My Little Halloweenies

We carved pumpkins on Thursday. Sarah thought it was gross. It is.

My carving skills haven't improved since I was a kid. And I just let Henry draw a face on his pumpkin then I cut it out. Done and done.

 He's making his pumpkin's face.

 That big hole isn't a mouth but another nose. The mouth is a slit below that.

 Henry's smile cracks me up.

 Sarah is a jack-o-lantern traditionalist. Triangle nose, sharp teeth.

We lit them after we got home from our ward Halloween party.

 Oooh spooky. Unfortunately this was the only time they got lit but it was worth the $5 in pumpkins and 30 minutes in carving.

Halloween morning I thought I'd be a cute mom and make them jack-o-lantern pancakes for breakfast. I colored the batter orange and put chocolate chips in for faces. Sarah dry heaved and tossed them off her plate. Henry exchanged his too. Oh well, points for trying, right?

 Sarah got to wear her costume to school. Here's my little Red Riding Hood.

 I made her corset and cape from a tutorial online. Her skirt is actually a skirt of mine that I cinched in with a smaller elastic waistband. And she collected candy in her Easter basket instead of her Halloween one. I thought that was clever.

Henry had been saying for weeks he just wanted to be a boy for Halloween so fine. Less work for me and that's what he's been every year of his life. But then he started saying he wanted to be a robot. I tried calling his bluff by cutting out arm and head holes out of a box to prove that he wouldn't really wear a robot costume. He would wear it so I had to finish it with silver spray paint and dials and buttons. But then he wouldn't wear it at the ward party. Friday he fought and cried about wearing it to show Justin's parents on our way to go trick-or-treating. He wore it for 3 minutes then took it off and woudn't wear it for the rest of the night. He made me so mad. Next year he's making his own costume.

 But they sure are cute all dressed up.

 Sarah wore this lion costume when she was one. It's a little big but Erica is still so cute.

 Yup, this is how Henry was dressed trick-or-treating.

They had lots of fun going with all their cousins in a neighborhood busy with kids. After about a dozen houses, Henry wanted to go back to my sister's. Sarah and Allison and I continued on until it got dark (that's what I told them. I got hungry).

 A big brother, Little Red Riding Hood and Lion, oh my.

 Dads collecting their candy tax.

Oh, and this is happening. Erica is crawling everywhere. Well mostly she crawls to the stairs and tries to climb them.

Sarah Turns 6

We started the party early on Sunday. She got to open a new dress to wear to church and the Frozen dolls that were going on top of her cake.

After church we went to Justin's parents for dinner and then a bunch of cousins came over for a pinata and cake.

This is the pinata she got last year on her birthday but couldn't talk her into using. After a year of bonding, she was ready to let it go as long as we took a picture of her with it first.

The candy was also a year old. Mmm-mm. Rock hard Frooties.

"Before I blow out my candles, say 'Make a wish!' "

Monday morning she woke up to a birthday surprise of doughnuts from Dad. He was at Daylight at 6 am so he could make it to work on time.

 She loves doughnuts. We all do.

She opened her presents when Justin came home from work then we ate dinner and went to a play, Miss Nelson is Missing at the Scera Theater.  It's a favorite book around here.

 I can't believe she's getting chapter books.

Justin bought this Rapunzel castle months ago and it's been hidden at his parents' house. She found it a few weeks ago but was still surprised to get it.

 She got the post-birthday blues but only because she had such a great day and just loves her birthday.

 Six years ago we became parents. Our world was turned upside-down and has never been the same (all in a good way).

6 Things About Sarah
1. She likes more food than she thinks. She always refuses to eat stuff but if we can get her to try it, she likes it. We're working on her remembering for next time.
2. She is good at including others and wants everyone to have fun.
3. She is super flexible. She'd be a good dancer or gymnast.
4. She loves everything girly and everything not girly. Her prized possessions are her doll and fishing pole.
5. She would be a good cruise director or FBI interrogator. (She wants to be a veterinarian, engineer or teacher).
6. She has a long attention span. I think that's why she's so smart.

Jaana Austen turns 18

My beautiful niece Jaana turned 18 earlier this month. What the??? That means if she's 18, I'm not 22 and I refuse to believe that.

My sister-in-law-who-is-amazing-at-theme-parties threw her an All Things Jane Austen party. Sarah, Erica and I rode up to Logan with my sister and her daughter for the event. And I do mean event. Lisa put more work into this than I did my wedding reception.
  

 Seriously. I was looking around for the waiters in coats and tails.

 My fancy nieces Kyra and Isabella

 Beautiful and now legal Jaana.

Best Cousins Forever, Allison and Sarah

 Kyra made the cake. Did I mention she's 14? She's got fondant skills.

My birthday wish for Jaana was for her to marry someone with the last name Austen so she'd be Jaana Austen.

 Erica did not appreciate sitting on the grass while I photographed like a crazy person.

 I don't know if I've ever eaten on real china with a name place before. I've read about it.

 Her young women leaders and their daughters and her grandma also came. And my sister Rachel.

After we were full and feeling fancy, Lisa's father's cousin (or something like that) arrived with a wagon to take us for a ride around the country side.

 Complete with parasols and fans.

We were hoping more people were out and about their neighborhood that we could flaunt our sophistication but we only saw a few people.

 When we got back we played Jane Austen bingo. I didn't win because I ate all my Skittles.

Then croquet. I didn't win that either but I did pretty well considering I was carrying a 15 pound baby while I played

 Our audience.

Then later we watched Austenland and went to bed. Erica woke up at 6 am the next morning and wouldn't go back yo sleep. So we watched Gilmore Girls on Netflix in Kyra's room until everyone else was awake. This was a much needed girly weekend.