Happy Halloween

I have a love / hate relationship with Halloween. I think there is more hate than love. I can't think of anything I really like about it. But I love my kids so I bear with it. And I love that my kids do look pretty darn cute!
As I mentioned in my last post I had 4 days to make the two girls' costumes and 3 days after that to make Jacob's. I hate deadlines but I made it. I finished at midnight this morning. (Hannah, I have to say I thought of you and your love of gnomes as I was sewing these costumes.)
McKay is "Rapunzelgnome." She had to personalize her costume with her own touches. Cruz was a ninja (again) but with swords this year. Kirsten was another gnome and Katanya is supergirl. We had to add a little extra length to her costume. It's so hard to find decent costumes. I guess that it is one bonus to making your own costumes.
The whole gnome idea came from Jacob. He found a toddler gnome costume, took a picture and decided that was what he wanted to be. The girls copied with a girl gnome. All I had was two pictures. I'm very grateful for the sewing basics I learned awhile ago. I have to add that as I was sewing his costume, he was the pickiest one of all. It took everything I had to laugh it off. But it ended up pretty amazing if I say so myself. Back to Jacob's costume....

Not only is he a gnome BUT....

He is Super Gnome.

And not only is he Super Gnome, he is....

Nerdy Super Gnome.

McKay came in late last night and asked what was on the cape. Jacob explained that Gnome was also an operating software program and that the logo on the cape was the logo for the software. She paused for a minute and said, "Dad, you just made your costume nerdy." His reply, "That's the best part."

I hope everyone has a safe, fun, and Happy Halloween.

how it works inside

It all started on Saturday. I went to find a Halloween costume for the two oldest kids (as the two youngest wanted to be something from past years) and then while shopping for the kids, Jacob saw a costume he wanted. I admit it's an pretty great idea and it soon spread that that was what the two oldest girls wanted to do too. Before I go on, I need to add that the kids need their costumes by Thursday evening. So it was off to the fabric store to figure out materials as I tried to figure a pattern out in my head. I went to put my plan in motion Sunday afternoon except my sewing machine didn't understand the motion idea. The tension was off and not picking up the basting stitch and I had no idea to fix it. I asked Jacob if he knew anything and that was where it all went down.
I should have known better. I think he wanted to see how it worked more than anything. After all he is an Electrical Engineer. My poor sewing machine has been laid to rest. I guess that is what you get when you buy ol' cheapo model at WalMart. I'm not too upset though. For the 8 years that I've used it, I've definitely had gotten my $100 worth of sewing out of it. I'll tell you what I miss......my mom's serger.

P.S. I think I work better with a deadline anyway.

The Halloween week has begun!

Last night we had some friends over for dinner. They surprised our kids with plans on making "Haunted Houses."
Evidently, they (Dixie) had some mean Gingerbread house making skills. To start off the house and the base, she melted sugar. This was better than any liquid nails idea. It was pretty solid. And for the Halloween season, candy and decorations work great!
Katanya had Matt wrapped around her finger.
This was suppose to be the smiling picture. I can't get over Cruz's silly face.
And all of their houses turned out great!
Kirsten put it best when she told her dad, "It figures you have to have the biggest and the best." You can tell he was the last one with the sugar and the crackers. I don't know who was more excited, the kids or Jacob.
Thanks Dixie and Matt for showing us how it's done. I can't wait to do this again for Christmas.

one picture = one happy mom

Just when I thought I was going to lose it from all the teasing, yelling, not listening, and fighting this weekend. I came upon this.

Its moments like this is that makes it ALL worth it.

Cruz drew this as we listened to conference yesterday. I love that he drew him and the prophet together. He even wrote the prophet a letter (in yellow ink).