Feeling Guilty!

Yep - I am feeling pretty guilty for not keeping up on my blog!  This is my attempt to catch up - it is a new school year all ready!  I will have to start from last October!  Geesh!!
Right after Caden went to Homecoming, we started doing some remodeling on our house.  We just couldn't stand our carpet anymore!  Dustin worked a lot of overtime and we replaced it with new laminate.  We also bought a new rug and couches.  We found a really nice entertainment center, on KSL, and Dustin refinished it to match the new mantle he built for our fireplace.  I have to credit Dustin for working so hard both at work and at home.  Plus, he is super creative!  He has come up with alot of ideas for our home and if I have had an idea he has been able build it, fix it or change it.  Thanks honey!

BEFORE - Gross!  You can totally see where our couches were! No matter
 how many times we cleaned the carpet nothing made it look good!

AFTER





Mantle - rock on the fireplace not finished yet

Next up was Caden's 16th birthday!  We had our family parties and on my side celebrated my sister Tara's birthday too.

He also had a party with his friends.  We set up a big table in the backyard with pizza, drinks, treats, and music.  They were able to play basketball or just hang out.  Later, when it got dark and colder the kids came inside and watched a movie downstairs.  You can tell how excited some of them are to get their picture taken!  The picture below was taken before the movie.  When the movie started, Dustin and I stayed upstairs and all of a sudden it was rotating teenagers!  More kids showed up, ate and went downstairs while others would come up and leave for 5-10 minutes and then come back.  It was funny to watch but everyone said how much fun they had and I think Caden enjoyed it too. :)

Towards the end of the month, we had our traditional Halloween party at my mom's.  I didn't think Caden and Carlin would dress up but they literally put their costumes together that day.  I knew what Carlin wanted to be but when both of them walked out dressed up - we were in hysterics!  Carlin was "Facebook"  and Caden was an old school basketball player!  I don't know how but he managed to wear a pair of Carlin's basketball shorts.  Holy Cow!  The kids get to paint a pumpkin to take home and they hit at a pinata for lots of candy.  Plus we get to eat lots of food!  Good Times!