Halloween 2010

A little backstory about this Halloween: Elena's Dorothy costume was 75% off last November, so I figured that this would be an easy year to have us all dress up together. On Oct. 31st 2000, Dan and I went on a date as a cow (Dan) and a farmer (me), but we haven't coordinated costumes since then. Most years, we don't even dress up. This was a lot of fun. Kevin's super cute costume was a consignment buy and then Dan and I slapped our costumes together mostly from things that were already at home.

My friend Jenny and her cute daughter Aris at the church's trunk-or-treat

Have I mentioned that I love him?!

Elena and Kevin are about to go trick-or treating in this pic.

Kevin cried and tried to run away at the 1st house. At the next house he hesitantly held out his bucket. Once he realized that he got candy every time, he couldn't go fast enough. At the 3rd, he ran past his sister to get to the door first. We had so much fun!

I thought this was too cute. This is what Elena wore one night while she was watching Dan light the candles in the jack-o-lanterns:

I'm excited to see what the kids will be for Halloween in 2011. This was the first year that I didn't buy at least one costume a year ahead of time. They'll get to choose next year.

Pumpkins!

During Whitney's visit, we also went to the pumpkin patch and carved pumpkins. We took so many pictures of the fun that I think I'd better let it have it's own post.

At Hawks' Pumpkin Patch:

A little blast from the past - 2008:
2010:

What a stud!!!

Whitney is not a fan of this picture, but I love it!

Always so meticulous:

Kevin didn't quite understand: "Do you want me to eat it? Throw it on the ground? Is it okay if I get dirty?"
He had some help with the face, but Kevin draw the ears 100% on his own.

Whitney was gracious enough to pose with the first pumpkins that were done:

Here's the completed set: Whitney, Elena, Dan, Me, Kevin

Whitney's Visit: Biltmore and Reynolda

We were soooo lucky in October to have my wonderful, fabulous friend Whitney come to visit for a week! It was perfect weather and the absolute, most beautiful part of fall. Everything was just starting to turn all red and orange. You can really tell in the pictures that we took on the balcony at Biltmore. We went on her first day in town (Saturday):
I was super happy that Dan was able to come. I'd been hoping to go there with him and Whitney ever since the last time she came to visit in 2005. We hadn't been able to get a trip together at the time. I guess we thought that going 5 years later with 2 small children would be better. :) Dan got us all discount tickets at the hospital and we had a perfect day!

I love them. They were so good during the tour. We were in the house for about 3 hours. Elena listened to the self-guided tour on her headphones for the first 2 hours. Kevin was good as long as I kept him entertained with new toys or held him. It worked out well since I'd been to Biltmore once before.

I tried so hard all day to get a pic of both of them smiling and looking at the camera. Impossible. This was as close as I got:
This is a side view of the house. Whitney and I walked over to the gardens while Dan entertained the kiddos at the toy store. There's a picture of Whit in the amazing gardens below this one.
I wish that we'd been able to take pics inside, but of course, that's not allowed. Plus, if we had been able to, this entry would be even longer!

Everything was beautiful and I'm so grateful that we went!

When we were all done with our very long day (right before she and Kevin passed out in their car seats), we asked Elena, "What was your favorite part of Biltmore House?"

Her response: "The [shuttle] bus ride and playing in the dirt."

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Dan had Tuesday morning off, so Whit and I were able to visit the Reynolda House while he watched Kevin and Elena. I cannot even express how great this was. I was out of my house with one of my very best friends at a museum with no kids!
During her trip we also shopped, drove around town looking at leaves and gorgeous houses, we talked, watched movies, and played a TON of Skip-Bo. It was the perfect week! Come again anytime, Whit!

Preschool Fieldtrip #1

We went to the Homeland Creamery on September 30th with Elena's preschool class. It was a lot of fun and a beautiful day. We had a great time on our hayride, the kids loved feeding a baby calf, and running around.
I loved seeing how their cows are treated. I once toured a giant dairy farm in UT and I couldn't believe the difference. It almost made me tempted to start spending $5 on a gallon of milk. Almost. Maybe I will be able to support such great and small companies in the future!

Happy Halloween!

Check back soon. We have been busy this month and there will be many new posts as soon as I catch up on a little sleep. :)

Dan's Bday and the Fair 2010

What a man! Dan turned 32 on October 5th. We had a great day and Elena helped me make a yummy cake for him. Isn't he adorable (in a ruggedly handsome way of course)?
We love going to the fair each year. This was our third time. My sweet family has made a tradition out of coming into town and going with us. Bethany, my dad, and my mom were all hand to help out with the kids and enjoy the tractor pull (our favorite event). It was a great day!
I have a short video of this at the bottom of the post. This character at the fair was hilarious. The best I've ever seen. He was following Kevin around and copying him and Kevin loved it!

Elena is still usually too scared to sit on an actual carousel horse, so she and Bethany are in the carriage and my dad and Kevin are behind. Bethany and Dad later went on the Ferris wheel (above). Elena wanted to go too, but I thought it was wise to talk her out of it. :)
I couldn't get the video to work, so this description will have to do: Elena was so excited to go on the swings. She was begging me to go on the big set of swings, so I brought her over to the kiddie ones. She was adamant that she wanted to go on them. We watched them while we waited in line and pointed out how they went high and spun pretty fast and they even tilted. She was psyched. I was nervous because I know her pretty well. This is her before it started. She's happy.
She's starting to look less happy here, but she's doing great as they start up.
She screamed in terror nearly the entire ride (once it got up to full speed). Dan later said he was so tempted to make them stop the ride. I felt so bad for her, but she stopped screaming and just held on tight towards the end. Then I went and helped her out of her seat and told her to be proud of herself because she did it. You have to enlarge the photo to see her hollering.

Motorcycles! Elena liked this better than the swings, but she still screamed a little. Her absolute favorite moment of the day was getting to steer her very own bumper car! I don't have any pictures of that because I was sitting in the passenger seat pushing on the gas for her.

Little cutie on a train. This ride is more her speed.
My big man is enjoying himself on the fast bird ride with Aunt BB. I didn't get to see this because I was with Elena in a different part of the park, but I heard he was very brave.
Kevin also went on the this ride with Dan. He loved that it was a fire truck. I can't believe my little man is big enough for a big kid ride like this! It's the kind that circles around quickly, so that you are constantly either falling down or flying up.

I love my kids!

We had a family race down the slide!