Halloween 2014.....

It was a blast this year watching Linli experience Halloween for the first time.   She was so dang excited.   Her eyes were just shining.   It was like a dream come true to her.   She just couldn't get over the fact that she could go knock on someone's door and they would give her a treat.    What more could a little girl want?

The other kids had a great time as well.   Nick decided he was too old to trick-or-treat so he and Carson decided to help with a spook alley at Carson's.  I think they thought it was just as much fun to hide and scare people than to trick-or-treat.  

And I'm not gonna lie this was the first big holiday since Josh has been gone and it was surprisingly hard.  How dumb is that?  I don't even really like Halloween all that much and yet it was the hardest day for me since Josh has left.   It was weird...but I did send him a cute halloween package with lots of candy decorated like mummies, pumpkins etc. with scriptures to go along with each treat.   I haven't decided if it's more therapeutic for me or him.  

So here they are.....Elsa, Anna, morphsuit man, greaser, and creeper girl.....oh and Luke Skywalker all the way from Tucson ;)

This was a neighborhood witch party at Lynley T's.   Man that girl knows how to throw a party!  It was a blast!   She had everything perfect right down to every detail!

I thought I had a picture of the whole missionary Halloween package but apparently I don't or just can't find it.....but this was his favorite treat in the whole package so this is good enough for me :)

New England Cruise.....

For my parents 50th wedding anniversary they thought it would be fun to take the family on a cruise to New England.    Of course they didn't have to twist our arms.   It is definitely one of my favorite cruises.   There was so much history packed into all these beautiful places....which also made it more justifiable to pull the kids out of school.  We will need to do a separate book on just this cruise but here are a few highlights.  

This is how we started out the trip....hahaha!   All worn out from so much homework and school!

 Of course we couldn't leave without Josh!!!

 It was also Thomas' birthday a little bit before our trip and since he likes to defy his parents....I just had to bring him an Aggie shirt since we just beat BYU!!!  And he was quite pleased with it!

First Stop.....NEW YORK CITY!!!    After the red eye flight we were all pretty beat but New York is the city that never sleeps....so we hit the ground running!   The girls (and grandpa) all went Matilda and thought it was awesome!

Then off to Boston.....we took the water taxi to the top of the Freedom Trail....and they just happen to have named the taxis Tamara and Gina???   What the heck??  And actually I just realized that the pictures are all mixed up and I can't remember which pictures go with which stops....so I'll just post pictures and let Gina figure it all out later when we put the big book together.   How's that for being a great little sister??  Our stops included Bar Harbor, Maine; Halifax Canada; St. Johns,New Brunswick; Rhode Island.

 U.S.S. Constitution

Abi trying her hand at being a preacher.... 

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for another wonderful trip!   We had an amazing time and are so grateful for the memories that will last a lifetime!   You spoil us and we all love you so much!   Thanks for all you do!