Halloween 2014

Halloween

Happy Halloween from the Johnsons

Halloween is over and done and what a fun Halloween it was!! This year there seemed to be less "other" Halloween costume-y events than in years past which actually made the big day very exciting. This year the costumes were easier than they have EVER been in Johnson Family History. That made it extra nice. We had a very low stress and fun-filled day.

We began with partying it up at the elementary school:

Bryn was a purple cheerleader. This costume has made the rounds of all of our girls. My mom got it for Reilly and she wore it in Kindergarten too and then Ailey wore it in First grade. It currently lives in my mom's big dress up box at her house and she graciously dropped it off at my house for Brynnie to wear along with Ailey's Halloween costume.

Ailey the Rodeo Queen:

Western Shirt, hat, and boots were all from Grandma's dress up box too!! Aren't grandmas the best? Reilly wore this very shirt when she was a Rodeo Queen for Halloween at the age of 4 yrs old; which just shows how very petite our Ailey is...although those sleeves ended up having to be rolled up a bit. She was super cute!!

This year working the elementary school parties was extra fun because I got to do it with my sister, Kelley.  Yay!!

Party Moms!!

We had a great time, laughing our heads off, helping out, and not being the ones technically in charge although perhaps we should have been. The kindergarten party was, shall we say, a bit disorganized (novice mother) and we could've whipped that party right into shape!!

The cheerleader and the good witch

Elle

All lined up and waiting for their turn with great anticipation for the Halloween Parade.

The kids had a great time playing games, making crafts, and eating snacks.

Bryn at the Bingo table

It was so much fun to see the girls having a great time with their friends. I love the Halloween Parade and seeing Ailey and her class come through, along with all the cute kids from our ward and stake. It is definitely the best part of the Halloween party.

I managed to run upstairs and catch part of Ailey's class party too. She had a grand time with all her friends as well.

Ailey got to head out early for some trick-or-treating with the ASB officers. They were invited to trick-or-treat at a nearby assisted living facility (Reilly's old place of business) so they loaded up on the bus and headed out for some more Halloween fun. She had a great time and recognized several of the residents from going and visiting them with Reilly.

It seemed like we were barely home and then it was time to light the pumpkins and get ready to head over to trunk-or-treat at the church.

Pumpkin Heads

We added this creepy dude to our group of revelers:

All Kameron wanted was a spooky mask and that was it...for a mere $7.99 his wish was granted. He originally wanted to be a spooky clown but the perfect mask proved elusive. I live in a house full of coulrophobics, thankfully I am not one, who were pretty happy that he couldn't find a clown mask as well. Although I have to admit my brother Kirk makes for one freaky clown. Here he is all dressed up for Halloween this year...

Reilly and Justin were going as "Lumberjacks" and I use that term very loosely as Reilly was wearing an outfit that she normally wears and Justin wasn't in costume or was he? He looked like he always does. :)

Kameron made Reilly throw on one of his Duck Dynasty beards to make her a bit more authentic.

So yes, four costumes for four children that cost us less than TEN BUCKS!! Woohoo!!

We picked up Kameron's friend, Caleb, and Justin came over, and we all headed to Trunk-or-Treat at the church. I love trunk-or-treat and seeing all the cute primary kids and youth. Our kids hit it first and then took off for a regular night of trick-or-treating.

We were a witch and a creepy gorilla!!

The quasi-lumberjacks joined us briefly and then headed out to grab some dinner and to go to a Halloween party being held by some kids in our stake. Kameron and Caleb took off pretty quickly to canvas the neighborhood near our church and to do their own thing for the next few hours. They covered quite an expanse of neighborhoods.

Zoe aka Katniss and Ailey

Tyler and I took Ailey and Bryn out trick-or-treating for about an hour and a half. In that time they amassed such a huge amount of candy that their buckets were full to the top and Ailey's bucket actually broke due to all her loot. But that was nothing compared to Kameron and Caleb. They came back to our house with the most candy I have ever seen in all my 42 years of Halloween!! Kameron weighed his candy and had nearly 8 lbs and that was just his and Caleb had the same amount. 16 lbs of candy in about 3 hours time. Wow. The boys spent the next hour organizing, trading, and photographing their candy. They were in candy heaven!!

I had a big 9 x 13 pan full of 7 Layer Bean Dip and tortilla chips for everyone back at the house. Reilly and Justin eventually trickled in and we had a house full of kids until late. It was really nice that Halloween was on a Friday night this year. We ended up having quite a few trick-or-treaters and a good night was had by all. :)

The proof:

These girls lasted about 10 minutes after we got home. They were going to watch a Charlie Brown Halloween movie and sort their candy but they didn't last very long. Brynnie never even got out of her coat!!

Happy Halloween to all... and to all a good night!!

Now onto my 30 Days of Gratitude...

October Fun

October!

It's already the end of the month. Here's what we were up to:

Cross-Country 

This was our family's past time for the month of October. Kameron was running for his middle school and we really enjoyed going to the meets and watching him run. He thoroughly enjoyed this season of cross-country. He loved his coach, teammates, and the whole experience. It was a great way to end his middle school XC career. He's had some pretty enthusiastic cheerleaders too.

They are enthusiastic little huggers of their favorite runner!!

Typical day. You get home from practice and Mom's is your face with her IPhone because you are so darn cute!!

October at Greenbluff

Fall wouldn't be Fall without a couple of trips to Greenbluff for pumpkins, donuts, and all kinds of fun. One weekend Elle was staying with us, so we thought it would be the perfect time to head on up. The kids (and Tyler) were dreaming of Hot Pumpkin Donuts!! Tyler and Kameron stood in line and waited for nearly an hour and a half for them and they STILL said that it was worth it. It would not have been for me!! Kameron bought his own bag and snarfed his dozen down in record time. The sugar buzz made for some wild pumpkin picking!!

Kameron was a great sport and fueled by donuts; dragged those girls all over in the wagon.

Photo bomb by Kam #1

Photo bomb by Kam #2...You gotta love 13 year old boys!!

By the end of the outing there were four crazy, hyper kids!! But like I said on Instagram... (Instagram has pretty much taken over my blogging)...Tyler bought all those donuts and stuffed the kids full of them. On a side note...doesn't he have the most startling blue eyes? Even in a weird picture those blue eyes shine through. Guess how many of my kids have inherited those beautiful blue eyes? Nary a one!! Sad. Let's hope for red-haired and blue-eyed grandkids!!

Reilly had to work that weekend and wasn't able to go with us. She ended up going later with Justin. She gave him the whole Johnson Greenbluff experience. The poor kid hadn't picked a pumpkin in years.


Sunday Drives

While the weather is nice, we have been channeling my Grandma and Grandpa McKinnon, who used to love to go for Sunday drives out in the country, and we have been doing it ourselves. We live in such a beautiful place and autumn just kicks it up a notch. On one particular drive, Tyler took me to see a dam that he inspects and that he had been working at that week.

So pretty!!

I am dreading the arrival of winter as usual. I hate being cooped up indoors and so I am trying to be out and about as much as possible in the great outdoors before we are undoubtedly snowed in. Snow makes me feel completely claustrophobic. I know. Add it to the long and lengthy list.

Going to Church

This month has been a month of a million and two EXTRA meetings. This is us at one. It was late and the meeting was LONG. On another note...Reilly's boyfriend has been coming to church with us every week, attending mutual, and going to all kinds of extra meetings, and service projects too. That has been a lot of fun for our whole family. Have I mentioned that he is really a great kid?

Stolen from Reilly's Instagram account. I know...the cheese is a little overwhelming at times. Such is teenage love.

Can I just say that the mere fact that Tyler likes this kid is a miracle from God. Seriously. Tyler has thoroughly loathed everyone Reilly has even thought about liking. This is a far cry from last year when the boy that Reilly liked said this to her:

Boy: I think your dad hates me.
Reilly: Why?
Boy: Because he is always glaring at me.
Reilly: I don't think he is glaring at you. That's just his face.
Boy: No, he's glaring at me.

Later:

Reilly: "Insert name" thinks you hate him.
Tyler: Why?
Reilly: He says you are always glaring at him.
Tyler: I am.
Me: You are seriously glaring at this kid?
Tyler: Correct
Reilly: He thinks you hate him.
Tyler: That would also be correct.

See how far we have come? Given that Tyler smiles, laughs, and actually allows Justin to hang out here is pretty darn miraculous and Ailey and Bryn have hope for the future.

Kindergarten Field Trip

Oh yes... we returned again. Tyler and I were chaperones on the Kindergarten field trip to Greenbluff. It worked out pretty well in that one of us had Bryn, and one of us had Elle, and we also kept tabs on another crazy kid. It was freezing cold, rainy, and pretty much thoroughly miserable but these two cuties made it worth it.

Lunch time

Chivalry isn't dead...even in Kindergarten.

After 4 kids and including preschool and Kindergarten field trips... I was on Greenbluff field trip #7 and Tyler was on Greenbluff field trip #2. Even we were Greenbluffed out that day!! We pass the field trip torch on...

The Dentist

 I am smiling because all four kids were cavity free. (Thank goodness our appt was PRIOR to Halloween) Reilly is smiling because she was told that from now on if she has a cavity she pays what our insurance doesn't herself and, lucky for her, she was in the clear. By nearly 18 years old you should be able to brush, floss, and take care of your teeth right?

Costume Choosing

Again Kameron refused to be Charlie Bucket for Halloween much to my great dismay. When his hair is in need of a haircut he really is Charlie Bucket's twin. It took much coercion, bribery, and some threatenings but I was allowed one photo. Was I right or what? Kameron is so rapidly growing and changing into a man-boy that I fear that his Charlie Bucket days are numbered. So with a borrowed turtleneck and DVD proof...he relented. He would like the record to state that he is EXAGGERATING  his Charlie Bucketness for his mother's amusement. :)

Pumpkins Were Carved

This year I came up with the scathingly brilliant idea of having the kids carve their pumpkins out on the deck after school and thus eliminating the pumpkin mess in my house. Brilliance!! That fact that it has taken me until my oldest was nearly 18 years old to come up with this idea is sad. The kids loved the pumpkin carving/hot chocolate party. A new tradition is born.

Onto Halloween...

New Pictures 2014

It's Better than School Picture Time Again

I am up to my eyeballs in paint, furniture, and merchandise getting ready for a vintage show in Montana in about a week and a half. But...I thought I'd take a little break to post some new cute pictures of the kids. All were taken by my friend, Amy, of Amy Stinebaugh Photography.

Reilly: Senior Year

Kameron: 8th Grade

Ailey: 5th Grade

Bryn: Kindergarten

I love them all!! And...the kids aren't bad too. :) We missed out on getting our family picture taken this year due to Reilly's work schedule...arghh. The one huge downside of having a teenager working is that her work schedule completely screws up MY SCHEDULE!! I will have to book a family picture this summer before Reilly heads out into the world as an adult. So weird.