Trick-or-Treat

We carved our pumpkins for family night since the weekend had kept us too busy doing other spooky things. Arianna made a classic Marco face here and we both must have scared Enzo faceless. Enzo helped mommy carve but he wasn't too sure about getting his hands into the guts...so he dove in once it was all cleaned out! He was thrilled about using 'tools' and was so good at sawing w/ me (promise, the knife was a kid-safe pumpkin-carving knife!) and he is still enjoying the seeds we cooked up.

Arianna and Daddy worked on a pumpkin together as well. She carved it almost entirely on her own...way to go Dad! He wanted to jump in lots but resisted the urge. We think she did great! She even chose all the features. She didn't want to touch the guts much either, so she stuck w/ scooping out the insides with a spoon. She was tickled with the results...especially once we made it glow!

For Halloween we enjoyed time at Daddy's office for a bit of trick-or-treating. We had to 'follow the yellow brick road' to all the different candy stations. Enzo didn't quite understand that everyone just wanted to give him candy. He'd hold on tight to one until the next stop where he'd do a little trade. Return his candy and grab another. After some practice he started to trust that his candy really would still be his even if he put it into his bag and then the candy started to pile up!

That done,we headed home for dinner and then we hit the streets. Arianna kept telling people that she didn't like chocolate... even if that was all they had. We really had to work w/ her through the night to break that habit. Finally, she stopped getting choosy and just said thanks for whatever she was given. We were so grateful for the many people that were conscientious of her peanut allergy and steered clear of anything nutty. She may be the only girl that doesn't like chocolate, but she definitely doesn't. That'll serve her well in life if it sticks with her! Wish I had that problem, mine is the opposite.

After we got back from trick-or-treating in our neighborhood the kids really lit up (see Arianna trying to wind down w/ a book whilst on a sugar high). Maybe the candy high, maybe just being out of those costumes, they were sooooooo excited about answering the door and giving candy to others! Enzo couldn't resist stealing away some for himself, as well. Tricky little guy!

Happy Halloween! Here comes the Turkey!

Preschool Party

Arianna throroughly enjoyed her first preschool Halloween party. She was definitely not lost in the sea of princesses and characters, and had a blast decorating cookies and playing games. She most enjoyed tossing the 'pillows' into the pumpkin's face to win various prizes.

Her primary teachers also threw a little Halloween party, but she was quite freaked out by Brother Moffit's costume, as was Enzo, so we spent time consoling instead of snapping photos.

They did an awesome job though and Arianna was all smiles when I picked her up. She was thrilled that she pinned the nose right on the pumpkin which won her a halloween flashlight!!!

Enzo enjoyed dressing up as well. I couldn't get him to remove the doggy costume for an hour and a half after dropping Arianna off at her preschool party.

He wasn't sure about the ears in his face though, kept trying to pull them off.

I finally got Marco to Gardener Village too! I have gone several times w/ the kids but wanted Marco to experience it once as well. He was quite a sport! Enzo sure doesn't like sitting around or posing to have his picture taken, though I don't know why in the world that would come as any surprise. He was a good sport, considering.

Don't you think Marco and I look great together here?!

Halloween Celebrations w/ the Spookiest Crew

We had a little family party this Saturday and were so excited to have everyone there that could come! Goblin Guts never tasted so good, and bats blood, either.

We missed all of those that couldn't be there to join us. :(

Marco scared the kids silly w/ his tales of dragons, skeletons and ghosts

and Enzo showed grandma that he knows what a saw is and how to use it.

Happy Haunting!

The REAL Little Mermaid Story

Last night as we drove to pick up Marco from the airport Arianna kept herself busy 'reading' the Little Mermaid. The story began as usual, but then took some really interesting twists. I was cracking up silently in the front seat as I heard how the real story goes:

Ariel wanted to marry Flounder...but...he didn't have hands because fishes don't have hands, that would be crazy! So she couldn't marry Flounder.
So she wanted to marry the crab...but...he had those little pinchers so that wouldn't work out.
So they went up to see what was going on at the surface. She wanted to marry...what's his name? Prince Eric...but she didn't have legs. She had hands, but she didn't have legs.
So 'they' took her to 'Princess Ursula'. Ursula made her give her her heart. She didn't want to, but she wanted legs. She wanted legs AND to be able to talk, but Ursula wouldn't let her, so she got legs.
She met Prince Eric but he had a dog so he didn't want to marry her.
Then Ursula looked in the mirror and they went to break up the wedding. Prince Eric drove the ship into Ursula's belly and they got married. King Triton said, "this is fun!"
The End.

I don't know why it struck me as SO funny, but I loved hearing all of her reasoning. She is becoming quite an analyst. I laughed so hard when I retold the story to Marco that I had tears in my eyes. I surmise that hands are very important to her in a future husband, and no pinching! She hopes that no dogs get in the way too, of any kind!

A wonderful conference!

This past weekend we had an awesome opportunity to go to the Conference Center for Stake Conference. The Prophet, Elder Packer, Sis Lant and Elder Anderson spoke beautiful messages. I'd love to include photos of the event, but I left the camera in the car and there wasn't much scenery in the parking lot. The temple and all the grounds were beautiful though, even if there had been a minor blizzard the night before.

We took these two with us, of course, and though the prophet was hard to make out from the terrace, they knew he was there and they did a great job listening as well as 4 and 1 1/2 year olds can.

The thoughts that stuck with me most are:

-"Daddy, Jesus says slow down." Elder Anderson's daughter told him that after seeing a sculpture of the Savior w/ His hand outstretched. Take more time to meditate and ponder and pray. Just slow down.

-"Full hands now, full hearts later." A "Grandma" shared that advice w/ Sister Packer as she sat alone trying to keep all the kids quiet in church. It made me really grateful for life. I mean my heart is full now as well, but so are my hands at times. When our hands are full, with anything righteous and praise worthy, it means our hearts will be more full as the years pass. Good things bring good rewards. "Be not weary in well doing...." Eat up every moment, don't worry about spills and schedules etc. I also hope that I can look back w/ a full and grateful heart when my hands and my house are emptied, "for all the life we had."

-"Women who know...." Sister Lant echoed the sentiment of Sister Beck from General Conference about doing LESS, spending less and focusing on family and the gospel more. Loved both talks!

-President Hinckely shared his '4 pillars of a happy home' talk with us. Marco and I received that advice the day we were sealed for time and all eternity nearly 7 years ago, and I'd hear it a million times over! Love it!

-Respect

-Family Prayer

-The Soft Answer

-Financial honesty (both w/ God and our spouse)

Correct me if I was off on any of those, my hands were full and so I couldn't take notes as I would have liked to. :)

He reiterated the old marriage--steam engine comparison about experiencing bumps and smoke and delays, but also thrilling bursts of speed and majestic vistas. He said the trick is to give thanks for being able to take the ride. All wonderful advice from a man married for over half a decade to his sweetheart who has recently passed on. You could hear how much he missed her and how much he wants all of us to give all of ourselves to our own sweetheart while we have them there beside us. Life is rarely predictable. Carpe Diem.

I came away feeling a renewed dedication to my growing family; Marco did too. Sweet guy.

Sorry to get so sentimental, the meeting was just that good.

These are the reasons my hands (and heart) are full.

Love that face!

Enzo thought it was hilarious to find Marco through the handle in the box. Who needs toys, right?

We made an attempt to go w/ our ward playgroup to Gardener Village. I don't know how we missed the meeting time/place, but we didn't find anyone at the church and so we ended up settling for our front porch and pumpkins for a photo op. Not nearly the back drop I'd hoped for, but we'll get there another time.