Happy Halloween!

We celebrated Halloween early this year.  My kids had a blast carving pumpkins at Trent and Aly's house on Friday night.  They have become very talented at cleaning out pumpkins and carving intricate designs in them.  They had been looking forward to the event all week.  Trent has done this every year since we've been here.  I didn't have my camera that night so I'll have to get some pictures from someone else to post.   Last night was our annual Trunk 'or Treat in our church parking lot.  Today, the kids are all sugared-up and most trick-or-treaters haven't even hit the streets yet.  Dave and the two youngest will join some friends from the church for visiting and roasting marshmallows tonight instead of trick 'or treating.  Rachel and I will be going to Stake Choir practice.  Sound like fun?!

Since I last wrote, Matthew was baptized and we celebrated Alyson's birthday, Rachel's birthday, and our 13th wedding anniversay.  Grandmas and Grandpas came down for Matthews special day.  It was also fun to have Cheri and her kids come up to play for a couple hours after the service.

Alyson had her first, and likely last, birthday slumber party.  It took us a few days to recover from the loss of sleep.  She had fun, but after celebrating Rachel's birthday the following week, she said she would much rather just spend birthdays with her family.

Rachel's 12th birthday was spent as a Mommy-daughter(s) night out instead of a party with friends.  Along with Alyson, I enjoyed this celebration much more than the slumber party with 8 hyper 9 and 10-year old girls.  We ate dinner as a family at Rachel's favorite restaurant - Red Lobster.  The boys then went their way to soccer practice, and the girls and I hung out at the mall - we tried on makeup, got Rachel's ears pierced (actually only one that night - we had to go back a week later to finish since one earing wouldn't go all the way through on the first try), enjoyed a foot massage and pedicure, and window shopping.

Unfortunately, my work stresses and deadlines prohibited any anniversary celebrations.  We didn't have any formal plans this year but I would've much rather spent the evening alone with Dave than at my office trying to finish an assignment - even more frustrated that this wasn't supposed to have been something I was to do myself but the other party involved thinks she can go home at 5pm every night regardless of meeting the deadline or not.  In some ways I wish I could be more like her; but I also need to support my family.  Things at work have been changing and it has been a difficult month.  Our CIO has begun letting people go who are not meeting expectations; I have been encouraged to apply for a newly opened director position in our department.  This could be a very good thing for my family if I were actually offered the position; a challenge for me, something new and different - not necessarily less stress though.  I'll let you know if anything comes of this.

Dave is doing well - he's enjoyed several trips to the gun range and is finally licensed to "pack heat" (or for the rest of the world - carry a concealed gun).  He is definitely exercising his 2nd ammendment rights!  He spends spare moments reloading ammunition and planning for his next gun purchase.  When he's not doing this he's looking for some paying jobs to help cover the costs of his hobbies.

I could ramble on but I won't. I hope you all have a great week!  Happy Halloween!