Halloween 2009

Halloween 2009

Halloween this year ended up being a crazy day. Since it was on a Saturday, we had 4 ball games and Riley and Mia were not feeling all that well. We had a bunch of neighbors over to grill and have a potluck in front of our house. Then we took the kids trick-or-treating, followed by a movie that we projected to a wall on our driveway. Brayden, being a 7th grader, chose to go trick-or-treating with his friends (10 girls and 3 boys). When they were done, I took them to a haunted house some friends of ours put on each year. It was a fun Halloween for everyone.

My one picture of all the kids. Everyone seems to look pretty happy in this picture. Riley was a fairy, Tanner was Anikan Skywalker, Mia was an Asian princess and the older boys traded each others costumes from last year. They couldn't figure out what they wanted to be, so they dug through my costume bin and Chase ended up as Slash and Brayden was and "old school rapper".

Brayden with his good friends, Jack and Grady.

Rylee was the girl in the green scarf from Confessions of a Shopaholic.

Chase with Jake, who was a piece of Papa John's Pizza!

Chase, AKA Slash!

A bunch of the kids on our street.

I took Brayden and his friends to the Jenson's house to be towed around their neighborhood on a trailer. They had a great time.

Here's the group that Brayden trick-or-treated with. I joke that it's his harem. He has such a great friendship with these 7th grade girls that we go to church with. In typical fashion, notice the 3 boys to 8 girls (plus 2 little sisters). Isn't that how it always is? More girls than boys!

Erin and Allie. I loved Erin's cat costume!

On the trailer!

I ran back over to our neighborhood to take the twins trick-or-treating. Chase and Mia had taken off with their friends, leaving me with Riley and Tanner. Riley's was starting to feel sick again by that point and she didn't want to walk, so I had to get the wagon out.

After trick-or-treating, everyone came back to our house to watch Monsters Vs. Aliens.

Mia sorting through her candy

Trunk or Treat

The night before Halloween, our ward had it's annual Trunk-or-Treat. It was fun, but sad since we knew our ward was getting split 2 days later.

Riley was feeling really sick. I probably shouldn't have brought her, but this picture pretty much captured her mood for the night.

Tanner was Spider-man since we couldn't find half of his Anikan Skywalker costume. Fortunately we found it in time for Halloween.

I don't think the twins look happy to be with me!

Lia, Mia and Camilla

Bray with Allie and Rahgan, who was the "Balloon Boy."

Brayden and Rylee goofing off as usual.

Melissa, Chelsea and me.

With Chris and Michelle Jenson.

Jason and Jamie were dressed as Jon and Kate Gosselin. I loved the wig!!!

Jake and Chase, who had abandoned his costume by this point.

Preschool Halloween Party

The twins had their Shining Stars Halloween party. Here are a couple pics from that day:

Riley with Madison and Sadie, a couple of her best friends.

U2 Concert - Oct 2009

U2 Concert

On Oct 20, Matt and I took Brayden to the U2 concert in Phoenix. We had a blast. Matt is a diehard U2 fan and has seen them several times. This was my second time seeing them. It was a great concert and took me back to the good old days of high school and college. I love it when they play their old songs. When the tickets first went on sale, Matt and I were planning on going alone. But, Matt really wanted the boys to go and was contemplating buying 2 more tickets. In the end, Matt's boss gave us an extra ticket that she had, so we decided to take Brayden (on a school night). We didn't get home until 1 am, but Brayden still made it to school the next day. Bray has grown up listening to U2 and I think he enjoyed his first concert experience. Here are some pics of the night:

Outside the University of Phoenix Stadium before the concert.

Here we are U2 came on.

Here are some pictures during the concert:

Bono's starting to get old, but U2 still puts on a great concert. What a fun night!

California 2009

California

July 2009

Yep, it's pretty pathetic that I'm still blogging about our summer. We went to CA for my sister's California wedding reception. My brother, Jim, and his family came too. We only stayed for a few days, but I was able to see some of my best friends. I was able to go to the beach with my friends, Traci and Melissa, from Louisville and see my good friend, Tara, that I grew up with.

Here are some pics from the kids swimming with their cousins at my mom's house:

Mia had a little photo shoot in front of my mom's house next to the palm tree that I stood next to for every picture on the first day of school, etc, while I was growing up:

Oceanside

We decided that meeting in Oceanside was a good central place to meet my friends, Traci and Melissa, since they were in San Diego with Traci's family. We didn't have a whole lot of time with them, but I had such a fun time seeing them. It was just like old times. They're friends for life! Here are some pictures from Oceanside:

Mia with Sydnee Mortenson. They were great friends when we lived in Louisville.

Brayden looking studly!!!

Me and Melissa. I can't believe I'm putting this picture in, because I look terrible, but Melissa looks great and I had so much fun seeing her at the beach and then again when she came to AZ in August.
Traci and Melissa. I hope no one's mad about swimsuit pics, but they both look great. I love these girls and I miss not living near them.

The Martinez, the Mortenson and the Underwood kids! It's hard to think Kari is now 14 and I still remember Melissa telling me she was pregnant with her.

San Clemente

Beach # 2 was San Clemente. This is our favorite beach to go to in California. We went their with the Haslam cousins. Here are some pictures that look very similar to the pictures of Oceanside:

Oakley, Riley and Sadie all in their Old Navy swimsuits!

Jen and Spencer's California Reception

Since Brayden wasn't in Utah for Jen's wedding, he didn't get to see my grandmother. I made sure I got a picture of them together.

Spencer and Jen - the newlyweds!

Here I am with Tara Bullock. She's one my best friends from growing up. It's always great to see her. She looked great having recently had a baby boy. I always feel short around Tara!