Only in Arizona

Where else, in the US, can you do this in November.....COMFORTABLY???? One reason we stay here (besides the fact we couldn't sell our house if we wanted to!) Ethan in the middle of a game of tag!

Ben coming out of a flip!

Aubrie's sweet dive!
Sophia floating and blowing bubbles!
To make you non-Phoenicians feel better, check out our temps in August!

Finally....Orgnanized!!

So those of you who know me well, know that I LOVE organization. Not to say that I am always organized, but I love the feeling of getting there! Ben said we should buy stock in the Sterlite company. (The ones who make all those plastic storage container's). Anywho...I have been waiting anxiously to transform this mudroom into a great organized "haven", where my kids stuff can all have a place, and where I can orderly store our food storage.

My favorite part....the drawers under the "lockers" hold the kids shoes and socks...no more scattered shoes everywhere, or running upstairs for socks!! (Ok before I used baskets, but just not as orderly)

Ben's Uncle has a business up in Prescott, and he just came down and installed these on Friday. They are beautiful. He literally spent all day putting them in, leaving just as we were getting back from Trunk or Treat! I was in seventh Heaven putting everything in the them on Saturday. I know...it's a sickness. Either I will ruin my children to the point where they will hate organization, or to the point where they have to be organize, too! Ben is just happy that I'm more relaxed!;)

On a similar note....Ben finally put this on Craigs list! Can't wait to get the garage organized once this is gone;)

Trick or Treat....

"Trick or Treat, smell my feet, how "bout" some good dinner....!!!" ???? That's what Ethan came back with after a fun filled night of trick or treating! Only Ethan would change that last part. He is all about his dinners!
Halloween was a busy day! It started at 6:00am! I finally was feeling well enough to hike. It was still hard to get out of bed, but I was glad I did! I then rushed home to shower, get the kids off to school and Ethan ready for his Friday "kids camp". I quickly picked up the house, and then Dan (Ben's uncle) arrived to install our cabinets. See next post! The kids all had an hour party at the end of their school day. I spent the first half at Aubrie's class. I helped pass out food, and got to meet and chat with other Moms. In Boston's class I was their "Bingo Caller". The first round, about 5 kids won. Boston was one of them. I was hoping the parent's didn't think I rigged it! (I didn't this time.) Hee! Hee!! The second game all the kids got bingo at the same time (we were playing blackout), and it was crazy. I wish I had the camera ready to take the picture of 25 kids jumping up all at once screaming, "BINGO!!"

Aubrie and her "friends". The one next to her is Victoria. She is her "school BFF", and a great friend! The future Mr. & Ms. Lorenzana! J/K LOL!! We like to give them a hard time, but they totally deny any affection for each other. Boston hanging out with his class! Boston hamming it up with some friends

We headed out for Trick or Treating around 5:45. I know it was a bit early, but we had to get to the church around 6:30 for the Trunk or Treat. The neighborhood was pretty empty and only about a fourth of the homes were "open for business". My Mom stayed behind, after we left for the church, to hand out candy. She said it really picked up after we left. She said a decorated trailer, full of kids, was going up and down the streets having a great time.

Star Wars is in the house! (or on the patio) Our Vampiress, Aubrie. We didn't have face paint, so we had to use some lipstick! Our little witch, Sophia! Isn't she the cutest witch you ever saw? Love the hat!!

The Trunk or Treat was great! First of all, as we pulled in the parking lot of the church, we saw Zachary Montez (Aubrie's "crush") right outside the doors. He came dressed as a VAMPIRE!!! ARe you getting the connection??? Aubrie was a VAmpiress.....he was a VAmpire! What are the odds?? It's not like his Mom and I talked, and Aubrie didn't choose that costume. I picked it our for her a few days before Halloween. Needless to say they were following each other around the whole time. Anyway......back to the party!
The cultural hall was decorated so nice. The activity committee leader is quite the party planner, and did a great job! It was very organized, and the food was great! Finally, someone was brave enough to get away from the whole, "chili cook-off thing"!! She did BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches, and they were so yummy! They even were prepared with hot dogs for the kids! Thank you for saving many Moms from the battle of trying to get our kids to eat something "Yucky!" After the dinner, the kids went around to various rooms playing games including; bobbing for apples (Boston and Ethan got soaked), ring toss, face painting (Ok that's not a game, I know!) and more. The kids had fun playing those and winning prizes. After the games, they all headed out to the cars to go "Trunk or Treating!" All the kids kept going around and around until everyone was out of candy. I was holding the fort (our car) down, while Ben walked around with the kids. We finally left around 9:00.

The Lorenzan'a followed us to our house. We enjoyed the hot tub, while the kids stayed inside and watched Indiana Jones. We let time get away from us, and were up unitl midnight! It was fun, but getting Ethan up for his baseball game the next day was like raising the dead!!!

What Sophia did most of the night until......... she replaced her thumb for chocolate!