sisters

Sisters are one of life's greatest blessings. I love mine, and I hope these girls will grow up to be great friends too!

hair cuts, spider rings and pizza.

Today was such a fun day. Dani did lots of hair cuts. It was really fun, we had people here all morning and it was fun to visit and to watch them transform with fun new hair! This afternoon we had a second group and got to visit again. I think it would be fun to work in a beauty shop, it was very light hearted fun and chatting and beautifying.

This evening we went to Incredible Pizza Company. I had never been there, although brother did once with his friend, and I had been wanting to take us. We ate in the "Starlight" room, which glowed in the dark and was playing a fun old movie "Ballywood" with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. Then we played glow in the dark mini golf, bowling, raced cars, played video games and got to come home with plastic spiders, rings and other super cool prizes!

I am grateful for this fun week to have with all the kids.

retro gratitude

I forgot to write it but I am SOOOO grateful that Dani came to visit and is spending a week!! It is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO awesome to have all my kids here together.



and I finally got a hair cut! Yeah!!

but I wish Greg were here too. Next time :)

thursday

Last night I made a dinner that everyone ate without complaint. It was yummy and easy. I saw it on Full Bellies, Happy Kids.
Mexican Potato Casserole

cut up 8 potatoes, with skins on, in to bite size cubes. Melt a stick of butter and mix in two packages of Taco seasoning. Stir with potatoes coating them then bake at 425 for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, brown hamburger and chopped onions. Add chopped bell peppers. Mix with baked potatoes, top with grated cheese (I used jack) and bake for 10 more minutes. Super easy, and good. H made pumpkin muffins at activity days and was able to bring home one for each of us so we served them with the dinner and it was gobbled up. She also brought home one for Dani, which H then had to guard fiercely. It's still on the counter waiting for her.

Today's plan:
clean up in anticipation of Dani's arrival. Not because she didn't live here for 18 years and knows that we often are less than spotless, but because it says "I love you, and welcome home!!, we're so excited you are here!"

grateful for a peaceful park

Things have been stressful around here. To say the least. We have been worried about the election, and are unhappy about the result, but have hope that our great country will survive. Hopefully we are wrong and he will be more middle of the road and do some good and very little harm. We can hope.

Poor J has also been caught up in a controversy at school that is making her day quite a bit on the miserable side. It will all work out but in the meantime it's hard.

I realize that I can't control our government, and I can't control the schools, all I can really control is myself. So I chose to spend the day with Lucy and Austin at the park, where there are no politics or principals to deal with.

We had a great time taking a hike and enjoying the spectacular fall colors. The weather was cool and calm and the kids were exuberant and full of joy. We walked and looked at rocks and leaves, and balanced on things, and splashed in the drinking faucet. We saw lots of birds but not the hoped for fawn.

Lucy took her baby and Austin took a gun. I did not encourage either but that was what they each thought was needed.

And tomorrow Dani comes!!! Yeah!!!

the people have spoken

and apparently we are idiots. Yesterday we voted. And we elected a new president. One who wants "to write a new chapter in American History."
We voted to legislate sin.
Weaken our military.
Send our economy spiraling down the toilet.
Spike the cost of fuel and cut American jobs.
Shake the foundation of democracy (and upgrade it to what?? socialism?)

but at least we see that affirmative action has worked and there is no more glass ceiling for people of any color.

update:
dear JustMe,
I wondered a bit when I wrote that last sentence if it sounded that way. But no, I am not 'a bit racist.' The idea is actually not even my own. I woke up this morning and turned on the news to see if he had really won, and yep he did. The news casters, social commentators were discussing this very thing. How wonderful it was that now the glass ceiling has been broken and a black man has reached the highest office. I did not base my vote on the color of either candidates skin. My family is a rainbow and I love it that way, but even if it wasn't I try and look at the content of a person's character and not the color of their skin. His character causes me great worry, his skin not a bit.

the rule is no Christmas music until after Halloween.
Well, it's after!

I am grateful for beautiful hymns and carols that remind me about the birth of the Savior and this special time of year when every one pauses to think of Him a little more.

one nice thing about falling back is it's now light enough to get in a little scottering while waiting for the school bus. Last week it was dark and they huddled together on the porch waiting for the bus.

grateful for:

Today I am grateful that I finally got called to substitute, 3 months after I first began the application process (crazy). $$ for one Christmas stocking down~ many to go :)

I am also grateful that although I got to class and found no lesson plan that the kids were cute and sweet and helpful and we managed to wing it through the day.

I am grateful that when I went to pick Lucy up after school she was happy and wanted to stay longer.

and that when we went to feed Renaldo all the kids ran in to say hi and he was excited to see them too (although whether that is affection or excitement over seeing the food I can't say).

Most of all I am grateful today for dear friends. For friends who come over to pass a Sabbath evening, sharing dessert and talking about the day and our kids, politics and b*rth control, cars and chi walking and everything in between. For friends who giggle when they say hello on the phone and when that happens that I crack up because of the fun and the love we share. For friends who sit and rock on the porch while our boys practice soccer, by car headlight (thanks day light savings) and watch the stars come out while we chat about testimony and the strength and courage of the youth in our ward. For friends I can count on. For friends that I love.

and,last but not least, I am grateful that today Papa and Grandma went to the MTC and finally officially started their mission!!

grateful #2

Falling Back! Love it!

I am Grateful

Leah is hosting a month of gratitude again. I participated last year and really enjoyed it. It was wonderful to focus on the blessings in life.

To start the month off I am grateful that we live so close to the temple. Beloved and I went this evening and had a wonderful time. I am also grateful for two big girls who watched the littles and got brother to his birthday party and feed them yummy pizza, thanks to the internet! and on line ordering!!

Tricks and Treats

After school we carved pumpkins. The kids didn't want to touch them. H said it hurt her skin (she does have sensitive skin that cracks in the cold so that could be true),Brother just thought it was yucky so Beloved and I got to do to honors.

Then we ate mac and cheese. Every year, for the last 15 or so I have made dinner in a pumpkin and jell-o grave yard and everyone complains so this year I decided to pass. They still complained but at least I didn't spend hours on it. We've had a lot of trouble with cheerful pleasant eaters. Anyway...


We got on our way. S and J to the game and us to the trunk or treat. It was, as always, a lot of fun.

Beloved got to meet his "hottie" Sarah. (I love Sherry, she is so awesome and looks like her too)


I handed out candy while he took Lu around. E and H disappeared with friends as soon as they could.

E and big E.

H and Olivia.

When we got home we pretended to be Democrats and redistributed the wealth, then the kids ate a few pieces and brushed their teeth and hopped into bed.

Now Beloved and I are eating sushi and watching "The Legend of Sleepy Hallow"

getting ready

Tonight a Tiger Princess, a Vampire Bunny and a Candy Corn will go trick or treating. They are very excited.

This morning we had a fun party for Lucy and some of her friends. They bobbed for apples and painted pumpkins and threw bean bags at a giant pumpkin plus some other fun stuff. She loved it!

The kids had to dress like literary characters for school. H chose to be Laura Ingalls. She looked super cute. Brother was going to be Bunnicula (we read the book this week in honor of the costume) but at the last minute decided it would be too hot so he was....any guesses???....yep, a Jedi. Tonight the bunny is making his debut though.

S and J aren't going begging, they are going to the football game. The big one. Cross town rivals on the rowdiest night of the year. Crazy.

D and Greg are going to be Juno and Bleaker and are going to a party. Can't wait to see the pictures. Can't wait for Dani to come visit! 6 more days!!!

Happy Halloween!!

Politics

Beloved is into politics, it's safe to say he is obsessed :) He studies and knows a lot about the issues and I am proud of him for being so informed and grateful that he shares that with me (sometimes I'd enjoy the readers digest version of the sharing but you know, you can't have everything :) )
So this is a intense time at our house, with Fox News on 24/7 and many talks about gas/national security/Marxism/patriotism/being a chosen nation..and falling from grace.

It is with great trepidation that we await the outcome of next weeks election. (We have, of course, already cast our votes) I worry as I see the values and morals that our nation was built on erode. Will we chose wisely? I pray that we will.

I am not catholic, although I did start out that way :), but this video was very touching to me and I stand with the ideals of family and life that they are promoting.

bunny

watch out for this "sinister bunny"
He hops around disguised as a sweet little bunny.

Killer Bunny

Brother's costume arrived from Nana today. It is awesome! He loves it. Of course once he put it on we had to make many movies of the sweet little bunny hopping along and then suddenly turning into a vampire and attacking!

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

Every year we go to this awesome pumpkin patch. The kids love it. This year the month has flown by and I thought we weren't going to make it...until we realized that we have a soccer bye this weekend and the coach (Beloved) cancelled one of the practices for this week. (it's good to have connections;)) So we headed out for FHE, minus the big girls who a) didn't care to go and b) have lots of homework every night.

We got there about an hour before dusk but still had a great time and made the most of our 60 minutes of fun!

Lucy loved the baby maze! She also ran the big one with H and E.

Brother's approach to everything in life. "Jump on in! the landing will be fine!"

Two sweet sisters. H is always so kind to Lu and Lu adores her.

We jumped in the bouncy houses, had a hay ride, played on the equipment. It was cool and not crowded.

Then we went home and had hot chocolate for a treat. It was a pretty fun night!

random

Tonight we went to the Pumpkin Patch and Lu and I were heading to the baby bouncy house when I saw someone who looked familiar. After I looked closely I realized that it was Tori and Sei from "My life...just pretend you're interested". How crazy is that!

I walked up to them and said "are you Tori?, I'm _____ Utmommy's sister" Then she knew me too and we chatted and met each other's husbands and admired each other's kids. It was so fun, she is super sweet and way skinny:)

How random, it's such a small world and blogging makes it even more so.

sisters

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