Pa & Darlin' come to Missouri

I've been so excited for my parents to come visit us here & true to form it flew by way too fast. Unfortunately most of the time they were here someone was sporting a fever or some ailment so we didn't do a whole lot but it was splendid having them!

We took them to the Branson Landing-I love it down there!

Dueling babies

Of course we had to do Bass Pro Shop...

and Andy's custard twice because what trip to Springfield would be complete without those two places?

And the Farm Park too

The weather was nice enough to enjoy the outdoors luckily! Here's a favorite of Pa with the boys. There was instant bonding going on around here between Pa, Darlin' & all the Shakespear kids

My parents just got back from a fun trip to Florida where they visited Hogwarts (!!!) While in Honeydukes they purchased a package of Bertie Botts Every Flavored Beans. We had quite the evening tasting the wide assortment of flavors.

Among the favorites: Cherry, blueberry & Fruity Tuity or something like that

Among the UNfavorites: Grass, sausage (still twitching from that one), VOMIT (so sorry Mums!), dirt, rotten eggs, earthworm & soap-double yuck!

Hyrum was quite concerned & very confused as to why we were purposely putting disgusting things in our mouths. Someday when he's a Harry Potter fan, he'll understand :)

Thanks again for coming Pa & Darlin'!

Another twin video featuring the head shake:

Our Webcam is so cool

Target

I don't own a coat. I gave both of mine away before we moved from AA because one was 15 years old & too embarrassing to wear anymore (every time I wore it someone asked me in surprise if it was Jeremy's?) & one was shredded to pieces. So I finally went shopping this week. I thought about Target but figured I better go to the mall where there's more variety. I dislike the mall. Very strongly. I dislike shopping even more strongly if that's even possible. I get headaches & start feeling stressed just driving to go shopping. I spent a frustrating hour or two trying on coats but I didn't like anything & I definitely didn't like the prices. On the way home I thought I better go by Target just in case. 10 minutes later I was the happy owner of a coat I really liked that has the right kind of Target price! Sweet!

It reminded me of when my little brother was getting married & I needed a white skirt. Again, I thought about Target but decided I better go to the mall for more variety. After a few very frustrating hours of trying on skirts I left with an $80 skirt I didn't even like because it was the only thing I could really find. On the way home I decided to stop by Target just in case. 10 minutes later I leave the store happy with 2 different white skirts that I really liked & my Visa is only 20 bucks lighter!

When will I learn my lesson??????? Next time I think I better go to the mall for more variety I better drive myself straight to Target & not look back.

Target, I love you.

We met my good friend Ruth, her husband Lee & their 5 kids at the temple. Because it was a balmy 45 degrees & sunny when we arrived we had the kids play at the park nearby the whole afternoon. We took turns with them going to the temple & it was so nice to actually go WITH Jeremy. It was a great day!

Here's the whole crew- 9 kids 7 & under!

It was a good day to play with Daddy, take naps,

swing on the swings, play all day in the sand volleyball pit,

& snuggle to stay warm!

You want to know what the cutest thing is? Watching your babies play peek a boo over a gate-so cute!

And the next cutest thing? When your 4 year old wants a picture of his whole family in the frame Nana gave him but because 'it's too expensive to buy one I'll just draw one myself!'

Hmmm...do I say the phrase 'it's too expensive' too much?

And we're all holding hands...awww! Can you tell who's who? I can't but I sure like his drawings!

Happy Halloween!

(+ possibly the cutest twin bouncing video you've ever seen)

from Lightning McQueen, The King, an 80's person, a chicken, another chicken & the Mexican

Here is my hippie friend who picked out my costume for me.

Here is Rusteze & The King at the ward potluck dinner & trunk-or-treat! Didn't Jeremy do an awesome job making their costumes? Made out of diaper boxes baby!

And here are our tired chickens

The best part of this holiday was Nana, Poppie, Stephen & Alison being here to hang out with us. We carved & painted lots of pumpkins.

We had to show them the Bass Pro Shop of course (& Andy's custard)

We hung out at home a lot playing & watching scary movies like Bedknobs & Broomsticks :)

Doesn't Justin look great in the super hero with a beanie hat look?

We went trick-or-treating at the zoo one night but no pictures.

And we went to the Farm Park's festival. Loved the horse-drawn hay ride!

And the video: