Halloween...finally

So I am just getting these pictures from friends, so sorry for the delay. This was Halloween at the church Trunk or Treat. The kids had a blast and were so excited for the fun night! Carter was a creepy skeleton, Mason was dracula, Brennan was a warlock--even though you can't see his whole costume and he wouldn't let me paint his face, Taylor and Mom were witches..no dressing up required, best costume ever :) Dad was a pirate. Enjoy!

Guy Fawkes Day

We did have a great night celebrating Guy Fawkes day with some fabulous fireworks in Bury St Edmunds(the town we live).

The kids and Hollie with the Schmidt family. The boys found a great muddy field to watch the fireworks from instead of paying for up close and personal tickets. It was a grand time!

Elder Machen

The blog has become the official place to keep track of all the Elders we meet. Elder Machen left in October and we had a great night trying to get a picture of everyone with him. :) It really just ended up being a fabulous night of silly pictures.

This is Elder Pulotu, the kids think he is so silly, and Mason especially loves to attack him and strangle him to near death with a Mason super hug.

Carvin' it up

We had a fun Halloween weekend and even carved pumpkins this year! The kids were so excited to carve the pumpkins that we went and picked up at a local farmer, which they spent awhile trying to decide the perfect pumpkin for them! All of them did the actual carving in most cases and they had fun being allowed to use a knife for once. We tried to get Carter to eat some, but he chickened out pretty quickly.

Taylor was having a great time until I put pumpkin gut slime on her hands. Then she decided she would draw a sad pumpkin face. So that is exactly what she did!

Brennan was super stoked about the "nasty guts" and thought it was pretty stellar getting his hands deep in the pumpkin and pulling it all out.

Mason just giggled during his cleaning out process, he always thinks this part is funny.

Taylor wiping her hands on her dress, because where else would you put a slimy mess?

Carter couldn't get enough of the guts and wanted to help clear everyone else's.

I obviously helped Brennan with his pumpkin face. He is a little obsessed with all things "scary" so that is what we went with. He loved having a "scary face" and kept pretending to be scared of it.

Carter also thought his was very intimidating.

Taylor wanted to be like her pumpkin and be a sad little child carving a pumpkin.

Mason and Dad's completed masterpiece with the completed candle inside. Mason was thrilled when he saw it all lit up and smiling back at him!

I have decided that castles are like the grown-up man playgrounds. Uncle Mike came here the first week in October and we were able to get one day of castle exploring in. We first ate at this little pub right outside the castle gate, and I failed to take pictures of our food like a good commentator would have, but it was yummy. Uncle Mike had to sample the local beverage selection and then we told him he needed to climb the castle. This is no easy task and a little assistance was needed.
I must have taken the one with him actually in the window with his camera because I couldn't find it. It was a great climb and no one got hurt! :)

We saw another window, I told you it was bad from the beginning. We were lucky it wasn't a busy day, and could roam and wander at our pace and leisure.

Mason has been giggling with excitement since the first day Uncle Mike was here. I think it is because he is so excited about all the delicious and spicy food he has eaten as Uncle Mike played Chef in the kitchen. Such wonderful service! Anyone who is going to cook like that can stay at our place as long as they want!

You may recognize this castle as Framlingham Castle, which has been on the blog before. It tends to be one that we can make a simple and inexpensive day trip out of and the kids both little and big love it.

This sums up how Brennan felt about leaving the castle.

After Framlinghan we made our way about 12 miles closer to the coast and visited Orford Castle. Framlingham is an example of a castle that is really just the outer walls still left and Orford is a very neat and well preserved example of a keep.

Upstairs in the keep was the Great Hall which is now used as a little museum type area where they display all the items they have found around the area of the castle over the years. Coins, pipes, tools, and many other incredible pieces were on display.

The Keep

Uncle Mike having a go at pestering Mason. I think that they had a great time with one another.

I love this little bum picture because it shows what castle exploring is all about. To visit these wonderful and fascinating places still puts me in awe at what they could accomplish with the little they would have had. I love that our children get to see these things as they grow and I hope they never take advantage of it.

We love this cottage on our drive and although we couldn't get a full picture of it, we still wanted to share it. Love this place!

Farewell old crib!

This was a crib about two weeks ago. :) We bought this lovely piece of furniture for $20 when I was pregnant with Mason. We were so excited for our first little baby. I remember putting him in this for the first time when he was about 3 weeks old. He was so tiny and full of life. He was the beginning of our gorgeous children and each one has used this crib. Just when we would put it in storage I would be pregnant again. After Brennan we knew no other baby would go in here because it was falling apart in so many places. What better way to say goodbye to such a wonderful memory? Mike kept telling me he was going to have it taken down and smashed for the wood pile when I got home from my trip, but there it stood. I decided I should do it while Mike was golfing with the Elders from London on their personal day. So they got home from golfing and it was ready to go. I didn't realize Mike even has a sledge hammer, what a fun time I had!

Kevin

Everytime I come home from a trip and look at the camera SD card I find that Kevin has got a hold of my camera. Last time it was a hilarious video testing the zoom capabilities of our video camera. This time I just had the regular camera. Never the less Kevin was still able to be Kevin! :) Love ya man!

Mindy and Kevin---they are adorable! Love em'

Things you miss when you are gone

Most of all I miss my mom and dad. I have loved how much our relationship has grown as I have had children and embarked on a journey of life with my own little family. I miss seeing them all the time and being able to just spend time with them relaxing at their house. I think I miss them a little more each time I go home and have to leave again. Although this seems to have become the norm in my life and that is okay for now.

I miss those mountains! I have never been so in love with them as I was on this trip. Maybe it was because I was up there for the weekend and felt the crisp cold Autumn air. Maybe it was running up the hills of the mountain and being so close to them again. I went walking with my mom nearly everyday of my trip. It was so beautiful to walk at the base of these mountains. We started before the sun could show itself. Watching the sunlight touch the valley was something
magical. I loved being able to walk with my mom and enjoy the progress and wonder she has made.

My mom and I at the airport. Saying another see ya later! I loved my trip, even though it went by so fast and I could have survived another week. :) I love that I have a husband who just says, "okay, have a great time," when I say that I want to do something like fly across the world for one week of bliss. It was a pleasure and although I didn't get to spend loads of time with people, I was grateful for what I got and treasure my time I had.

As promised..the next time won't be a surprise. :)

Laughs until 1 a.m.

Kaden, Chloe and Aunt Hollie, this is after I rescued them from a scary bug. Derek, Kalli and the kids all came by on their way home from the State Fair to say goodbye. I ran out so that I could give hugs and kisses to the kids. When I got there they were frozen in place and terrified. There had been a large bug flying around and they were so scared. It landed on the headrest of the seat and Kaden informed me that they were not talking to it or moving so that it would stay there. So sweet and so sad at the same time. Jace is in his car seat behind Kaden and was not happy about being in the car and being woken up from the lack of movement happening. Poor guy :(
Chelsi and Hollie--before things got really silly. :)

Kalli and Hollie--and then it began! We were going to get a picture of us girls together and every time I clicked the camera Chelsi was making a silly face. So we all joined in. Mike's family has this crazy ability to blow out their lips and not bust up laughing. So we were all trying to do it, but I kept laughing so hard I couldn't stand it. It was hilarious, but alas we were able to get one shot. They should have known I would record these photos for the world to see. Be careful what you do in front of my camera people!

Then Chelsi was going crazy!! Seriously, I am laughing at this picture remembering how funny this was. I thought she was going to do that lip thing again and so I was standing at the ready. When I said, "three," she starting flipping her head about like a mad woman. I can't help but laugh and could hardly tell Mike this story without laughing like mad.

Hollie and Denise and Hollie and the all the girls that night. Jeni and Amanda weren't there--it was late! Sorry ladies.

Love my little brother Blake---always have a special place in my heart for this little turd. :)

Hollie and Bob---thanks for staying up late guys and for the great laughs due to all of us being drunk with tiredness!!!