Really? No Halloween pics!!

I can't believe I didn't post my Halloween cuties!  Carter and Tyler loved how their minions turned out and Mom did too!  They were probably the easiest costume that I have made!!

So cute!!  Big boys were Clark Kent and Peter Parker.  Easy peasy!!

Happy Birthday Carter - yes it is very late!

Carter turned 11 in December!  While we are always super busy at this time of year, we try to make sure that the December birthday boys (all three of them), get their special day!  Carter and his bros, Dad and some friends went to see the highly anticipated movie, The Hobbit!  It was a hit!  Now, if only we could get back to the days when Christmas holidays fell on his birthday, Carter would be happy!!!

We love you Carter and are so blessed to have you in our family!

First Day of School

First day of school.  Four kids, three different schools. All the boys were (surprisingly) excited to go back to school.  I guess the first day of high school and the first day of junior high school (middle school) are something to be excited about!!

 

 Kayden is taking his scooter for the time being.  He has early morning seminary, so he is out the door early and then football practice every day.  Kayden is now the little fish in the big pond again.  High school - scary!!!

Jaren was super pumped about grade 7.  He tells me everyday how much better it is than elementary (and he has to leave a whole hour earlier than last year, and he still likes it).  He just got contacts so he can see when he plays football.  He plays on the same team as Kayden.  Apparently, Jaren grew a ton over the summer too.  Yikes - my kids are growing up too fast!!!

Carter was also happy to go back to school.  Can you tell?  Poor guy - he just got a new appliance/retainer two days prior and it was awkward for him to smile.  It was either this pic or one where he looked mad.  I chose this one.  Carter was happy to get back to school to see his friends.

Tyler, my soldier, standing at attention and ready to go.  He too, was ready to get back to see his friends.  All the boys were up super early and listened so well the first day.  I wish they were that enthusiastic every day!

As a celebration of back to school/end of summer a bunch of families got together at a local park and had a bbq/fire.  It was super fun to see so many people and celebrate the last bit of summer!!

ANGRY birds party!

For Carter's Birthday this year, we decided on an Angry Birds theme.  While this party was fairly inexpensive to put on, it was a lot of work (but a lot of fun too).

Here we have Carter standing in front of the decorations.  I made this banner from red, yellow, green and blue paper and then downloaded the "Angry Birds font" (aka Feast of Flesh) for the lettering.  I was pretty happy with the way it turned out.  The last banner is just a couple of birds and pigs that I downloaded off the internet.

SO, now for the real fun.  These balls were just purchased at the dollar store and then painted up to look like Angry Birds.  After a while the paint wore off, because the balls were soft, like nerf balls.  Had I been able to find something different, I would have used them.  I found the face patterns here.  These balls, I mean birds, were used to launch at the lovely pig-protecting structures that big bro Kayden built (and re-built) below.

 Here is a picture of Carter launching a yellow bird with our homemade sling shot (surgical tubing - the lady at the home health store didn't know what Angry Birds were and I think she thought I was a little "crazy.")

 Next came pig bowling - not as much fun as the bird launching.  Oh, I didn't even mention how much fun that was!!  The kids had a blast launching and re-launching those birds.  Just like the real game - only more physical!

Our last activity was painting.  I found some rocks and paint at Michaels, then let the kids loose.  I think they did an awesome job!!

Last, but not least, was the food! 

Pulverized pigs - an idea I found off the net - vanilla yogurt with green food colouring.  Next is bird food (aka almonds, blueberries and apples).

Of course, no party is complete without some sort of cake.  Enter pig cupcakes.  Super easy to make, with marshmallow eyes, jelly bean accents and black icing gel. 

Party favors were mini eggs in bags and key chains made from bottle caps and angry birds clip art.

I think the kids all ended up having a really good time.  Carter said he thought that his party was GREAT!  That's all that matters to me!!!

Happy (belated) Birthday CARTER!!!

I can't believe that it has been 10 years since I have held this beautiful baby in my arns!  Double digits Carter!  Carter was a sweet little baby, charming his way into our family from the minute we laid eyes on him.As you can see, throught these few pictures, he has grown and changed so much - sharing all of his strenghts and talents with us.  Carter loves music, being outside, birds, baking and his brothers.  We are so blessed to have him as part of our family.  Happy Birthday Buddy!

Photo Shoot

Last month, we had a big Halladay family photo shoot with my gals from Meka Studios.  Here is a sneak peek of what is to come....

Kub Kar Ralley 2011

This is our 6th year of doing the kub kar ralley.  At first, it was with Kayden, and now - Jaren and Carter.  This is actually Jaren's last year doing it (unless they decide to do it as Blazer Scouts), and we (aka Grampa, Jaren and Mom) had a blast making his car.  Grampa is such a good sport!  He doesn't even complain about the crazy designs that the boys sometimes come up with!

 In the above picture, Carter's super fast "pencil" car is racing one of the other kub kars.  Dad was the designated helper with Carter's car.  I think he got off a little easier than Grampa, don't you?  Mom helped Carter with the taping, so that he could spray paint his car.  He was very pleased with how it turned out.  He was so cute about it too.  You know how pencils usually say HB 2?  Well, his had CH 9 (since he is nine).

 Here is big bro, Kayden, helping out with the brand new track.  Jaren's car is in this race!  Go J man!

 And the winner is....Yay! Carter!  Carter thought that the pencil car wasn't going to win a single race.  Hmmm...guess he was wrong about that one!  He was so excited to have two trophies.  The big one to have for a year, and the little one to keep!  Thanks Akela (Megan) for a great time!

Jaren and Jax show off their fancy cars and trophies.  Jaren took 2nd and Jax got 3rd.  Great job boys!