Happy Halloween!

Headed out to Boo at the Zoo:

 Love to feed the birds:

SUGAR!!!

Ready to get on the zoo train.  Nana had been sick and went into the hospital in Albuquerque that day, so Doug and Mona left right after the zoo to be with her.  She is home now though and doing much better:

 

 So strong!

Halloween party at Ms. Tiffany's preschool:

Sweetest witch ever! 

 Traditional pumpkin shaped pepperoni and pineapple pizzas:

 Eating scary ghosts (bananas with chocolate chip eyes and mouth):

 At the Trunk or Treat with the rest of the Primary Presidency.  Whew, we pulled it off and everyone had fun:

 We won 2nd place for our family costumes:

 With the Peter Pan crew:

 Before Trick or Treating Halloween night:

MJ had TWO Spider-mans to save her from Dr. Octopus.  (Autrey really did a great job on his costume.  And Dylan loved my 'Alison hair', referring to my red headed bestie, Alison Merritt):

 Carra is 34 weeks pregnant and walked around with us like a trooper:

 The trick or treat train in our neighborhood:

 The morning after Halloween we had our family pictures taken by a park.  I know.  It was the soonest and only open Saturday our family was available for quite a while, a scheduling gamble that paid off.  I made sure the boys didn't eat too much candy and didn't stay up super late.  Some fun pictures after the photo shoot:

 I remembered I didn't take a picture of the pumpkins.  It's been crazy around here lately...and probably will be until the end of the year.  I ended up finally carving them by myself as the boys played and occasionally watched on the afternoon of Halloween before Aut got home.  Sheesh.  Colton's 'Franken-style', as he called it:  

 Dylan's Spiderman symbol.  Delicate and tricky, by the way:

Happy Halloween!

Seattle Trip to Meet Baby Samuel

We hadn't seen Lori's family for 1.5 years, so over Columbus Day weekend we flew up to see them and meet baby Samuel.  Our flight was supposed to leave at at 8:45 pm.  We ended up sitting on the plane for just over 2 hours before finally taking off and getting in at 1:30 am (3:30 am Texas time).  Wowza.  On the way back we sat on the plane for 2.5 hours before taking off.  Not cool, American Airlines.  Not cool.  Thankfully, it was worth the traveling hassle to see everyone and have some fun.  After a few hours of shut eye...Good morning, Samuel!  

Colton wanted to hold and kiss and love on Samuel as much as he could.  Sam was just a little wiggly and tough to hang onto:

The Duke grandkids (except Sam) sitting out by the water directly behind the rental house:

 We went to a really fun pumpkin patch:

It was cold, and the rain promptly decided to pour on us.  So we sought refuge until it passed:

 After the weather cleared we made it through the HUGE corn maze.  Mona somehow made it without even reading the map.  Skills:

 The cow ride:

 Racing:

Digging in the dirt:

Petting zoo:

 Slide:

 Water fun:

 Diving and doing cannon balls into the hay was the most fun for the kiddos:

Love these cute little faces:

Picking out pumpkins:

 Celebrating Maggie's 7th birthday:

  Playing before church:

Such a sweet baby.  Loves to laugh:

 The kiddos after church:

  

 No one seemed to care the water was FREEZING:

Muscles:

 Pumpkin carving:

Great looking patch.  Glad we got this picture.  About 2 seconds later, Colton dropped his Batman pumpkin and the symbol fell out.  Chaos ensued after that as kids and pumpkins went every which way:

Naked spaghetti dinner.  The boys wondered why Maggie had to keep her shirt on.  Dylan asked, "When is Maggie going to turn into a boy?"  It would seem she missed the boy memo:

Bedtime stories with Mimi: