Halloween 2017

I was really sick up until just a few days before Halloween, so we ended up buying random costumes the kids liked just 4 days before Halloween.

Ellie was a tiger.

Mckayla was "an Egyptian Queen."  She was so excited about wearing make-up, and loved her "wings."  (Also, hearing Kassidy say "a-dyp-shin" always sounds bad... but funny.)

Kassidy was a pink leopard - the perfect costume for her.

Gavin was the only one who didn't get a new costume.  Each of our kids has worn this blue monster costume on their second Halloween, so he continued the tradition.

And all the kids together.  The second picture is to show a perfect example of taking pictures of our kids right now...  With Kassidy - the blur.

After Ellie got home from school on Tuesday we got all the kids together quickly and then grabbed a treat and a book at the local library.  We then went trick-or-treating at our local hospital in the assisted living wing.  Then we headed to our ward trunk-or-treat.  The kids had a blast and enjoyed chili and hot dogs once they had collected their candy.  It was getting pretty cold by that point.

Lastly, we visited a family friend and then saw Grandma and Grandpa Bennett before bringing the kids home for a snack and hot chocolate and then getting them to bed.

Oh, and that night this is How Kassidy put on her pajamas.

The next morning I heard her bedroom door open and she literally ran out.  A few minutes later she showed up looking very similar to this picture.  And weeks later, she is still completely in love with her leopard costume.  We are finally getting to the point where she isn't have melt downs when we don't let her wear it or she has to take it off to go somewhere.  Oh Kassidy...

We didn't end up doing any real trick-or-treating this year, but we still ran plenty and the kids made out like bandits and had a great night.  We had a great Halloween!

MG's Birthday

Mckayla wanted to have a family birthday party, but none of the cousins were with our side of the family around MG's birthday, so her party got pushed back till November.  She was really good about waiting and being patient.  We had planned to do treats and a couple of gifts right around her birthday, but then I was really sick for several days before her birthday and a few days after.  

We finally got ice cream a few days after her birthday and then let Mckayla open a couple of gifts later that week when I didn't have work.  She was so excited to open a few gifts.  We gave her a couple of small gifts from us and her gift from Grandma and Papa Rose and Aunt Julie.

Then, on November 4th we had Mckayla's family birthday party.  Mckayla wanted a DJ Suki cake from Trolls.  I thought it turned out really cute!

 Mckayla wanted to watch The Lego Movie, so when family arrived all the kids watched the movie down in the movie room while the adults chatted.  MG had chosen hot dogs and hamburgers as her birthday menu, so Steve made deer and/or beef burgers and hot dogs for everyone.  After dinner Mckayla was so excited to finally get to open her gifts!

 This girl seriously gives the BEST reactions to gifts.  The best part of the whole party was watching and listening to her react as she opened her presents.

 After gifts was cake time.  Mckayla loved her Trolls cake, which made getting in the zone and accidentally staying up till 2 AM working on her cake the night before totally worth it.

 We had so much fun with almost the entire side of the Bennett Family at her birthday celebrating this big girl.  Mckayla is so much fun.  She is continuing to progress in her reading and loves doing math on Khan Acadamy online.  She is goofy and mischievous but also so very caring.  She LOVES preschool this year and can't wait for school next year.  She is very creative and so quick witted it is scary.  She can tell the most amazing stories because of her amazing imagination and quick wit.  We sure love our spunky 5 year old!

Family Pictures

On October 6th we went to Green Canyon with a local photographer out of Logan and had updated family pictures taken.  Getting pictures of the kids individually, together, just Steve and I, and our whole family each year has become so important to me.  Yes, it always stresses me out, and Steve kind of hates it, but this process also gives me some of my favorite pictures to look back on over time.

Our photographer wanted us to meet her there about 5:00, which meant leaving our house by about 4:15 - which is still nap time.  So, Kassidy was.... uncooperative.  She was Kassidy.  However, we still got some cute pictures of her fun little mischievous personality.  So, here are some of the best photos we got.

Ellie:

Mckayla:

Kassidy:

Lots of pictures trying to get decent ones of Kassidy - of course...

Gavin:

Kids:

Steve and I:

Our family: