I blew up this cute print for my mantle to add a little Halloween charm.
The weather has noticeably turned and I convinced the kids to join me on a night walk to smell the lovely smells of an early autumn night.
Jon and I have managed to resume our Tuesday movie nights! It's so much fun.
We were able to gather (even the Gouldings!) for the annual bike ride down the canyon. It was
gorgeous. Whoa. We biked to the base of the canyon and had lunch and the kids played for a bit. Then we pressed on to our house. It was a particularly wonderful ride that day, I must say.
For Halloween Zeke wants to be Naruto. He's a character from an Anime show he watches. So much Anime right now~ whatevs.
He was all in to make a homemade costume this year. We found a shirt and pants at D.I. that he thought would work, and he stenciled the symbol on the back. Zeke did real great on it!
We have now cracked down on the boys schooling, much to their dismay. Their grades really stink, and we think they could do much better, even if home learning is harder and less instruction and more confusing on what is due and needed from them. I've never really been this kind of a mom, but different times call for different measures. (We're still in those trenches!)
One of Adren's assignments was to create a collage about himself~ which I found endearing to assign to 17 year old Juniors ;) I found this on the counter. I like that he included skateboarding, pizza, D.I. (thrifting is very big right now.), Pokemon, X-Box, burgers, guitar, Jazz (basketball, not the music.), sleeping, friends, staying up late, earning money, nighttime, music... I think he covered everything!
Back to Zeke's costume~ The kimono he needs is green and black checkered, but that fabric does not exist. So we decided to
paint the green on to black and white fabric!
I know. We have both been working on it and it is coming along great!
Sewing up the kimono itself was pretty simple enough.
October fires! Timp mountain caught fire and spread so fast! They closed Provo Canyon. Jon and I drove out to the High School to get a better look at it. We could see the flames out our bedroom window for days.
This Provo River Trail sure makes my walks as pleasant as can be. In this moment I had to stop and appreciate the beauty just steps away from my door.
Paisley loves Sookie. If I put that on a billboard with lights it would still be understated. After Paisley gets home from school and has a snack and we chat, she devotes some time snuggling and petting her. She blows her kisses when she walks by her. She tears up when we talk about how sweet she is. This cat is
loved.
The three best teenagers on the planet.
The Bat Cave is up!
I was out cleaning up the yard for colder weather ahead and stretched my back out on the porch after being hunched over for so long. What a great view!
After cleaning up the yard I pulled our pumpkins and squash from the garden and decorated the porch.
And this is the same view the very next day while walking home from my
Stake meeting!
The Fireplace mantle is decked and ready for Halloween. I love these wispy plants I snip near the river every year.
I was excited when Christine asked me to help decorate for Maia's wedding! We were all so excited to attend, and so happy for a clearly giddy Maia! We met her then-boyfriend when we all went to Carol and Conway's, and Christine said they were definitely talking marriage.
The wedding was at the White Shanty in Provo, and it was fun helping decorate the chandelier, and get things moved around and set up. It all looked so pretty! I went back that evening with the family for the ceremony. Cameron's older brother, Travis married them, which was so sweet.
I loved seeing all these cousins together, having a great time.
They served their favorite candy bars and soda. It was cute, and Zeke's dream.
Maia looked so gorgeous!
It was such a lovely night.
Zeke and I went out to get the much needed ninja sword to complete his costume. We're almost there, and he is 100% satisfied, which is everything!
The last step is to dye Zeke's hair the deep red to match his character. He always wants colors in his hair, so this is right up his alley!
Soooo much red dye! I had to send him back in the shower and shampoo it myself a second time. It looks RED!
He loves it, and is glad it will stay a long while.
I altered the collar on his shirt and added trim and buttons as per his instructions, and Zeke made his earrings. He looks great, and it was so fun to do together, and I especially love how much he loves it!
We were asked to feed the missionaries and I felt bad that at the last minute they couldn't come over because Jon wasn't home, so I wrote them a letter and brought dinner to them. Wherever their moms are out there, please know your boys got some love and full bellies tonight.
Of course the kids keep asking when we will carve pumpkins. I think I am officially done with scraping pumpkin off my floors, walls and table. I told them that this year they get to carve outside on the grass! They were happy to, and friend Esme even joined. How fun to just pick a pumpkin out of the garden and go for it!
They had to do it out front because the backyard was being used for
Airsoft Target Practice.
Amidst all of this, I Voted! What a crazy year, what a crazy time, and what an especially crazy election!
Eli and friends are dressing up as Gucci Models. So great! I had so much fun pulling out all sorts of options for Eli. Zeke wanted to join in as well.
Halloween night finally arrived. I made a big batch of fajitas, not knowing whom all we would have over. Paisley's friends arrived and ate, Eli changed plans and ended up meeting up with friends. Adren worked until late and then went out, Zeke was in and out with friends, Granny and Grandpa Taylor came over and ate and we had a great night, chatting and being together. A Halloween success!
Remember, Paisley and Esme have been working on their Bill and Ted costumes for a couple of months!
Out until the wee hours of the night, just as it should be.
