Halloween...again...

This was a busy Halloween weekend. I think one night is more than enough but since our ward's Halloween activity fell on a Friday, that meant that Halloween Saturday was left up to me. (Lad had a game...again.)

We did pictures...again...and everyone but Brennen changed their costumes. Tonight, we had Darth Dallen, SpongeAusten, Spidey, and a Chyler fairy.



We were invited to Trick-or-treat with Zack, Zoe & Sophie up our street in their complex which is great because #1 - they actually have houses that give out candy and #2 - you don't have to worry about too many cars driving by. Yay! So, we spent about an hour over there and then went to Grandma and Grandpa's to show off our costumes.

There are usually no houses lit up where Grandpa & Grandma live ie. houses giving out candy, but luckily this year, there were 5 houses quite close together that had their front door lights on. So, we trick-or-treated again. So glad there were only 5 houses because it's a rather hill-y area!

After we hit those houses, we went back to Grandpa & Grandma's house where Dallen and Austen decided to sit outside and try their hand at giving out candy. However, since no one usually passes out candy - no one usually trick-or-treats here either. But, that didn't dash Austen's hopes and he took to on-street advertising. I took a video mainly for the audio...I thought it was hilarious.



So, that was our Halloween weekend. Yay, it's over! Halloween down, Thanksgiving is on it's way!



PS...in the midst of Trick-or-treating, Chyler found a great patch of pretty flowers and stopped to pick some!

Pearlridge (& Aiea) Ward Halloween Party!

Tonight, we had a great Halloween party for the Pearlridge and Aiea Wards to enjoy! Great turnout = great fun! The kids had a blast running around with their friends and getting candy too. They also had some music after the "trick-or-treating" in the cultural hall and Chyler got her groove on. It was a fun night for all!

I was so busy between taking the kids around and manning our room to pass out candy, I didn't really have a chance to take pictures. But, this is what I got before we got there. This year, Austen is Bumblebee, Brennen is (of course) Spiderman, and Chyler was a sunflower. Dallen missed the photo session due to a baseball scrimmage but depending on who he wants to be tomorrow, I'll snap a picture of either Optimus Prime, Darth Vadar, or The Joker. Stay tuned! Tonight, he chose Optimus Prime.



Chyler LOVES to dance and I couldn't help but take lots of video of her shaking her booty. In this clip, she tries everything to get Brennen to dance but to no avail.

Brennen was scared out of his mind and stuck to Lad and I like glue - did not like some of the more spooky costumes, dark hallways and rooms, and would not venture out anywhere. Chyler, on the other hand, has absolutely no fear. She even went through the scare maze with no second thoughts of touching the fake werewolf and witch and grabbing the eyeballs on the table. I'm thinking we may have a future problem with a fearless daredevil daughter. Aye yah! Austen and Sophie were, once again, inseparable. And Dallen hung out with his friends all night.

So much work yet SO much fun! I'm exhausted, goodnight!

Brennen's Halloween show!

Brennen's preschool has a mini-Halloween show every year. They always have a costume parade followed by short performances by each class - 2 year olds, 3 year olds, and two 4 year old classes. Brennen's 3 year old class performed two songs. He stood front and center and sang and did the motions very well!

His teacher says that he is very well-behaved in class and it was evident that he followed instructions about sitting down and following the class up to the stage. He didn't cry at all (some of the little ones had some trouble when seeing their parents) and did his thing up on the stage. I'm so proud of him! He's my little opihi so at the start of the school year, I was a bit worried about the clinging but no worries, he LOVES (I mean L-O-V-E-S!!!) school and tells me that it's fun everyday!

Chyler enjoyed every minute of the program - she even learned to say "boo" just by the few songs that were sung. Photo ops happened after the program near the classrooms so we shot some with me and with his teacher, Miss Rowena.

Sleeping habits

Ever since we've moved upstairs, Chyler has not been in a crib. Drats! At first, she slept in the back room on mats on the floor but now, she sleeps anywhere! Sometimes, she sleeps next to her brothers but now, she sleeps next to the cats! For the past 2 nights, she fell asleep right next to the kitty litter right next to Sugar, on the inside, and Pepper, on the outside. Basically she brings her pillow to the kitchen, throws it on the ground next to the kitty litter and the screen door, plops down and falls asleep. Don't worry, we move her eventually but still!



I know she just loves animals but this is ridiculous!!

CSMP 2009 & Happy Halloween!

Today, the Pearlridge Ward had their Children's Sacrament Meeting Program. Dallen and Austen were able to participate and they did so well! We're so proud of them both.

Austen memorized his part, "Lehi's family was protected because they left Jerusalem." He kept saying "because WE left Jerusalem" so we had to remind him that he's part of our family, not Lehi's. LOL! He got up to the podium and he nailed it! Yay Austen!

Dallen had his part - he was having some troubles memorizing the verbage as it was so we did a little tweaking together until he was comfortable. It ended up being, "I am thankful for my family. As a member of my family, I can do my part to be obedient and to be a good example. I know that if I am a good example to my brothers and to my sister, they will follow my lead." He got it too - and said it nice and clear! To our amazement, Dallen also sang a solo of the 3rd Article of Faith song - I almost dropped because he had told me that he was singing with some other boys. He sang so nicely and on pitch!! Wow! Great job Dallen!

For the past 2 weeks, I've been taking pictures of the kids in their "Sunday best" - the suits are the CSMP wear. (Why? I have no idea - probably because I thought Chyler was cute in her dresses) Dallen made this comment after he got dressed, "Mommy, I sure am wearing a lot of clothes that are uncomfortable." And the suit coat came off even before sacrament started!

And this afternoon, we had our family home evening (since we have to feed the missionaries on Monday night). We decided to prep for Halloween and carve pumpkins! Everyone got their hands yucky and started digging out the seeds. We roasted them but no one liked it, so it was dumped. I carved 1 pumpkin and Dallen carved his very first pumpkin all by himself! Here we are doing some "digging" and the end result! (Note: It was hot, so the boys were sporting underwear hence the blips.)

We're all looking forward to Halloween - and you know that Thanksgiving, Christmas and the new year are all zooming around the corner!!

Fall soccer is done!

Dallen finished his first U-10 soccer season. The GREEN KNIGHTS had a winning season! On the larger playing field, Dallen exceled at back field and especially at goalie. Forward was a bit difficult for him stamina-wise. Despite that, he thoroughly enjoyed playing his favorite sport!

Thanks to Ethan, Coen, Aarin, Aaron, Daniel, Jason, Drew & Coach Tilbert for making this a great season! Go Green Knights!

A post for Daddy

Our regular blog may be pre-empted for messages for Daddy since he's gone to China. Yes, China - is that as far away as one can get from the hoo-hum-drum of one's family?? Yes, I think so. Anyway...since China is 18 hours ahead of Hawaii...it's not likely the kids will be able to speak with him much, so I've come up with this alternative.

Messages to Daddy from...

Chyler



Brennen



Austen



Dallen

Same old, same old

Nothing much going on here - literally! It seems that all the construction and backyard work has stopped! No word, no nothing - the thing that has been really irritating me about this whole process is the lack of communication. I don't really care if the crews have different jobs to do or if they don't show up for a week but I do care if they don't let us know that.

Anyway, here's the outside - not much has changed since I took this last picture because no one's been here!



And the inside - pretty much the same for a couple weeks now! Grrr...



So, to get over myself - while living upstairs in a smallerthanthis space where the kids are right on top of each other and me - I took these pictures of the kids doing goofy things.

Since I've put all the toys away, the boys only have Legos and Chyler has a baby doll and a stroller. They're all making do so I'm thinking that it is all they actually need! Here's Austen's idea of a construction "situation" - he sings the Bob the Builder theme song while enacting scenes on the dining table. Chyler, the higher-minded female, is a bit bored so she has found that dressing up in her Daddy's ties is so much fun! Lad is irritated by this...beyond measure! She drapes them over her shoulders or tries to dress the cat. I think that it is so cute and funny! (But, don't tell Lad I said that!)



One day when we got home from church, Brennen decided to try on my heels. One day, he'll regret this! Mwwaaahhhhhhaaaaaaaa! (evil laugh!)



Oh, and remember Pepper, the stray cat from outside?? I'm happy to report that even with all the banging and digging and hoopla going on in and around our house - he?/she? and Sugar still have a very strong bond and visit every evening through the security screen door. Now, Pepper's hangout/hideout is among our camping equipment which is kept in the rafters in our slightly covered back patio. He/She will always come down as soon as he hears Sugar and tonight, I was so excited to see that he/she finally trusts me enough to eat with me being only a few feet away. He/She kept on eating as I did laundry and passed him/her by to get back into the house. Wow! What progress!! I'm well on my way to petting him/her! And maybe at that time I can finally tell what gender Pepper is!

Well, that's us on the homefront. Wish I had more to report!