Happy Halloween!!!

We had the best halloween. It was so much fun. The Sandberg's hosted the halloween party and did such an amazing job. We had our traditional chili and rolls and every halloween treat available it seemed. Cassie decorated the house so cute and had such cute table decorations and party supplies. The kids had a blast we played pin the nose on the pumpkin, pumpkin and ghost toss and they also played sort the beans. Everyone was a winner so they all won and prize ehich made everyone happy. Then they all went trick or treating and went to a spooky haunted house. The kids were all so brave. After trick or treating we went back to Cassie's for some more play and food. The kids all got in there halloween p.j.'s and watched halloween cartoons while the adults played the wii. Brian and Hillary brought there big screen t.v. and hooked up the wii so we could play rock band. We had so much fun we played until midnight. Thanks for the best halloween.

Abby and I dressed up as cats.

The McCormack family was dressed as The Wizard of Oz. They are so cute. They always are the best dressed. Michael was the scarecrow, Lisa was the wicked witch, Macy was Dorothy, Jake was the tin man and Gavin was the lion.

The Sandberg Family. Cassie was a witch, Carter was the dark knight batman, Hallie was tinkerbell and Ellie was a witch.

The McCormack Family. Brian was a soccer player and Hillary didn't dress up. The dogs were dressed as a pirate and a bumblebee.

The Parkin Family. Matt didn't dress up. Amy was a cowgirl, Ethan was spiderman and Sarah was a cat.

All the kids ready to go trick or treating and it started to rain. It didn't last long. It was still a nice night.

Amy on singing, Brian on guitar, and Britton on drums.

The kids all snuggled up watching halloween cartoons.

Hillary holding all three babies at once.

A day filled with fun

Today has been a great day. We started the day by going to Cassie's and letting the cousins play. Then I left and went to Britton's class to help with his class halloween party. It was a lot of fun. They decorated sugar cookies, played bingo, did a cake walk and played pumpkin bowling. Then we went to the Police Station for their annual trick or treating. The kids got lots of treats and got to go to Daddy's work. Then we came home for a night of fun with mom. Dan left for an overnighter with the scouts so the kids and I planned and evening of fun. First we raked the leafs and jumped in the piles, made pizza, then we read halloween stories, then we made potions, played memory, operation, go diego go and trouble. Then we all snuggled in my bed and watched Its the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and Which Witch is Which. It has been the best night. The kids were so good and appreciated the effort I made. Nights like this help remind me how much I love being a mom.

Trick or Treating at the Police Station

Sisters in Christ

Love from an ordinary place

Takes a soul in its embrace

Healing all the hurt inside

One by one 'til that love has filled the earth

And every

Pack's Pumpkin Patch

The pumpkin search. Every year we get our pumpkins from Pack's. The boys love to pick their pumpkins in the fields. They enjoy riding in the wagon. I love the look of pumpkin fields.

All the cousins enjoying a night of fun together. Britton, Bryson, Parker, Abby, Carter, Hallie, Ellie, Ethan and Sarah.

You guys are so cute.

Another hay maze to conquer.

Gardner Halloween Party

Here are the Gardner family kids that would take a picture. Dan's family is so great they all dress up and make a fun night with Halloween. We had different soups and treats and the kids played together and we just sat around and enjoyed each other. It was a great night.

If you look close, even the dog dressed up, he is dressed as a cat.

The kids playing, the O'tooles have the best place to have a party.

Britton and Bryson showing Papa their costumes.

Bryson and Carter's last game!

We had a fun weekend with Carter and Hallie. They spent the night last night and we had a fun time. It was very interesting trying to get six kids ready and out the door by 8:15am but we did it and we weren't late. It was a very cold morning but the boys did a great job. Bryson and Carter both scored a goal and had a lot of fun. Grandpa and Grandma Mack were able to come and watch the boys were so happy to have them at the game.

The team warming up.

Black Island Farm Fun!!!

Black Island Farms is one of our favorite halloween traditions. We always have so much fun. The kids have fun playing in the hay maze, going down the huge slides, playing in the corn sand box, watching the animals(especially the goats because they climb stairs and the kids think that they are so silly), riding the train, bouncing in the pumpkin bounce house, making our way through the corn maze and many more events. It was a nice night the weather was great and we brought some glow braclets to keep track of the kids in the dark.
Fun in the hay maze.

Abby loves the pumpkins.

Parker riding the bull.

Brysons first attempt on the huge slide.

Gardner fun at Black Island Farms.

Never jump into a pile of leaves with a wet sucker!

We love the fall time with all the leafs falling. The kids love to rake the leafs and make the biggest pile, they each take turns jumping and flipping into the leafs.

Brysons nice soft landing.

Parker loves rolling in the leafs and burying himself.

Abby loves to throw the leafs in the air.

Britton was making a leaf angel.

Fall time at the Gardner home.

Britton's last game!

Britton had his last game today and only four players showed up. They played so good anyway. They played the entire game 5 on 4. They won the game 14-1 but who keeps score right. Britton was happy because he got to play the entire game and scored 6 goals. It was a great way to end the fall season.

Britton going down to score a goal.

Great season green lazers we will see you all in the spring.

Stake Conference

The Saturday night session is always so nice because I actually get to listen to the speaker without wrestling a kid. I love my kids but sometimes I wonder what I get from the messages. Anyway it was a great night. They had some really great points but a few I would like to remember-
1. It is a time to step up our faith, expect miracles.
2. Faith is a choice and a decision.
3. In a world where you can be anything be yourself, but be your best self.
4. When we put God first all other things fall into place or drop out of our lives.
5. I loved this thought when Nephi got to the seashore he didn't sit down and cry and say now what? I can't build a boat. I've come all this way and suffered all these trials aren't I done yet? What do I do when I am faced with a seashore, do I give up and lose the faith or do I ask earnestly knowing I will be heard.

Gardner Village and the WITCHES!!

We went to Gardner Village to check out all the witches and had a really fun night. We dressed all the kids in their halloweem costumes so they would fit right in.

Bryson wanted to shot all the witches with his cap gun.

All the kids together on the bridge over looking the witches in the row boat.

Dancing with the witches in the middle of the village.

I love these kids, they are so cute.

Britton had to be so serious all night. Check out that face.

Parker was happy to take a picture at every witch.

My favorite witch of the night.

Gardner Family Fall 2008!

Mission Get Together

Dan has a mission get together every four months with some companions from New York. We get together and eat, talk and the kids play. He loves to see these guys and they all have so much in common. I think that it is so great how they have all stayed in contact with each other for so long. Thanks Paul and Megan for hosting it was a blast.

A quick picture of all the kids. They all played so good together.

Pumpkin Patch Field Trip!!

Bryson's class went to the pumpkin patch today for their field trip and had a wonderful time. His teacher is so wonderful she taught them all about how pumpkins grow. They read a pumpkin story ate pumpkin seeds and got to pick a pumpkin of their own. Parker, Abby and I had a fun time to.

Here's Brysons class

Abby found her pumpkin and she was so excited.

Bryson claiming his pumpkin so no one else could get it.

Miss Angela reading the pumpkin story.

Parker swinging on the tree swing.

This was the funniest go round.

Gavin Michael McCormack

We got to watch Macy, Jake and Gavin on Saturday. It was a lot of fun. I loved holding and feeding Gavin. He is such a good baby. He didn't cry one time. He is doing so much better and he is gaining some weight also.
He was just looking around and I thought his outfit was so cute. Abby was asleep so I was able to lay him on the floor without being loved to much by Abby.

Look at that cute little face.

He was getting a little sleepy.

Thanks Michael and Lisa for letting us watch the kids it was a blast.