Halloween decor....

Besides Christmas, this is my next favorite holiday to decorate for. I love this time of year. It's finally cooling off and the kids are back outside playing with all the neighbor kids. My favorite is opening all the windows and feeling that fresh air. Although we haven't been able to do that these last couple of days, due to the stinky cow poop all over our lawn! The grass can't come in soon enough.

So here we have some of our Halloween decor...

I think I have a thing for witches, I have quite a few.

Should that tell me something!?

These little signs are hanging from the kitchen chandelier

This is G l E n D a the G o O d witch...

Sophie named her a few years ago and it has sorta stuck thru the years.

The little kids love her

I love my candy jars but have had a hard time keeping little paws out of them. I gave up on filling them with candy about a year ago. I have had to replace 2 of them so far... UGH! We haven't had much luck in keeping the little ones off the counter and their tummies from being sick and full. So Scott and I agreed that they would no longer be filled with the yummy temptations.

A couple of months ago my friend shared her brilliant idea with me. She told me to spray all the candy with HAIRSPRAY in front of the kids. Obviously so they will have no desire to consume any of it and it completely becomes a decoration. So we did. To say the least, I was not my kids biggest fan that day. They were quite bummed. It is so funny to hear them explain to all the friends who come thru, "the candy is off limits... don't eat it... my mom hair sprayed it all!" I am sure all the neighbor kids think the Simas' mom is C r A z Y! I am just waiting for the day when an adult comes over and I am not home, and they take a big ole' handful!

That would be just my luck.

Now it's time to make our final decisions, as far as Sophie and Cannon's costumes. They are having a hard time trying to decide what they want to be this year.

Their minds change daily.

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas"

I can't believe it is a week into December..... time just flys by! Last Monday night, for FHE we took our kids to the beautiful Temple lights! We watched the Luke : 2 movie of Christ's birth and walked around, admiring the many details of ALL the lights! My favorite, for sure are the red clumps of lights, in the flower beds. They do such a great job making them look like real flowers. December crept up on me and I was far from feeling that "Christmas Spirit." With all the pressure of Christmas cards, neighbor gifts, decorating, ward christmas party, shopping and coming up with that "PERFECT" gift for each parent, husband, child, siblings, teachers, visiting teachers and the list goes on...... I am SIMPLIFYING this year - I am just going to do what I can do and hopefully the rest takes care of itself. Now that my house is decorated, my Christmas tunes are being played ALL day EVERY day and some Christmas presents have been purchased, I can concentrate on the "TRUE" meaning of Christmas! Which is more important than any of the fluff I see myself get wrapped up in. This is such a great time of year to reflect upon the Savior's birth, life and example.

"It's beginning to feel a lot more like Christmas"

The flash on my camera was having serious issues....

The gang

Big brothers are the best when your legs are tired and you don't feel like walking!

Just a few pictures of my Christmas decor....

Taylor has suggested we need to move these stockings over, to make room for the next baby stocking.... I told her that there was probably not going to be room on the mantle for that. Man, she is persistent w/ this subject.

This is our fun tree with all the kids homemade ornaments that they have made in either nursery, primary, scouts, activity days or school. They are my absolute favorite to pull out of the bins - it brings back the best memories. I don't know if I will ever be able to give them up!