This is Halloween...

It was fun to have Halloween fall on Saturday this year. It makes the day much less stressful for Mommy. We even have time to do a dress rehearsal in jammies. These Casanova Cowboy's are the rootinest tootinest and I love them.

The boys decided ages ago what they wanted to be this year. I had fun making their costumes again and I was very pleased that the liked them. Hearing people recognize them tonight was also nice, even if it was mostly middle aged men.

Ever since moving to Buckeye I have dreamed of living in Verrado. I covet the tree lined streets and front porches. We ditched our half empty neighborhood and trick-or-treated down Main Street. The tree lined streets didn't disappoint. I felt like we were straight out of a movie.

After an hour or so the boys were losing steam and their bags we full of more candy than I care to let them eat. More candy than I also care to steal out of their bags and eat myself even...

We still had a couple promised stops to see Grandparents so we stopped to get a little pick me up...

Unfortunately we didn't make it in time to save this little guy...

Happy Halloween from the Karafa Family!

Her special day...

We pulled off the biggest surprise of the year this past Sunday. All my Mom's children were able to come together and surprise her for her birthday. I cant believe we were all able to keep it a secret. Not to mention hide 8 children and 6 adults in her living room and keep everyone quiet long enough for a proper

"SURPRISE"

The birthday girl requested her picture removed.

All the grandkids were glad to wear party hats and thourougly enjoyed the cupcakes brought all the way from Snowflake. Gill even made a homemade German chocolate cake for the adults.

 I didnt get a picture but she had equal amounts of cake and delicious coconut pecan frosting. And it was delicious!

The  gathering of all the family sure made Mom happy, but I think Grandpa was just as glad to see everyone.

We were able to see my brother Ben and his cute girlfriend Courtney. Wedding bells may be ringing in the future for these two so it was nice to get to know her better.

As usual Dillon wants to go back to Grandma Hunt's (and play with baby Buzz & Woody). He tells me everyday.

To the birthday girl-

Thanks for being my mom. I know it hasn't always been an easy job (hopefully it has been worth it). Thank you for teaching me to be a strong woman.Thanks for teaching me that I can do just about anything, and that I won't know unless I try.

I hope you were really surprised, and that you forgive me ignoring you in my attempt to keep it a secret.

I love you!

Mindy

Ferb Fletcher went to a party....

His very first to be exact.

He cried when I left him but tried hiding himself in a toy box when I came to pick him up. He had a great time!

Farm Frolliking...

We took the kids to a local farm today. We enjoyed playing in the corn (dried & growing). We petted animals and even held a baby chick. It was a lot of fun but still way too hot for October. It was a fun family Saturday though. Our Day in pictures...

Hooray for...

• 4 day weekends
• a day of deep cleaning
• spending the day with my favorite kiddos
• sleeping in
• healthy boys

A sweet morning...

I cam home from my birthday rendevous to a sick little boy (Jordan) and an impending move at work. Neither has been much fun. And both don't seem quite normal yet.

Grandpa K. said it best yesterday that Jordan is still missing his spark. And it's true. He's a sparky boy and you can tell right away when he isn't 100%. He's getting there though. Last night his Daddy gave him a blessing because he asked me in the car on the way home if I thought that would make him better.

He awoke this morning with all sorts of questions about the Priesthood and my heart melted a little. I think he and his Daddy are going to have a wonderful little chat tonight.

Love this boy...

My Birthday...

Today began the last year of my twenties. As the picture above shows, I have some growing up to do before I can be a proper thirty year old woman. At least I make my kids laugh.

Blair took my to Disneyland to celebrate in style. We also celebrated kid-free. It was a little sad to go without the kids but I played the part of both of them. Like standing in line to take a picture with Mickey, that was me playing the part of Jordan.

Blair took some great pictures. It was our first time going during Halloween. Halloween & Disneyland are two of my favorite things! It made me even more excited to be going back for Christmas!

Blair treated me to a delicious dinner at the Blue Bayou Restaurant. I have always wanted to eat there. Every time I rode Pirates and saw the people there I was jealous. Not any more! Thanks Babe!

This is me on the tram ride back after our 17 hours at Disneyland. We shut it down. The huge blisters on my feet will back me up on this!

Thanks Sweetheart for a magical birthday getaway! It was so much fun!

Bubbles...

Nothing ends the day better than a nice warm bubble bath. My boys definitely agree.

Every cowboy needs a horse, needs a horse...

And a pair of fancy boots, fancy boots...

Grandma K. bought Dillon a pair of fancy BOOPS (as he calls them) and he is beyond thrilled! So thrilled he wanted to sleep in them. At least they don't have spurs I guess...

It belongs to him...

When we venture out in public as a foursome there is one given: we will split off into twosomes, Jordy & Dad, Dill & Mom. It works for us. Mainly because Dill comes with his own special requirements that Dad isn't necessarily able no willing to provide.

Lately I have been noticing a trend though. One where Jordan doesn't even seem to mind not sitting next to Mom. The same Jordan who spend the first 3 years of his life basically attached to my hip, his fingers twisted into my hair. He's moved on...

Never was this more apparent than tonight when my brave little boy came to me with eyes stretched open wide trying to keep the flood of tears at bay and told me "I haven't had a long enough weekend with Daddy" and before he could choke out "and now he has to go to work" the floods came. My poor baby. The worst part was feeling so helpless as the only thing that he wanted was his Daddy and that was the one thing I couldn't provide.

Promises were made (Blair to return and Jordy not to cry) and life as we have begun to know it (us alone) began again. I tried to lessen the blow with Halloween decorating and some baking. It seems to have done the trick as he is now fast asleep in his Daddy's place.

Nine...

Nine years ago my baby sister turned 10. Officially double digits, not so babyish. Now she's 19 and a freshman at ASU. Happy Birthday Gill Pickles.

That same day nine years ago was my first day of work at USA Today. I was 19 years old.

The last nine years have gone by fast, yet so slowly at times. Oh how my life has changed since that October day in 2000.

ETA-
Oh Katie you are so right! And I didn't forget about Little Buddy, I thought you were still in UT and planned on texting him!

More ETA-
Now that I am thinking about my little buddy Trevor celebrating his 1st birthday today it has me reminiscing about more days gone by. When your sisters have babies its wonderful. Wonderful because they feel like they are your own babies only you didnt have to carry them, birth them and you don't have to take them home! With each of Betsy's kids I find peices of her in them and my love for them grows even more.

Now Katie and I have been besties for years. It didnt take long for her to become my sister too. But something has to be said for the sealing power of the Temple, which makes you work even harder at maintaining relationships with your family. I think we have had times over the years that our relationship has suffered. When Katie had Bella I saw so much of her and I fell in love with Bella and with my old friend all over again. With Trevor it happened again, only now we shared mothering a boychild together. And the bond with a mother and son is one you have to experience for yourself.

So today on October 4th I say Happy Birthday to Gill and Trevor!

And most of all I say I LOVE YOU to my sisters! All 3 of them!

Our weekend continued...

We made it through the football game, rain and all! The best part for me was when they announced Brother Jankowski (Or Mr. Jankowski) as the trainer and the girls behind me said they were going to start their own cheer for his CUTIE BOOTY! I am still laughing. I hope you are Bridgette!

I enlisted the photog of the house to take a picture of my hair. Maybe some mascara would help a girl out...

Blair has admitted his first thought was Kate Gosselin too. Blurg... I will admit that I am not mad at Jordy for cutting off my chins...yes plural.

Something is in the air...

The last two days have been blissful. Something about waking up and starting my day with cool crisp air just does something to me. I feel a little frisky. I feel like making changes.

So yesterday I had my hair cut. Short. Very short (for me). Coupled with my orange hair I am now a little afraid of looking like the Headless Horseman from Sleepy River. It would be quite festive of me though. When I was describing my new do to the Beast she asked me if I cut my hair like Kate Gosselin. Ugh...

The Karafa family has some pretty grand plans this weekend. We are kicking it off with going to see the Hawks play their Homecoming game.

Go Hawks!