Boys in White

Soren was Baptized and Levi was blessed on Nov. 2nd.  It was such a wonderful day.  There were times I didn't know if it was going to turn out.  We liv just 3 blocks from the Stake Center - our church building.  That is were they usually do the baptisms which is very convenient for us.  Well, this was the only Saturday of the year they had to move the baptisms to another church 20 minutes away because they were putting on a play in one week and were doing dress rehearsals there.  I didn't find out until 4 days before the baptism. I was not happy.  Well, the day of the baptism we had a horrible wind storm and we lost power for several hours earlier that day.  We were planning on a dinner with my family after the baptism and knew it would be okay even without power because we have an amazing generator.  Then we realized the church the baptism was being held at may not have power.  Luckily they did, but our church down the road didn't and didn't get it back for over a day.  So if we were able to stay at the stake center, the baptism would have been cancelled due to power issues - so in the end it all worked out for the best.  So I started grumpy and ended grateful.

 The whole service was really wonderful.  During the talks the speakers would talk directly to the children being baptized (there were 4 total) and Soren wanted to answer all the questions.  He was so cute and eager.  None of the kids were as outspoken as he was.  I was really proud of him.  He beamed going in the water and and gave a great big smile after being baptized.  It was a wonderful day full of family a some friends. I felt so supported and loved and hope Soren did too.  Since we were all gathered already, we chose to give and name and blessing to Levi at that time too.  He wore the same adorable tux my mom made for Soren when he was blessed.  All 3 boys have warn it.  It was pretty snug on Levi as he was 6 weeks old, but it was so cute.

Ryan did a great job serving our family that day.  I am so proud of all my boys.

Halloween!

Halloween day was a busy one for us.  Particularly between 4pm (when the boys got home from school) and 6pm (when we went with friends trick o' treating).  I made Xander's costume - ripped up an old bedding sheet, carved pumpkins, and did homework.  Phew!  Xander kept changing his mind as to what he wanted to be.  First it was a girl, then a box, then a dragon, and then it was settled on a mummy.  I should have just forced him to choose and figured out his costume much earlier, but I have been tired lately ;)

Here is Xander debuting his costume.  It looked really cool, but you could tell I just threw it together, because the costume didn't stand Xanders big movement past an hour.  By then end of trick o' treating it had completely fallen apart.  Ooops.

I kept putting off carving pumpkins because we were waiting for dad to be around. The boys still need a lot of help with the cutting and I just couldn't help both of them carve and take care of the baby.  It takes forever to feed Levi still (a good 30 minutes, down from 45.)  Here are the finished products.












Levi was our plump little pumpkin.  He had a blow out 30 minutes after putting on the costume - but we got the picture!

On Halloween night we got together w/ friends to trick o' treat and all then men took the kids out and the women stayed behind nursing babies.  It was awesome and so easy for me. This was the first year I haven't taken the kids out and the first year Ryan has.  We stayed and chatted with friends while the kids watched a movie.  Super fun Halloween.  This was the second year the boys sold me their candy the day after Halloween (after eating way to much the day before of course.)  This is an option I give them and I love it when they take it.  I am sure to hit a store they can spend their money at that same day so they feel like they really got something.  My kids love to spend money.  They are not natural savors.  Soren got a small lego set - those are so painful to buy because you can spend 9 dollars for the smallest kit.  But Soren doesn't feel that way.  All legos are good legos to him.  Xander bought 5 goldfish and fish food.  Xander so desperately want to take care of animals.

A week earlier Ryan and I went to an adult only halloween party.  Super fun.  We borrowed James Hicks japanese costumes.  He had served his mission there and these costumes were no joke.  They were very authentic and quality. I was worried about them the whole I time we were wearing them.  Luckily we got them back unscathed.