Halloween 2011

Presenting the infamous Captain Hook and his adorable side-kick, Mr. Smee!  Oh, I thought they were adorable this year!  We headed up to Highland to Trick-Or-Treat with the cousins.  Porter loved it for the 1st couple twenty houses and then he said his bucket was getting too heavy.  Tyson on the other hand could have kept going all night long!  He was loving it.  Porter really liked the houses that were decked out in Halloween decorations, especially things like skeletons, and he loved looking at all the jack-o-lanterns.  And they both had to have a turn knocking on the door.  Most people thought Porter was a pirate and Tyson was a smurf.  Come on, people!  :)

This last picture makes me laugh.  After trick-or-treating was over I noticed Tyson had literally ate through the paper of one of his candies.  His hat had also fallen completely over his face, so he was pulling it up just enough to get that candy into his mouth.  Ha!

Next year I will take the group shot before and not after when they look like chocolate covered orphans.

Fall Festivities

This past weekend we were busy with lots of fun activities.  Saturday we told the kids that we were taking them somewhere fun, and that it was a surprise!  Porter was so excited, it was fun.  We need to make things a "surprise" more often.  We took them to Cornbelly's at Thanksgiving Point.  It was the perfect family atmosphere.

Porter's favorite attraction was the huge pirate ship, he loved it.  Tyson didn't really care about anything particular, (although he was pretty mesmerized by a puppet show)  he was quite content to be outside in the cool night running around freely.

Then Friday night we had an awesome Halloween party at my sister-in-law Jamie's house, with lots of family and friends.  They had the basement decorated fun, we had a TON of yummy food, and then lots of games for the kids to play.  It was a great night, and I think it should be added to the Fall traditions in Santaquin!

We dressed up as a pirate, captain hook, and mr smee!

Games included plinko? board, fishing for prizes, musical chairs, donut on a string, and guess what food is inside the bag.

Red Barn Fall Tradition

Every year the Robbins' family heads down to the Red Barn in Santaquin where we get a yummy treat from the Red Barn and then take a hay ride through the farm out to a secluded Pumpkin Patch.  The kids explore the maze, pick out their pumpkins and then we pile back onto the tractor hay ride and head back to the Red Barn.  It is such a cute place, and it really does feel like you are out in the country.  Immediately Tyson ran to a pumpkin and hugged it and said "Ball".  He then backed away from it about 10 steps.  He got this look of determination and then charged the huge pumpkin and "kicked" it just like a soccer ball.  He flew over the pumpkin and landed right on his face, bloody nose and all.  Sigh.  Sweetest moment was when Porter ran up cradling a tiny pumpkin and said "Ahhh, look at the little baby pumpkin mommy!"  It was perfect for Ty.

Do's & Don'ts of Girls Night Out

Do gather all the girls in your family for Girl's Night
Do dress up with glitter, glam, and fake eyelashes
Do get the little girls' so excited that they say things like "My heart is pounding so hard right now, I'm so excited!"
Do go out to eat and laugh til your hearts content
Do set up the camera timer and get craaaazy

Don't go to Gardner's Village Witchfest one week late
Do swallow your pride and pretend you're not the only ones dressed up as witches

Do check out the Halloween displays at Gardner Village
Don't let the little girls disappointment surface - hide behind bushes with them and scare people. They will smile!

Don't be shy and get your groove on in public even if you are the only ones.  Actually, this was probably the funnest part of the night and people did join in.  When the kids were most excited to dance, and there happens to be loud music playing under a magical tree and a stage, how can you resist?
Lastly, DO take a rain check for Witchfest 2012.

Halloween 2010

Porter was an airplane (world's most difficult costume to find, by the way!).... and Tyson was the pilot.  They were pretty much darling if I do say so myself!  The candy is already gone and I am glad for that- not a fan of kid sugar highs- wow!

fall festivities

this weekend we went down to Santaquin, UT for some fun family fall festivities. we went to the red barn where we stocked up on some cookies, and took a hayride to the pumpkin patch. it was fun to see how different it was for porter this year, compared to last. last year he didn't like the hay ride. this year he climbed on by himself, found a seat next to his cousin zach, and then yelled "I'm REAADY!" it made me laugh. last year at the pumpkin patch he kicked the pumpkins and called them "balls". this year he was yelling "PUMPKINS" as the hayride was pulling up to the pumpkin patch. he picked out his own, but changed his mind a few times. any time he found a new pumpkin he would walk all the way back to jared, grunting because it was so heavy, and would say "daddy, look! pumpkin!" it was such a beautiful day- i don't know if i have ever noticed a bluer sky. i loved the beautiful scenery. we went back to jamie's house and had some scrumptious potato soup in homemade bread bowls (post that one of your blog, jam). later, jamie took the girls on an atv ride up in the hills behind her house. nerve wracking at times, but beautiful, and fun. i love this new family tradition.

FHE Part 2

Last night Darron and Jamie had all the Robbins family up for a fun FHE. We went to the Red Barn in Santaquin where we took a hayride to the pumpkin patch and picked out pumpkins. It was a chilly willy night, as Jared would say. Porter didn't really like being bundled up, I don't think the poor boy could move his arms, and half the time he couldn't see out of his hat. Hehe. But I think he was warm. After that, we went back to Darron and Jamie's house where we had some yummy homemade chili and cornbread, donuts and hot chocolate. It was bundles of fun! Thanks D and Jam for planning this great evening!

We got a big pumpkin for J and I and the smallest little pumpkin you've ever seen for Porter. I think we're going to draw a little binky onto it, what do ya think? Ha.























The cousins -


















PJ and J























Love this pic of nana!