Halloween Firsts

This year was Sydney's first Halloween and Wes' first opportunity to collect candy. Fun for both of them! :)

We dressed Sydney up as a "kitty-cat" and Wes was a "doggy". (This is what we call them when we ask Wes what the animals say.) Brian and I chose not to dress up this year. We had enough else to think about!

Our cute little family getting ready to go to the Ward Halloween Party on Wednesday.

Sydney and Wes. Wes gets a little unsure when we try to take pictures of him and Sydney together.

Wes' first trick-or-treating experience at the church. They do an indoor door-to-door instead of a trunk-or-treat. Smart idea in Michigan! :)






Wes caught on quickly and Brian loved taking him around from door to door. They had a great time.

Checking out his trick-or-treat bucket - it's Darth Vader, by the way.

Enjoying his sucker with Grandma Hanks.

Our sweet sleeping little kitty.

On Friday morning there was an MBA Kids event where the kids dressed up, met the business school dean, had crafts, pizza and other fun things. Here Wes is getting his tied dog balloon.

Grandma Hanks is helping Wes make a little ghost craft.

Here are Andrea and Hayden (the lion) and Jonelle and Carter (the jack-o-lantern) and the MBA Kids party. My other friend Katie and her son James are in the background. Katie's having her 2nd baby today!

Brian and his baby girl.

We had a birthday party for Brian on Halloween since we knew neither our friends nor us would be out trick-or-treating with our young (or no) kids. This is the cake I made for Brian for the party. (Thanks to Dad Swensen for the idea from so many years ago!)

Brian and me with his awesome graveyard cake.

Blowing out the candles (again)! He's 28, not 82, by the way. :)

We painted pumpkins as an activity. Some people had already headed out by this point. Too much partying for one day, I guess! :)

Grandma Hanks has been a huge help this whole week and definitely was at the party! She took care of Miss Sydney so Brian and I could entertain the guests.

Wes and Brian with his painted pumpkin.

Wes helped Brian carve this scary pumpkin face for Halloween. Brian's doing a good job mimicking the face, I think! :)

This is a non-Halloween picture. This is Sydney on the awesome blanket that Grandma Hanks made for her. She made one for Wes when he was born, too. I look forward to getting this blanket and the one from Great Grandma Smith when I have a baby. I think it's so cool to have something handmade from someone who loves them so much! Isn't she talented?

Pumpkin Picking 2008

Yesterday we went out to pick pumpkins at the same place we went apple picking last month. It was Grandma Hanks, Brian, Wes, Sydney, my friend Andrea, her son Hayden, and me. It was fun, but it was freezing cold. It was around 40 degrees, but the wind was blowing so that made it kind of intense. We're definitely heading into the real fall/winter of Michigan! Yay!

The group heading out to find the perfect pumpkin.

I had Sydney in the Bjorn with a blanket wrapped around her. She slept most of the time unless she got hit with a gust of wind.

Wes was having a lot of fun and wanted to hold the pumpkins, but this one was a little heavy for him to hold on his own.

Brian found him a good "Wesley-sized" pumpkin - it's actually the baking kind. Maybe I'll try using it after Halloween's over!

Brian and Wes with a "Brian-sized" pumpkin. Hopefully we'll get around to carving this one.

Brian's Birth Anniversary

I think all in all Brian had a good birthday. First off, his mom is here for the week so she was able to celebrate with us which makes it even more fun! His day started off with his favorite traditional birthday breakfast of homemade cream cheese danish and ham and egg casserole. Then Brian, Mom, and Wes went to Stake Conference and Sydney and I stayed home and got some seriously needed sleep. For dinner, Brian had a specially requested homemade hamburger with some taco dip. For dessert, angel food cake with fresh strawberries.

I'm sure the best part of his birthday was having his 3 favorite ladies to help him celebrate: his mom, his wife, and his new daughter. Of course, it was great to have Wes there too! :)

Family picture.




Waiting to make a wish.

I love the way Wes is looking at Brian in this picture. What are you wishing for Brian?

Blowing out the candles!

Look at that smoke!

Brian and Sydney. We were trying to get a good shot with her eyes open. Pretty close. :)