Let the Good Times Roll

As if our trip to Aruba wasn't enough,  the week we got home we played like we were on vacation still!  I had the Activity Girls Daddy Daughter night on Wednesday, Saturday I had the Warrior Dash and our Halloween parties, and on all the days in beetween we played with the Poulsens who came to visit us!  We met up at Cheesecake Factory with all the girls to celebrate Talli's birthday.

We watched the kids last fall sporting events together...

We went out to eat and played like a bunch of kids at Boomers!

For the record, I totally took out Aaron on the cars!

We met for lunches at Sequoia Deli, and dinner at Doghouse Grill

We partied at the McCauley's and played games at the Madsen's

We sent the boys off to golf...

When your time is limited, you just gotta cram it all in, and let the good times roll!

Love My Girls!

About a year ago I was asked to be the Activity Day leader for the girls in our ward from ages 8-11.  I knew I would love it, but I had no idea just how much.  The girls I work with are adorable and so much fun to be with! We meet twice a month and have a lesson or activity aimed at helping the girls develop faith, strengthen relationships, or learn new skills.  Sometimes we just get together to play and other times we have gone to an activity to support one of our class members.  I decided it's about time to share the fun I've been having with these cute girls.

This week a few of the girls and I went to watch Alli at the opening night of the school play.

 Last week I took just the older girls and went to visit one of the older ladies in the ward who we have kind of adopted.   We made her cupcakes and brought them to her for her birthday.  Sweet Sister Blackham was so touched that we thought of her.  The girls had fun being silly outside the home and then at McDonalds for sundaes afterwards.

We recently had a talent show.  The girls all brought items to display showing talents and gifts that they have.  Then they each performed something for us.  I was so amazed at the darling little skits and dances that the girls came up with.  

We had a really fun pool party at the end of the summer.

We've had nights where we all come in our jammies, and we've made jam.

The activity the girls have loved the most is the Daddy Daughter night.  It's been at my house just before Halloween both times.  The girls love the special time to be silly with their dads.  This year we carved pumpkins, and did lots of little competitions.  I was laughing all over again when I picked up prints of the pictures at Costco yesterday.

Regardless of what we do with these girls it is always a good time!

Halloween

Halloween was on a Sunday and trick or treating on the sabbath just doesn't sit well with me.  On Saturday the 30th I was gone all day at the Warrior Dash.  I arrived home 30 minutes before our ward held our annual Trunk or Treat party.  This is where everyone from the church decorates the back of their car or truck and the kids run from trunk to trunk asking for treats.  This was the only event this year that the kids would be dressing up for and it just didn't seem like it was worth the hassle of making some great costume or the cost of buying one. I just told the kids to be creative and think about what they could do.  I think we were all happy with the simplicity of the end result.

Wes is too cool for school, no costume needed.

Garrett borrowed a gorilla costume from my dad.  Still not sure how he got that thing to fit...

Drew decided that he could be a BYU football player

Brynne wanted to be a BYU cheerleader.

She cheered at each trunk for her candy

Until it just got too cold! She loves her cousin Jessie and little buddy Kylie!

I think its fun to dress up and always rummage something up for myself and often for Jeff too.  This year I had nothin'!  As we were driving home from the Warrior Dash I mentioned it to Rebecca.  She told me she had a great disco outfit I could borrow.  I grabbed it from her as we dropped her off, and put it on for the first time minutes before walking out the door.  It fit, barely, but it was hysterical!  

I ended up in the adult costume contest with some of my other friends with much more fabulous costumes than mine!

Check out the face paint on the Greenlaws!  My mom commented how "pretty" Corey looked in make up!!

Jeff  had ended up costume less and I was a little surprised at his disappointment.  He was a good sport though and had fun playing with the girlies and taking Brynne around from car to car while I manned our trunk.

After we whooped it up with our friends and family at the church we went to the McCauley's annual party.  The Poulsens were in town for a few days and we had a great time hanging out with them and catching up.

Things also got a little competitive.  Somehow we ended up with wagers on wrestling matches and arm wrestling, and the men weren't even the ones doing any of the wrestling!  For the record, Haley McCauley is tough.  I beat her two years ago, and to date its her only loss.  I am certain I couldn't beat her right now.

Kristie ended up in cold water for money...AGAIN!!

While the adults got a little crazy, Brynne and the kiddos had fun getting their faces painted by Grandpa McCauley, bobbing for apples, and hanging out with the Skeleton family.

All in all it was a great night, even if it wasn't really Halloween!