It's the VanGangsters Baby!: October 2011

This thought occured to me today as I was frantically struggling to get costumes together and having very little go as planned. There are some who may think that we as adults don't have fun because we forget how, in truth we know how to have fun, we remember, we desire to have fun, we are just simply toooooooo darn exhausted to do anything other than enjoy watching our children have fun. It is a sacrifice that we as parents make, we do everything for them, our joy, our fun is watching our children experience childhood. Thats part of what being a parent is. So this year, like all of the other years, my children went out for the Ward Trunk or Treat party all decked out and looking good while I supervised my wonderful husband as he carried the chili that I had made into the church and I was simply too tired to dress up , again. Oh well, there will be time later, when my babies are grown and I can be a fun gramma! Right now is my kids time. Thats how I want it to be and thats how it is.

It would probably help if I was more on the ball! Halloween sort of creeped up on me this year. Everyone knew what they wanted to be but I kept thinking that we had a few weeks. Then on Sunday it hit me, the Halloween party is in 2 days. I put costumes together in 2 days. I had help of course from wonderful friends who went through what they had and donated a few items to us. But, No wonder I was exhausted. To top it off, I couldn't find the foot to my sewing machine so a lot of time was wasted looking for that. I found a solution that I could live with though, I glued the costumes together! It worked really good. Brittens is still together and Allen's didn't fall apart until after trick or treating on Saturday!

Britten our Brave Knight!

Allen the Cowpee, that s how he says it! He loved his guns. Later on Trick or treating night I brought his guns out and he goes "yaaaaayyyy, my guns!" Then he tells me, "I'm not a cowpee, you're a cowpee." What a silly!

Clayton was super duper glad to be spiderman, who only wore a mask the entire time for the pictures.

Lindy, our super red Devilress. I wasn't too thrilled about this idea, but obviously I relented. She was super cute! When we were out trick or treating we came across a devil and I told her, "Look Lindy, there's your husband." She didn't think it was funny. :(

Madison was a biker chic.She was a bit annoyed with me at the trunk or treat because I forgot her bandana and skirt. But she still looked cool!

See the pants and gloves I found for her! AWESOME!

Can you say NERD!!!!

Chelsea was a nerd, she put her costume together herself and she was adorable.

Hey, stop picking on the nerd.

Eating our yummy chili at the ward party. We are in a new ward this year so its kind of strange. New customs, new people. We don't really seem to fit yet.

Clayton, aka, monster was trying to bite his dad. who knows why?

Tasha didn't have all of her costume together yet so she went as herself.

So cute!

These last few years Natasha has been our official candy handerouter. I don't know who will do it next year. She is sooooo good with the kids.

Our candy Queen.

Allen came up to me after a few rounds of trunk or treating and says " The give me canee." He seemed to be awe about the fact. It was sooo super cute!

Heres Allen's canee.

This year the official trick or treat day was on Saturday. so here we are 4 days later all dressed up again!

Chelsea for some reason has always dressed up as one character on trunk or treat night and as a different character on trick or treat night. I really have no idea why, but I don't really care too much, because I never have to put the 2nd costume together.

Here we begin a story of epic porportion. Chelsea and Madison met up with their friends. Kylee was allowed to spend time with her big sister which has a fatal end. Allen, the Cowpee, goes off in search of a wiley and dangerous spider man known as his brother.

When Cowpee Allen finds Spidey, not realizing that Spidey is one of the good guys(Huh Hmmm) he draws his weapon meaning to shoot. Meantime The Devilress has overcome the knight and is about to smite hime down with his own weapon, he forgeting that he has a shield of great strength prepares to block the blow with his arm as he cries for reprise.

Spidey in self defence knocks Allen the Cowpee's gun right out of his paw and turns to the Devilress to see if indeed our Knight is in need of a web. Our faithful knight however remembers his shield just in time and is saved from a fatal blow from his sword.

Our knight in an awesome battle of good over evil truimphs, he gets his sword back at the command of his mother and promply goes after the devilress.

Recovering from the battle, our brave knight who rarely feels any pain whatsoever pulls his plastic sword from his wounded head. We are unsure of how this happened but what can you say, he was fighting a devilress!

In the meantime in another part of the land............................................................................................

Natasha, Christine and Kelci were preparing for a school dance in which they had to dress in a modest matter as Minnie Mouse, a Ghost and a Dodger. The entire time planning their secret beer party in which they promised their mothers that there would be no alcohol whatsoever.

At this party where there clearly is alcohol of some sort the girls had changed their identities in hopes of not being recognized by those they knew. As they partied, posed and danced they did not know that they were actually waiting for many to come and break up the loads of fun. Who is that you say, of course the gentlemen from the local Sheriffs office who I daresay were not dressed up for the day!

Mean while, Minnie, who is now an adult by social standards had to spend her night doing her job in the local hangout known as Walmart. She got to dress up for the fun so the night was not all humdrum! You'll never guess who the sweet Minnie dressed up to be!

As this Halloween tale ends for the better I'll wish you all a good night and warn you all to not take fright. The trick or treaters got home in time to watch movies, eat candy and rest, the partiers got home, though not all was the best and the worker returned only to prepare for another day of hum drum fun drum that all teenagers can't wait to discover until its too late and they find its much better to live with their mother!

The End

The girls and I were doubly blessed this weekend. First of all we were able to go to the wonderfully fun filled conference for women and girls known as Time Out For Women and Girls. There were amazing uplifting, funny, entertaining, sweet and amazing speakers to teach, remind, give perspective and entertain us. It was just exciting and such a privledge to be able to attend.

Friday night as the girls and I were packing and getting ready to head up to Reno I experienced one of those precious "moments" that will live in my memory as a "I Love Being a Mom" moment. We were all working together finding things that we needed. Matching clothes up, matching accessories with outfits. Finding and sharing shoes, makeup, clothes and packing all of the neccessary items that we would all need for the weekend. Everyone was happy, sharing, loving and getting along. It was wonderful.

As we arrived at the Reno Sparkes Convention Center we were amazed at how big the building was and how beautiful it was decorated inside. This is a view of the lights. They were 10 times more amazing to look at than this picture can ever depict.

The second most amazing blessing that we had this weekend was spending it with our amazing and wonderful best friends from California, the James Gang!!! or at least part of the James Gang. It was just amazing to be able to catch up and be uplifted together at the same time. I remember being amazed once again at the many many blessings that my Father in Heaven has blessed me with. Everyone needs good friends and I have some of the best!

A quote from the conference that gave me some perspective that I wish I had had years ago was from Sister Hilary Weeks. She shared a story of a mother daughter date with her nine year old and a glimpse of insight an 'extraordinary moment' that she had experienced

"I will spend eternity knowing Calli as an adult. But tonight, right here, right now, and for the next few precious years, I have the rare privilege of knowing her as a child.

What a gift to experience the children in our lives as children!

For a brief moment during the journey of mortality, we get to watch them laugh, learn, experience, grow."