It’s been a while (again!) since my last post. I just don’t have as much free time these days. I try and smoosh any little time I have into moments like these – very early morning before the sun even thinks of coming up and before I need to get Michaela out of bed so we can start our day. Tomorrow is Halloween. I’d like to say we were excited about it but with how crazy things have been it’s kind of been pushed to the back of our minds. I forget how close its gotten. Luckily this year’s costume is an easy one – princess…I know…SHOCKER! But this costume Michaela picked out herself and purchased with her free Disney gift card she received when we went to Disneyland on her birthday. Pictures will be posted this weekend…Other prep work includes our graveyard in the the front yard. It was snowed on this week so we have to unbury the skeleton and light up the green spot lights. I haven’t used them all month mainly because they get really hot and I don’t want to cause a fire! But I think I will turn them on starting tonight to see if we can burn off some of that snow! We’ll have the smoke machine again this year and for the first time we’ll use our front window to project a movie. We’ll see how that turns out. I mainly do this for our own enjoyment. We don’t get many trick or treaters which is probably a good thing. Michaela is into it though. Her cousins are for the 2nd year in a row doing a “tunnel of doom” and it’s turned her thoughts to what we could do to make our own tunnel of doom. What she doesn’t realize though is that if we did that, we’d have to stay home to work the tunnel…that means no trick or treating. So, I think we’ll hold off another couple of years. Although, she’s got some really wicked ideas. It was fun putting the graveyard up because every time we placed a tombstone or she’d stick a bone in the ground she’d let out a “Whoa-HAHAHAHA!” It was hilarious to hear her scary laugh and I have to admit that I was pleased that she’s as demented as I am and her father was. 
So, we’ll see how it goes! I imagine that it won’t be long before we hang back at home and create our own version of Disney’s Haunted Mansion. She even told me last night that we should contact Disney and ask to borrow their crystal ball with the scary lady inside. Yeah, like they’ll just GIVE me Madam Leotta! HA HA. Silly girl!!
I am weary folks. Today was a busy busy day! For the past couple of years, pretty much since our trip to Nauvoo two summers ago, we had been planning a trip to the south for the bi-annual Westover Family reunion. But this year the plans fell through when the cost of a 3 day trip just wasn’t a justifiable expense. We knew it was important for some to go so we sent Dad and Jeff. They have had a very productive trip there getting to catch up with family and digitizing tons of family photos. Meanwhile, back at home, we were going to have a different 4th…no fireworks in front of Jeff’s house. This break in tradition is almost un-American. What’s a family to do? Throw a party of course! So, while Dad and Jeff were partying it up in Georgia, the rest of us had a little shindig back here at home. The bounce castle and snow cone machine were HUGE hits. They were delivered the night before and won’t be picked up until tomorrow because who wants to work on the 4th?! I definitely got my money’s worth out of that rental. Our morning started much earlier than I anticipated. I kept Madelyn, Emma and Michaela pretty busy last night and didn’t even send them to bed until after 10. Still, they were up before 7. It was going to be a long day.
The pictures above are representative of the types of activities we engaged in today. But they don’t scratch the surface on the quantity of photos. Despite being the party planner, BBQer, etc, I managed to also be the photographer and took a total of 301 pictures. I am too tired to upload them all. I am happy to note that I got some good ones.
The day was filled with lots of water fights – on the slip-n-slide, with water guns and water balloons, too! The bounce castle not only provided hours of entertainment for the little kids but the big ones – adults and teenagers – got ample use of it too. What a great way to spend the day! I think I am sunburned. My feet certainly hurt. The food was really good. The company top-notch. I don’t think I have ever spent a full day in our front yard before. It was better than a park! I had hoped to see fireworks tonight. I sent Michaela to take a nap at 7 and attempted to wake her shortly before 9. She was not having it. She was delirious – at one point she got up and announced she was “making her way to an exit.” Um..okay? She had no idea where to go after that. That girl is so tired she may just sleep until noon tomorrow. Today was a good day.
