Haloween happenings

Happily, Halloween was on a Saturday this year and we packed it full! We started the day out with a fall photo shoot for our Christmas card with our really good friend and super talented photographer, Wendy Kivett. She does an amazing job and her prices are so reasonable. You can actually afford to buy pictures from her! :) Visit her site and see for yourself!
It was pouring when we started and I wondered if we'd get anything worth ordering but she is just that good! I'm so happy with them!

Then my very good friend Erin, watched my kids for me so that Russ and I could go out on a lunch date. We really needed the time to just talk over lots of big decisions we are considering making this year. I'm sure I'll share more as these ideas evolve into reality!

After a perfectly lovely afternoon with my Hubs, we went back to Erin's and got all the kids into their costumes to head to our church Harvest party!

A mouse, soccer player, Alice in Wonderland, and a black kitty.

I was pretty happy with how Hailey's costume turned out since I made it really quickly at 10:30pm the night before. :) I've been busy okay?!


The Harvest party was super fun and the kids left with bags of candy! I just love our church and all those people who served to make it a safe and fun night for us!



These are pretty random pictures but they were excited and would NOT pose for me, so there you go! :) We went home and trick or treated our neighborhood and it was really fun! I didn't go trick or treating much as a child so I am really loving watching my kids sprint from house to house all smiles and giggles. I made them say thank you to each person who gave them candy too! The kids loved handing out candy to trick or treaters at our house too! All in all it was a super fun, exhausting and fulfilling day!

Ethan's baptism

My little boy, ( who is not so little anymore, 8, wow!) was baptized a few weeks ago! Russ and I are so proud of him and this decision he has made on his own. He is shining his little light for Christ so brightly and welcoming the accountability that comes along with showing his commitment to Christ openly. Russ was able to do the baptism and he was so emotional. It made my heart constrict and it almost hurt seeing the two men I love most displaying their love for the Lord together. Our families were there and dear friends who think of Ethan as their own and it was just such a special moment, I know I'll hold it in my heart forever.

Here is Russ making sure Ethan understands what it means to be baptized.

All Done and soaking wet!

Everyone came up to congratulate him and tell him they'll be praying for him afterward. This is a tiny sample of the tons of people who care about my son and gave him cards and hugs and words of encouragement. He even got a GIANT chocolate bar from Aunt Erin.

Mr. Hansen

Our sweet Ellen

Kerry

Grammy

When Ethan was 4, I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up and he said he wanted to be a pastor like Pastor Ron, our church pastor. It made me choke up and just pray that whatever my son ends up being, he will be a man of integrity, purity and compassion. We just had his second grade parent teacher conference and his teacher had a glowing report. She said he is doing well academically but that more than that she sees a heart that is kind and sweet, that desires to please the Lord, and that although you can learn more things, the heart attitude is the most important. I couldn't agree more and I am just shining with pride for the little man God has blessed us with.Ethan we love you so much and pray each day for your walk with the Lord to be fruitful and rich.

3 John 1:4 " I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. "

*Thank you Wendy and Kyle for taking all these great pictures and helping me figure out how to get them onto my blog. I was too busy videoing and crying to get any pictures. I'll treasure that I have these to remember this special day! You're the best!