Halloween Mean-ness

Last night we visited with Alan's Aunt Annette and Uncle Eric, which reminded me of one of their Halloween "traditions."

Do you ever get trick-or-treaters that are much too old to be trick-or-treating? I mean, it's one thing when a cute 15-year-old is taking his little brothers and sisters around the neighborhood, but when it's a group of high school seniors mooching candy that is meant for real kids, I tend to roll my eyes.

Well, Annette thought of something great to do with these too-old punks. She saves all of her ketchup and mustard packets from fast-food restaurants throughout the year and then puts them on the bottom of her candy bowl on Halloween night. That way, when kids that are too old show up on her porch, she reaches waaaaayyy down to the bottom of the candy bowl and gives them one of the ketchup packets instead of candy (without letting them see, of course). The kids are none the wiser until they get home that evening to check all their loot. I think I am definitely going to implement this idea with my own trick-or-treaters this year. What do you think--too mean, or just funny?

"Superdell" for Governor

In March I blogged about how "Superdell" Dell Schanze decided to run for governor of Utah. Lately I have been enjoying the updates. Seriously. . . I have been laughing my head off. You can read his blog here or his official statements in the Voter's Guide here. Pretty much he thinks that the everyone that works for the media is controlled by Satan and he even called them "liars and murderers." But, the real reason why I created this post was to share the following YouTube video with you. It is hilarious and worth watching. Click here to see it.

Bundled up

I love that Jared has this look on his face in pretty much every photo that I post lately. Ha ha! He's not a big fan of the camera right now. A few days ago we bought the Buddy a new winter coat and some matching snowpants! He didn't so much like trying them on for this photo, but now he simply adores his new coat and points at it every time we walk by it hanging up on its hook. I am excited to have some outdoor winter adventures this year!

Costumes

Last year for Halloween Jared was a pumpkin. We didn't take him Trick or Treating or anything, but he did look super cute for a couple of ward parties. Sorry that his face was blurry in this photo, but it was the only one where he was semi-smiling.

It looks like this year he is going to be a skunk. Pictures to follow!

Finished!

Finally done!

A few years ago my good friend Jennie taught me how to crochet. Now I love to spend some time each week making blankets, booties, and hats. (I especially love to crochet during General Conference--it keeps me awake!) A year and a half ago I crocheted a darling brown sweater that Jared wore last winter, and so these past few months I worked on one that he can wear this winter. I am actually in the middle of making some matching pants, but I ran out of one of the colors of yarn (the darn pattern lied to me about how much to buy!) We'll see if I ever finish the pants.

Jared at 4 months in the sweater I made

Farm Animals

Looking at bunnies

Alan had a few days off this week (to try to make up for crazy, long hours the previous six weeks--yeah, right), and one day we took Jared to see some farm animals at a nearby historical site. Jared was semi-interested in the animals, but he mostly loved the dogs that other visitors brought.

Feeding the ducks and geese. They were so aggressive--I was just sure that they were going to come up and nip Jared's fingers! I don't know who had more fun here: Jared or Alan.

These piglets were just three days old! They were so adorable and clean and fuzzy. Now I can understand why Fern wanted to adopt Wilbur.

We will definitely plan on coming back to this farm many times next summer. Jared will be older and more interested, and the price is right (free)!

Walking!!

The long-awaited day is here! We are so excited for our little man-child. Alan and I had been practicing with him for several days, but apparently he needed the right motivation: grandma.

Enjoy both videos. If you listen closely to the bottom one, you can hear "O Holy Night" in the background. :) I am guilty as charged.

Buddy-ness

These were taken on the Buddy's 14-month birthday. Please excuse the fuzziness--they are pictures of pictures that I took with my camera, and some of the smaller sizes were impossible to get in focus. I think he looks so cute, even though he was only doing shy smiles instead of his big cheesy ones.

A Fall Treat

So, many of you in my family will be proud to hear that I made it all the way through September without even looking at a Christmas CD, let alone listening to one. The weather has just been too August-y. However, I do claim Christmas music as one of the joys of fall and will allow myself to indulge as soon as the weather turns chilly and gray.

I did, however, indulge today in a different fall joy. Egg nog. Not just regular egg nog, but the pumpkin spice flavored kind. I was at the store today and just couldn't resist. I love how this Christmas treat has, over the past few years, turned into a generic fall treat, and it was re-branded with a Halloween carton. I guess that they (the powers that be) just knew that suckers like me would actually buy it this early in the season. Well, they were right.

It is so delicious. Try a glass for yourself and you'll see.