Halloween Hardcover

I like books, but I LOVE children's literature. When I walk into Barnes & Noble, I glance at the newest books, but head straight for the children's section... whether or not I'm with my kids. There is something about the imagination, creative writing, simple rhymes in these books that takes me back. I love reading to my kids, coming up with voices. I love it even more when we have read a book enough that they can recite it back to me. Spencer has been doing this with a book called "When a Monster is Born". He knows it by heart and even has hand motions to go along with it. I love reading this with him. Here are a few of our other favorites that we read together and Spencer's cute interpretations.

Each Halloween, I decorate my front table like a crazy person. I have a spooky tree, pumpkins, haunted house, gravestones... but my favorite part of the table is a basket filled full of kids Halloween books. They are easily accessible and constantly read. I add a couple more every year.

It happens multiple times throughout the day... Spencer runs to the book basket, grabs his choice and says "C'mon Mommmy, let's read a book!" How in the world do you say no to that? We were late for preschool the other day because we were reading. In fact, we have been so rushed lately that our little book breaks have been a welcome retreat. I love this time with Spencer... not bad for a kid who hated reading books a year ago.

I took Spencer to the bookstore the other day (we go every so often) and he ran in, took a hard left and emerged into the enchanting kids book land... I wonder who he gets that from?

Carving Claire

What's a little girl to do when her older brother gets invited to carve pumpkins at a friends house and she doesn't? She carves a pumpkin with her mom at home! It probably wasn't as fun and doing it with a friend, but it was great mom/daughter bonding time. Nothing like scraping out the stinky guts of a pumpkin with someone you love.

Turned out cute and her pumpkin now has flowers coming out of her ears on the front porch. Love this creative/crafty little girl.

Side note: Dallin went over to Tony's house (basketball teammate) for a pumpkin carving party and his pumpkin won first place and Dallin won $10!! He told me this story on the drive home and showed me his winnings... it was only $7. I asked what happened to the other $3 and he told me that the boy in 2nd place was little and was sad that his pumpkin didn't win, so Dallin split some of his winnings. Love him.

Cheer Camp

The Chaparral High School cheerleaders put on a cheer camp every year for girls age 5-11, so this was the first year Claire could participate and it couldn't have come fast enough for her. She was SO excited.

There were 3 nights of camp/practices and their final performance was during half time at the Friday night Chaparral football game.

Claire looked so cute, performed very well, made some new friends, and found something that she really enjoys. She actually woke up the next morning with crocodile tears streaming down her face because cheer camp was over. She cried for awhile.

It was so fun to watch all of these cute little girls in pink perform their cheers and dance. When they were finished, they all giddily ran through the football helmet.

I went and picked Claire up in the gym and she was all smiles.

She said goodbye to her cheer coaches and we went back into the stands to watch the rest of the game. Dallin and Claire LOVED hanging out with some of their favorite youth from our ward/babysitters (Duvalls and Scotts). They were so nice to make my kids feel super-cool at the high school football game.

Such a fun night together as a family watching Claire, hanging out with friends, eating pizza, and cheering on the high school football team.

GooOOOO Claire!