Halloween and Trick or Treating

Halloween did not disappoint this year! The boys both had Halloween parties in their classes at school, and Radley and I went to help. I was floored at how much stuff they got and how much food/treats were there! I'm glad I didn't do anything over the top!! Radley had fun being in class with the boys and getting treats too. He felt pretty big sitting next to Kyler! The boys went 'real' trick-or-treating this year. Radley was not excited at first, but he caught on really quick! He soon became the lookout and spotted every house with a light on or the door open. After about 20/30 mins he got tired of it and decided to yell directions to the boys from the car and eat candy! Damon was proud of himself because he wasn't too shy to say thank you! Kyler would have gone all night if we would have let him! Once we got home, they had just as much fun passing out candy. It was fun to see them get so excited to hand out candy.

The Incredible Hulk

Hulk Smash

A non-compliant Buzz Lightyear

He was really not into pictures.

Captain America was ready!

Strike a pose!

How cute is he!!

Daddy even dressed up for work! 

He made a really good Luigi.

Trunk-or-Treat & Pumpkin Carving

This week of Halloween activities has been crazy!!! Kyler and Damon decided a while ago to be The Hulk and Captain America.  We tried for a month to get Radley to be Thor or Ironman to go with the others, but he was determined to be Buzz Lightyear!  He would not budge!!  So he got what he wanted!  Oma got the costumes here just in time for the boys to be ready for the first party of the season at the local movie theater. They had a canned food drive and showed The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown for the kids. They were so excited to get to wear their costumes for the first time! We had our church Trunk-or-Treat, and they got to trick or treat for the first time this year. They boys don't need any more reasons to love Halloween!!! It is Kyler's favorite, and he has rubbed off on the other two!  They have all been wearing their costumes all week.  They have them on at all waking moments!
 
We've decided pumpkin carving is not for parents to enjoy! It's a lot of work! The boys are no help and are extremely impatient! Kyler wanted something spooky, Damon wanted a spooky dog, and Radley didn't really care about anything except having a pumpkin! We ended up with a scary face, a bat, and a Trick or Treat night scene on the other. Even though it was a pain, the boys love their pumpkins, and we can't wait until the boys can be helpful (without cutting themselves).

The Hero Crew

Watch out bad guys!  Don't worry Radley is trying to figure out how to make his wings work!

He will throw that shield the second he senses danger!

We should have told Oma to add some muscles to his legs because they look extra skinny with his big muscles.

Still a little unsure of this dressing up stuff in public!

This seems to be Radley's nervous position while he figures out what is going on around him. 

Damon walking around saving the world!

Cousins all dressed up.

Eating something of substance before tons of candy!

Mary Poppins, Bert and a penguin.

Damon dragging Radley through the costume parade.

Kyler hoping to get some candy during the parade.

Cary Shane and Diana's monster trunk.  We didn't go quite as elaborate at most others.  I didn't make much effort.  Maybe next year, maybe!

Radley trick or treating with Daddy.  The other two boys went on their own, and I handed out candy at our car.  After the first car he went up to every car once he realized they would give him candy, even the scary ones!

They were some happy campers after getting tons of candy!  And yes, that's as close to a Halloween costume as I got this year.  I do have a belly the size of a pumpkin!

Our newly returned redneck hillbilly Uncle Keyan.  He played the banjo for everyone as they walked around.

The Spooky Face

The cheesey smiles continue.  Radley was too busy throwing a fit to take a picture, but they loved their pumpkins.

Kyler's

Radley's

Damon's

Keyan Comes Home & The Big Texan

Kenney's brother Keyan came home from his mission last week. He has been a missionary for our church for the last two years in Tennessee and parts of Kentucky. We all really missed him (Damon and Radley didn't remember him, but it hasn't taken long for them to warm up to him again). Radley was only 4 months old when he left, so he's changed quite a bit since Keyan's been gone. I took the boys out of school and went to meet him with the rest of the crew in Amarillo when he got off the plane. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures at the airport, but Keyan wanted to go eat at The Big Texan, so all of us headed there next. I was excited he picked the Big Texan because I had never eaten there. It is definitely and iconic and unique place! The kids had fun and said it was the best restaurant ever! We are all so happy to have Keyan home. Every time we see him the boys don't leave him alone! He's the best!

Freshly released Elder Keys and the boys!  Damon and Radley wouldn't get close to him at the airport so I was pleasantly surprised when I got this picture!

Shooting all the spooky things they had up for Halloween.

Not our best picture, but this is the best we got.  Kenney had to work so it was just me and the boys!

When one of the spooky things got shot it would move or make noise, and Radley was very unsure of it all!

Concentrating really hard to aim and shoot a target.

My 3 little cowboys

He filled his cool uncle role pretty quick when he went over and helped the kids shoot the scary stuff.

We lucked out and found a broken gun that let the kids have unlimited shots.  Surprisingly there weren't any fights!

Don't let that innocent face fool you!

This kid thinks he is getting so big now.

Keyan with all the kiddos in the big rocking chair.

That's one big chair and it filled up really quick with all those kids!

House Projects

There hasn't been any major or huge improvements made to our house as of yet (money, time and being late in pregnancy have slowed us down). However, we have been busy. Kenney has done the majority of his work outside and we didn't take any before pictures. He has worked really hard and made a huge difference! The landscaping was so overgrown and out of control. He found a case of water bottles and a lawn chair hiding in the bushes. Who knows how long they had been there?!? He has been a huge help getting some painting done inside as well.

I don't think these lights had ever been cleaned, so we took them down, took out the wasp nests and cleaned them.

After

They look brand new now!

This light in our backyard is actually gas powered.  The gas has been disconnected, but everything else was in good shape.  It is a faded green color and just needed some paint.

The glass is missing in the picture, but it was so mineralized it didn't clean up all that well.  Kenney has ordered a solar powered light to put in it so we can have a light in our yard.

After

The glass makes it look a little rough still, but I like how the black turned out.  The sprinkler hitting it several times a week is not helpful in keeping the glass clean.

Our living room was so ugly!!  Between the awful sponged walls to the dark paneling and bulky curtain rods I didn't know where to look.

And lets not forget the horrible fireplace thing!

The dark tunnel continues!

I tried to make it look a little better by hanging pictures, but really it didn't help!

The keys didn't look too great on a dark wall

After (Partially)
 

We didn't make it all the way around, but we got the main wall done.  We have to move the piano to finish it, but it is so much lighter and clean looking.  Hopefully the green carpet won't last too much longer in the dining room and the freezer can get moved too.  All in time, but for now it is a nice improvement!

This color is SO MUCH better than the sponge brown/yellow.  The fireplace is still there for now, but it too will be gone eventually (and the fan)!! 

Kyler's room was pretty sad looking, but this is taken after the blinds had been taken down and the trim had been painted. 

The yellow sponge theme continued in here.  It didn't have as much brown as the living room, but it was still pretty nasty looking.

After

He really wanted green, but he wasn't too happy with this green.  He wanted a different color, however it is so much better than before, and he will share the room with the baby eventually so I didn't want to go too dark!  I have some grey and white curtains to put up, but it feels good to have the painting done!

He also needs a dresser and some decorations, but it is much better than before!

This wall was almost the death of me!!  First, we painted the wall the blue color which now goes into the hallway.  Then I got this bright idea that I wanted a stenciled wall.  I had no idea how much work it would take!  The videos online are very deceiving.  I learned several things doing this wall:  I am more patient than I thought (it took forever); I will never do this again (I think being 37 weeks pregnant was helpful in this making that decision); I think it would have looked better the opposite way with the white as the base color; the wall's texture was not nearly smooth enough to use the stencil; and finally, good is good enough and it did not need to be perfect!!