Catching Up on 2009

I have been absent from the blog world for a while. Facebook is just so quick and easy! I wish it was easier to load pictures and label them on blogger. Anyway, I'll be posting a bunch of stories and pictures from last year that I didn't want to miss.

Halloween 2009

The girls had a lot of fun dressing up for Halloween this year. You'll see the different costumes and changes they went through.

Lauren wanted to dress like a sailor because of her Donald Duck fascination. In August when we went to Nauvoo she tried on a female Navy uniform and loved it. I was able to find this one at Smith & Edwards (a military surplus store) for a good price, plus the hat & shirt are the real deal. I had to alter the pants to fit, and make the neckerchief out of a sheet. I'm glad that our school still does a Halloween parade. They go through each classroom and the gym so that the parents can see. The teachers even dress up.

Auburn wanted to be a ghost. She was disappointed when I told her she couldn't just wear a sheet over her head with 2 holes cut in it for the eyes. (They won't let you wear anything over your face at school....not to mention that trick-or-treating would be hard) We borrowed this ghost costume from Mel. Auburn wouldn't let me put makeup on her face so I got her this wig. She looked so good with her light skin....she actually kind of looked like an angel. :)

This is in Auburn's classroom during their Halloween party

The 6th graders learned the dance to Thriller.

Lauren obviously didn't want to participate.

Nice Donald Duck pose though. :)

Auburn decided on Halloween day to be a detective

She even had a magnifying glass

The yearly picture on Grandma Glade's porch

The top row looks really happy :)

I love how this picture turned out

My 3 kiddies - Lauren added a Miley/Gabriella wig

(she asked us if it looked like real hair....I of course said, "yes")

I found Grant's costume at WalMart for $8. It was a great costume for a baby!

After doing a bit of trick-or-treating around Grandma's,

Jared's kids came over so we snapped another photo

Lauren wool Navy shirt was bugging her so she changed into her "detective" costume too.

Still wearing that wig. :)

Grant's hoping he will turn into a prince if the princess will kiss him

Sorry Grant, your still a frog and now you're stuck with a witch :)

Christmas at the Williams' house

This is the only picture we could get.

The batteries died on the camera after one shot,

and the kids were itching to get out of their church clothes.

Grant & Auburn

Grant was fascinated with the girls while they decorated the Christmas tree.

Mmmmmm, fake gingerbread!

Looks like Santa's laundry ended up on Grant's plate too. :)

Our happy Elf

The girls can't wait to get the Christmas tree up every year. We always decorate it the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Auburn was so ambitious that she almost did the whole tree and the rest of the room by herself. She did a pretty good job, and I was thankful for the help! We have a tall front room and a tall Christmas tree. We have to decorate it with a big ladder while we listen to Christmas music. I love to go through the ornaments...each one has a story.

New Year's Sledding

My parents went up to Jason's house in Washington this year for New Year's, so we hadn't made any plans. We got to go tubing with Mel and her friends on New Year's Eve. We tubed, drank hot chocolate, and warmed up by the outdoor heater. The girls had so much fun! Even Grant seemed to be enjoying himself. Afterward we went and played games at Mel's friend's house. The kids got to bang pots and pans at midnight, Lauren played Disney Sing-It, and Grant stayed up until 3 in the morning. What a party animal! I think the girls will be asking us to do the same thing next year.

Grant was so content I had to keep checking him to see if he was awake.

Cheese

Brook & Grant

me & my buddy