Jumping Into November!

 Last week was red ribbon week at Savannah's school. I think I look forward to it more than Savannah!  One of the days was hat day! We love our hats!

 And on crazy hair day, I put Savannah's hair up in 3 buns and covered her hair in sparkles! I love experimenting with her hair!! I'm so thankful that she puts up with it! :) She was pretty excited about the sparkles though!

We have concord something that I never would have thought possible a month ago! We got rid of the Binky!!!!!!!!!!!  When I had Savannah and all up until Xander I always told myself that I wasn't going to be one of those moms who lets their 2 year old walk around with a Binky. But, when Xander came I became a big fan. He was so colicky and he just did not sleep. He screamed and screamed and screamed some more. Some nights I would just have to put him down in his play pin and I would sit on the floor next to him and let it all out myself. Actually, that happened a lot. I had no idea what to do. I know this adorable little man looks pretty darn cute and he is but this guy hasn't slept in his bed since he was 4 months old and he has only slept through the whole night 3 times since. Precious naps have rarely come his way in his life, and they are too short. So, not to go on and on with my point here but, his Binky was my life line and the only way that we have survived these last almost 3 years of his life. But, then a couple of weeks ago his speech therapist suggested that we try this scenery thing. It's called a chew toy but that sounds a little too much like a dog toy to us. I've been worried about his almost consent drooling, his biting everything, and how his Binky is effecting his teeth. This will help Xander with the scenery that he needs and not hurt his mouth. There are 4 sides and each side has a different texture. He only used the soft side though. Yes, it is just a Binky addiction replacement for now, and we will have to just get rid of it soon but, he has been officially Binky free for more than 2 weeks!!! I am so proud of him! I never thought it would have been so  easy! He even had two nights in a row that he didn't use it to fall asleep the first time! It always feels so good when something like this is a success because I don't feel like I have very many of those.  It really means a lot to me to that I have been able to achieve what other moms have!

 Xander has been doing so great at his play group that he goes to! He is playing and participating! He just loves it and I love this time that we get to spend together!

 It snowed so much on Friday! Savannah has been waiting for this since July when she put on her hat, coat and mittens and wanted to make a snowman! So, we spent Saturday morning making the kids a big snow castle! The kids had so much fun!!!!

Sunday morning, the little monster struck again. He dumped all the oatmeal onto the floor and was eating it. He is SOO lucky he is cute!!

A Halloween To Remember!

 Halloween morning started fairly normal. But, before Savannah could open her eyes, she said, "It's Halloween!!!" She has been looking forward to this day all month,  and wanting it to be Halloween for the last few weeks!

First, we went to Xander's "Let's Play Class," which he loves! We wore our costumes and he got to paint a pumpkin and do a little trick or treat with the other kids! I brought some healthy snacks for him to have. He had so much fun!

 Xander loves singing time! He is getting to learn all the actions! It's so cute when he really gets into a song!

After his class, we hurried home for a quick lunch and then got Savannah, (The Mermaid!) off onto her bus! She was so excited to finally get to wear her costume all day! She has been waiting for this day all month!

 Then, we went to see Savannah in her class costumes parade around the school and then Halloween Sing-Along in the gym! Xander had actually fallen asleep in the car on the way there and slept through most of it!

 After the kids got back from recess, they had their class Halloween Party! I was the only Kindergarten mom wearing a costume but, the kids thought it was pretty neat that I was a pirate and they kept asking whose mom I was! Hopefully, that makes me a cool mom! LOL! Or maybe it's all in my mind :)  I got to see one of my friends, who I haven't seen in a while!

 They read some Halloween books. It was so neat to meet all of the cute kids in Savannah's class and to get to know one of the moms! Hopefully, there's a play date in the future for Savannah!

 Savannah's class picture!

 Savannah with her amazing teacher!

 Time for family trick-or treating!!!  The kids were supper excited!!

 The kids had so much fun trick-or treating! When it started getting darker, Savannah wanted to ride in the stroller and we had to walk her, holding both of her hands, to the doors because she was having a hard time seeing. I'm not sure how much she cloud see,but she kept saying she couldn't :( Of course she wouldn't let that stop her! She wanted to keep going. LOL! She was just having too much fun! She even had a routine down of ringing the door bell, knocking twice, then holding her bag open, saying Trick-or-treat before anyone answered the doors. It was so cute, and so Savannah! Xander kept trying to just walk right on into everyone's home, with no cares in the world! That little dinosaur!

 Our Sweet friends in our church ward put up these cute flyers if they had a healthy snack or toy for Savannah and Xander, (No Candy Zones) It was just so unbelievably kind of them! And, it was such a weight off of our shoulders to not have to be the bad guys and worry about having to take away all of their treats away after Halloween.

 Savannah and Xander had the greatest Halloween ever!! They were given lots of toys, coloring books and crayons, books,fruits and vegetables, and new tooth brushes and their very own toothpastes! When we got home, we let them each have an apple and some popcorn. Savannah couldn't wait to put on her new princess tiaras, and even snuck a few snow peas, (one of her favorite veggies!) They were in heaven with all of the fun things they got! It was like Christmas, Halloween, and birthdays all packed into one! I don't think they could ever forget this Halloween!

We want to tell all of you how grateful we are to everyone who made this Halloween so fun and special for our children! We are so thankful to you for understanding how important our two special angles health is to us and them and for being their angles and given them the chance to be normal children for one night. It just means more to us than my words can say, so we are going to let Savannah and Xander tell you!

Falling Into Fall

 This is a 3 weeks into 1 post! When Grandma Jensen came out, at the pumpkin patch Savannah and Xander got pumpkins. They were so excited! A couple of weeks ago we painted them.

 For a family night we made apple treats and watched a kids Halloween movie! It was so much fun! For the kids, we just sliced apples and drizzled them with dark chocolate on top. I am weird and can't go through October with out a candy apple :) I'm weak, I know!

 Savannah and I found leafs in our yard and made ghost leaves! Savannah loves ghost. LOL I'm glad she doesn't find all of the scarey Halloween stuff scary at all. She thinks monsters, ghost, and bats are cute! LOL! That girl of mine is so cute!

 I just love all of the family traditions this time of year! One of ours is pumpkin carving! My goal for the holidays is to create more family traditions that don't surround food and treats. I didn't realize how many of them do, such as decorating sugar cookies, all of the family events with so many snacks and treats, gingerbread houses, stocking treats, all of the Christmas candy from school...  I want to create family memerioies that are about family, service, love, and the birth of our savior Jesus Christ.

 The kids have been having fum decorating ghost!

 Poka dots!!