Playgroup Par-tay

 We hosted a Halloween Party for our American Playgroup friends at our house this afternoon.  The kids decorated ghost and pumpkin sugar cookies, light on the cookie heavy on the frosting and sprinkles.

 We played throw the bean bags in the witch's pot.

 We made Halloween magnet crafts from Oriental Trading.

 And what party is complete without a trunk-r-treat.

 All the cars lined up in our cul-de-sac and the kids went from car to car.

Wow, that's a lot of kids.  Fun times.

Potty Talk

In our house you have to be three-years-old before I will even consider potty training.  We told Hope that when she turned three she could wear underwear. The day after her birthday, I brought out the potty training doll, the little potty and the underwear.  Faith picked up potty training in an hour.  I was so excited to prove that girls really are so much easier to potty train than boys. It's been two years since I read the book that worked so great with Faith. I either missed a few steps the book recommends, or Hope just isn't Faith.   After the first day with no success I did what all good moms do.  I bribed her.  She picked out a Barbie dress and she could only wear it after a day of no accidents.  It took about a week to earn the dress (which is not the most conducive attire for potty training).  She is really doing super well now and rarely has accidents.  This is a major turning point in my life.  No more diapers.  I don't feel the least bit sad. I've told Doug that this is the very last time I will ever potty train anything-- a person an animal, you name it, I'm finished!

This is the Barbie dress Hope earned going on the potty.  

Good job, Hope!

Trunk or Treat

 Last year our ward didn't have a Halloween party.  I hosted one at my house, but I wanted to have a ward party.  I approached the bishopric about it and they were keen so tonight we had a ward Halloween Party.  

 It was very American with a chili cook-off, costumes, and trunk or treating.

 I took a few pictures before people arrived.  I was so proud of my centerpieces--balloon topiaries with a witch's cauldron base.  

 After dinner we went trick or treating from the car boots (trunks).

 The kids loved the Baileys' boot.

 I think the Lardellis had the best scare factor boot.  Jason had this awesome skeleton costume and scared the kids.

 It is very hard to get our boys to pose for pictures with us any more.  They didn't exactly have costumes on anyway.

 Bindi and I

 Kristen, me, Hope and Johanna

 Shanae, Jennifer, me, Hope and Ashley

 Malia, Hope and I

 After trunk or treating we came back inside for desserts and the kids had to earn their cupcakes in a cupcake walk.

Spencer downloaded a song on his ipad for the cake walk, but we couldn't hear it so Shanae sang primary songs really loud.  Faith said it was the best trunk or treat ever.  I'm so glad she said that.  It makes the time spent preparing for it and my very messy house tonight all worth it.  It really was a fun night!  

No Suit Coats, No Ties, No Problem

We are two weeks into Term 4, our favorite term of the year.  Not only is it two weeks shorter than the other terms and it means summer vacation is only a few weeks away, but it means the boys get to go from wearing this...

 to this.  

For Term 4 and 1 the boys change into summer uniforms.  

No more suit coats and ties. Yay!!

The Senior school has to wear the long sleeve shirts still, but they roll up the sleeves when it gets hotter.  We are so close to summer!!