Old Spice

Alright, Old Spice has some funny ads, but it was this one that actually convinced Christopher to try Old Spice...and now he's hooked!

(OK, this and the fact that he tried some at the gym and liked it! But it's still funny!)

Halloween Treats

So, I feel really bad that I forgot to bring my camera to Reese's Halloween carnival at school today. Honestly, I was just lucky to get there! I was even 15 minutes late! I feel really bad b.c for some reason, I seem to forget these things with Reese. I just feel so busy all the time!

Because I have no pictures, I can not tell to much about Reese's Halloween carnival. After looking through my blog, I see that I didn't even blog about Gavin's party last year at MDS, so, no biggie. It will be in our next Blurb book. She did have a good time and so did Caden. Lots of games and candy...what more do they need?!?

Instead of writing about her party, I'll just write about some cute little Halloween craft of treats that the kids made for their teachers (school and church). We got the idea from my brilliant friend Brynn.

Each child got a few paint brushes, paint and a pot or two to decorate. We got so involved I didn't take any other pictures.

But, here is the finished product! A couple candy corn pots and my favorite, Gavin's black pot with ghost and pumpkin pot. (You have to flip the pot upside down to get the intended view.

So cute! So proud of my babies crafting skills!

I put the ribbon on top for them.

We "Boo'ed" a couple teachers from church on Monday night for FHE, Gavin took his to his teacher yesterday, Christopher took one in to a co-worker and Reese took hers in today!

On Tuesday Reese brought her BFF Madison to our house after school. They were so cute playing together all afternoon. Once Madison left I asked Reese to pick up her room. She was in there for quite a while before I decided to check on her. She knocked herself out!

Lastly, one other thing my cute little girl has been up to. She likes to paint her toes...not just the nails! Love it!

Exercise Your Right...a little early

Yep, I sure did! I waited in line for 40 minutes with a screaming (hungry/tired) 4 month old in one arm and a 2 year old toddler climbing my legs and I rocked the vote! I'm proud of myself!

Missionary Bean

"Love is of the essence of this missionary work. Selflessness is of its very nature. Self-discipline is its requirement. Prayer opens its reservoir of power. "

- President Gordon B. Hinckley

My beautiful sister Julia, or "Aunt Bean" as she is lovingly referred to as by the kids, entered the Missionary Training Center (MTC) last Wednesday the 22nd of October. She has been called to serve in the Paraguay Asuncion North Mission for a period of about 18 months speaking in the Spanish language. We couldn't be any prouder of our Bean!

Here Julia is with our mother placing her "chapa" or name tag as an official Missionary and Representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!

Dad was able to make it last minute after another hospital stay from infections. Julia had her wish come true! We love you Daddy! And we love that "newbie orange dot" Julia!

My brother Jarom and his son Hudson with our Missionary Bean.

Chelsea, Hudson, Jarom, Dad, the newly Hermana Haslam, and Mom!

We are excited for the many new adventures ahead of you Julia! The kids are all ready to map out your mission! We love you!

"Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work; For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul." - D & C 4

Four Seasons Cool 5K

My best girlfriend, Marni, talked me into doing the Four Seasons Cool 5k early this morning. I don't know how I did it. I haven't run since my brother came for a visit earlier this month, but it was a lot of fun! And supported a good cause, Baylor Cancer research and treatments. I ran for my daddy and his current battle with cancer.

We picked up our numbers and shirts...

...we even decided to get a timing chip, even though we assumed we'd be walking most of the race!

Then we psyched ourselves up to actually do the 5k and not just jump on the Family Fun Run 1 miler that was about to take place. It was real tempting.

Christopher was nice enough (dripping in sarcasm) to take pictures of us warming up with the overly chipper aerobics trainer just before our race started.

Marni and I made a pack to just take it easy (since this was her first race and I hadn't been running for a month) and try to finish under 35-40 minutes. The course was a little bit more hilly than we would have liked but slow and steady wins the race, right?!

We started running which for the first 1/2 mile was up hill and didn't stop for a short walk until after 1.5 miles. We kept our eye on a few people, you know the ones that find in your race and think to yourself "If anything, I have to at least beat that person", which kept the motivation to keep going. It worked great. Although we couldn't keep up with the 80 year old man in the purple shorts! He's die hard! Of course we knew we were no match for all those 12 year olds! Yes, they were finishing in 18 minutes!

After a brief fast walk we charged right back up another tough hill which at this point was really burning the thighs, but we kept running and then once the finish line was approaching we picked up the pace. I was really proud of our race b.c Marni had run more without walking breaks in this race than she has ever before and I was able to not pass out having taken a month long hiatus!!

As we approached the finish line we noticed the timer was nearing the 40 minute mark so we hit the concrete hard core and made sure we finished under 40 minutes...which was our goal! YAY!! In fact, we were so awesome, Christopher missed coming out to find us b.c we were so fast!! He wasn't expecting us until after 45 minutes or so! SO THERE!!

Here's Marni and I after the race and after we picked up all our free food and drink (the best part next to free T-shirts)! We went and found Christopher looking for us out on the course. Despite starting the race at a nippy 60 degrees, we were red hot afterwards!

While we were racing the kids kept busy. Here Caden was head of our group security.

Reese and Gavin played "bumper cars" with each others bodies!

There were some really fun bounce houses that Gavin and Caden played in the entire time we were running.

Caden and Gavin had the bouncy obstacle courses to themselves! Those are the best!

Reese also did some pumpkin decorating crafts.

I'm so glad Marni talked me into doing this race. I have wanted to get back into doing 5k's (seeing as I run 3 or more miles when I workout anyway) but it's always sooo much more fun when you have a racing buddy. I'm crazy excited that you want to be buddies with me!! We have decided we are going to do a race a month. Next month's race is the Turkey Trot that we do every year (here and here) and then December will bring either the Jingle Bell Run on the 13th (Rockwall) or the Jog'r Egg Nog'r on the 20th (White Rock Lake). And maybe the Snowman Shuffle on the 10th of January? All 5k's of course! Anyone want to join us?

LIFE, FAITH, FAMILY...VOTE!

I was moved (to the point of tears) with the following video. It was made by CatholicVote.com and I couldn't agree more with their message in this video! This November our vote needs to be heard. For the sake of "everything you hold sacred".

I have been following my friends in California with Prop. 8 along side our friends of the Catholic Church and others and this video hit me hard. It's a big deal not just for Californians, but for all of us. I detest debating politics so I'll leave it at this, please, VOTE! Vote your conscience! It may not be wildly popular, but do it anyway!

Humpty Dumpty

Caden loves all things with wheels! Lately he's been using his train tracks as a race car track. So this morning we put together the tracks and I let him go to town with his match box cars on the track. I went to tend to the needs of Baby R (who I watch weekdays and is who I'm with during most of Caden's "trouble") and heard Caden freaking out with frustration. I came in and found the following:

Monster Trucks don't do as well as his match box cars on the train track. Caden was really upset and couldn't understand why his truck always left his tracks like this below:

After the track would fall apart he would put it back together to put only to place the monster truck back on the ramp and have to start all over again! It was quite hilarious watching him get so flustered over it. He would keep saying "not working, not working"! Silly boy!

We think he's turning Japanese

My sister, Alyssia or 'Poochie' as we lovingly refer to her as, has done it again! First with our Halloween surprise and now a package of Japanese toys! You are just so cool, Poochie!

Lots of fun Japanese toys. Reese loved the Hello Kitty purse and Gavin claimed all others as HIS. I did make him share that weird Transformer like toy on the top left. It has an animated animal head for a body...but trying to put off an Optimus Prime vibe. Very interesting.

Gavin always amazes me with his ability to put difficult Lego packs together but this truly wowed me! He put together is "Lego" wanna be with Japanese instructions and very few pictures.

It was a Bionicle type Japanese Lego pack where you had to snap out your pieces and then construct a man.

Check out the Japanese instructions! These are quite different than the typical Lego picture instructions. He never once asked for help!

All completed and ready for Gavin action!

A short video that Gavin insisted that I take. He thinks he's so hilarious! And so do I!

Super Mario gum was a HUGE hit!

The glow stick glasses were also a huge hit! Do you like their animated Japanese cartoon stance?

Love the faces and how Caden just had to get in the picture and do something silly!

Reesie Pie, Silly Pie!

Gavin lookin' good in glow in the dark green!

POOCHIE!!! You have been so good to us! Thank you so much for the kids package! We loved it and they played with it all evening! Big thanks to you and Ryan for sharing the love baby! We love and miss you lots!

Flying High

It was a great day for flying a kite the other day. Beautiful weather in the 80's with a light breeze. (October. My favorite month of the year in Texas!) Gavin and Christopher were able to get the kite going right outside our house! Right on the driveway without running around to keep it up! It didn't last long, but made me long for the days of flying kites on the beaches of Washington and Oregon. I feel a vacation in the works...

Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch 2008

We haven't been to a pumpkin patch here in Texas since the 2005 - so 3 years? It's been a long time. Reese had just turned one and Caden wasn't even born! Halloween is one of our favorite times of the year and visiting a pumpkin patch is part of the tradition and fun!

This year I wanted to find one that was more of a farm. I found something online that looked fun and we all jumped into the car last night for FHE pumpkin patch fun 2008.

Yep, we live in the South!

Caden and Reese ready for a little John Deere ride through the pumpkin farm.

Gavin and Caden wanted to wear matching Halloween shirts even though it was pretty warm outside. They sure were cute though! Reese has one to match however she wanted to wear her new Wall-E and Eve shirt she got from Grandma and Pa for her birthday.

There were many bounce houses and obstacle courses for the kids to entertain themselves.

Caden got frustrated that his feet couldn't reach the pedals to his bike.

He opted for a ride on Mommy's shoulders.

And then he joined Gavin on the bouncy slide. No fear, pure rough 'n tumble!

Reese got in on the action and then followed me to a neighboring "the original" patch for more fun.

She was very into standing next to EVERY wooden character on the farm and getting her picture next to them. Here are a few of those we took.

Her favorite Disney movie, the Little Mermaid.

She loves Care Bears!

Let's not forget Hello Kitty that was lined up clear around the backside of the hay maze!

There were ghosts at this (the original) pumpkin patch! Good thing the middle one is so cute!

Two pumpkin heads!

Then we left without a pumpkin but with lots of smiles!

And candy!!

We'll have to get some pumpkins soon to decorate before they are all gone! Halloween is almost here! We will definitely have to go back to the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch again. If I can't find one closer to our house (maybe East Texas vs. North) then this will be our new Halloween fun time tradition! We had a lot of fun together!