Mission Blog

My parents decided to start a blog to document their mission adventures. If anyone is interested in checking it out, click here. So far, they are loving Chicago and the work they are doing. We are missing them like crazy, but know they are doing the right thing! They have a pretty flexible schedule and have some free time...for now. We get to text and talk to them as often as we would like. The boys love to Skype with them and talk face to face. I can't believe they have already been there for almost 3 weeks! Just 49 more to go :)

Halloween Festivities

I absolutely LOVE Halloween! It is one of my absolute favorite holidays! I don't know what it is, but it makes me giddy inside. Bummer thing is that my husband is the complete opposite, and I usually have to pull his teeth to dress up or even participate in the activities. Our festivities started on Friday with a costume party at the Potter's. We had a great time as always!

Rob and I decided to dress up as my parents this year. I was fortunate enough to snag my Mom's gold cruise dress from the yard sale that we had a couple of months ago. A lightning bolt hit me a couple of days later and I knew that Rob and I had to dress up as my parents. The costumes couldn't have been more perfect!

The inspiration behind the costumes

The final ensemble!

I loved how everything turned out!

On Saturday I made my Mom's famous chili. It is a tradition in my family to eat chili on Halloween. Since my mom was gone this year, I decided to make it for the first time. It turned out delicious! We ended up eating with my sister's family before heading out trick-or-treating. My niece Kendra is such a good sport and tags along with us every year.

The rain started pouring that night the minute we started eating dinner. To say I was a little upset is an understatement! Lucky for us, shortly after we finished eating the rain let up a little and we decided it was now or never. It continued to sprinkle the whole time we were out, but it wasn't too bad. The boys had so much fun! They ran from house to house and couldn't get enough of it! It made my heart happy!

After trick-or-treating we made our usual stops at my Grandparents house and at Rob's parents house.

My cute nieces

Savanah and Jacob

When we got home, we were even lucky enough to Skype with my parents before taking off our costumes. It was weird not having them here. My mom is also a huge fan of Halloween! I think that's where I get it from. After talking to them, it was rough to get the boys calmed down. They definitely had a sugar high! All in all, it was a GREAT Halloween!

Gardner Village

Last week Wesley's Preschool class went on a field trip to Gardner Village to see the witches. Beckett and I were lucky enough to tag along. They even got to dress up in their costumes for the afternoon.

My little Spidey and Superman

Gardner Village has a Witch Scavenger Hunt that you can do. You have to walk around and find all the witches on the sheet and then the bakery gives you a cookie. The kids did it and had a blast!

Wesley's class

Peter Parker

Eating cookies...Yum!

Pumpkin Carving

Every year during the week of Halloween we spend our family night carving pumpkins. The year of Wesley's first Halloween, our friends invited us over to their house and we ate one of Papa Murphy's Jack-o-lantern Pizzas while carving. I thought it was such a cute idea that I decided to keep it a tradition. So every year we carve pumpkins and eat pumpkin pizza! This year we decided to include Rob's parents in the fun. They actually grew pumpkins for the boys in their own garden, so we had to go there anyways to pick them out. We had such a great time!

Dinner

Beckett with his pumpkin

I was so proud of the boys for scooping out their own pumpkins this year. Normally Wesley won't go near the goop!

Rob helping Wesley get the last few seeds out.

Beckett kept saying "Eeeewwwww! Gross!"

Rob and Beckett with his finished pumpkin

Wesley practicing drawing spiders for his pumpkin

Beckett and Me

The Finished Products:

{From L to R: Wesley's, Rob's, Beckett's, Mine}

Rob's Birthday

I am still playing catch up! Blogger likes to give me a headache any time I try and post. It has seriously taken me over a week to upload the pictures for this post! Tonight it was cooperating and I was able to upload pictures for the next 3-4 posts as well! So, check back because there will be a few about Halloween.

Back in September we celebrated the birthday of the love of my life! We didn't do too much to celebrate, but his birthday was extra special this year because my parents opened up their mission call that night. We started off the festivities at Chili's for dinner with my fam.

The Birthday Boy and Yours Truly

Mindy and Brady

Ty Ty and Wes

Jen and Brady

{Sorry the picture is such bad quality!}

Kendra and the Beckett Man

After dinner we headed over to Leatherby's for dessert. We would have just stayed at Chili's to open the call, but Brady had to head to work. So we needed to be somewhere in his jurisdiction so he could be there.

Hobby

The Folks with their unopened call

Waiting around...

...more waiting

Cute Savanah

And FINALLY...

It's CHICAGO!

I think my parents were really excited for Chicago to be it!

Update:

{Since I am the slowest blogger ever!}

Since they opened their call, they have already had their farewell, been through the MTC, driven over 1400 miles, moved into their tiny apartment, and began their mission as of today! I am so excited for them to experience this new adventure. I can't wait to hear all of their stories. They have only been gone a week, but I miss them already! Good luck Mom and Dad!