13 Days of Halloween: #12

#12:  A MONSTER EGG HUNT  

THE UTAH GINORMOUS PUMPKIN REGATTA

We shuffled our 13 Days of Halloween around a bit to make room for a funny [yet, impressive] 'Halloween' event, The Utah Ginormous Pumpkin Regatta.  

900-1500 pound pumpkins...in a water race.  

OF COURSE we'd be there.

+  Before the regatta, we had a good breakfast.  It's finally eggnog season which means Pumpkin Spice Eggnog French Toast!  We used Cinnamon Burst bread [from Great Harvest], and only had one slice left over so I take it my boys liked it!  I love eating breakfast with my family on the weekends.

+  Hubby also tried to teach Big Brother how to blow his nose, with a little tape and a tissue...

...we're still trying.

+  so...THE PUMPKIN REGATTA!  Despite the pumpkin "boats" moving a bit slowly toward the "finish line," the pumpkins ARE ginormous and the pumpkin boat designs/captains' outfits are a lot of fun to see.

At the promo booths Big Brother had his face painted,

"A blue cat" [his idea]

The boys sat inside of a giant pumpkin, and we won free Chik-fil-A food by spinning a prize wheel.  Although Little Brother never looked happy in our photos at the park, we all had a good time at The Utah Ginormous Pumpkin Regatta!

+  Big Brother spent some time with his aunt J [who made him a fantastic, Halloween-themed game board to encourage him to use the potty]!  I love my sisters.

And I love this boy.

13 Days of Halloween: #13

With only 13 days left in the month of October, our countdown to Halloween has begun!  

#13:  A CANYON DRIVE + DECORATE THE BOYS' BEDROOM DOORS

Today,

The 1-year-old's eyebrows should have been telling...

+  Our most eventful outing to a retail store, ever.  A cell signal black hole in the mall led to: a failed text message to Hubby, two trips into the mall, multiple 'laps' around the department store, a lot of curtain twirling and electrical outlet cover flipping, momentary loss of my 3-year-old [more than once], and a migraine.  It did not lead to:  a purchase of any kind.

+  I missed seeing my beautiful Activity Days girls, but somehow pulled off a brief nap which lessened my migraine.

+  The boys and I went out again to complete our daily 13-day-countdown activities, and only made it as far as the craft store [in search of door decor].  

If the shopping had been left to my 3-year-old, we would have made it out of the store with a 5-year supply of thread, half a dozen toys, a healthy collection of Mickey Mouse stickers and a   1-month supply of [Christmas-themed] PEZ dispensers.

+  In place of a canyon drive, after dinner we went on a family Halloween "I Spy" walk around the neighborhood.  Before we left the house we each came up with one thing to "spy" [+1 extra thing]: 

A BLACK CAT, 

A PUMPKIN, 

A SKELETON, 

A SCARECROW, 

and SOMETHING PURPLE.

We only spied 3 of 5 things, but our "something purple" was fun:

+  An entire corner of a parking lot + a thick layer of dry, crunchy, undisturbed leaves = perfect leaf-crunching conditions!

Big Brother wearing Little Brother's pants [because they look like basketball pants]!

Little Brother, not wanting to leave.

+  <HUGE sigh of relief>  The boys were thoroughly worn out when we finally got them home from our walk.

Today, we didn't start or finish a project [after spending much of the day attempting it].  Our living room windows remain undressed...but we have windows, and our home is heated.

My boys' bedroom doors remain undecorated...but my boys came home from their walk to a warm bed.

We missed an Activity Days activity we were looking forward to...but we ran errands together, and snuggled up for a nap. We sat with Hubby at the table tonight and had leftovers and peanut butter sandwiches for dinner...but we ate, and our boys' bellies were full when they went to bed. 

We came home from our walk to a warm and safe house...

Today, we made imperfect memories together...but I am grateful to have had the day to spend with my boys.  

Halloween Party Decor Photo Leak!

The Halloween workshop lights are on, and we're setting the stage for our 4th annual Halloween party!  This year we've announced the theme of our party, but we're keeping the decor hush-hush until the party!

STILL, it's quite exciting to see it coming together!

{ 2012 } 

Medieval Fantasy

Of course we'll post larger versions of these teaser photos later this month, along with photos from the party!  

Are you going to a themed Halloween party this year?!

Horses, and turkeys, and cows...oh my!

After a few hours of work at the computer, it was definitely time for some sunlight and fresh air.  And, though the air on a farm isn't always a good 'fresh' my boys [3 and 1] didn't mind.  

As much as his older brother, my youngest enjoyed visiting the goats, sheep, rabbits, cows [and baby cows], horses, turkeys, and chickens/roosters/geese/ducks.  We didn't find any pigs today.

We bought a small paper sack of bird/duck feed at the general store for [I think] $0.50, and it was TOTALLY WORTH IT.  Big Brother threw one small handful of feed and suddenly he was at the center of dozens of birds, ducks, and geese.  I was grateful that these particular ducks and geese weren't aggressive.

[The general store may also help you stave off grumptitude with a drink and a snack!]

...Grandma J, I think it's time for one of your haircuts...

...this one is still working on the hair...

Big Brother said [of the wool on the wire], "It feels like a sweater."

I'd be lost without him.

 my toddler-friendliness rating

I love that admission was free, and that there are activities [for a fee] that we'd like to go back for:

Wheeler Historic Farm, Cow Milking

Wheeler Historic Farm, Wagon Rides 

Wheeler Historic Farm, Pumpkin Days & Haybale Maze

There's also a playground [and a place for a picnic??  Just South of the farm...] and boys and playgrounds go together like caramel and chocolate!

The website will tell you that Wheeler Farm isn't a petting zoo because the animals aren't trained or domesticated.  We were still welcome to pet the animals, as long as we did so with caution...

...The problem was, my young boys stand at mouth and teeth height of most of the animals.  With Little Brother in the Baby Bjorn, I couldn't lift either one to pet the animals and next time I'd take a stroller...and pack a lunch.

where should we go on our next outing??

Today

+  We kicked off the day with

Looking up at the TV

+  A quick trip to Home Depot before the morning session of General Conference landed us at Tunex.  Thankfully, a simple thing bought me a few minutes of the boys' amusement while we waited.

+  We made Cinnamon Burst French toast + cheesy scrambled eggs for breakfast.  This bread from Great Harvest makes the best.French toast.ever.

Find one

+  Big Brother did end up coloring...all over himself.

+  While Hubby attended the Priesthood session of Conference, Big Brother [and his popcorn] from the tent, and Little Brother and I from the sofa watched our favorite monkey

Admittedly, it was a bit of a frantic afternoon.  Most afternoons are, which is why I NEED THE DIRECTION AND INSPIRATION General Conference gives me.

Looking forward to tomorrow!  Until then... 

General Conference for Toddlers

purchase "King Benjamin's Address," Jeremy Winborg

Here in Utah, we will be only one of many young families this weekend to PITCH A TENT in front of the television for the broadcast of the October General Conference.  I feel fortunate that I can read, listen, or watch the broadcast here at home where my boys' beds and toys are. 

IKEA Children's Tent, CIRKUSTÄLT

Not only do my young boys, 1 and 3, love tents and really any enclosed space, pitching a tent reminds us of this account in The Book of Mormon:

"And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them..."  

[The Book of Mormon, The Book of Mosiah, Chapter 2, Verse 6]

We happen to own a pop-up tent, but two chairs and a bed sheet have been known to go far in fort/tent construction!

My boys appear to feel grown up in, and more willing to sit in, their own chair at THEIR OWN TABLE.  Each session of Conference is two hours.  In toddler time, that's for-EVER.  A children's table is a fun place for them to snack and color while we listen.

IKEA Children's Table, LÄTT

CONFERENCE-INSPIRED activity books, games, and toys keep my young boys entertained and teach them on their own level about the same principles we learn during Conference.  

I did not expect to find the best Conference preparation materials online over a retail store [LDS Distribution Center, Deseret Book], and when I couldn't find what I was looking for in-store another customer actually referred me back to Sugardoodle.net!  Well done Sugardoodle!

Pop in and sign the Guest Book!

With so many great articles, blog posts, and websites dedicated to the topic I'll leave you with one website that offers many great printables [from past Conferences] that my Nursery/Sunbeam-aged boys will enjoy: 

Scriptures for Kids' General Conference activities

MY HOPE is that if my boys' earliest memories are of Hubby and me listening to, and encouraging them to listen to, inspired direction...in future years they'll recognize Conference weekend a fun and important family event.

Tune in and meet today's prophets and apostles.  

Follow these links for the schedule and for more information about General Conference, airing this weekend.

HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE!