I think I know what we'll be for Halloween next year.

Kevin's mom gave us the idea. I should probably start growing out my hair.

There's no discount for agreeing with me.

We had a fun Halloween weekend this year.

It started off Saturday with our ward's Trunk or Treat.

On our way out of the house: I didn't know if I would remember to get a picture of my kids in their costumes, so I snapped one right before we left for the church.

Matching Forest Pixies: I loved this $7 Target costume, and luckily, so did Rebecca. I thought it was way cuter than the $25 Tinkerbell costume, and apparently, Isa's mom thought so too.

Monkeys: I had to get a picture of these two monkeys. These busy boys (whose costumes fit their personalities) enjoyed hanging out in the hall together MONTHS before they were able to go to nursery since they both decided to walk before they turned one. In this picture, they were enthralled with Shrek who was helping clean up after dinner. The Shumways in our ward dressed up as Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Puss in Boots, a baby dragon, and Gingi, and their costumes were awesome. Click here to see them.

We ate dinner and mingled and had a great time with our ward family. Our Activities' Committee ladies always know how to throw a great party.

After the ward party, we went to Kevin's parents' house for a Halloween party thrown by his sister Emily.

Here she is as Wonder Woman. She also throws a great party.

Emily told us that we weren't allowed to come to the party unless we dressed up, so I went as Flo from Progressive, and Kevin went as the Nationwide Blue Phone Guy (these costumes were suggested to us by Kevin's sister Laura). I'm okay with dressing up as long as it doesn't cost a lot. For these two costumes I paid $8 for white pants and an old phone from the DI and $3 for liquid eyeliner, red lipstick, and a headband from the dollar store.

Kevin's mom was the witch in Hocus Pocus played by Bette Midler. My dentist father-in-law made her these great fake teeth that made her look just like the witch in the movie. She's British (Scottish to be exact), and I think she's actually flipping us off in this picture.

Kevin's brother Bryan, who looks so cute eating his dinner at the little kids' table, dressed up for a little bit, but not long enough for me to get a picture...

...but I found this picture of him today on Facebook, so I stole it. Don't be fooled. Bryan is buff - he's sticking out his gut to look like Nacho Libre.

Kevin's Granny Bowman was an angel (or a Victoria's Secret model).

Melissa's boyfriend Kody (who was baptized earlier that day) brought his mom who dressed up like Smurfette.

We loved everyone's costumes, and it was so fun getting together. We're hoping that the Bowmans will throw another party next year.

On Sunday my brother had his annual Halloween party. I didn't get any pictures of that one, but we have a fun time at his parties every year.

I love Halloween, and I think I can say that this past Halloween weekend was my favorite ever.

Cupcakes for Cancer

My good friend and neighbor Leigh Ann has a son Greg who was recently diagnosed with cancer. He is 7 years old, and he is currently going through his second chemo treatment, so you can try to imagine how much his little body is enduring right now.

The amazing women I am lucky to go to church with organized a 5k called Cupcakes for Cancer. This event will raise money for the Downer family to help pay for Greg's treatment. I will be running my very first 5k just for Greg. If you'd like to run it with me, click on the box above for more information. There is also a Paypal button on that blog if you are not interested in running but would like to donate some money to the Downers.

Our hope right now is to take all other worries away from the Downers so that they only have to worry about Greg. I hope you can help us out!

Happy Halloween!

Growing Up

I've met parents who are so happy to see their children grow up and learn new things, and I would say that I am not one of those parents. Seeing my kids grow up makes me sad, and with Rebecca, I think this past year has been the hardest so far.

This year she learned to ride her bike without training wheels, she started going to school, and lately she's been reading a few words on her own. We took her to the dentist a few weeks ago for a cleaning, and she came out of her appointment showing us her loose tooth. Today she lost that tooth, and the one next to it is soon to follow.

I feel like I can't keep up with all of the new things going on with her! Is it going to slow down at all? Or is this the start of her learning and growing in a million ways every year until she's all grown up?

And I have to remember to have the Tooth Fairy visit Rebecca tonight and replace her lost tooth with a dollar. I have a feeling that the Tooth Fairy is going to forget since she's already scatterbrained, and now she has even more on her mind with all of the growing up going on at her house.

I have to include this picture I got of William today. For some reason after church he decided he needed to change into shorts with his black socks and church shoes. But he also put on a sweater since it's getting cold out. To me he looks like a rich old man who's ready to go sailing. At least with him the only growing I've noticed lately is in his feet and body.

Old Dog, New Tricks

So the sock on Braden's hand did not keep him from sucking his thumb. We taped the sock to his shirt sleeve so that he couldn't get it off of his hand, and we would find him in his bed in the morning with his shirt off and his thumb in his mouth.

I talked to my friend Emily about it, and she told me about her friend who taught her 18-month-old baby how to take a binky. With my stubborn boy, I thought there was no way this could happen for me.

With low hopes, I started keeping a binky in his bed and one in the car, which were the two places he seemed to suck his thumb the most. For about a week now, I've been sitting with him as he goes to sleep at night and for naps, and I won't let him suck his thumb, but I let him suck on a binky. And in the car when he sucks his thumb, I hand him a binky to put in his mouth.

I looked in my rearview mirror and saw this today:

He is not completely off the thumb - I still catch him sucking it sometimes. But I think we are making progress. Giving him an alternative instead of making him stop sucking altogether has been working better for me and for him. He's not fighting me all of the time like he started to with the sock.

I am hopeful that he won't turn into his almost 6-year-old thumbsucking sister. We are working with her too. She really wants to stop. So soon we may be a thumbsucker-free household.

Super Saturday was a Success!

Holly put some pictures of the event on the Coronado Ward Relief Society Blog:

http://coronadoreliefsociety.blogspot.com/2010/10/thank-you.html

And the most successful part of Super Saturday? I think it helped put Kate into labor! Congratulations, Hulets!!