much about myself (strength and weaknesses) and it has been a humbling experience.  

This past weekend I was able to attend a training in Dallas where we were taught by the General Young Women's 2nd Counselor!  It was amazing and I felt the spirit guide and teach me so much!  The most amazing experience happened that I will have to reflect on again and again is that the spirit made some specific promises to me: my kids will be blessed directly through my service.  It came with such force and tears just streamed down my face because this has been my BIGGEST struggle: the time required being away from my family.  

I am grateful for the church and callings that make a stretch and grow beyond what we are wanting or comfortable with.  Growth doesn't happen within our comfort zones!