Birthdays!

One of the reasons we as a family love the Fall season is because it is literally one party after another. October 15th is Natalie's birthday. October 21st is mine, then Halloween. Then Kyle's is Nov. 5. This is Natalie's party.

The Candy Land cake has become a favorite and is really easy to assemble. I remember the day when I used to spend hours on the cake. Now I just hope the kids don't notice that I['m not offering the same kind of decorating. Then if someone asks it's only once in a while.

Mary's birthday.Kyle had a family party this year. We ordered pizza at his request and he still has a little on his face. He's not really worried about impressing girls yet, so we just left it on. He usually has a koolaid mustache to boot. How do they get those? I mean you really have to drink it fast or hard or whatever to get such a big mustache. I was running a little late on Kyle's birthday, so when I asked hem what color he wanted he kept changing and said rainbow, then settled on green. I decided to go rainbowish. Like I said I'm into speed these days.

Trick or Treating according to Olivia

Here are the trick or treaters. It's actually weird to only have four this year. Annalisa went to a Halloween party at her friend Lindsey's and Kate was at State still. This is actually Olivia trick or treating at the Library with this cute costume thanks to my sweet neighbor Amberly.After about one culdesac, ours, Kyle was ready for a new, less cumbersome costume that had more speed and agility.At the very beginnning of Trick or treating Olivia picked up a saying from our neighbor Kami and said it to everyone she met for the next few days. After they would give her candy she would say loudly, "Happy Halloween!!" It was really cute and even if she forgot to say, "Trick or Treat or thank you," She'd always remember , "Happy Halloween!" She actually held out for a long time for a three year old. Kid's sure know how to bring back the magic in life.

Pumpkin Contest

Well this year our pumpkin carving took place the Thursday before Halloween. Because of my trip to California for my class reunion, we got behind in October. It worked out well though because the pumpkins weren't too saggy looking on Halloween. When we started, Jeff was busy , so I was sort of feeling sorry for myself as we started the task of getting all the pumpkin seeds and slime out and cleaning the seeds so we could cook them for a snack that night. Kyle's costume was also a" bear "to assemble and I still needed to finish it that night. As soon as the excitement of coming up with the faces everyone wanted to use, and the thrill that comes with the tradition of carving pumpkin, we had a fantastic time. It was even better when my sweet husband came home. He does make a party more fun.

Anna's spider pumpkin took the longest and we went for the easier patterns after that one.The funny thing was that the White Pine Carnival had a pumpkin contest as usual. Since we had just carved our pumpkins the kids wanted to enter. So we dragged their pumpkins down to the school. This year every pumpkin that entered got a gift certificate. So they each get to go on a date with their prize.
This costume looks harmless enough, but paper mache takes a while to dry, so after three coats and letting it dry the week before it was finally ready to paint. If it hadn't broken on Halloween, I would gladly pass it on to someone else, so they could avoid the pain. Kyle made a harness that slipped over his back and did a lot of the work himself. We were just so happy to be done the night before Halloween. Luckily, this year everyone else used costumes that we already had or borrowed. Katelyn is missing in the photo because she was at State with the Hillcrest varsity volleyball team. Some of the JV were able to dress in the varsity uniforms and be a back up.

Guess Who Halloween Costumes

Just in case people are looking for a couple costume, I thought I'd better post this before Halloween. Last night was our annual neighborhood costume party. We counted, and this is the sixth year. the costumes were pretty great, so have fun guessing what they dressed up as and who is behind the costume. Afros were in with the men. Our first 5 guests wore them. We had a great time.

Football Season is Over

Football season, how do those words make you feel? In the past football season meant life was exciting again. Growing up in California, fall was just nice weather compared to the blazing hot summers. Hot chocolate, fritos in a bag with chile on top, cheering "Push em back, push em back way back."Most football games I went to I cheered for, except my Freshman year where I sat in the stands cheering with my friends. Over the years I have decided that I don't really like to watch football unless I know the players. It's as simple as that. So, I finally know the players again on this little 6th grade Sandcreek team. Kyle Jones is my favorite player of course. Now since you can't tell who anyone is I tried to get shots that at least showed his name. Kyle started playing flag football in 4th grade and surprisingly loved it. He started because his cousin Austen loved it so Kyle wanted to see what it was all about. Flag football was fun, but I thought for sure tackle would be the end because it hurts. The other hindrance would be that none of his best friend's moms would let them play, so he was kind of on his own. Still he perservered and absolutely loves it. I mean loves it like he was literally bummed last night that it is over, even though they practice every day for two and a half hours. They work really hard and he doesn't complain at all. So why does he feel this way you may ask? I can only guess that maybe he thinks football is the ultimate male sport or maybe because he has permission to hit and push( he plays defensive tackle) or that it's a bunch of boys grunting and sweating,, or that it's just the opposite of his life filled with girls. Who knows. I've asked him and he doesn't really know why, but he loves football. He does look cute in his uniform.

He also plays kicker.Here is one of Kyle's fans with a button on and all in the freezing cold cheering for Sandcreek!

I Saw the Prophet

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:

"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown!"

And he replied:

"Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God.

That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!"

M. Louise Haskins

We went to conference for the first time for our oldest four children. As for Jeff and I, we haven't been since BYU days. Friday night we were getting prepared for a whirlwind trip to Salt Lake to attend the Sunday morning session with our kids. When Jeff took a closer look at the tickets, four tickets were for Sat. afternoon and only three tickets were for Sunday morning. So, we scrambled. Kyle had his last football game, Saturday at 12:00pm and he didn't want to miss it, so I drove to SLC, Sat with the three big girls and attended the afternoon session in the Conference Center. It was awesome, and to hear 21,000 people singing together was my favorite part. Driving in Salt Lake City with all the constuction, finding an obscure parking lot, and walking as fast as we could so we wouldn't lose our seat wasn't my favorite part. It was so worth it though when I stood with my kids as the prophet and his counselors walked in. Jeff and Kyle went to the morning session and pretty much sat for 1 1/2 half before the session started because of the "Spoken Word. " Kyle hung in and didn't even complain. Maybe it was because Jeff kept reminding him of how cool and momentous it was for him to be there. Jeff said that he'd wished I was there when the choir sang, "Come Thou Fount, " my favorite song. Thomas S. Monson gave an amazing talk, that will be quoted many times in the future. "Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you and will stand by you. D&C 68:6.

I Can Read !

Natalie is in kindergarten and knows how to write her name. We have been writing her name for a while. She also copies words I write, but has never really been ready for reading. For months she will write a bunch of letters and ask if it is a word, which it usually isn't. If it says btrsd and I say butrusda, she'll yell trust or some word that she heard me say that makes it a real word in her mind. I finally told her the vowel rule and she tried to include a vowel in her words. Then yesterday she copied a few words that she saw around the house like sassoon, menu and emachines. She actually sounded out part of it and said, " Mom I can read, " and she actually could. I was so surprised. Those magic words turned on a light. She had confidence and tried to read books we found around the house. The scriptures were actually the easiest because she could find small words hear and there. She is a new woman and believes that she can read. Today as she tried to sound out "now"and "open," she said, "Mom I'm only five and I can read a little." She can't wait to tell her teacher. Last week Natalie also lost her first tooth and lost the other front, bottom tooth the next day. She's rich. What happened to the tooth fairy giving a nickel or even a quarter. The tooth fairy must be a millionaire with that bag of change that she gave Natalie.