All Things Pumpkin and Candy. and other ideas...

Happy Halloween!

We were in charge of our ward's trunk or treat party.

This is only like 1/8 of what we bought. Mackayla was buried.

 We made centerpieces by spray painting tree branches in mason jars

 and with Orange Jello Popcorn in mason jars

and this way cute photo booth a friend made that I'm dying we didn't get pictures at.

Our kids were mostly homeless that night but weren't too concerned since everyone was giving them candy.

Ben took a picture of us only because he thought I looked ridiculous BUT it was 90 degrees that day and I didn't want to wear pants. (I brought them but never put them on.)

Macey and Mackayla are My Little Ponies and I am Ben the horse vet. haha. (I brought a stethoscope) I do look odd, isn't that perfect for Halloween?

Macey invited her friend to our primary program and she came and watched, then they invited us to their church's Halloween celebration.

It was pretty amazing. If I didn't know the Book of Mormon was true I would probably go to this church. Just saying.

Other genius ideas at the Crosland home:

This isn't my idea or a new idea, but it's brilliant: write letters with highlighter and have your three year old trace them.

Mackayla begs me for homework every day when the others do theirs and this is the perfect solution. I always have her write her name a few times and the abc's.

Well, This is NOT a brilliant idea, but we tried it anyway.

Ben has always had back pain come and go and he decided to do a little electroshock therapy. I squirted some gel on his back and he turned it low and I shocked away. It was a little intense and loud.

This machine is for HORSES not people but apparently Ben decided it would still work. haha!

The jury is still out since he really can't move all that well two days out.

(Well it's out for him, I pretty much think it was a bad idea.)

We carved pumpkins tonight. 

The kids each designed their own face.

Mackayla actually just ended up designing her pumpkin and not wanting us to carve it.

 I was going to make this dessert tonight with my pumpkin but my visiting teachers brought us Krispy Kreme donuts instead! But make this sometime this year, you will thank me.

 Think Pumpkin Pie - but Pumpkin Pie Cake.

  Macey can't have Halloween without Pumpkin Seeds (from our best bites)

 and I love fresh pumpkin (like canned pumpkin...but more fresh...and more time consuming:p)

Lots of excess energy tonight:)

Bubblegum for Breakfast

Just as soon as we dropped Ben off for his conference in SLO we headed to Bubblegum Alley in town

 It's tucked in a little alley right off this road: 

 and was perfectly quiet in the early morning hours

 Mackayla's gum was stuck on first

{ Love Macey's reaction }

 (Cody wanted his documented too)

Bubblegum walls are so disgusting

but I'm pretty glad we went
even with jammies and poofy hair-
This was a perfect adventure for the morning.

SLOing down

Ben had an ultrasound conference in San Luis Obispo and he let us tag along.

Right off the coast in Central California, it felt like the perfect mix of Oregon and Southern California

with great weather and a slower pace.

 It was a pretty drive there, and I think if it weren't the end of summer/fall and California weren't in such a severe drought it would have been beautiful.

 Our first stop was the pier at Pismo Beach

The next day Ben was at his conference all day and we went and saw the town.

It's charming.

They love their dogs there.

We went to the famous Madonna Inn and got a treat.

Their cakes are so pretty - for $50 they better be:)

I fell in love with the buildings and found out each hotel room is a different theme.

Ben was pretty impressed with their horse facilities:

I would totally go back just to stay there!

 We went apple picking after that!

Braeburn apples - interesting looking apple trees.

Then we went to a pumpkin patch, then the park. 

Actually I think the whole town had gone to the pumpkin patch, it was a crowded place!

 We went through the little maze and the big maze 

 and then went on a long walk through the property-lots of farm land

 

After that day, I was pretty surprised when Mackayla stayed awake the whole way home, finally getting there around 10 pm.

Getting up for the primary program the next day wasn't so easy though;)!

It's fun to have a change of scenery every once in a while!