Halloween, Halloween

Trick-or-treat!

Our costumes

Can't be beat!

{Thanks Dora, I won't be able to get that out of my head for weeks}

The Boss had a party at pre-school last Thursday. I guess Candy-corn witches don't like having their picture taken before school.

She was so excited to go trick-or-treating in Miss. Cathy's neighborhood! 

Bea had fun mostly because Miss. Cathy kept sneaking candy to her!

Drama and Pooh Bear dressed up for school Monday.

And then trick-or-treating after dinner. But first could you hold still for 2 seconds while I take a decent picture?!

The Queen Vampire, sans vampire teeth

A Purple Witch

Buzzy Bee, did you know that bees have magical bee wands? Neither did I.

We carved pumpkins Saturday afternoon. Pooh Bear and Drama did all the work on their pumpkins themselves this year and they did fantastic. Dad did all most of the work on the other pumpkins with direction from the most helpful 2 and 3 year olds.

From left to right: The Boss', Pooh Bear's, Bea's, & Drama's

New Family Photos....Again

You know it's getting out of control when your oldest daughter, who loves shopping, dressing up all fancy like, and anything to do with new shoes, complains when you inform her that we are having new family photos taken.

"Awe, Mom, we just had new pictures taken." {pouty face}

This is a true statement. Five formal photo sessions in 12 months is probably more than normal...

1. There was lasts years family photo taken at the end of October.

2. Photos with my fabulous Grandma in December.

3. Photos before Ella's baptism in May.

4. Extended Family Photos because little brother and fam came into town in August.

5. This years family photo, October.

But really, can one ever take too many photos? I don't think so.

{obviously}

So here are a few more.....

I have to say that I was not that impressed with our new photography studio here in Lehi. She didn't take very many pictures and there were only a handful of different poses. It's sad because I was so excited when this studio went in. I don't think that we will be going back. I mean, come on! My girls are freaking cute and you can only take 2 or 3 pictures of them?! And it's not like we were late or uncooperative. We were right on time {shocker, I know} and the girls were so good and happy {double shocker}, but she only used 30 minutes of our 45 minute session. I tried to speak up but everyone seemed to think it was all hunky dory. So we left. They have a guarantee policy that you can come back for a re-shoot if you are not satisfied with your session. But who wants to get 6 people ready for another photo session? {6th one in 12 months}


No, really. Will you come over and get everyone ready....It's not that hard to blow dry 5 heads of hair perfectly!




**I promise that I am going to post all the amazingness that was Disneyland. I just took a lot of pictures {I don't have a problem clicking the shutter. I feel the more you take the more turn out. cough} Now I have to go through them and add narrative in my witty fashion. I'm getting there, promise.**

New Specks

Pooh Bear got her new glasses today. (If you can believe it she lost her other ones, which we {I} discovered 2 days before we left for Disneyland. They were in the bottom of the shoe basket, under all of the shoes. Isn't that where you keep yours?)

Her eye dr. told her she should wear them all the time now as her eye/brain connection is in overdrive trying to compensate for her farsightedness {which spell checker confirms is an actual word!}.

She looks smart. Unfortunately, these glasses haven't helped us find her missing school planner that she has to turn in each morning with a parent signature to receive proper credit for her homework.

Speaking of doctors....in the car today, The Boss informed me that her eye hurt. Here is the following conversation:

the Boss: "My eye hurts. I need to go to the doctor."

Me: "Why do you need to go to the doctor? Can't I help your eye feel better when we get home?"

the Boss: "No. I need to go to the doctor so he can kiss it better."

And now you know why an MD is so expensive. It takes a long time to get those medically necessary kisses just right!

The Wheatley Clan

We had family photos taken with my whole family while we where at my parents in August. There are some super cute people in these pictures! Here are a couple of my favorites....

One of my personal favs....

Camping - For Real

If you know me, you know that I am not a camper. You know that I was not raised a camper. I went camping a couple of times in my youth, and have great memories of camping with my Grandparents, but "camping" in my family is staying at the lower budget hotel. Seriously. Drama and Pooh Bear love to "camp" with my parents at the local Marriott. They recently discovered what camping really is and have been begging to go "real" camping ever since. {okay maybe recently as in a few years ago but my power to block out painful activity requests by my children is great!} 

Finally, over Labor Day weekend Mark and Grandpa Van Horn took Drama and Pooh Bear For Real Camping!

In a Tent.

On the Ground. 

In Nature.

Outside.

Grandma Van Horn and I, being the more sensible ones in the family, opted to take The Boss and Bea up for the campfire dinner and dessert and then go home to our warm cozy beds and sleep.

In a house.

In a bed.

Where nature was not invited.

Mouth full of cookie....

I don't know why they insisted on sitting under the table. They wouldn't sit anywhere else!

Serious conversations.....

Mmmmm, dutch oven peach cobbler...

When we got home, The Boss was seriously ticked that she didn't get to sleep in a tent. So I pulled out the play tent, set it up in her room and she zonked right out! She slept there for most of the night and then took a nap in it the next day...

The Boss Starts School {finally}

Preschool has to be the best place on Earth. It is so much fun and my girls have loved every minute.

This year The Boss started Preschool at Ms. Cathy's Preschool. Ms. Cathy has a 3 year old preschool class on Tuesdays and Thursdays and a 4 year old class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. So, you can start at 3 and go again the very next year only you get a whole extra day of learning!

We went to the open house last Thursday night, and my camera's battery decided to die. I did get this picture in the car on the way there and walking up the sidewalk. She was so excited.

Drama had soccer practice until 7:00 pm and we were waiting by the back door already - with backpack on and everything - for Drama, Pooh Bear, and Daddy to walk in.

And then today, finally, the day came, to actually go to school.

She had waited and waited. Her sisters started school and she wanted to start school so badly. Every time we went anywhere she would ask, pointing out different people, "Is that my teacher? Is that my teacher?"

And of course Bea is just happy to be part of the fun and picture taking.

When Bea and I picked her up 2 hours later.....

A frog on a lily pad! See, I told you, most fun ever! And totally worth the wait.

The Boss, Bea and I went to McDonald's for a special lunch after. They both got stickers in their happy meals and guess where The Boss' ended up attaching themselves....