Happy Halloween

Clayton had his last soccer game of the summer/fall season today. He played great and his team really improved. They won the last three games, so it ended well.

Clayton and Porter each went with a group of their friends to trick or treat and hang out. I took Marlee and Carter trick or treating. Marlee was so sweet, she would go to each door and grab candy for her and Carter. Marlee was a UofA cheerleader and Carter was an elephant. I almost get emotional that Carter is wearing the elephant costume, because all of our children (except for Cooper) have been this elephant for Halloween around this age. Well, the kids got the hook up tonight, one house gave out 2 litter sodas, another hot dogs and lemonade and my favorite was the homemade donuts. And of course, the usual, candy.

Marlee made her own trick or treat bag at craft club. And this is the rest of one of the yummy donuts (I brought Laun back a glazed one and this chocolate iced, vanilla filled one.

Carters favorite, the suckers.

Carter, Marlee and Porter got a good loot. Clayton only went to a small amount of houses and watched a movie at his friends house.

trooper

At night before Carter goes to bed we put his hip brace on. He’s worn this ever since he got his last body cast off and will continue to wear it until his January appointment with his orthopedic surgeon. Usually we put it on and he goes straight in bed, but every once in awhile he’ll play awhile in it, a little before bed. I love how he moves around in it. He can crawl, sit and even stands against the couch with it on. This boy of ours is such a trooper!

fall soccer season over

Today was Clayton’s last soccer game of the fall season. He learned a lot and has so much more energy on the field, now that he’s done track and cross country. He’s not done though, he will now play indoor-futsal soccer during the winter. Which we are all excited about since it is new to us.

#21

Laun got to help the coach with the team. The coach is so nice and the team has a bunch of great boys. We are missing Seth, but the A team let us borrow some great players and they won the game.

I’m so proud of Clayton and for all the effort and time he puts into being a great soccer player.

Carter has done pretty good going to all these soccer games.

pre-Halloween fun

This morning Carter and I went to watch Marlee in the school Halloween parade. She’s in the red cheerleading outfit and was delighted to see her brother.

Cutest TV bums ever!

I looked over to see Carter with his hands on his face watching a movie with his Sissy. She’s older, so he gets stuck watching what she wants, which is usually Jessie.

I’m so happy Laun is home. I left the little ones sleeping with him, while Clayton went to Corn Bellies with hid friend Garrett and I took Porter, Daxton and Ethan to a late night movie. It was a freaky movie, which I guess was fitting, since we didn’t get home until Halloween.

one more day

Thank goodness it was pajama day at Marlee’s school, because I didn’t wake up until like 10 minutes before I needed to head out the door! Luckily, Marlee was already in her pj’s and I hurried and made her lunch and she was still on time.

Laun’s been out of town for work…here’s a picture of him on the Nevada/California border. I can’t wait until he comes home tomorrow!

so hip

Clayton gave Porter a ride to the soccer park today. It totally reminded me of that scene from the movie Napoleon Dynamite where Kip asks Napoleon for a ride into town.

Clayton with the ward scouts. The kid on the far right is Ethan and he and Clayton are on the same soccer team.

He earned some badges tonight.

This is a card that I carry in my wallet. It should say orthopedic implant(s) since I’ve had two! My right hip was replaced over 8 1/2 years ago and my left hip was replaced 1 year ago today! I’m so thankful for all who have helped me and my family get through this crazy year! I am especially grateful for my orthopedic surgeon, who gave me hope and took away over 30 years of pain. I celebrated by going back to the gym this month. I’ve been doing pretty good in the classes and I’m starting to feel stronger. I am titanium!

see the good

This is the 3rd year in a row that we have had a special back to school dinner. We have a theme that we focus on throughout the school year. This 2015-2016 theme was thought of by Laun…see the good. I love it, it’s just what our family needs. Normally, we have this dinner before school starts, but we were living in a camper then and I just hadn’t gotten around to it yet.

I was super excited to use our china dishes for the very first time. Laun’s mother Lucy gave them to us when we lived in Tucson. The best part is that this was Lucy’s very own china set. Her mother (Grandma Black) bought them for Lucy as a Christmas present and they came all the way from Japan (where Grandma Black’s brother was). Lucy used this china for Sunday’s dinner (after Mike had already passed away) with her children while they lived in Show Low. Laun has good memories of Sunday dinners on this china and I hope to continue that tradition.

Our talented friend Cherise made this print of our family’s school theme. Each of the children got one.

Marlee was very excited about this meal with fancy dishes and she went and changed into a dress.

Not only did the print have our school theme- See the good, but on the bottom it had the school year 2015-2016. This one will go in the living room as a constant reminder to our family to see the good (in all things). See the good…in each other, in ourselves, in our family, in our home, in our friends, in our schools, in our ward, in the world. Our family needs to be positive and grateful for all the good around us.

Tonight’s dinner: Baked Potato soup & Tuscany Potato soup with zucchini

Sometimes Carter eats in the kitchen, instead of at the table, which is on carpet. He tends to throw food, but boy is he cute.

Dessert: Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake (Williams Sonoma recipe)

The ganache was a little runny, but so good.

I also made some small ones, it almost made Laun leave the big cake alone until serving time;)