Spiderman, Chicken, and Hippies, OH MY!

We had our ward party last Friday night. It was a Chili Cook-off/ Trunk or treat. The kids (and us) dressed up and begged for candy around to the different rooms in the church. It was my goal to get Eric to dress up this year and here is what we went as ...HIPPIES! I think Eric secretly liked this costume. He totally became a hippie. We have been coming up with catch-phrases from the 70's like, Groovy, Psycadelic, etc. and when we put our costumes on for a family party on Monday, Eric pulled out the Brady Bunch dance moves.

Hayden loves his spiderman costume, and he tells everyone the muscles in his costume are REAL! And Maya doesn't really care what she is, but she sure is cute! The chicken costume fits her because her hair is constantly standing straight up like a chicken. Can't wait until tonight! Time for tons of candy, scary movies, frightening the trick or treaters...I'm all set!

Eric's Birthday

We celebrated Eric's birthday last week on October 25th. It was so much fun! Eric requested an Angel Food cake with whipped cream and strawberry jam for the topping. (which is so delicious! We eat this on our pancakes!) We had my Dad and Georgie watch the kids over night (THANK YOU SO MUCH!) and we went to PF Changs and to see a movie. Then, we slept in! It was relaxing and so enjoyable. Thanks, Judy, for watching the kids a little longer. We honestly had the best time. I'm so glad I am married to such a good guy! I love you, honey.

Brandi's Better half (I mean bigger half)

Well I guess I got tagged by my new Step Mom-in-law. I didn't know that this tagging thing worked unless you had your own blog, but apparently it works if your wife does. So without further adeu and so my wife will be happy with me I now Present the life of Eric Salway, From A to Z.

A- Attached or single: Attached
B- Best Friends: Why my lovely wife Brandi of course. I also still have two friends from Childhood that I try and somewhat keep in touch with, Darryl Feilbach and Richard Pittman
C-Cake or Pie: Depends on the time of year. I love cake Most of the year but right around Thanksgiving till the end of the year it is all Pie Baby!
D- Day of choice: I love Saturdays the most. Especially when BYU is playing.
E- Essential Item: My Treo. I honestly feel uneasy when I don't know where it is or if the battery is getting low. Now that I can receive e-mail from my cell phone I feel like I can go anywhere and still be on the clock. As Kip from Napoleon Dynamite once sang... "I love Technology!"
F- Favorite Color: Blue... True blue through and through
G- Gummi Bears or Worms: If it is Cinnamon Bears than Bears but if not it's worms. I love to bite their little heads off or tails (you can't really tell with a worm)
H- Hometown: Stockton, CA (The Ghetto baby)
Indulgence(s): Watching Trashy TV with my wife and way too much Football on Sundays
J- January or July: July
K- Kids: Hayden and Maya
L-Life is Incomplete Without: Brandi, ESPN, BYU Football, Weekends, Long hot bubble baths (Kidding.. kind of), DVR, Mtn. Dew, The Gospel, oh yeah and my kids (Things listed were not necessarily in order of importance, except for my wife of course)
M- Marriage Date: June 26th, 2002
N- Number of Siblings: 1 sister and 4 Bros (Grew up with a lot of testosterone in he home)
O- Oranges or Apples: Oranges but neither if I could choose
P- Phobias or Fears: Unemployment, Medical Bills in the mail, Dentists, Mice, (ask Brandi how I react)
Q- Quotes: Multiple quotes from Zoolander, Princess Bride, and from the TV show The Office... "That's what she said"
R- Reason To Smile: I'm almost finished with this (j/k) I have the best family in the world and was born a Cougar fan not a Ute.
S- Season: Spring/Summer right in between when Golf is the best
T- Tag Three +: Anyone that feels the need
U- Unknown Fact About Me: I'm actually really attractive. I'm just wearing a fat suit so the ladies wills top hitting on me. Also, I secretly want to be a Cop
V- Vegetarian or Meat Eater: Meat all day all the way.
W- Worst Habit I'm sure my wife could point out many. After about 6 months to 1 year I get really antsy about my job and go look for something else. I guess one of these days I really should go be a police officer.
X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: X-Rays I guess, as an Ultrasound would really hurt and I'd be afraid of what they might find.
Y- Your Favorite Food: Prime Rib. There is nothing better than a nice juicy piece of Prime rib medium to medium rare with Horse radish and Au Jus. Good Gosh that sounds so good right now. Freaking diet I'm on that won't let me eat Prime rib meals a day.
Z- Zodiac: Scorpio

Our Halloween Activities

We have had such a fun month so far. We have gone to Frightmares twice, Hogle Zoo, Gardner Village, Cornbelly's, and we have also made yummy treats: Frankensteins, Sugar cookies, and pumpkin cookies. We have more fun coming up next week, but here's what we've been up to!

I have Created LIFE!!

How to create your own Frankenstein:
You will need:
A body (chocolate cupcake)
A head (marshmallow dipped in green colored almond bark)
Eyes (mini Ma Nem & M's)

Bolts (white tic tacs)

Green Goop (vanilla pudding dyed green)

First: Create your chocolate body (or 24 of them)

Next: While the bodies cool, melt almond bark (found by the chocolate chips in the store) and dye it green. Take large marshmallow head and dip it in the bark. Add eyes and bolts before it sets.

Then: With a syringe full of green goop, squeeze the goop into the cupcake.

Then, frost the cupcakes, and with a fork, make a nice hair-do on the head. Then place the head on the body. You have just created life!

WARNING: You must eat Frankenstein before he realizes his need to be loved. If you've read the book Frankenstein, we all know that doesn't end well!

ABC, IT'S ME!

My friend, Amber, who is new to the blogging world tagged me to do this! This is a fun one. Thanks, Amber!
A- Attached or single: Attached
B- Best Friends: Eric, and even though I'm not great at staying in touch, I still consider Lindy my best friend.
C-Cake or Pie: CAKE! I love most all cakes, especially Dairy Queen's ice cream cake. The fudge and cookie center....AH! That's heaven to me.
D- Day of choice: Um, Friday! Weekends still mean party time!
E- Essential Item: My "CHI" straightener. You guys should see my hair when I wake up. It cannot be tamed! This is the only thing I've found that works miracles. It was well worth the $100 we paid for it, believe me.
F- Favorite Color: Sometimes red, sometimes green. Mostly Red.
G- Gummi Bears or Worms: Worms. They last longer.
H- Hometown: Farmington, UT...I would love to move back!
Indulgence(s):
J- January or July: July
K- Kids: Hayden and Maya
L-Life is Incomplete Without:Eric, my kids, my testimony.
M- Marriage Date: June 26th, 2002
N- Number of Siblings: 3 brothers, 2 sisters
O- Oranges or Apples: Apples
P- Phobias or Fears: AHH! SPIDERS!
Q- Quotes: "Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." -Mother Teresa
R- Reason To Smile: It's almost Halloween!
S- Season: Fall
T- Tag Three +: Heidi, Dad, and Jody
U- Unknown Fact About Me: I can stand on my head longer than any of you.
V- Vegetarian or Meat Eater: I don't love meat, and I have a hard time eating some vegetables. But, probably more of a vegetarian.
W- Worst Habit: I'm addicted to blogging
X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: ultrasounds.
Y- Your Favorite Food: ITALIAN! I love alfredo sauce. I know it is the worst thing you can eat, but that's probably why it's so good. Olive Garden's bread sticks dipped in alfredo sauce is better than...ALMOST anything!
Z- Zodiac: Taurus

A SpOoKy song just for YOU!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Ma Nem and M's

I suggested to Hayden today that maybe we should make some pumpkin shaped sugar cookies today. He said, "Ya and make ma nem and m eye's." What, you might ask, are ma nem and m's? They are those yummy chocolate center candy coated treats that melt in your mouth, not in your hand. Yes, Hayden calls M&M's--ma nem and m's. And everytime he says it, this song is what pops into me and Eric's head, and is there the entire day! This time Hayden burst into song after he said Ma nem and m...followed by do do do do do...ma nam and m...do do do do.....Yep--in my head all day! Thanks a lot, Hayden!

A Call to Action

Tonight I have been going over the talk given by Sister Beck in the 1st session of General Conference on Sunday. In the LDS blogging community, there has been some controversy regarding her talk, and I would like to give my opinion.

I truly believe that Sister Beck's talk was more of a call to action. I am sure that there would be no controversy if she didn't poke at some sore spots that need to be changed in our homes and families. For me, I felt that I was doing well in some of the areas that she talked about, but I definitely need work in others. That is what conference is for! It is a chance for us to evaluate our lives, and see what needs to be changed. I personally felt a resolve to try harder in this important role as a Mother. She was giving us direction, and helping us to see what we need to do to raise our children with no regrets. I believe it was pure inspiration.

She talked about how the role of Motherhood requires more vigilance. It is not a job, but a responsibility. How many mistakes could we prevent if we are more vigilant with what our children are watching on TV, what they are doing daily, and what they are learning. She asked us to do less. Permit less media, less distraction, and live on less so that we could spend more time learning, talking, laughing, and praying with our families. How pertinent is that to our day? I allow more TV and computer games than I should, and again, this was a call to action for me. When my children grow up, they will want to spend more time away from home. I realize that they will be involved in sports, and other extra-curricular activities, but I need to help them to be selective about the activities they choose, and also to value the time they spend at home. And that is where her words on being a homemaker come in. She did NOT say housekeeper. She said homemaker. You can be a homemaker whether you work outside of the home, or whatever the circumstance may be. She did say that a homemaker is a nurturer. They create a climate for growth by keeping an orderly home. I could not agree with this more. Having order promotes spiritual growth. It gives stability to a child.

I love this quote from Sister Beck, "Home is where women have the most power and influence." That quote has been on my mind. Where else in the world will we hear words like those? Many people in our day and age demean motherhood. The world tells us that women belong in the workplace. That motherhood is a chore and not valuable. That we can achieve more from having a career. That our children will be okay without our vigilance. This is not true! We are needed at home! If we are not teaching our children, who is? She mentioned a young man who said that he did not learn anything at church that his mother had not already taught him. Our children need our direction and influence more today than ever before.

I want to be "a woman who knows." I am not there yet, but I am striving for that every day. It is not easy. If it were easy, I would not become the woman that I hope to be. It stretches me and challenges me. These two little lives that I am responsible for are priceless. They are entrusted in my care and I cannot be casual with the way that I raise them. I hope that Sister Beck's words struck many of you as they did me. It is, as I said, a call to action. A challenge to take our role a step further and do more.

Just Playin' some T-Ball

Hayden decided he would like to try T-Ball out this Fall. We bought him a little T-Ball set and started practicing with him. It's funny how at that age when you say, "Run to the base!" They run to whatever base they want. Hayden picked up the sport very quickly, though. His first game was the cutest thing I've seen, and of course, I forgot my camera! Hayden stood in the outfield on 3rd base with his mit in the air, just waiting for the ball to land in it. Now, when he's playing outfield, he crouches down with his arms on his legs and waits for the ball. He is quite the hitter, too. His coach is pitching to him now, instead of Hayden using the "T". He runs his little heart out to each of the bases, and then he slides into home! Yes, he slides. It's so dang cute. The best thing about T-Ball is every kid gets their time to shine when hitting the ball; and in T-Ball NO ONE gets out, and everyone gets to run home. It has been fun to see him learn this new sport. He always tells me, "Mom, I can run so much faster when you are cheering for me." I must be cheering pretty loud because, in my opinion, he's the best player out there!

Marriage Counseling

Last night I was in a bad mood, and I got mad at Eric for no reason. Eric, being the good husband he is, took both kids to Hayden's T-Ball game, and gave me a break. When they came home, Hayden came up to my room, and this was our conversation:

Hayden: "Are you mad at me?"

Me: "No, of course not!"

Hayden: "Are you mad at dad?"

Me: "A little."

Hayden: "Why are you mad at dad?"

Me: "Because he thinks I'm ornery."

Hayden: "Well, AREN'T YOU?"

"Who's Your Mummy?"

Our house is all spooky and ready for the witches and goblins to visit! I found these mummies in a magazine and decided to recreate them! They have scared us quite a few times. The small one up by the door is right in front of a window. In the night when we walk by it startles us everytime! Cali, our dog, also barks at the door thinking someone is there. We also have milk jug pumpkins, and spooky eyes that glow in our tree. We have had a lot of fun singing Halloween songs, reading Halloween stories, and making Halloween goodies. Last weekend we went to Frightmares at Lagoon. We took the kids for a couple of hours, and then put them to bed at Eric's parents house, and we went back. Can I just say, I am a chicken! In the Hollywood haunted house, I swear I almost peed my pants. They had stuff from recent scary movies like "The Ring", and I hated that movie. It was by far the scariest thing that I have ever seen. All in all, Frightmares was a good time. We have many more events and activities planned for this fun month, so stay tuned!