Whatcha gonna do with all that junk...

Last night was our ward's annual "Trunk or Treat." One more excuse to dress up like weirdos and give kids candy...

What's in YOUR trunk?

Aliza was a baby.

And, I might add, was very good at it...



Parker was something. He has this vision of some professional type costume every year, and I will never live up to his vision. However, he can be placated by offering some green and purple spike gel, a black hood, and some make-up, and he's good...

No, he did not bring those goldfish home! No more fish!

He was a real ladies man, and I can see why!

Tyler made quite the transformation...from nerdy,

To hottie...I think he looks pretty cute!

It was a fun evening...

Yum Johnny, that looks good...

READ MORE...

dressing up, stepping out

My mom went home yesterday, which pretty much sucked. (I know you hate that word, mom, but it accurately describes it.) It was so fun having her here, and I will blog about our fun later...even though we LOVE living here in Texas, it is hard to be so far away, where we can't get together with our families without it having to be a major trip for one or the other of us. I'm already looking forward to the next trip...

Yesterday, Tyler went to a Halloween Party. So while he was dressing up, the other two had to try out some looks, too. We dug through our dress up box and found some fun!

Tyler was a surprisingly good nerd...he stayed in character for most of the night:

Parker makes a beautiful little girl. If the whole football thing doesn't work out, he could try out to be a cheerleader:

Liza has had this costume for years...but for some reason, they always love anything that has to do with blood and gore: Tyler with Anthony and Austin at the party:

He had a great time!

My mom planned her trip so that she would be here to help while Maris and I went on to a work party that included a night at a 5 ***** Hotel in Dallas...I was going to wait and blog it after Carrie emailed me the pictures of Maris and I all dressed up, but I don't know when/if that is happening soon. Sooooo, here are my favorite parts:

Dinner.

It was so good.

Alaskan King Crab (with two butter sauces), Fingerling Potatoes

Heirloom Tomato Salad and Avocado, Thai Basil Sorbet

Crustless Beef Wellington "Rossini", Seared Foie Gras (which we found out, thanks to Carrie, means Duck Liver. I did not indulge.) Truffle Mashed Potato, Haricot Vert and Sauce Perigord

Chocolate Peanuts Caramel, Lemon and Yuzu, and Green Tea

And the centerpieces were beautiful:

Our room had a private balcony,

with a view of the pool,

Shampoo and Bath salts that did not come in plastic take home bottles,

Fresh flowers in the bathroom, in the sitting area and on all the trays they brought us.

Free coupons delivered right to our door.

And breakfast, prepared and served and delivered by someone other than me:

I also loved the cozy bathrobes, the big fluffy towels and the note left by our room attendant, Garfia, wishing us a "deep, joyful sleep" and "pleasant dreams."

It was a wonderful break from reality.

READ MORE...