Bat and Boo - Halloween 2010

Halloween is such a fun holiday for our family!  It is the start of the Holiday Season, which is all about family and celebrating together.  And Bella's favorite word in the whole world is Boo, she even signs her name Bella Boo sometimes.  There are so many ways to make the holiday cute and fun, and not too scary or gross.  I love all the cute decorations and acItivities, and having kids to dress up in costumes just makes it so much better!

So, it might be no surprise that Bella and I started talking about costumes in July.  She immediately knew she wanted to be a monster so she could say, "Boo!"  I thought it would be so fun to have two little monsters.  At that time it was going to be a pink monster and a blue monster.  Then, Bella's favorite color changed to purple, so she wanted to be a purple monster.  And finally, one afternoon we watched Monsters Inc., which was Bella's favorite movie forever.  I don't remember if it was Bella or me that thought of it first, but within minutes both of us were so excited that we had the perfect costume idea for Bella, Boo!  Not only is Boo a purple Monster when Mike and Sulley sneak her into the factory, but she pretty much just says Boo!

So, after looking without much luck for a premade costume, I found a website that had a picture of a great homemade how-to costume.  I knew I had to make it.  The body and arms were easy enough, but the hood was a nightmare to figure out, and it didn't turn out very well at all.  It wouldn't stay up and the eyes kept popping off, but at least I tried.  Bella was so excited, and I am glad I did it even though it didn't turn out that great!

Casen was going to be a monster too, but after making Bella's costume, I did not have the desire to try to make another one.  Casen also cut one of his top fangs before his other top teeth came in, so he looked like half a vampire.  I tried to find a vampire costume to fit him, but of course, I couldn't find any that fit him.  So I was finally at target and saw a bat costume his size, and thought, bats have fangs!  So he became a bat for Halloween.  I felt like I copped out a little on his costume, especially since it was hard to tell what he was unless his arms were out, but he was still cute, especially with his cute little fang!

Casen as Bat Baby chasing a ball.

Boo and Bat Baby waiting to go trick or treating.

Casen eating a rock outside a friend's house.  This was about the most exciting part of the night for him!

Bella's friend, Kenzi as Tinkerbell, Bella, and Casen right before we went trick or treating.

Casen fell asleep on Chad's shoulder.  One second he was wide eyed and smiling, and I looked over a second later and he was out!

Another Fun Camping Trip!

Chad and I talked about going camping together for over five years, and now we have been twice!  It helps to have mountains within a few hours drive.  Bella LOVES to go camping.  She loves the tent, the fire, the cooler weather, the hiking, the outdoors, playing in the rocks, and most importantly, the s'mores! 

We went with the same friends as last time, but this time they brought their camper.  Chad and Christian drove Christian's Bronco pulling the camper, and Olivia and I drove in their van with all the kids (three kids and two babies).  The bronco stalled a couple miles from the campsite, so we hooked the van up and the van pulled the bronco pulling the camper, it was awesome.  After we set up the site, we headed down to the Gila Valley Temple (He-la Valley) and the couples took turns watching the kids and going to the temple.  Then we headed back up the mountain to camp.  It was really late and dark, and all the kids fell asleep except for Bella.  It turned out to be a rough night, especially for the Coleman's.  All the kids were sick except for Bella, and I don't think Christian and Olivia got any sleep.  But the next day everyone was feeling better and we went exploring with the kids, made rock people (glued eyes and faces onto rocks and pinecones), painted the Coleman's camper camo, and took the kids swimming in a local "lake" and hot springs.  It was a tiring, but fun trip.  Oh, and we even had an unwelcome visitor at the campfire, a huge, ugly spider that crawled up my chair.  It was a lot of fun, can't wait to do it again!!

 hanging out at the campfire with baby Lincoln

Me and Bella 

making and eating s'mores 

Bella loves her s'mores 

our very unwelcome visitor, ugh! 

the kiddos hanging out

Chad and Casen.  Casen is always so happy, and he usually smiles for the camera! 

Casen is sporting his Texas pride! 

The Coleman's camper before... 

...and after the camo paint job. 

Joy School

Last year, Bella went to a Children's Day Out Program in Texas while Chad was in training.  By October, she didn't want to go, and by the time we moved, she had completely shut down at school.  It turned out to be a bad experience (not necessarily because of the program or teachers, she just had a lot going on with moving and Chad leaving and everything else in our lives changing).  When we moved, I didn't dare try to put her into a preschool, I knew she just needed to stay home with me.

I wasn't really sure what we were going to do this year.  I knew she needed something, she was getting so bored and she was ready to learn.  Chad and I were both in Joy School when we were younger and I liked that idea better than her going to preschool.  Luckily, someone from church wanted to start a group, and we found two other moms, and started up just in time!  Bella loves it!  She already knew the moms and was friends with the kids in the group, so she isn't afraid or intimidated about going.  And when we have the school at our house, she gets so excited and loves to help out.  Some of the lessons are pretty cheesy, but overall, it has been a great experience.  And the nice thing is, the lessons center more on being a good person, appreciating the world around you, serving others, and being joyful and not just teaching numbers and alphabet.  Bella already knows her abc's and numbers, and has started writing her name and anyone else's that we will spell for her.  I still can't decide if I am going to try to get her into the charter school kindergarten next year since their deadline is Oct. 30, or let her wait another year like she is supposed to, or even home school her if we can find a good co-op.  Luckily, I don't have to decide yet!

Anyway, here are a few pics from her first day going to Joy School, she was so excited!!!

Ready for school, with a sassy pose!

Waving Bye (even though I am driving her to school) 

Bella ran ahead to ring the doorbell to Aaron's house,

and her friend, Aden, is pulling his backpack. 

Waiting for Aaron to open the screen door. 

Aaron is showing Aden and Bella where to put their shoes 

Bella putting her backpack away 

Chad's 28th Birthday

Chad's Parents Came in for Chad's Birthday.  We told Bella there was a surprise for her, and she came downstairs to find Papa and Nana waiting for her.  She was so excited!!  We didn't do anything too exciting. 

Chad opened presents in the morning while we folded clothes

 Another picture Bella took, she does a good job!

We went to Red Lobster for dinner, and waited forever!

Casen tood a nap on Chad's shoulder

And then we came back home for ice cream and cake, Bella with her beloved Papa

Chad with his FOX riding cake

Bella helping Daddy blow out all 28 of his candles

Casen was up way past his bed time, but he was a happy little guy

And didn't even seem to mind the birthday hat.

Bella loves birthdays, and had a lot of fun!

I can't believe Chad is 28!  What I don't have pictures of is the big brown recluse bit we discovered after we put the kids to bed.  Chad had a really painful pimple on his shoulder that he and his dad started pushing on.  Tons and tons of puss was coming out, and then they noticed the sore was like a backwards volcano and was black on the indside.  His dad poked a needle down into it and Chad couldn't feel it.  We looked it up online, and it looked like a brown recluse bite, so Chad ended up going to the ER after we all went to bed.  They didn't really do anything.  The next day we realized he had the same thing on his cheek, only not nearly as bad (not as much venom).  He felt awful for about a month, but they have healed now.  I guess it was an eventful Birthday! 



Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum

I got Bella some Hubba Bubba Bubble Gum from the Commissary.  I started blowing bubbles, and naturally, she started popping them and giggling.  Her laugh was so cute that I thought I would try to get it on camera.  Well, I'm not very good with the camera, especially when I am trying to pop a bubble at the same time, but Bella is still cute!