Halloween 2015

Halloween has come and gone for 2015 and I have to say I think it was a great success! :)

We started the celebrations with the Lighten Family Halloween party which I blogged about in the last post.

The kids and I had a caramel apple and move night while Trev was in San Diego hanging with his brother, Dan, who is recieving cancer treatments across the border in Mexico.  

Oh, and poor Eliza was sick all week...thus my picture of how she threw up all over me.

It was the perfect time for a night in. :)

Then the kids had all their school festivities which they thoroughly enjoyed, of course.

I will post the parade videos once I figure out how. :)

Finally the BIG day came!  It was on a Saturday so we had lots of time to prep and do my favorite holiday activity...take pictures! :)

The kids used to cringe at this part but I think it is starting to grow on them...

They are actually seeming to like it...or they like the happy mom that comes along with good pictures.  Either way, it works. :)

So here we have it...Halloween 2015 costumes in the Lighten House:

Claire - Greek Goddess (until she threw up all over her dress 5 minutes before leaving to go trick-or-treating.  Then she quickly become a cowgirl.)

"Abby Cat" (who by the way, gets the Sister of the Year award for desiring to stay home with her sick twinster when she could have gone trick-or-treating with the Olders and received A LOT more candy.  She's a gem that one.)

"A Sneaky Burglar" (after being a Greek goddess, and a mime.  Each year this girl can NEVER decide on her costume...just so many options!  I like the final pick the best.)

"A Football Player" (Thank goodness for a neighbor boy that has all the gear.  Oh, and he has not stopped begging to play tackle next year since he put those pads on.  He has been begging for YEARS and I might just cave next season...)

Last but not least...

"Eliza the Skeleton"

This was about the best pictures I could get of this little one.  Poor thing is STILL sick.  She was either in tears or in bed during the picture taking moments. :)

But not to worry, just got her on some antibiotics this morning when her ear infection came charging through.

She should be feeling much better soon.

Trev and I didn't dress up for the actual day but tried to be good sports at the Lighten party.  He was a Cougar Football player and I was a nerd.  We used to dress up.  But then we had 5 kids to dress up.  I still make a small effort for the kids though.  They think it is so fun to see us dress up too. :)  

Once the pictures were complete and it was decided Claire, Eliza, Abby, and I were staying home to trick-or-treat here - Trev headed off to my SIL, Heather's, to let Morgan and Jake go with cousins in a neighborhood that actually has houses.

Ours only has about 10 houses total.

Morgan and Jake both had a blast, got WAY too much candy, and even got to spend the night afterwards with their favorite cousins, Addie and Stone.

Here are the girls heading out for candy after we got Claire all cleaned up.

I started out manning the door, then my sweet neighbor came over to listen for Eliza while I took the girls further up the street.

Only 2 people were home, but luckily a few left bowls of candy on the doorstep.

We were the ONLY trick-or-treaters. :)

They still pulled in a pretty respectable haul given the circumstances.

And Eliza even woke up to help them sort.

Well, that's a wrap!  Until next year. :)

Now on to a month of "Thanks Giving."  Let the Attitudes of Gratitude commence!

Annual Lighten Family Halloween Party

Every year the Lightens throw a big Halloween Bash.  

My kids look forward to it every. single. year.

It has become a wonderful tradition in our family and the perfect beginning to the Halloween festivities.

It is always hosted at Grandma and Grandpa Lighten's home.  We have been blessed to be living there this year and last - so my kids have been able to help with all the preparations.  It is neat to see how much they enjoy this part!  They truly love getting everything ready.  

Anticipation = Heightened Excitement

The agenda is always the same.  

Creative/Crazy/Cute costumes

It looks like Abby is kissing him, but she thought it was a speaker that you talk into.  So she is asking him what he is supposed to be...WWII hero.  Nailed it! :)
  

We also had Hercules show up to match our little Greek Goddess.  Cutest couple ever in my opinion...plus she has a major crush on Lawson so it was perfect!

Katniss Everdeen in the flesh!

And grumpy, sick baby skeleton.

After mingling the Spooky Games begin.

THIS is the Candy Canon hosted by Uncle Dallan.  Always a MAJOR hit! :)

Grandma always does the Sugar Cookie Decorating station.

I am the self-appointed family historian, so I take the pictures and also announce the costume parade.

Then at the end we do an "Ancestor Spotlight" to honor our family who have passed on.  A little nod to "Dia De Los Muertos."

I wish I had pictures of this because it was so cute to see the older cousins and adults get so into this part.  We talked about Jill's grandparents.  Her grandfather was a farmer, Mayor of Orem, and even served on the Utah State Legislature.  He and his wife, Reba, were high school sweethearts.  Her mother crossed the plains with the pioneers at age 12, and she began milking cows day and night at the same age.  How different our kids lives are today.  Morgan is almost 12.  

Uncle Dallan also told about how his family is related to William Shakespeare.  His mother is a Shakespeare.

Brittain told how the Domgaards have great, great grandparents who were slave owners - but known to be kind and loving to them.  When they joined the Church they left their comfort and abundant lives, along with the slave-owning, behind to follow a prophet of God.  They were well aquainted with both Hyrum and Joseph Smith.

Uncle Rich shared how we have recently found the link to more family in England.  More Lightens!

The ancestor spotlight is truly becoming my favorite part of this annual party because it brings the spirit of Elijah into the room.  The joy and pride shared about our ancestors was so neat.

A true turning the hearts of the children to their fathers.

Loved that!

Now I am headed to the kids school Halloween parade!  Let the celebration continue...

General Conference 2015 - October

We are LDS.  We believe that God has called Apostles and Prophets in our day (just as He did in ancient times); through which He reveals truth and direction in a world that often seems like it can't find which way is up.

So when these modern-day leaders talk - we Lightens listen.

Every 6 months our church holds a big conference in downtown Salt Lake City over the first Saturday and Sunday in April and October.  All are welcomed to attend and participate - lds or otherwise.  They broadcast the proceedings worldwide through tv and the internet, send magazines the following month with all the transcripts from each talk, and even have them posted on lds.org so that they are available to any and all who want to access them.

In our home, we watch in on TV.  Together.

Growing up I always saw this weekend as a "break" from church. :)

Now I see it as an absolute feast of inspiration and guidance for my life.  I LOVE General Conference!!

In addition to the wonderful feelings we get watching conference, we also have a couple of traditions that have woven themselves into the fabric of these special weekends.

First, a scrumptious Sunday morning breakfast.  Over the years we have tried different delectable dishes like Biscuits and Chocolate Gravy and Homemade Cinnamon Rolls.  But the past few years we have pretty much stuck to the official "Lighten" Sunday morning conference breakfast of Eggs Benedict.  

This is what Trev's family always had growing up for Conference.

Oh...makes my mouth water just thinking about it. :)

Another crucial element is "Conference Bingo."  

When our kids were younger we found it SOOO hard to listen to conference because their attention spans for watching talk after talk were about the size of a gnat.  

Some wise mothers on the internet suggested trying this little game out.

It worked like a CHARM!!!

In fact, this conference in particular, I am proud to say that ALL our 4 olders listened intently to ALL 4 sessions!!!

I feel like there should be a golden medallion emoji after that statement!!  It took a very long time but we are finally to the point that all are interested and listening to the speakers.

We'll have to help Eliza learn how to do Conference Bingo in a couple years but for now it makes the experience so much more enjoyable and uplifting.


And to see my kids eating up what is being shared is just such a treat for us as parents, who desperately want our kids to listen to and follow the counsel of these wise leaders.

For me personally, I approached this conference a little differently than I have others in the past.

The whole week prior I was praying to receive specific answers to the questions I had.  Some of my questions going in where:

1 - How can I find more serenity and joy in my busy life as a mother of 5 kids?

2 - How can I keep my thoughts positive, uplifting, and edifying instead of turning negative, judgmental, and frustrated?

Here are some of the answers I received (either little thoughts and promptings from the Holy Ghost or direct instructions from Church leaders):

1 - SIMPLIFY!!  Prayfully ask for the Holy Ghost to give me specific areas and ways I can do this.

2 - Being "busy" is good for me.  An idle mind is the devil's playground.  Just make sure I am busy doing things that have eternal significance.

3 - Look for Light.  Focus on it.  Ignore the bad in situations and people.  Look for and focus on the good.

Oh how my Heavenly Father knows me.  I am just so grateful that He is so willing to teach me.

I am grateful for living prophets and apostles to share their wisdom and guidance with me.

I am grateful for General Conference.

It was a great one!