October is Over (Almost)

Happy end of October to you all!

The temps have cooled off 

(I have turned into a St. George weather snob. It hit 60 and I'm freezing!!)

The skies are a clear, beautiful blue. It finally feels like fall.

Here are a few things we've been up to in Sunny St. George!

I'll set it up for you.  Driving home after cramming 6 hours for a test.

My brain was done.  I'd had it.  I pull up to the light and see this.

Car full of stuffed animals.  Not just in the back, but the dash as well.

There were more stuffed animals in there than a toy store.

I laughed so hard I peed my pants (which I do most days).

Guess you had to be there to see how funny it was.

Cam and our friend Zach at our ward Halloween Party.

Zach is the nicest kid you'll ever meet.  If you can't tell, he is dressed

as Edward from Twilight.  We love Zach.

Ashlie and Adriana dressed as Malibu Barbie

PERFECT match.  Though I prefer her Slurpie costume from last year.

Cam in a recycled HOBO costume.  Complete with his own toilet(s).

Every hobo carries his own toilet filled with slime, I was informed.

Cam was a little sad.  Last year he was a Hobo with his BFF Keller.

This year he had to go it solo.  We miss Keller.

And yes, back by popular demand (by my family, of course)

the Nacho mask made its annual appearance.  We can't have a

Halloween without it.  And we wanted to send a pic of it to Auntie Les.

She loves Nacho Libre as much as we do!

Pumpkin carving is a success again.

We have a ninja, a scary guy and a normal guy 

(their words, not mine)

 

"Die, pumpkin, die"  were the exact words, I believe.

I might need to be worried.

And finally, a teenager learning to drive.

Can I just take time back, move it back, roll it back, whatever I have to do

to make her a little kid again?  I'm not loving this.

In fact, tearing up at the thought of my baby being SO OLD

Scariest thing we have experienced so far as parents!

Notice Chris is in the passenger's seat and I am behind the camera?

I don't have the patience.  Seems a big THANK YOU needs to go out

to my dad, my own personal driving tutor and coach.

THANKS DAD!!

There she is, in her inherited Green Booger.

Heaven help us!

Another month has come to an end.

Can't say I'm sad.  I am really tired of studying.

And I am really ready to take a break from being a student

and going back to being a MOM for a few weeks.

BFFs

Macy and Ashlie.  BFFs.  We can't remember how they met.

Or how long they have been friends.

Macy suprised Ashlie with a visit this past weekend.

It was amazing!!  Ashlie was so "hacking happy" (her words, not mine)

to see Macy.  It felt like home having her here!

A love for Ninja Turtle sleep pants are always a good thing

to share with a BFF

Another thing they share?  A love for a good mustache...

Only a BFF would wear one with you while browsing the produce

at the local grocery store.  Our favorite comment?

Razors are on aisle 3.

Among the many festivities were scrapbook making

and donut baking.  All Macy's idea.  See why we love her guts?

And a BFF visit would not be complete without a visit to the local Arby's

where one can gorge themselves on curly fries and Arby's sauce!

They cleared their busy schedule to see me prance around as a tooth fairy in the

DSC Homecoming parade.  (Required or I wouldn't have been there)

There I am in my beautiful tutu.  Thanks, Char, for showing me how to make it!

(Not my proudest or finest hour.)

Practicing proper etiquette (not really)

The last thing they needed to accomplish was their

bathtub beach party.

Who doesn't wear snorkel gear in the bathtub?

The true sign of a BFF?  Now matter how dumb your idea, she'll always try it.

Macy, we love you and are so glad we got to have
you all to ourselves for the weekend!

Seriously

Tonight was Cam's first pinewood derby.  He and his dad spent WEEKS on this car!  The boy was so excited, it was insane.  He had a great time, I had a great time watching him be so excited.

Crazy weird, but seeing all those kids (most of whom I don't know and don't know me) made me SERIOUSLY home sick.  I (sniffle) miss all of my friends and family. 

Ridiculousness - I can't keep the tears away today!

I really miss my friends, neighbors, family. 

If you are reading this and I knew your kids (primary) 

give them a hug for me and tell them I miss them!

(still sniffling!)

Reunited

Ashlie got a special surprise today - her BFF Macy was delivered to us from SL!!!  

Apparently Ashlie let out a scream that could be heard in three counties...

I can't wait to see what shenanigans these two girls get into.

They are known far and wide for their bowling ball smashing 

(they drop a bowling ball on random things.  It's quite entertaining...)

Thank you, Bennetts, for delivering Macy to us!

Vegas Vacation

I got to attend the ADA convention in Vegas
(Which was AWESOME)
It landed over my fall break so we decided to make a vacation out of it!
We booked the Grandview Condos
(which are great if you need a family place to stay in Vegas)
Here are some highlights of our week's stay!!

What Vegas visit wold be complete without a sighting of Elvis?

Not a day goes by that someone does not tell my DH (dear husband)

 that he looks like Donnie Osmond.

You can't see it well, but Donnie and Marie are on the Flamingo Hilton.

Had to get a picture of Chris with his look-alike.

All the kids wanted to do was...

You guessed it.  Swim!! 

Taylor gets REALLY EXCITED about her french fries with ketchup.

Ashlie just likes the camera = no matter what!!

Chris loves random photos of himself

(okay, maybe not.  I have to work really hard to get him to smile!!)

We ventured out to the strip.

Cam was fascinated with all the lights.

We got stuck at a traffic light and couldn't figure out what was going on.

We hear this horrendous roar coming down the street.

Turns out we were right in time to watch the indy cars

drag race down Vegas Boulevard!!

We got to watch them do laps around the Bellagio Hotel.

We had a front-row seat to watch all the indy cars race up and down the boulevard.

Here's cam, fascinated with the cars.

They were moving so fast I wasn't able to get a picture of them.

After the cars came by, their pit crews followed.  Cam was so excited,

waiving and smiling.  The head of ABC Racing stopped, shook his hand and gave him his hat.

Cam has not let that hat out of his sight!

The girls in front of my favorite spot in Vegas, the Bellagio fountains.

 

Inside the Bellagio Atrium - decked out for fall. 

The tree was talking to us!

Cameron didn't believe us the gold man was not a statue.

He dropped some money in the "statue" cup

and the statue came to life!  Cam freaked for a minute,

then climbed up on the golden box.

Taylor's new "do"

Swimming under the waterfall

Time to head home.  Kids didn't want to leave

the pool.  Made for a fun fall break!

Now, back to the books, back to school.

Midterms are here - which means I'm halfway done with my 1st semester.

Hooray!!