Tricks and Treats

We had a busy and fun Halloween.  Can't my kids stay little forever?

 The girls woke up with a letter and box of health-ish cold cereal (a treat since they typically get oatmeal for breakfast) and a letter from the Great Pumpkin.  The Great Pumpkin told them he'd leave a new toy in exchange for their candy if they left it on the front porch Halloween night.  They picked out a few favorite candies and had plenty of treats during the day.  The Great Pumpkin left some bristle blocks and they are thrilled with them.  I did this as much for me as for them because I have NO control when it comes to little chocolate bars.  None.  Zero.  I didn't want to end up with gestational diabetes!  We got the costco bag of the bite-sized chocolate bars and I think I ate at least 50 in the course of two days.  They are evil!  They stare up at you with their chocalatey eyes saying, "eat me!  eat me!  I'm so small.  Take just one more."  Then the butterfingers feel bad you ate the snickers and the PB cups feel left out and before I knew it, I'd eaten a zillion of them.

At first, Samara reasoned that Linus must have sent the letter.  But then she said, "I think you're the Great Pumpkin, mom.  The letter looks like you made it on the computer and the Great Pumpkin doesn't even have any arms to make something on the computer."  She was thrilled to trade candy for a toy and Lizzie doesn't know any different yet.  I think it will be a harder sell for her in the future. :)

Lizzie and I got to help out at Samara's class party.  Samara promptly found a place on the rug for Lizzie.  I love when they get along!

We were in charge of the craft center and made haunted houses.  Love that designer/blogger.  Her stuff is so sweet.

I love seeing the cute costumes everyone choses. 

In the afternoon, we were off to the healthy trunk-or-treat.  We went last year and will definitely make it a tradition.  Each trunk has a game they have to play before they get their treat or toy--a little delayed gratification.  The kids all seems to appreciate what they get more and have fun playing the games.  And it's nice for the girls to have treats that I don't mind them eating.

Cute Cousins

 I sure love my little trick-or-treaters!

We did a practice trick-or-treat in the morning and I asked Lizzie what do you say after someone gives you candy (meaning "thank  you")?  She promptly replied, "Can I eat it?"  Me: "No, we say thank you."  Lizzie: "Otay, mommy.  Tank ooohhh!  Now, can I eat my lolli-pop?  Right now?"  She is a delightful girl!

Lizzie doesn't care about getting quantity.  She is all about the moment and opens the treat the second she gets it. 

And why not?  Especially when they are those little chocolate bars.  

Then we were off to the ward trunk-or-treat.

I made the flyer and I think that is how Samara knew I was also the Great Pumpkin. :)
It was nice to not have to worry about dinner.  But it was a little redundant to me that they gave out ice creams bars for dessert right before everyone headed out to the trunks, no?  Do you really need dessert when you are getting a bucket full of candy?

I'll end with the Halloween moon.   Hope your day was full of fun tricks and treats too!

Awfully Blessed

One glorious and fateful evening after visiting our favorite camera shop and having a delicious dinner of German Spaetzle, Debbie and I wandered around visiting and went into the mall.  Debbie noticed the "awfully chocolate" store.  She had gotten their chocolate cake on her birthday and her husband had the chocolate Hei Ice Cream.  She liked the ice cream better than the cake so we promptly ordered a scoop.  Or was it two?

This ice cream is unbelievably good.  It's rich and dark and not too sweet.  It comes in a cute chinese takeout box.  The little green paddle they give you to eat it with is just the right shape to help you savor every bite.  I was sold after my first taste.  I had to have it every time I went to the city and found myself near a mall with an awfully chocolate store.  Or at least within a few MRT stops. :)  It truly is the perfect chocolate ice cream--no candy or nuts needed.  Even Ben says so and he doesn't eat ice cream without "a crunch".

My last trip for the chocolaty goodness. :(

Singapore friends--if you haven't been, GO.  Don't even bother collecting the $200 as you pass go, just go try it NOW!  You will thank me. 

I've been anxiously waiting a visit from my dear friend, Jessie, and her family.  She's the best and I could spend days straight talking to her about everything from ice cream to traveling to raising kids.

You can imagine how awfully delighted I was when she pulled out a black "awfully chocolate" bag.  I was literally in tears.  Not only did I get to spend the evening with her sweet family, but I also had a special delivery straight from Singapore carefully and lovingly transported across the world in an overhead compartment.

She brought me (among other sweet gifts) awfully chocolate mooncakes.  I can't think of a more perfect gift.  Mid-autumn festival is a delightful holiday.  

"The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the four most important Chinese festivals.  The festival is for lunar worship and moon watching, when mooncakes are regarded as an indispensable delicacy. Mooncakes are offered between friends or on family gatherings while celebrating the festival.  Typical mooncakes are round or rectangular pastries, measuring about 10 cm in diameter and 4–5 cm thick. A rich, thick filling usually made from red bean or lotus seed paste is surrounded by a thin (2–3 mm) crust and may contain yolks from salted duck eggs. Mooncakes are usually eaten in small wedges accompanied by Chinese tea."  Info from Wikipedia 

Traditional mooncakes are gorgeous, but I can't say they taste that good (to me).  Awfully chocolate mooncakes, however, are scrumptious.  They've got looks and a sweet spirit!  No lotus paste in these--only pure unadulterated rich brownie and butterscotch.  Heaven.  I enjoyed every last "wedge" minus the Chinese tea and enjoying them with family and friends.  I sort of ignored the sharing part.

Samara's carrot was jealous of all the face time the mooncakes were getting.  

Isn't the bambo box gorgeous?!  I felt like royalty every time I opened it to sneak a mooncake bite.  I have the box along with my mooncake mold displayed up on the kitchen shelves.  Every time I look at them,  I am reminded that I am oh so awfully blessed to have such wonderful people and experiences in my life.  Thank you Jessie and Sarah for the sweet gift that will always remind me how blessed I am!!

St. George

We took a little trip to visit Ben's Grandma over conference weekend.  She's the best!  Grandma is the most loving person and has a magical ability to make you feel like the most important person in the world.  The girls immediately felt this and loved being at her home.  They also enjoyed playing with their 2nd cousins (is that what a child of your cousin is called?).  Ben's cousin was so sweet to host a dinner for us all.

Isn't Grandma lovely?  We always learn a little more about Ben's sweet Mom and enjoy every moment spent with her.  I imagine his Mom would be the same kind of wonderful grandma.

Whenever we take photos with her I always have as many of her looking at the crew as at the camera.  Can't you just tell how much she loves us? 

Her house is filled with things that Ben remembers from his childhood.

The girls loved petting her pets. 

Look at this sweet quilt with a square for each family member.  What a great idea!  Ben's mom helped make it.  Here are Ben and his Mom's squares.

Her towels are too pretty to use.  She told me these are still like new because no one wants to use the fancy towels when they visit. :)

Grandma sends cards to each grandchild, their spouse and the great-grandkids.  I think the number is up to 177 a year.  Each of us looks forward to her cards and phone call on our birthday.  All these markers and pens sum up her boundless love and the time she spends making sure we all feel it. 

As an added bonus, we also got spend time with our singapore cousins.  Love and miss these sweet kids!  And it was so fun catching up and laughing with their parents.

Samara has stickers on her little suitcase of all the countries she's been to.  On the way home, she asked if we could get a "St. George"sticker.  We had to explain that not only were we not in a different country but we weren't even in a different state.  Seriously, how can we be in the same country after traveling for four whole hours? :)

Cougar Run

BYU homecoming was this weekend.  The game was a huge disappointment.  

But spending time with out-of-town family made up for it.

Samara did the Cougar Run for the 2nd year.  I lugged my camera both years.  Last year I didn't pack my memory cards and this year my battery was dead.  Thankfully Ben had his phone.  Lizzie brought Samara's "niece" to cheer her on.  Next year Lizzie will probably do the race too.

Seeing the kids lined up brings tears to my eyes.  They are so cute!

Samara finished the 400M race in 2 min 29 seconds, a 10 minute mile pace--much faster than I can do right now.  Go Samara!

She was so serious while she was running but very happy to see us at the end.  And we were all so proud and glad to see her.

Two cute cousins at the finish line.