Monday, October 29, 2012

Halloween!!!

There is nothing like Halloween and grand kids!

It was such fun preparing for our annual Halloween party thanks to Pinterest, the website with every idea in the book!


Ande, the fairy princess (post chocolate doughnut face) and Bastian who became a 'walker' were two of the guests at the party.
 Food!!! All week long I prepared  spooky food!

Bones (pretzels, marshmallows, dipped in white chocolate), fingers, (sugar cookies) witches hats (Keebler stripe cookies, orange frosting kisses) and and spiders!(oreos, string licorice and mini m&m's)
 Worms!  (Jello, whipping cream, Knotts gelatin, set in straws.)
 Witches brooms  (pretzel's and string cheese) and mouths! (apple slices, peanut butter and mini marshmallows)  Our punch had ice-cube eyeballs and an ice hand floating in it! (Freeze water in a surgical glove and cut the glove off before serving.)




Pumpkin creations by Ande, Bastian, Carter the pirate and Ashlyn, the Brave.
                                                                                                  John the skeleton who freaked Ande out and Ella made some clever pumpkin faces too!

 This is normal behavior for Ashlyn and Carter! Sweet little things!
Ella/Dorothy and her happy pumpkin!
 Nina/Alice in Wonderland made a traditional pumpkin face!
 Elle/Mulan chose to make her pumpkin angry!
 Prince Charming/Rich (I take no responsibility for his stuffed pants!)

 The Queen of Hearts/Treslee. She made her entire costume out of things she already had! (Except the wig and collar that she got at discount stores)
 Dopey/Wesley who is the happiest little guy! He is content to wander around, watching all that the kids are doing...as long as he has candy in his sticky little hands!
 Oaklee the buffet with Jaxson the vampire!  (Charlee was an adorable pirate girl. I don't know how she escaped the photo shoot!)

Doughnut-bobbing was one of our activities thanks to Devin and Allison. Adam and Anya brought a big caldron and eyeball bouncing balls to see who had the skill of bouncing the ball just right so it landed in the caldron. We had our parade where we all held onto a rope and walked through the neighborhood. We actually had some of the neighbors see us this year! We played pin the nose on the pumpkin and then that same pumpkin became our pinata!
 Here is Jaxson trying his luck at the fish pond.

I don't know how I could be any more blessed! Oh wait...yes I do! Mindy announced that she is adding to our blessings next June!!! WOW!
 Here is a moment with Sam and Mollie outside the pizza restaurant in town.
 This picture makes me giggle! It's Devin and Allison's Taylor in all her adorable, tongue-showing glory!
 Since Devin and Allison live closest to us, we get to share the joy of their family often! This makes me happy!
 Not only was Molly a princess for Halloween but she was also a  dinosaur at our ward's Trunk or Treat.
 These are some of my young women friends whom I love!
 The YaYa's annual trip to the Schnefp Farms pumpkin patch in Queen Creek was another day for the 'happiest days of my life' book! We, YaYa's have been friends for 22 years. We've been making this trek to the farm for many of those years. Robyn Cruz, here brought her niece this time since her two kids had the nerve to grow up and leave the nest! Oh and that's Faith in between!
This is our group: Kathy, Lorin, Madison Partridge and two friends, Faith and Ciara St Clair, Roby Cruz and Lizzy, Brooklynn and I.
 When did Brooklynn get so tall?
 B and C
 We bounced on the giant trampolines, rode the roller coaster, the swings, the Bees, raced pedal cars, watched pig races and dog tricks. We plugged our noses while seeing the 1200 pound cow and tiny baby goats! We played miniature golf, ate yummy food and rode the haunted train through the pitch dark orchards with spooks appearing out of the trees! So FUN!

Greg, Ande and Bastian joined in the fun which made it all the better! Gee, I can't until next year!

Monday, October 15, 2012

A blessed September

Brian and Scottee's little Oaklee was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on September 15th...her birthday!  She and only one other little girl was baptized. Oaklee got to go first which was a real relief for her because she told me, "I hope I get to go first because I don't want to be in that big bath tub with all of those other people's sins."




Devin and Allison's sweet little Molly had her second birthday on the 20th. What a doll! She is such a precious little lady!
 Two month old, Taylor Sue was given her  name and a blessing by her daddy, Devin on September 30th. (Rich had been at Church, but needed to get back to his family because they were all singing together in their ward Primary program. BTW they did a great job with that! Millie (2 years) stole the show with her own rendition of who knows what!)
 Greg got his license! There is a lawyer in our family! What a huge step for him. He is now living in Pinetop AZ (4 hour drive from our house) practicing criminal law. We are proud of his great efforts and hard work!

 My bestie, Herbie picked me up at the SLC airport September 27th and took me up to Bear Canyon in Provo canyon where she and her husband own and run MAX Ziplines. I was too chicken to ride the 7 zips, but I sure enjoyed the autumn leaves!
 I got to spend three whole days with my parents in Orem! Dad took us on a long ride up Provo canyon and over the summit into Midway. Along the way we stopped at Cascade Springs, which is a mountain retreat that reminds me of a Japanese garden and where John and I realized we were MFEO! (Meant for each other!) 38 years ago!
 My sister, Nancy came from Sandy, UT to spend almost two days and a night. It was even better than old times being with her AND mom and dad! We watched General Conference on TV with no interruptions or interference! We thrilled at the new revelation announced that the missionary age for young men is now 18, if desired and 19 for young women! A-Mazing! I am so thankful to be alive in this exciting time of the world's history and to know where I can look for a sure path to guide me through the turbulence of this life...our living prophets and to Heavenly Father!

"Play doh" has given my grand kids and me happy times together! 
 Greg drives down from Pinetop on weekends and brings his cute kids to stay with us. During their play in the dress-ups, Ande became Tigger! I think this Tigger costume, which was given to Brooklynn for her third birthday, has been on each one of our grand kids at this age.
 Is that Steve Erkle? Oh, no, it's Sam playing in the dress-ups too!
 Family pictures! We number 32 now!  Isn't Brooklynn a beaut!
 Gotta love Mollie's cute face here!
 John, Anya, Adam and Ella
Elle, Rich, Treslee, Nina, Millie and Wesley
Charlee, Scottee, Brian, Oaklee and Jaxson
 This is living!!!

 Ande, Greg and Bastian
 Ryan, Mindy, Ashlyn and Carter
 Sam, Allison, Devin, Taylor and Mollie
A random shot I love!




Wouldn't you agree that our September was blessed! Or maybe that the Barry family, particularly, I am blessed! I sure feel that way!