Halloween Bug│Among Other Things.

What? We are half way through November already? How can the days and weeks just fly by? 

Brooke is 3 months old today.  I'll get around to doing a little photo shoot of that little girl...when I have some energy...

A good 8-hours of uninterrupted sleep has NEVER sounded better!

I saw this on Pinterest a few weeks ago and the moment I saw it, I knew Braden would LOVE it! He absolutely LOVES doing this kind of stuff.  I need to find more similar, easy, little experiments like this one.  He spent almost an hour playing and seeing the little 'volcanoes' erupting.  

...and then he decided it was the 'perfect' place for his dinosaurs to make a home.  He kept saying: 

"This is the perfect dinosaur island!"

I enjoyed it too and it kept us both busy for an hour on a boring afternoon. 

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Our Trunk or Treat was held inside this year...because it was SNOWING!!! Very strange weather for Virginia.  Last year, we enjoyed 60 degree weather...snow before Halloween reminded me of Rexburg.  

They did such a good job with the Trunk or Treat, even though it was inside.  Brielle and Braden enjoyed running around with their little friends and the food was yummy too!

I've decided that part of the fun of Halloween is for the kids to pick their own costumes.  So, I've quit putting up a fuss about Brielle wanting to be a Disney Princess EVERY SINGLE year! 

Braden wanted to be Spiderman again.  He was Spiderman our first Halloween in Virginia.  But I think he had forgotten.  This time we got one with 'muscles' and he thought he was SO cool! 

I found this cute little monkey costume for 5 bucks at Old Navy! What a deal! 

Isn't she the cutest little monkey?

Emi was the momma monkey! 

Brielle with her best pal, Lilly! Those two had fun running around!

...and the cutest little blond, blue eyed little boy you will EVER meet. This little boy brightens my day every time I see him! He calls "my nisse".  I just want to squeeze him...I do and he lets me.  

Since it was snowing/raining outside we all went out in the chapel's hallway to pass out the candy.  It worked...and the kids enjoyed it.  They got a lot of candy! 

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After our ward's Trunk or Treat we headed to the Air and Space Museum in Virginia.  I had heard how fun it is and that they have people in Star Wars costumes that look very real.  

It didn't disappoint! 

Braden was LOVING life! 

I find it so funny that he likes Star Wars when he has never seen it.  

Some of the costumes were so real, they were a little scary.  Braden was a little shy with the red headed guy.  So he had Scott stand with him in the picture.  

Brielle loved seeing Princess Leah.  

Brielle got her face painted.  Braden wasn't so interested in it.  He was interested in seeing all the airplanes with Scott. 

We took some more pictures with the Star Wars people. 

It was too bad that we couldn't get a picture with Chewbacca...the line was already closed when we got there. He looked so real! 

It was such a fun night.  We all had a great time.  

It was a good thing we went because later that night, Brielle started to feel very sick...

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This poor little girl got some kind of virus and was rolled up into a little ball for almost a week! We ended up not going trick or treating.  It's not like they didn't get enough candy at the Trunk or Treat.  Scott had a late night at the hospital anyway...and with Brielle sick it just didn't work out. 

Brielle missed almost a week's worth of school with this horrible illness.

It brought very high fever, chills and the runs.  NOT FUN!   

Thankfully, the virus ran its course and she is feeling back to herself.  

We thought Braden wouldn't get it, but he's now on his third day of this virus...I'm just hoping and praying Brooke doesn't get it! 

I'm calling it the Halloween bug because last year around this exact time, Braden got some sort of bug too! 

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Mr. Braden had his Halloween Parade for his preschool on Halloween day.  My brother watched Brielle while I went to watch Braden.  Brielle missed hers since she was so sick.  

It was fun to watch Braden in his spiderman costume and with his class. 

  

They sang the cutest Halloween song and at the end they all said BOO! and Braden was the loudest! :) It's too bad I was busy taking pictures and didn't think of taking a video of it! Oh well! 

Of course, he is the shortest one in his class.  Those Jensen/Ramirez genes....

After the costume parade, we headed to his classroom for a Halloween snack.  

Mr. Braden was in heaven with those cupcakes.  That little boy has such a sweet tooth.

I was glad to be able to be there.   It's amazing how much it means to them to see their mommy or daddy there! I'm grateful that I get to share these special moments with my children. 

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Scott and I teach a Sunday School class in Spanish for the Hispanic members of our ward and anyone who speaks Spanish.  It has been such a wonderful and rewarding experience for both of us.  We LOVE our class.  I'm posting this here because I don't want to forget this amazing Bolivian couple, the Garcia's. They were here visiting their daughter for 6 months.  Scott and I got to know them and enjoy their comments in class and their genuine friendship.  They are such faithful, amazing people.  They went back to Bolivia last week and we were all so sad to say goodbye.  Scott and I felt so grateful to have been able to get to know them.

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We have been just doing life around here.  Every day goes by quickly.  Next thing I know, it's time to go pick up Brielle from the bus, start dinner and do our bedtime routine.  The kids like to gather in the dining room when I'm making dinner.  Brooke likes to watch me in the kitchen and the kids like to color or play on pbskids in the laptop.   

There are times when they gather around Brooke and give her 'way too much love'.  We talk about Brooke having a bubble and that everyone needs to breath their own air.  But that goes out the window! Those two just LOVE her! and I'm glad. 

Brooke continues to grow like a little weed...and she continues to brighten our days.

How can we not love her? 

Look at those CHEEKS!!!!!! and those little dimples on her elbow!