Happy Haunting...

Sara as a stick figure...she did look pretty cool.
Grace was a fairy in a tutu...we love our tutu's.

A bunch of kids trick or treating...Statton looks good as an old lady.

Look at the adorable girls in pink...Ivy and Lucy.

Stockton - just a dumb look- no costume, only a trouble maker...haha

Allen showing his pimp watch and them trying to look cool.

Tyler showing some love to Ryker.

Then the 4 stooges.

Abbie is a zombie, that is what nursing school will do to you.

Sara's group came over here after trick or treating and played games and screamed a lot!

Halloween was on a Sunday, so living in Utah, we trick or treat on the Saturday night, which is awesome, because the kids don't have to hurry home and get ready for school the next day. So they all stayed out late with friends after gathering as much CRAP as they could. Every year we have soup and eat with friends, before the ghost and goblins go on their way. We have gone to different homes and this year the Garrett's hosted and we all brought food to share. Mike Jardine moved to Seattle for a new job and he drove home 12 hours and stayed 24 hours and then drove back 12 hours. We were surprised to see him and usually he is the one who hosts the parties. But we never care where the gathering is as long as we stick with the tradition. We always have such a great time. We stayed way longer than we normally do and we hardly passed out the 20 bags of candy we bought. So needless to say, we have lots of treats for the next few weeks.

40th Birthday Celebration....that lasts a week

Tonia, Angie and Marla threw a masquerade party for me for my 40th birthday! It was fun to dress up and see good friends!

Me and my BFF's Lori and Angie!

Tonia, Mary, Marla, Lori Vest, and Angie

Lori Vest made the beautiful cake...

Lori V, me and Tonia

Jenn, Jana, my mom and me.

My favorite part of the night was each person had to come with a favorite story or memory about me and the person telling the story. And it was on the invitation, so before the party, my kids said, "Mom, every story is going to end in ....and then she peed her pants." And it pretty much it was a recollection of every occurrence and the different places I have peed my pants. All I can say is...thank goodness for modern medicine, which has helped with the problem :)

me and Cathy

Saturday I received a fruit bouquet from a life-long friend, Kristi Garner Moore. It was a surprise and so thoughtful. My girls and I enjoyed it!!

My birthday was on a Sunday ~ and my favorite place to nap is next to the fire! Just relaxing until the next church meeting :)

Love the napkins...

Brad, Stockton and Jack at my mom's for the celebration!

Me and Jake

Everyone waiting for cake and ice cream, listening to the screaming kids and watching some ball game.

Brady looking good in the mask...

I always tell Jack, that I am his favorite daughter in law, I do believe its true :)

My dad and me.

I didn't love to turn 40, I am going to admit it. I have been bothered by it for months. Some of the reasons I was bothered...

1. I have probably lived half of my life. Now old age isn't in my genes. My grandma died about a year ago and she did live to be 85, but she is the oldest. I guess I don't see myself living past 80. My step sister wrote me a note on my birthday and asked how the other side of the hill looked and I think she is probably correct.

2. I have been married for half of my life. WOW...that is weird. Not that I am sad, mad or have any regrets, because I DON'T! But to think that 1/2 of my life, I've been married? I am truly grateful for my husband. I had NO idea at the age of 15-16 that I would marry him and I would have gotten so lucky. Brad is the kindest person and the BEST husband ever! He is equally a great father. I do feel blessed and I know that he has been the best thing that has happened to me. After all of these years, I would rather be with him than anyone else on this earth and I know that he feels the same way and that is a great feeling!

3. Just vanity. I am old and I look it and feel it. I have arthritis in my hips and I feel it in my ankles. I have wrinkles on my face- but luckily they are mostly for smiling and the sun - not being grouchy. I weigh a TON and its still as good as its going to get... And I hate that I can't do everything I want to do, but I am glad that I can still some of the things that I want to do.

Positive things

1. Now on the bright side of things...40 has also brought some good things. When I think back to my 30th birthday, it was sort of a bad time in life. Brad's business had slowed down and he was working odd jobs just to keep food on the table and financially - we were scared. I had just had Sara and I had 2 babies. I was sleep deprived, emotional and not in a good place. But the past ten years have brought about good changes in career and stability that we never had being a business owner. Financial security is a blessing.

2. I have loved raising my children, they have brought such joy to my life. Motherhood is amazing. I have loved watching them grow and develop. Now it hasn't always been blissful - lots of stress and heart aches but its been rewarding. I can say, nothing to my credit- but they are extraordinary kids. They set high goals and work hard to achieve them. They are smart and they work on their talents, they are kind and good hearted people and I see good things coming their way. But now I'm 40, Stockton will soon be 16 - which he already talks about dating? WTH? And driving...now that isn't so bad - one less kid to pick up and get around and now he can do some errands! Hip hip hooray! Grace is going to be 12 soon, she will be going to young women's and just growing up...dang that part I hate but I am excited to watch them progress. Sara is 10 and she is the baby? How does the time go by so fast? So while I get older so do my kids...I don't quite get that?

3. I have come to except myself at the age of 40 too. I like myself and I know who I am. I don't try to "fit in" as I used too. I am ok with just being me. Most important -I like who I am!

The LAST football game...

Stockton wore #38 to the VARSITY game!

Ryker wore #51.

This is Stockton and some of his friends.

It was a tough year for the sophomore Falcons. They worked hard and played hard but they weren't on the win side of many of the games - they won 2 to be exact. When I looked at the scoreboard- it seemed the score should have been closer. They got blew out a few times but for the most part they were in most games. The most important thing is...Stockton had a good experience. He never complained about practice, only losing, but he worked hard and he learned to love his teammates. He knows he isn't going to play in the NBA, NFL or the MLS - he used to think that was his destiny but he does it now for fun. He works hard and does it for the love of the game. For the last game he was asked to dress varsity. He was honored and thrilled so it was fun just to watch him on the sidelines.

Halloween Decorations about the house~~

We try to get in the spirit of Halloween, Fall and Christmas. I used to be really good as the kids were younger but now I don't think it is as important but now the kids love it so they do it and then I think, "yuck!" that is old we need to update so then I spend money on it and crap. Oh well the kids love it and it gets you festive!