The Morning After....

This was Ari the morning after Halloween. She put her costume back on and was ready to go all over again. :-)

Max: Post-trick-or-treating

After trick-or-treating, Max went through his candy deciding what to keep and what to put out for the "switch witch." He doesn't like candy all that much (except for starburst, m&m's and tootsie rolls), so most of his candy was put on the door step to await the switch witch. In our house, the switch witch comes Halloween night. She takes the candy that is left out and puts money in its place. We had to stop Max, though, when he started going through Ari's candy looking for MORE candy to turn into dough. This year, the switch witch ended up coming Halloween night AND the next night! Max was so happy about the candy trade that he put candy out the next evening as well. The switch witch(es) were thrilled! :-)

Ari: Post-trick-or-treating

We are fortunate to live in such a great trick-or-treating neighborhood. We were unfortunate that it rained the entire evening. However, the misery of a steady rain was no match for the draw of free candy! Ari inhales yet another of her prized pieces of candy. During our trick-or-treating adventure, her hat blew off numerous times, she shuffled along slowly in her "Jessie" boots and she squinted against the rain. To help her out, Michael would periodically try to carry her candy bag for her. But no matter the physical trial, she would not release her vice-grip on that candy bag for anything! Such a cute little trooper.

After that last piece of candy, the rain and physical exertion had taken their toll and she was exhausted....

Halloween/ Pre-trick-or-treating

Max was Buzz Lightyear again. The costume was so cute that, as long as it still fit, I really wanted to get another year's use out of it. Max didn't object. Ari wore a Woody outfit (Max's costume from a few years back), but we put taped a long braid made out of red yarn to the back of the hat and called her "Jessie."

Michael was a greaser. I was me. :-)

AAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!

Our neighbor caught this spider a few weeks ago as it was crawling up their driveway!! And then the next day, I saw a similar one crossing the road while I was driving. Really! I could actually SEE the spider while I was driving... it was THAT big. Gross, gross, gross, gross, gross.

Post Marathon Bliss

Nothing like downing a giant tub of butter popcorn after a 26.2 mile run! (Of course Ari ate like she had run 26.2 miles as well!)

2008 St. George Marathon

So in the 32 years they have run the St. George Marathon, it has only rained twice.....and of course, one of those times had to be this year... the year Michael trained his butt off (literally; by the time he was done training, he had lost 8 pounds, and really had no butt)! Not only did it rain for the entire marathon, but there was a horrible head wind as well. Michael still managed a fabulous time of 3:12:04. But boy was he cold afterwards... can you see his blue lips?

We finally took him to the medical tent to get warmed up because he was just so, so cold. And those lips! The lady in the medical tent was convinced he had eaten or drank something blue because she just couldn't believe that lips could be that blue just from being cold.

Ari and Max hovered and shivered near Michael's cot in the medical tent.

Michael's friend, John, (owner of the infamous St. George condo that we frequently borrow) also ran it, but didn't have nearly as much of a problem with blue lips.

Chatting while waiting for a ride back to warmth!

First Day of Kindergarten, 8/25/08

He looked so cute in the outfit he picked out. Of course he really didn't care about his outfit. It's just what he put on when he woke up that morning.

All I wanted was a picture of him getting on the bus the first day. Of the many I took, this (pathetically) was the best one.

Ari, May 2008

Where in the world did she learn this?? We still don't know....

Max's Preschool Graduation, May 2008

He just really wasn't that into it.... Playing with his cap instead of wearing it on his head.....
Yea! He finally put it on!

Okay, off again and now twirling it.....

Receiving his "diploma" and treat

Posing with his class.... again, he just really wasn't into it.... Ho hum... :-)

A visit from the PA grandparents

My mom and dad came to visit in May. We spent a day in Temple Square, visiting the conference center, watching the film on Joseph Smith, eating at the Lion House and marveling at the beautiful gardens.