Is There a TWELVE year old in the House?

We had an incredibly busy day on Samuel's birthday this year.

Usually the kids pick what we have for dinner and then open their presents afterward.  However because of everyone's busy schedules, Sam got to pick breakfast instead.

 Aaron still had to leave before anyone else, so he didn't get to see the presents opened.

 

 

 Sam wanted to buy the next book in the series, but I wouldn't let him.  Now he knows why.  I had already bought him one for his birthday.

 

 He also asked for a new skateboard.  We picked out a nice long board for him.  It will be a nice replacement for the one I ran over this summer.

 

I picked up Samuel a little early from school in the afternoon.  In turning twelve, he had the opportunity to go to the temple with the other deacons in the ward for baptisms. 

He had to be ordained first, so we took care of that just before he went.

Aaron ordained him with the help of our hometeacher, Mark Stanger and my brother Daryl.

It was very special to do it at home.

 

 

It is nice to have Grandma here to share in all these special events.

 

After all of that, Sam even had play practice.  It wasn't until about 8:30 pm that everyone was home to enjoy his cake - which I made in the shape of a lego brick.

 

 

It is so hard to believe that this boy is 12 now.  I think he enjoyed having the celebrations all spread out throughout the day.

If there is a Scrooge of Halloween, I must be it!

For some unknown reason (I still haven't figured out)  I have never been a fan of Halloween.

I generally just pull out the little decorations that I've used year after year after year, plop them on the entryway table and call the decorations finished.

 

However, this year, when one of my children -who will remain nameless- called me the

 "Scrooge of All Hallows Eve",

I decided that this year I would put forth a little more effort to get into the spirit of the holiday.

 (every pun intended).

 

So, with a little help from "gasp!"  PINTEREST, I came up with a few new decorations this year.

 

 I'm actually really proud of my mantel decorations.  They had been in dire need of change.

I just took the old candlestick holders and put in black candles and tied orange ribbon around them.

The pumpkins are my favorite.  I actually painted on the "BOO" with acrylic paint - it is NOT vinyl!  AND, I did it freehand....not bad for my rough artistic talent I thought.

 

 

I saw a lot of frames with things like "EEK" or "TRICK OR TREAT" in them. 

 Having minored in english literature, however, I came up with my own stolen quote from Shakespeare's MACBETH.

My neighbor did the vinyl lettering for me and I had the frame just collecting dust in the basement.

I paired it with a couple of old standard decorations I've used for years on top of the computer cabinet.  WallAH!  A whole new look!

 

 I was actually hoping the orange lights in the halloween decorations box wouldn't work and I could throw them out, but just my luck, both strands were in perfect working order.

What could I do with them?

 

Aaron recently cut off a couple of branches from a tree out front.  I thought one of them would be great as a "halloween" tree. 

So, we ripped off all the old leaves, Aaron staked it in the front yard and I strung the lights all over it.

I think I will eventually add bats, or maybe crow sillouettes.

 

Here is what it looks like at night without the flash.

 I added some ghosts and staked them around the tree.  The ghosts also glow if you look close.

 

Here is the same picture with the flash on.

 

I must admit that I really have been having fun coming up with new decorations for Halloween.  Maybe I will become a fan of the holiday....oh wait, we haven't even begun to think about the costumes!  No, I still don't think I enjoy it that much!