Jack'o'lanterns

Walker's into creepy things this year, hence the spider pumpkin. He chose the pattern, poked holes to trace it onto the pumpkin, and cut out the body and the spinnerets, and the front legs. He wanted help with the back 6 legs- they're pretty close together- so I cut those for him. Then Jared got his super spotlight so I could get some pics with the lights out.
Morgen wanted something scary, and this was the best pattern I could find that was also something she could cut out herself. Jared helped with the face, but the rest was all Morgen.
And this one is Hyrum's. He wanted a vampire, and I found a vampire bat [there are fangs, you just can't see them through the glare of Jared's super spotlight]. He poked holes to set the pattern in the pumpkin all by himself, then Jared helped him carve it out.
This is Myles' pumpkin, well, really it's mine, since I carved it and chose the pattern for the face LOL. But each of the kids has a pumpkin, so this is Myles'.
And he was obviously a huge help :)
The older 3 kids all helped to scoop the guts out of their pumpkins, and they saved most of the seeds. We cleaned them off and they're soaking in saltwater right now. Tonight or tomorrow, we'll roast them in the oven, and they'll be ready to eat. Mmmm!

And just a fun website for those of you who like power tools and fire. :)Yep, I'll bet you money that at least one of my kids will be making pumpkins like that next year. My favorite is the puking pumpkin.

LO challenge

for 'Gettin Sketchy'

list of supplies:
paper: Basic Grey, CI
paint: Delta
rub-ons: DCWV
chipboard: Maya Road
pen: American Crafts black marker
font: Air Conditioner
stamps: Hero Arts Vintage Alphabet
ribbon, brads, adhesive

knees, please

We have entered the final stage of babyhood: toddling. Myles is officially walking around now. Okay, it's a bit more of a drunken stagger at this point. Still, he is moving his body from point A to point B mostly on his feet. *sigh* And every time he makes it to his goal [usually a place he can hold onto and regain his balance] he breaks out in a gigantic grin.

Hooray!!!

Today, Jared got up much too early for normal people and met Wayne, Mike, and Mack over by Kamas, to hunt deer. The other 3 spent the night in a tent out there, and there were 3 inches of snow on top of it this morning. But, much to our mutual surprise and excitement, Jared shot a deer! On his first day out [WTG, honey], and it was a nice fat one. So, he got home this afternoon, and hung it up in the tree in our front yard. Then he skinned it [great anatomy lesson for the neighborhood kids, as well as our own] and started carving it up. The bulk of the carcass is now hanging in our tool shed, aging. Apparently that improves the flavor of the meat. I'm thinking if he just leaves the deer hanging in the tree till Halloween, we'll have an awesomely creepy decoration *and* the meat will have a chance to really age. :)

Jared's dad was here for a few days so he could go to a funeral. He left today, but he took the three oldest out for about 2 hours to play and eat lunch. :)

While I was driving to Walmart today, a big black dog crossed the street in front of my car *in the crosswalk.* And he stayed in the crosswalk across the entire 4-lane road LOL.

I heard somebody banging on the keyboard today, and went in to see who it was.

We got hit with a snowstorm this afternoon- put down about an inch in an hour. Then it cleared up for a bit, and now it's hailing. I think we're going to have nice cold weather for trick-or-treating again this year :)

Oh, and Happy Birthday to Jared- he's 34!!

free-falling

Myles is pretty fond of the outdoors; especially the dirt and rocks. He crawls around looking for disgusting things to put into his mouth :). Yesterday, I was outside with him, and Jared called. I turned my back on Myles while I was talking [first mistake], and he climbed our chain link fence. When I turned around, his feet were about 12 inches off the ground, and he was hanging by one hand. I got to him right as he fell. Luckily, he landed on his hands and knees, but his feelings were hurt.
He also had two teeth cut through his gums yesterday. I can still see one more tooth that is almost through, and I'm hoping once it emerges, my son's normally cheerful personality will emerge along with it.
Today's been not so good- Morgen's having difficulties with a piano piece [read: playing the same wrong note over and over, and crying when I stop her and correct her], and Walker stole some fruit snacks and lied to me when I caught him. *sigh* And it's raining, so I can't send them outside. When Cali's pups disobey her, she grabs them with her mouth and growls at them. Sometimes I feel like growling at my kids...

A beatiful place

to visit: Daybreak. They have about 45 model homes- basically a neighborhood of them- built by 10 different builders. And they're all decorated, and I *love* walking through them all. I went yesterday, and I think the people who work there are beginning to recognize me LOL. But I enjoy seeing the homes, and the decor, and imagining what it would be like to have a house with no scribbles on the walls :)
In other news, Jared took the puppies out to a gun/hunting range [has acreage you can run dogs around in to train them to hunt] and ran the 4 of them around. He took Hyrum with him, and they had a grand old time romping around :). The longer we have these pups, the harder it is to let them go to another family. Even if we trust that family to love and care for them like we would. *sniff*

Herding puppies

So, we've parted with three of our pups now- 3 still left, if you're interested in a fantastic bird dog to take with you on your search for pheasant/chukar/grouse. Anyway, Sunday morning Jared let Cali and the 4 remaining pups out in the backyard together [they've been separated from her so they'll be weaned]. Next thing I know, he's calling me over to the window, to watch Cali herd the puppies into their kennel. Then she jumped on top of the kennel to guard them. They would try to escape, and she'd herd them back inside. I think she's going to fire us as babysitters :), she noticed there were some missing...

Birthday Boy

We had an impromptu birthday party for Myles; my in-laws were up for a last-minute visit, to see us and to pick up their puppy, and Ryan and Julieanne came over for dinner to see them. Jared made cupcakes, and I picked up some ice cream on my way home from the Women's Conference I attended. Myles was a bit unsure about the cupcake at first, he poked it, and tasted it cautiously. Then Jared squirted some chocolate syrup on the cupcake, and Myles dug right in:
Since it was pretty late, and I took a lot of pictures, Myles got tired of the flash and staged a protest.
I had to share this picture- cleaning him up is always seen as a personal attack, although bathing is one of his favorite activities.
He did get some presents, but was completely uninterested in opening them that night. Sunday he played with the paper, and the toy that Gaileys gave him, and I got him a pair of pajamas with some of his birthday money. Not a terribly exciting birthday, but still fun :).

one down...

Jared's parents came up for a visit this weekend, and celebrated Myles' birthday with us. [I'll post pics of Myles' birthday later] This weekend we parted with one of our puppies. *sniff, sniff* Jared's dad took Blaze ?name subject to change? home on Sunday. While I'm happy to give him to a good home, and I know we'll see him a lot, it's still a bit sad to let him go.