Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! From Jack Starnes the most LOVED (and a bit abused) cat that ever existed!  Doesn't he look OVERJOYED about today's big holiday?? Good old Jack....just remember that you chose us you silly cat.

Today has been pretty fun thus far! We're looking forward to doing some trick or treating tonight. Luckily the weather is PERFECT for Halloween this year. Nate took me to lunch which is always a great time. We went to my favorite Mexican place in town...Jaliscos. YUM!

Then I went and helped out in Dallin's class for his Halloween party. Since there were no costumes allowed this year (LAME-O), the kids made masks. We played games, made some crafts and had some snacks.

Just a little shout out to my amazing, incredibly smart oldest son. He just finished checking off all 12 multiplication tables and all 12 division tables. He is the ONLY 4th grader to accomplish this task already and might I mention the fact that he didn't miss ONE SINGLE PROBLEM! He seriously amazes me. Oh yeah, AND he is still the only 4th grader in his school who has yet to miss one spelling word. Way to go my little genius boy!! Grandma EE bought him the 2nd Candy Shop Wars book this past weekend so we haven't really seen much of him since then.........☺

Yesterday Dallin had to bring snacks to scouts. He wanted to have witch finger cupcakes. Easy and cute!

Parker was SUPER bummed today. His class didn't even play one Halloween game or do anything to celebrate the season. The other 2nd grade class had a big ol' party and he was so sad and envious. I bought him a nerds rope (his fav) to help him get over his saddend state. He has been very busy latey playing basketball again. His team is doing so incredibly well. I absolutely love watching this kid in his element. It makes me giddy to think about the sports we will get to cheer for as the years go by.

Mr. Landon is as sweet as always. The other day I was driving home from somewhere and Landon (in his squeaky voice) says, "Hey, MOM! Thank-YOU!!" I had to ask him what he was thanking me for. His response, "Just for EEEEEVERYTHING that you do for me!"

He is not allowed to grow up anymore. Too bad he isn't listening.

Annnnnd............

Our princess is just sweet and so cute. That's all I have to say about her. Totally and utterly obsessed with her. Almost 4 months old already. My life never knew such sweetness until she came.

Happy Halloween!

Family Costumes 2012

This was going to be the first year we did not do a family costume. Alas, 3 boys begged and pleaded to do it yet again. We thought long and hard about what we could be.....and tried our hardest to MAKE our costumes. Last year I made all of the costumes for under 4 dollars. We didn't do nearly as well this year but we still did pretty darn good.

May I present...........

Starnes Family Game Night!!

Here are just a few of the Starnes Family's favorite games:

Here we go with the total cost:

Felt for Nate's costume plus white t shirt: $6.36
My costume: two pieces of thick cardboard: $2.00
Dallin's cardboard: $1.00
Anna's dress, crown and staff thing: $17.89
Parker's hat and cane: $7.42
Landon's banana costume: $12.59

Equals a grand total of ........................$47.26

Less than $8 per costume....not too shabby!

Weekend craziness!

We carved our pumpkins tonight. We learned something this year....the larger the pumpkin the less the seeds! Who knew?

We thought the insides of a pumpkins were gross. Try bringing the pumpkins in and finding a nice surprise underneath them. SLUGS. SICK nasty!!!

 Of course we had to put baby in a pumpkin. Her very FIRST Halloween!

They turned out great!

We had such a fun and crazy weekend. Grandma EE stayed through the weekend to see some of the craziness that takes place here over a typical Starnes weekend! Friday she came for our Halloween party. Saturday we went to Parker's basketball game where they basically annihilated the other team. The boys played in the snow until it all melted away and then we had family pictures done in the rain. We've only seen our one preview picture and I am hoping that the others turned out as cute.

Today was the kids primary program. Landon had a HUGE part in the beginning of the program. He started out the as the only child up on the stand. After he was done saying his part, all of the kids started singing and joined him up on the stand. Here is what his part said:

I choose to be happy

When I wake up each day

When I eat my food

I always choose to pray

When I play with my brothers

I try to choose the right

I try to be nice

So things don't end up in a fight

My mom asks me to help her

Each and every day

I like to help her because

I like to do things the right way

My daddy is so much fun

I love to play with him in the backyard

We always have a lot of fun

so choosing the right isn't hard

when I go to sleep at night

I think about my day

Did I choose the right?

I know that I am trying

that is all that I can do

Because Jesus, I want to be just like you.

I TOTALLY video recorded the whole thing. I was sneaky about it. Here is a picture though. I was the beaming mom down in the pews. And yes, I totally cried when he was done. My baby boy is growing up so fast!

I also taught my 2nd lesson in the Mia Maid class. I wasn't nearly as nervous as I was last week. Teenage girls are intimidating...especially when I don't really know them yet. Hopefully things get a little easier as I get to know them better.

Anyway......I'm so glad my Grandma could be here for all of the fun. She is amazing and I'm grateful that she always takes the time to come up here and support the kids in all of their events. It means the absolute world to me and I know the kids love having her here.

Halloween Party!

 15 neighbor kids. One Grandma. One mom friend. Sugar cookies. Frosting. Candies. Cupcakes. Goody bags. Wrap the Mummy. Charades. Huge spiderweb. Halloween bingo. Jack O lantern dice game. Prizes. Noise. LOTS of noise. Screaming. Laughing. Craziness. Fun. Halloween Party. A huge success.

No heat curls

Have you ever tired to curl your hair using the headband method? I decided to give it a try last night. Basically you wash your hair and when its almost dried you wrap your hair around the head band and go to sleep. In the morning you are supposed to have beautiful natural curls.

Here is what it looks like once the hair is wrapped around the headband:

And here is what the hair is supposed to look like the next day:

I TOTALLY nailed it:

Smiles

 Words just can't describe how the smiles on my children's faces makes me feel. It makes ME want to smile. It makes me want to cry. It makes me unbelievably grateful. It makes me want to burst with happiness. It makes all my worries go away. It makes me want to sweep them into my arms and hug them so tight that they will wonder what on earth I am thinking. How I love to see them smile!

"Of all the joys my life brings, a childs smile makes my heart sing."

Family pics at the cabin

Nate's mom had a friend come up and take some pics of our family up at the cabin!

Makes me wish we were back up there right now.

It's SNOWING outside today. Ugggh. Here we go again Idaho Falls. ☺

 My sweet girl.

Grandma and Grandpa with all of the grandkids!