Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!  It's finally upon us!  The girls are so excited for the day's events.  Particularly Mac and Leiden, as they get to wear their costumes to school, today.  Mimi's school is kind of weird, today, no costumes or anything else.  On Halloween day!

There is something about this cute little pink wig, that's for sure.  Mac looks super cute in it.  For the real day she got exaggerated eyeliner and pink rouged cheeks.  

After I raced Mimi up to school, I raced back to the elementary to see the Halloween parade!  I remember these as a child in my own elementary, so this is memory lane for me.  I remember traipsing around the hallways and classrooms of Crestview elementary, and ending up in the gym, where parents were seated and ready to watch all the little costumes go by.  This year's weather has been crazy for Halloween and late fall.  We were outside in barely a jacket.  Mac here had nothing on but her costume!

Then Leiden came along, looking very much like the real Hermione Granger!  Especially after I had her swish her hair out to get some poof. 

Later in the afternoon, Mimi and I returned to the elementary, where both girls' classes were celebrating with a party.  Leiden's class was busy making potions.  It was a really cool idea, and they had brought dry ice to add to them.  They were to say some magic words, and the room mom dropped a chip of dry ice in their cups after they had mixed their 'ingredients'. 

I was actually surprised at how well it worked.  The gases coming off looked awesome, 

and it was crazy cool to watch in the inside of the cup, too.  Those perfectly round blobs are bubbles. 

I zipped over to Mac's class, where she showed me her Halloween art.

Then her class had a dance party! 

Mimi got in the fun, and even with my good camera, this is the clearest I could get this dancing fool! 

Another zip BACK to Leiden's class, where she was handing out her glow in the dark class favors...perfect timing!  Her class was having a dark dance party, so the kids were thrilled to get glow sticks to use right then and there!  It was one of those moments of right place, right gift, right time.  Mimi and I took to the dance floor and jumped around for a bit. 

This evening the girls headed out with Brad and Annie, so I was on my own for the weekend.

I will admit to some disappointment, as I had thought Derek would be back by now, hence the girls being gone this weekend, but we shoulder on.  The military lifestyle is not predictable, and the things the people in charge choose to do make no sense, but the fact of the matter is that the man I love is military.  So this is the territory.  He's currently essentially 'stuck' in Qatar, waiting for a ride home.  I hope to hear good news sometime very soon.  Meanwhile, Happy Halloween!

Crazy hair day at school, today!  The girls got funny little knobs and spray color!  They were so excited about the spray!

Mac wanted all pink (red) and Leiden wanted pink, purple, and turquoise.  They won't win any contests, but they enjoyed it. 

Mac took her hair out later this afternoon, and found this to be the result!  Pretty darn cute!

This evening we had Halloween hot cocoa.  I purchased some edible markers, and this was their first use. 

Things to remember for next time...the marker bleeds as soon as it is gotten wet.  So drawn/colored on marshmallows have to be VERY carefully placed in the hot cocoa.  I learned this the hard way on a cup before this one.  I thought it was a cute idea, and the girls were excited, too.

Halloween is almost here!  Hopefully Derek will be home soon, but it's not looking like it will be much before my birthday.

Pumpkin Carving

This week at school, in addition to Halloween week, is Spirit and Drug Free week.  It's been pretty crazy.  I get that they were likely trying to combine the madness for one week, but it was not the best choice on the part of the administration.  Today was College Day.  The girls were excited to wear their University of Utah shirts, and I spruced things up a bit with cute red ribbons for their pigtails.

Mac is feeling better, today, although still not quite normal.  Definitely well enough to go to school, and she was upset about missing days.  I hope she can eat enough to have the energy she needs!  She was not interested in eating pretty much at all, yesterday, even long after she stopped throwing up.

After the girls were sent off to school, it was time to take Mimi to her preschool Halloween party!

She had a great time, and got a little bag of goodies from all her classmates.

This evening we invited Grandmere and Bapa over for an awesome Halloween themed night.  I made dinner, and did the famous (to the girls) mashed potato ghosts!  They love this and ask for it as soon as October rolls around every year.

Then it was pumpkin carving time!  Last year I did it alone, and it was pretty frustrating to be the only adult with three little kids.  This year was MUCH better!  It also helped that the girls are a year older, and a little more independent.  Mimi was excited to clean her pumpkin out.

Something about goo on little fingers...

Leiden and Mac were a little grossed out.

And Bapa provided the entertainment!

Mimi only lasted so long, so while Bapa helped Leiden and Mac, I worked over Mimi's pumpkin.

She was very excited to draw the face on all by herself.

I cut it out exactly as drawn, if three inches lower on the pumpkin...

Leiden's was a cutie mark, Mac and Mimi did cute little faces.  Super simple, and super cute!

Thanks for the Halloween fun, Mom and Dad!

Ugh.  Last night Mac was sick.  Throwing up is the pits!  And somehow in the last year, we have had SO much of it!  And unfortunately this time, for the first time EVER...I had to clean it up off the carpet.  Sigh.  This was me in the morning after pretty much not sleeping for fear of it happening again.

Also unfortunately, Mimi's school Halloween program was this morning.  She was very excited and happy to dress up for the occasion. Thankfully Grandmere was able to come to the rescue, and she and Bapa took Meemers to the program while I stayed home with Mac.  Luckily she is doing much better, now.  Hopefully we can stay healthy for a while!  I am DONE with this stuff!

Leiden made breakfast this morning.  All on her own blueberry pancakes.  She set up a plate just for me!  Complete with card and glass of milk.  Oh, how I love this girl!

Leiden got a kick out of Grandmere's little ghost on her mirror...see it?

Trunk or Treat

Heading to the ward Halloween dinner and trunk or treat, tonight!  I figured it was time for my 'dramatic' eyelashes, in lieu of my costume.  And dramatic they are!

 My little Hermione Granger...she actually kind of looks like her!

WHAT a cute girl! 

Mimi is thrilled to be Anna this year, complete with wig.  I can imagine we will see MANY Anna's, although perhaps more Elsa's. 

Mac is looking super sweet in her Lalaloopsy costume.  Pink everywhere.  As a side note, I was pretty impressed with the pink wig that came with it.  It's pretty high quality for a kid costume.  Definitely higher quality than Mimi's Anna wig. 

We ate a quick dinner, then headed out to trunk or treat!

A bunch of boxes arrived from Afghanistan today!  Super exciting for sure!  The girls know Derek is bringing them back surprises, and they keep asking if we can open them up right away.  The answer is absolutely not!  He needs to be here!

Due to the unpredictable nature of what's happening with Derek, and the timelines involved, I'm a little bit ahead of the game this year for Halloween!  Classroom favors are already completed for all three girls, and now they will be set aside, ready to distribute when it's time.  It's actually pretty refreshing to be done, already, particularly when I'm usually running around the night before trying to get stuff done!  Mimi is giving little sticky pumpkins in these cute bat pillow boxes.

The older girls are handing out good old glow sticks.  You really can't go wrong, there! 

I'm ready, Derek!  You can come home, now!

He's On His Way!

Folks!  He's on his way home!  On a flight out of Afghanistan for the last time this go around!

As you may or may not be aware, I am behind on this blog.  As I type this, it's actually December 2...so to be clear, it's totally okay for me to be posting this pic and describing it, and am not in any way violating OPSEC.  ...One of the benefits of being behind on the blog!  ;)

The leaves here in the valley are looking smashing, as well!  I love this bush in our front yard.  It turns the most delightful red!

Tonight we headed to Panda Express, which honestly, I've been to something like once.  The girls were super excited...particularly to use chopsticks!  This is actually why we went in the first place.  Leiden needs a chopstick so we can make her wand for her Halloween costume.  

This is Mimi's method with chopsticks.  It actually works pretty well.  And frankly, it slows her down, which is a good thing.  ;)

Leiden is surprisingly good at using them one handed.  Myself?  I just use a fork.

Salon

The girls took advantage of the nice warm weather this afternoon and took their dolls outside for some salon time.  They were pretty cute, with their little aprons.  I'm always glad to see them playing with these dolls.

Mac's little Sadie is a, shall we say, lesser quality doll, as she was purchased while Mac was only 5...and unfortunately, it shows.  Her hair is very unruly, as well as patchy unless it's up how it was when she was purchased.  I'm surprised at the difference in quality between her and Leiden's doll, and will likely consider upgrading sometime soon.

The leaves on the mountain are looking gorgeous.  I wish Derek was going to see them in person!  Instead I send pictures.