Halloween Fun!

This year we had lots of fun Halloween activities going on. The boys had a blast! 

This year Brayden decided that he wanted to dress up as a Vampire. Although he refused to wear make up or fangs. I teased him and told him he could be a *sparkly* vampire like Edward, but for some reason he was appalled by that idea!  :)   He was still a cute little vampire.

 But he did let me spray his hair all black.

Conner wanted to be a Ninja.

And Landon was Yoda. So. Dang. Cute!

Yoda wasn't too interested in getting pictures taken, he was more interested in playing in the neighbors yard. 

First they had a Trunk or Treat at school. It was just a little one, which was fine. They got a little bit of candy to help them last a few more days until their next Trunk or Treat. They had a 4 day weekend that week and so we decided to have some more halloween fun and made some "scary" holiday food.  I got all these fun ideas from Pintrest (*love*) and some of my fav blogs

We had some "Baby Ghosts" with our lunch one day. (Bananas with chocolate Chips for eyes) from Brown Paper Packages

One night we were going over to a friends house to watch a movie and eat "spooky treats" so I made eyeballs on a fork. (donut holes dipped in while chocolate and decorated with a chocolate chip and red chocolate) 

For dinner one night, I made a whole Halloween themed dinner. Most of these ideas came from one of my most fav blogs Our Best Bites. We had "Mummy Dogs"

"Bones and Blood" (my camera somehow ruined my picture of this... super annoying, but they are yummy garlic breadsticks with pizza sauce for dipping)

"Goblin Guts" (which was just Jello) and "Witches Brew" (lime sherbet and Sprite) which only Brayden and I drank, no one else would try it! Crazy!

"Monster Heads" (sliced apples with slivered almonds for teeth and mini m&m's for eyes)

Later that weekend I made these super yummy and cute Candy Corn Cookies.

We also of course had to carve our pumpkins. 

Landon loved his Vampire pumpkin.

 Brayden's pumpkin, Conner's, and Landon's. The older boys helped to carve their pumpkins this year. 

 They turned out pretty good!

We also went to our ward's Trunk or Treat and the boys got so much candy there!! Landon was hardly able to lift his bucket by the end.

Then on Halloween, we went Trick or Treating with some friends. We had quite the crowd... at least 20 kids. It was so fun! 

It was a great halloween around our house, and we will have candy for a long time!!!

Lessons Learned

One year ago Patrick lost his job.

Never did we imagine that this would be a trial we would have to face. But here we are, and after quite a trying year, possibly the most difficult we have yet faced in our marriage we are hopefully coming out of it as better and stronger people. There is no denying that we have learned many things, like...

*There are worse things then losing a job

*Not having health insurance is not the worst thing in the world

*Never did I think that something would happen to my husband making it so I was fully responsible to take care of everything and everyone in our family. A year ago if you would have told me that, I would've told you I couldn't do it, but I did. And I now know I am stronger then I ever thought I could be and I will, and have, done whatever it takes to take care of my family, even when it really sucks! I didn't do it alone, there was tons of love and support from our family and friends and most definitely from our loving Heavenly Father.

*Helplessly watching your husband be in pain and suddenly not being able to walk or do things on his own and not knowing what is wrong or knowing that there is nothing you can do to help is just about the worst feeling ever.

*Preisthood blessings are amazing. I knew this before, but never have they been so A-MAZ-ING and helped us through so much.

*The Lord sometimes answers prayers in ways you never ever would've expected.

*He also places people in your path that you need. Sometimes it is a friend, sometimes it is an amazing surgeon who instantly knows something is wrong and knows just how to fix it... and is willing to do it even though you don't have insurance.

*Prayer is an amazing thing. Again, I knew this before, but some days it was a million prayers for help to just get through the day that carried me through. And sometimes when I just didn't think I could take one more step, it was the tender mercies that He blessed me with. Like a friend calling and after I broke down in tears to her on the phone, she came and picked me up to take me out for ice cream, or a feeling of love and comfort from the Spirit, or the strength to handle just one more day. There were prayers answered every day.

*My kids are pretty amazing. With everything on me, I found I just couldn't always do it all, and had to rely on them to help. Over the summer they learned how to empty the dishwasher, help separate, fold, and hang up the laundry, how to help clean the bathrooms, and how to help with Landon. They were awesome!

*My sister is pretty awesome! She was such a blessing to me over the past year. She is the only one who I truly told all the good, bad, ugly, and even uglier to. She always encouraged me and strengthened me. I would call her in freak out mode and she would somehow always know what to say. She was such a blessing! I love her to death and can't tell her thank you enough.

*This past year have been so extremely hard and seemed to have more trials then I ever saw coming. But it has also been a year of the most blessings we have ever received as a family. Every one of us has been blessed, strengthened, and made better over this past year. We have never gone without anything that we needed and we have been brought closer together as a family. Some say that difficult times like what we have been living through will either make you stronger in your marriage or break you.  I'm so grateful that it has only made us stronger and closer.

We really have learned so much this year and have been blessed more then we should have and for that my heart is full with love and gratitude for all those who have been there with us through out all this.

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28