Happy Halloween!!!

Jack-O-Lanterns

(click on the picture above to see them up close!)

This has been an exhausting week. I spent a good amount of it making plans to fly to Cali to be with my family for my Grandma's funeral and I kind of put primary on the back burner. Then it jumped out at me on Saturday when we had our Primary Program Practice. I was at the church from 9am to 3:30pm, trying to help get everything organize for Sunday. Well, today we pulled it off and now it's smooth sailing for the next couple of months. Yeah!

Friday warmed up and then that evening it started to rain and I couldn't resist. I left my new treadmill behind and went for a run in the rain to clear my head. It felt so good and reminded me of home, I only wish I had thought about contacts or a hat before I had taken off to shield my glasses. But once I started, there was no turning back.

I had promised the kids we were carving pumpkins for FHE on Sunday and then I was at Wal-Mart and was so tempted when I was in line and saw a bucket of push-in pumpkin faces. They're kind of like Mr. Potato Head faces, but for your pumpkins. Brilliant right? However, I resisted and followed through with our initial plan to carve yet another year. Then tonight Brad informs me that he has meetings from 6-8:30pm and I was missing my pumpkin gutter (ya, that's Brad). It worked out though and although it was a bit time consuming the end results were worth it. Sariah carved one for Hunter and I had two for my kids. Then of course I had still wanted to carve my two little ones I picked up at the last minute. I had plans for the little rat that I couldn't pass up. Bedtime came and went and I was working on my last pumpkin, Alex's and the largest one, when Johnny started crying about something. I was desperate to finish so I asked Alex to put him to bed for me. Some of you might think of this as a cop-out, but I see it more as a lesson in service. She brushed his teeth, read him a book and tucked him in bed. Then called me up for prayers and a kiss good-night. She is so good with him when he is having a hard time, she always knows how to cheer him up. She made a game out of it and raced him up the stairs, letting him win. I even heard her singing him a song as I listened through the door. It was a good ending to a long week and this one is sure to go by too quick. Here's hoping we pull it all off!

Such a poser.....

Johnny

We made it happen, after getting Alex's pictures taken I knew I had to hurry and fit Johnny's in before it got too cold. The kid had a cough and it was a little windy, but it was overcast and not too cold. He was excited to go play on the playground with me so we made it a quick shoot and had plenty of time for playing. We got to Alex's school just as she was boarding the bus so we snuck around the edge of the building hiding from her until she was out of sight. Because it was so short I didn't have time to coach his smile. He can really deliver some serious cheese when he's taking pictures. So I let him call me names like "chicken lips" and "lilly liver" and then I would act shocked that he would call his mother such names. It seemed to do the trick and I think I got some cute ones. So check them out on my photo blog!

Grandma Jane

Anytime I see the symbols "XOXOXOXOXO" I think of my Grandma. She added lots of these to every card she ever sent me and never missed a birthday (mine or my kids). This morning my sweet Grandma Jane passed away. My mom was able to be there with her and give her comfort as she accepted the call beyond the veil. My Grandma loved God and tried to live her life as he would want her to, showing kindness to all she came in contact with. I think she was a little fearful of the unknown and was hesitant to make the leap. I know she is being taken care of now and hope she finds peace in the warm embrace she's receiving now. I'm so grateful for my knowledge of our Heavenly Father's great plan of happiness and to know that there isn't anything to fear in death. I think sometimes I take that knowledge for granted (which not everyone does have) and the peace that comes along with it. I'm so grateful for my family and to know that we are linked together with purpose; and I know that it was her influence in raising my mother that has molded me into the person I am today. I have a little bit of her inside me as do all of my siblings and that's something we can be proud of.

Lots of Love Grandma!

Now you have a better advantage point to watch over us by!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Countdown

So here are the countdown blocks I mentioned in my last post.

Maybe I can use these to help Johnny with his counting too...hmmm.

Could this really be right? Only 10 more days?

Time for a costume check,

I haven't even tried Johnny's on him yet!

And I still have to find a day to take their pictures...

Highlights

Weekly Highlights:

• Two costume parties for Alex


• One field trip to the pumpkin patch for Johnny with biting cold wind. He is keeping his pumpkin in his room for now as a pet until it's time to start carving.


• Trip to the doctor's for Johnny's cough. Cough is better but we're going to try and get in tomorrow for an allergy test.


• Took pictures of Johnny on the playground. Should be done editing soon...


• Flu shots bright and early in the morning before school started on the other side of town.


• A walking field trip for Alex to Albertson's where they learned about healthy food and got to check out their own snack at the cash register. She's been telling everyone what food groups they are eating ever since.
  
• Helped out in her classroom the next day and I think I know all of the names of the kids in her class now.


• Gymnastics as usual.


• Moved Brad's parents into a new house in Meridian, closer to us!


• Johnny and Hunter went to a book reading for "Where the Wild Things Are", made wild sock puppets, bounced on bounce houses and watched the movie with Sariah. Beware, apparently it's not a kid's movie (come on people, it's based on a popular children's book!).


• Squeezed in some quick Super Saturday craft blocks counting down to Halloween and another set for Christmas. Very cute!


• Made the oh so cute lanterns pictured at the top of the page. Thank you Sara for the cute idea!
  
• Looking forward to seeing what next week has in store for us.

Westin's Warriors!

Westin himself, catching a ride on his Dad's shoulders.

On Saturday we all got together to support Westin

and to help celebrate people with Down Syndrome.

We called our group "Westin's Warriors"

and he got lots of support, both from those of us who live close

to him as well as lots of people who couldn't make it to the walk.
Jolene even made a trip out here to be in the Buddy Walk with us.

And here's the whole gang.
We love you Westin!

A Visit from Grammie!

After a chaotic month with both my Dad and Grandma making a trip to the hospital, my Mom was still able to take her long awaited trip out to Idaho to visit with us for the week. We're glad she was able to make it out to us because it'll be awhile before we'll be able to drive all of the kids out to California again. It turned out that the kids had last Thursday and Friday off from school so Friday we took them to the Boise Zoo.

It seemed short but oh so sweet. We miss you Mom!

Next time maybe we can steal Dad out here with you as well!

Alex, Grade 1

I have been waiting and waiting since before school started for a nice overcast day to take Alex's school pictures and I was worried I wouldn't be able to do it before it got too cold out. Well Saturday happened to be perfect and we were able to squeeze in a shoot just before it started sprinkling on the playground. I posted some of my favorites from the shoot on my photo blog. Check them out!

Daddy Daughter Date

Brad was sweet enough to send me this picture text of Alex on their Daddy Daughter date. The message said "Alex is having fun". He took her to a BSU volleyball game. She was so excited to go out with him by herself and even got to have an early dinner with just him before they took off for the game. I'm so glad she's having fun!