H A double-L O W double-E N spells HALLOWEEN!

I love Halloween! The autumn weather puts me in such a great mood! I love to see all the beautiful colors and hear the sound of the leaves- it is a great time of year!

This October was pretty difficult, but all things considered we had so many great things happen to us this month! We have grown even closer as a family, and at the end of the day we can all sigh and smile because we are happy, healthy, and here. I think a huge part of our peace came from my implementation of the Women Living Well fall challenge- it really did make our home much happier!

Our Halloween actually started on Sunday. Last year we started a Halloween tradition of having "Dinner in a Pumpkin!" Because of our hectic Halloween schedule, we decided to have our special dinner on All Hallow's Eve, Eve. So, our pumpkin carving was a nice Sunday activity. (We were sad that Daddy had to work during the day, and missed our pumpkin mess fun!)

The kids helped me carve the pumpkins, and they had such a blast! Our neighbors stopped by and commented on how helpful and strong the boys were- they got a kick out of it =) When the pumpkins were hollowed I asked the children what shapes they would like for the different facial features. Both children were adamant that they needed the pumpkins to look like their grandparents. Funny kids! They gave me shape by shape instructions. Carter's mustache design was especially creative.

Dinner in a Pumpkin never fails to disappoint, and with a few small table decorations our evening was truly special! (The children adored the sparkling cider- it was a great taste of the sugar yet to come the next day!)

On Halloween the boys and I cleaned up the house, got dressed (the children wore costumes all day, of course) and ran some errands. We were sure to stop and visit Daddy at work- his coworkers loved seeing the kids dressed up!

There was an elderly man at the store who was dressed with his wide brim hat and cowboy boots- he was walking out of the store, commenting to one of the saleswomen that Halloween is not much fun anymore, "All the children dress up like ghouls and scary things!" He turned and saw Carter, dressed as a cowboy. He was so excited! Carter was equally excited because he didn't realize that the man was *not* in costume, and was thrilled that he found a grown up who shared his love of Woody from Toy Story! Carter and the man shook hands, and exchanged compliments on hats and shoes, lol!

I was so excited because this year we were able to see Sean on Halloween! We drove to Abi's new home and the children got a chance to play while Abi and I caught up. As soon as it started to get dark, we took the boys out for a bit of trick or treating. We couldn't stay long, because Daddy was almost home, and it is tradition for Daddy to take the kids. The boys had so much fun, they adore Sean!

When we got home, the first thing the boys did was run and hug Daddy. As soon as Daddy was hugged and kissed, Carter gave some love to his new best friend, Felix (AKA: Bad Kitty).

Then we put out some candy (we do not live in an area with a lot of children, so we set out a bowl and I got to take the kids trick or treating too!!!) and we all went around our little neighborhood and trick or treated. It was such a fun time!

When we were finished we took the kids out to dinner (it was almost 8pm!) and had a great meal. After dinner, we came home, changed into PJs (of course, the children wore PJs under their beloved costumes!) and we watched The Nightmare Before Christmas. (Carter did not feel like joining us until the last half, he was busy checking out all of his candy with Felix- which is why he is not pictured.)

Making your home a haven!

There are so many wonderful things about living in an area with four perfect seasons. I have always especially been fond of the colder seasons- I am one of those nutty sweater people who would rather wear five layers and sip hot cocoa than wear a tee shirt and Capri pants. (Favorite sweater seen below- click the picture for info. My friend Sara makes them by hand!!!)

Last year, right around this time, I accepted a "Fall Challenge." I had never done a challenge online before, and the thought of it was pretty neat. All I had to do was challenge myself to follow through on the suggestions offered by Courtney, over at Women Living Well. I can remember last year- it was very chaotic and stressful. I found so much comfort in the suggestions that were offered in the challenge. The simple, inexpensive, and blissful suggestions really brightened a very dark time of our lives.

The first week of October: Buy a very large candle, and light it every day. Each time the light catches your eye, say a prayer for peace in your home. This was amazing. That little light quite literally got us through some of the darkest days of the year. I loved this part of the challenge so much I continued it through the holidays. I can remember a critic of the idea sitting at the table, talking to me, and hearing all of the noise from the children in the background (3 boys under 5 years old = loud) snidely commenting, "I don't think your candle is working." The candle is not meant to change our situation, it is meant to remind us there is light in every situation. Gratitude first.

The second week of October: Play soft music everyday. Focus on peaceful words and maintaining peaceful relationships. This message is so important! The woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home, filling it with love and prayer and purity, is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies. ― J.R. Miller I know that most people find it horrible, but I start playing Christmas music during this week. I enjoy the "Classical Christmas" station on Pandora- the music is beautiful and uplifting! I am also a huge fan of Jenny Oaks Baker and adore all of her CDs.

The third week of October: Find spots in your home that are visually stressful and do something to change them. While you are working on cleaning up clutter, look at your spiritual clutter. This week is always so wonderful! I love it because while I am clearing up a stressful part of my home, I also work on something stressing my heart. What I find to be helpful is either completely redecorating that small part of the house, or completely "gutting" it and throwing away or donating a lot of the items. Then, when it is all cleaned, buying or making something beautiful to fill that spot helps remind me to keep it spotless. As far as the spiritual clutter goes, I adore taking this time to look up General Conference talks about some of the major concerns, questions, or stresses in my life. For example, reviewing a very recent talk by President Uchtdorf brought tears to my eyes when I read:

As a child, when I would look at the little forget-me-nots, I sometimes felt a little like that flower—small and insignificant. I wondered if I would be forgotten by my family or by my Heavenly Father.

Years later I can look back on that young boy with tenderness and compassion. And I do know now—I was never forgotten.

And I know something else: as an Apostle of our Master, Jesus Christ, I proclaim with all the certainty and conviction of my heart—neither are you!

You are not forgotten.

Sisters, wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love.

Isn't that beautiful? I loved it. Yes, this is a perfect time to look at any spiritual clutter and clean it up!

The fourth week of October: With a candle burning, and music playing, have some tender moments with your family. Be sure to take extra time to really listen to the members of your family. So often it is easy to get caught up with all of the work we have to do! Carter's schoolwork has to be completed, Harrison's schoolwork needs attention, my own twelve credits at the University have demands, housework is never ending, and dinner always needs to be served. So many things on the to-do list can often overwhelm and take away from the things that matter- creating lasting and beautiful memories with our loved ones! By reminding ourselves to slow down, and focus on what really matters, we are more likely to take the time to play, laugh, and enjoy our families.

Halloween: Focus your attention to the kitchen, the heart of your home. Cook things with pleasing aromas. Remove all discontentment with your home or family, and give thanks to God for the home God has given you in which to create your own haven for your family. This was the best part of last year! My soul felt more calm and relaxed from already being reminded of my priorities, from saying so many prayers, being surrounded by beautiful uplifting music, and having cleaned out my clutter. This was the cherry on the top! Last year we cooked "Dinner in a Pumpkin" (we will be doing that again, this year!), lit extra candles, and spent time together. I had filled the house with warm scents, and when the children went trick-or-treating they returned to a beautiful and calm home. I cannot tell you how many people that came to our door would put their heads inside the house and say, "MMmm, it smells so good in here!" Children who were just trick-or-treating could feel the warmth of the home! Imagine how nice it would be to always live there!!!

I am thrilled to do this challenge again this year. Yes, we have had a few rough days this month, but overall, our stress level is pretty low and things are wonderful! Could they be better? Sure- but that isn't the point. The point is in MAKING our home a haven!!! Where there is room for improvement, we can improve!

Pumpkin Pickin' Fun!

Today we went on an outing with a large group of homeschool families! We had a blast! It was extra great because a friend of ours was there with her kindergartner and her toddler twins! She is such a busy mommy! Kurt and I had a blast playing with the twins, and our boys adored playing with her older son- SO FUN! Everyone picked out pumpkins. Carter and Harrison both chose green pumpkins (as usual!), and we now have six beautiful pumpkins on our hearth.

Pumpkin patch! Think its ugly and weedy? We don't! Bring it on- these are organic pumpkins!



 Carter and Harrison enjoyed playing on the playground!

 Carter loves feeding animals!

 Carter and Harrison climbed up trees, our little monkeys!

 Carter's homeschool group!

 Our family- September 2011

 Harrison didn't feel comfortable feeding the animals, but he tossed food in the pens!

 This machine was so neat! The kids put the food in little bins, and cranked the bins to the goats waiting at the top!

 Kurt, holding a little twin- we forget what it is like to be around toddlers- they are such a hoot!

Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween! It sure was a busy day for us! We woke up and started the day at Church- perfect way to start the week! After Church we got everything ready for trick-or-treating! I made a special dinner for our family- I wanted the kids to have good food in their tummies before they go nuts on sugar! Kurt had to work this morning, which made us sad that he had to miss Church, but made us happy he got to spend Halloween night with us! HOW FUN! After the trick-or-treating was over some friends came over to play! The kids all had fun building trains and pretending to trick-or-treat here in the house, and the adults enjoyed pumpkin pie and cocoa, mmmmm!

Kurt hollows out one of the pumpkins- this one will be filled with dinner!

Halloween Dinner: Dinner-in-a-pumpkin!

Kurt shows Carter what is inside the pumpkin! DINNER!

Carter waits to go trick or treating! Carter designed the sad pumpkin, lol

Harrison and Carter go trick-or-treating!

All Hallow's Eve... eve.

Yes, it is the day before Halloween! The kids are SO excited that we cant keep them contained in the house! Today we drove to Grandma and Grandpa Smith's house for some fun! We went bowling, shopping, and stopped at the park! What a great time!!!!

Harrison patiently waits to bowl.

Carter is disappointed with his performance. Grandpa tries to give him a pep talk.

Harrison takes bowling VERY seriously.

Carter loves bowling =)

The gang watches Carter bowl his turn.

I was so thrilled to get ALL the monkeys in this picture! LOL! There was a LOT of action going on during this shot- I cant believe I got them all in the photo!

Harrison is soooo cute!

Carter asked me to take a picture of him going down the slide!

I don't like booster seats... the above is a GREAT example of why! That said... this is a super cute photo! However... next time we go out, I think we will just have to take the extra time to put in the 5-point harness seats.

Trunk-or-Treat!!!!!

Harrison snuggles up to Carter. Too cute!

Brian and me

Christopher, Sean, and Carter- crazy little guys!

Sean, Carter, and Harrison are waiting to go trick or treating!

Brian tells the kids they need to follow me (which is why he is pointing! lol)- as you can see the kids are way more interested in the candy he has in the trunk!


Today was such a fun day! There was no school, so last night we drive to Grandma and Grandpa Smith's house and went swimming in the hot springs! In the morning, Sean, Carter, and Harrison were joined by their friend Christopher and got ready for a spoooooky night of trunk or treating! We started the evening at Chili's, went to the Ward's trunk-or-treat, and then finished the night by watching Casper and Hocus Pocus! How fun!!!

It's the Great Pumpkin!

Sean is ready for a hayride!

Sean finds his pumpkin!

Carter loves hayrides!

Carter's Iowan background shows- he feels at home in the corn maze =)

OH NO! Carter and I are lost in the maze!!!

Carter loves to ride on the school bus!

Mom loves to ride school buses too!!!!!

After the trip to the pumpkin patch, the field trip moved to a local park. Over 110 kindergartners played on the playground! Carter and Sean joined the group that was rolling down a nearby hill.

Well, the Great Pumpkin didn't make a stop for us today, but we sure looked for him! Today Sean and Carter got to go to the local pumpkin patch. What a fun school field trip! I was fortunate to be able to chaperone the trip, Brian watched Harrison! It was so neat to see the boys interact with their classes- they grow up so fast! Sean picked the biggest pumpkin he could carry, and Carter- as usual- chose a pumpkin that was partially green. What good times and great memories!