Trunk-or-Treat...smell my exhaust fumes?

We had a blast at our ward Halloween thingy. It was rainy and chilly but the kids were dressed warmly enough and we moved inside pretty quickly. There was a little carnival going on in the Church with some cute games and MORE candy. My favorite part was the Cake-walk...mmmm. I held all my kids' hands and walked around until I almost puked and finally won a delicious cupcake. (They were not even close to being cute like Rozannah's and Deseree's!) The kids had a great time but it was a little difficult trying to feed them dinner after that. The party started at 5:30 so next year we'll have to remember to feed them something somewhat nutricious before letting them binge on tootsie rolls and candy corn.

Here is our sweetest little cowgirl (she called herself a "princess cowgirl" because the hat has a little tiara on it). Thanks to my Mom and Sister-in-law for finding Mia's cute outfit at Goodwill...so awesome.

I bought this costume for Jake last year after Halloween on clearance and it was a great deal but it BARELY fit his chubby butt. It's sized 18-24 months and he's barely 2 but it was sooooo hard to zip this thing. Also, note his amazing yellow face make-up...yeah, it was quite a work-out to put even that much on his face because he is just so stubborn! No thanks to me for passing on that lovely personality trait.


Obviously, Luke was a little better about holding still for the face-painting. I'm really not a fan of Halloween...I don't really see the point and I don't like my kids having all that candy around the house that I eat for them. (I'm a really nice mommie to help them, eh?) BUT--as I was painting Luke's face I started getting really excited and already trying to think of a stupid costume for next year. What happened to me?? Did I catch the Halloween spirit if there is such a thing?

The three amigos...hey that gives me an idea for next year!! Having 3 kids is soo fun.

I just had to throw this picture in with the rest because of Jesse's amazing whiskers. He quit his pilot job so he could build full-time and I made him grow out his facial hair. The kids thought it was so cool and when Luke asked, "Dad, where's your costume?" Jesse responded, "I've been growing it out for a week!" Funny, huh. Good wolf-man costume, Jesse.

Zippety-Ay and Hidey-Ho I hate that song!!

Jesse and Deseree' have had a birthday, shout, "Hooray!". Being in primary, it's only natural that I constantly have those cheesy birthday songs in my head all week, every week. Oh well, I guess there are worse songs out there.

Poor Jesse...we didn't throw him a party or anything! I made a yummy dinner and then we had Brownies & Ice Cream (per Jesse's request) and then watched a movie. I know...we are party animals! Well, I will say this...we didn't finish the movie until 11:30 which is the latest we've stayed up in a looonnngg time. We are so old.

Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSE. I love you more than ever, times infinity, plus one.

When Life hands you Rain...go get wet.

I just had to let the kids go splash around this afternoon in the gloomy weather...we just HAD to get out of the house! My mom bought them some amazingly adorable rainboots and let us have one of their umbrellas so we took advantage. The kids had a blast and then we came back in the warm house and had hot cocoa... um, yeah, I'll do anything to have an excuse to make hot cocoa. I think I drink that more than water in the winter. Hmmm, maybe that's why I just can't seem to shed these last 30 lbs. NO-DOIY. Thanks, Mom, for the raingear!! We love it!

SOLD- to the lady in the second row...

Yes, our lovely house has sold. A very sweet young family is buying it and I think it will be just perfect for them. We are closing at the end of the month and already put an offer in for another building lot in C. Falls. Luckily, we will not be moving wards and will be renting a home close to where we are building our next home to sell. We realize the market is slow right now but people are still buying homes here in the valley for now. The next house we do will be smaller so it can stay in a more reasonable price range...Jesse has the plans going and it's going to be a cool house...actually, all the homes Jesse designs are cool. It must be nice to be so talented! Anyway, it's onward and upward for us---another move closer to having our OWN HOUSE someday---oh, someday.

Pumpkin Patch Perfection

As is our annual tradition, the kids and I visited our favorite pumpkin patch to enjoy the fall fun and pick some lovely pumpkins. This place is sooo cool. They have a small petting zoo with some sweet farm animals and some fun stuff set up for kids of all ages. They have racetracks with big trikes and tire swings made to look like horses. They also have a little concession stand with the loveliest homemade treats. Then they take the kids for a ride on the "train" which is a line of wooden carts pulled by a tractor out to the patch to pick their pumpkins. All in all, it is a very fun afternoon!

My BABY Jacob is 2 Years Old!! Yo Soy Muy Triste.

Well, I suppose since Jake's birthday was in September I should post some pics of him through the years...maybe because I'm feeling old and can't believe he's growing up so fast and also because he's just so dang cute.

Huckleberry Pie and I shut my mouth!

Oh, how I love Montana. Barrett and Michelle (my brother and his cute wife) were up visiting this weekend and we decided to go on a little hike on Big Mountain. We had heard that the huckleberry harvest on the mountain this year was especially plentiful so we stowed away some Ziplocs just in case we came upon some.

Well, it was a lovely day to be on the mountain. It was a tiny bit depressing as well because the foliage around here has already began it's change into fall colors. On the bright side we did find a little meadow with some delicious berries just begging to be picked. We almost filled a gallon Ziploc and enjoyed some amazing huckleberry pancakes this morning before Church....mmmmmm mmmmm goooooood.

Lewis, Clark and Sacagawea trying to find our house in the beautiful Flathead Valley.

Below is a closer look at one of nature's candies and some fall colors.