Jack-O-Lanterns

Keeping with tradition, tonight we carved our pumpkins for Family Home Evening. Typically we've done it on the FHE before Halloweeen but considering we wont be here then...tonight was the night. As usual, I was the picture taker. I'm not so fond of sticking my hands in the goop and pulling it out. I hate how it gets on my arm above my hands-YUCKO! It dries all crusty/sticky! Maddie loves it. Guess who doesn't love it...Will. After just one dunk of the hand in the gunk..."can I wash my hands now?" so funny!

This year, Maddie did all her own carving. She cut the top off and drew her face on and even cut out her face by herself. Way to go Maddie. The whole time, Bob and I were slightly panicking waiting for a gash from a knife. But not to worry...Maddie is very careful!

William wanted his to look like Frankenstein, no a ghost, no a witch, no Lightning McQueen, scary, happy. He couldn't quite make up his mind. He settled on the one he got. He calls it a ghost. Take one guess what he named it...Ghosty!

All in all it was a good time. Pumpkins carved, pictures taken, mess cleaned up in under an hour! Right on!

{Sunday Reminiscings}

As long as I can remember, Maddie has wanted a dog...among other animals. But "dog" is right at the top of the list (okay, maybe equal with "horse"). Every year, "I want a dog" is on her Christmas List. Well, for her birthday last year, Mitchell, her very generous cousin, let her take his dog, Ringer, for what was supposed to be about a week. We ended up keeping Ringer for about 5 weeks! Maddie is amazing at taking care of animals. She never complained about doing anything that needed to be done for Ringer. I never had to remind her to feed him, walk him, or bathe him. She proved that she is more than capable of taking care of a pet.

::Her favorite thing to do was sleep with Ringer. At night Maddie would go to bed with Ringer. He would lay his head on the pillow and the sheet and blanket would be up under his chin-so cute. Before I went to bed, I would put Ringer in his kennel (not my favorite thing to do).

::She and her friends loved to play soccer with Ringer

::Ringer pooped in the house twice, in the same spot. Maddie stepped in it barefoot. We were both gagging...seriously (I'm kind of gagging right now thinking about it).

::Ringer LOVED Bob. He would lay in between Bob's legs while Bob was watching T.V. (soooo funny!) When Bob got home from work, Ringer would go nuts to see him.

::William loved Ringer. The opposite is not as true :). Although Ringer was patient with William and could occassionally be found on Will's bed.

::By the end of Ringers visit, Maddie was ready to give up responsibility of Ringer. She realized that dogs are a lot of work and maybe she would just enjoy Ringer when visiting Mitchell from now on. WHEW!

So to all moms who have children that "think" they want a dog, let them borrow someone else's for a month and make sure you do NOTHING to help them. It's almost a guarantee that their desire for a dog will start to fade (at least for a little while).

Where Did Fall Go?

I can't believe all this snow! I walked outside to close the garage door...and it was a blizzard! Maddie, Wills and J.T. were coloring at the dining room table and heard me gasp! That was all it took. J.T. ran home to get into snow gear and Maddie and William just ran out into it with hardly appropriate clothing! Within a few minutes, William was begging for gloves, boots, coat, hat, etc. Maddie was right behind him. They got all bundled up and played outside for a couple of hours-until it was too dark to see!

The beginnings of Frosty! Look at all that snow!

Uncle Kevin came home in the middle of all this and started a snowball fight...good times!

Frosty and his little baby! William is so happy. Hopefully by tomorrow it will all be melted and the temperature will keep rising!

What I Did Today...

I spent the day making these flower arrangements for my friend Bonita. Her son is leaving for his mission (Warsaw, Poland) on Wednesday. He speaks in church tomorrow and they are having an open house. She wanted some flowers for her house. It is much more fun to make these arrangements with my mom...I had no one to ask if they looked okay. I asked Kevin and he said he thought they looked kind of awkward- HUH? What does he know! I don't know why I even asked him :D. Anyway, I think they turned out great. I just hope Bonita likes them!

I also told her I'd bring over a cake tomorrow...what was I thinking? Now I have to make a cake. And because I'm making a cake for her, I need to make one for us-that means TWO cakes!

Pinewood Derby

My very first Pinewood Derby. With my calling as Den Leader of the Wolves, I get to go to fun events like this. Two of the boys from our den (Wolves) had two of the four fastest cars! Pretty Exciting!...I hope this is one of my last Pinewood Derbys until William turns 8 :D!

Have you seen the previews for this movie...it looks so good! Maddie and I saw the preview yesterday and we can't wait to see it on opening night...this Friday, October 19th. Review will be coming.

I Vant to Suck Your Blood!

With all the Edward talk going on, and with Halloween...how fitting!

You Could Be a Vampire... If You Had To

Like most people, the thought of being a vampire has crossed your mind. But you're not sure if you'd do it, even if you could.Living forever doesn't sound half bad, if you could live forever with the people you love the most. But do vampires even love? And would the vampire version of you even be you?It's all too much to contemplate. Luckily, the chances of you ever becoming a vampire are astronomically low. What you would like best about being a vampire: Living forever What you would like least about being a vampire: Blood stained teeth

Could You Be a Vampire?

Days At The Park

This past week we have gone to the park 3 times...that's a record for me! Last Wednesday, I took William and his best bud, Trevor to the park before school. We took sandwiches, bananas, drinks and cookies for lunch. The park is about 2 miles from the house (one we pass often on our way to Daddy's shop.) We have always wanted to try it because the slides are tall and swirly and there is a lot of climbing stuff. The boys had a great time. Now, every Wednesday, on my day to have Trevor, the boys ask about 10 times "can you take us to the park?"...help me!

Since Maddie's piano lessons are in South Provo, we have to stay down there and wait for her. I wouldn't be able to make it home and back before she needed to be picked up. We discovered a park close to her teachers house about a month ago and now Will knows that on piano lessons day, we get to go the the park-therefore: "The Piano Park".

And then the other day I took William and his two friends (Brady and Coleman/twins) to the park near Challenger School. We were there for 2 1/2 hours! The weather was perfect and the boys had so much fun on the playground and rolling down the hill and jumping off "the cheese thing".

This is the "chesse thing". I don't know why the boys named it that other than to them it looks like a big wedge of cheese! I thought this picture turned out pretty cool! Will is quite the daredevil. This was pretty high up. I wouldn't have jumped off there. And the other boys didn't want to either.

{Sunday Reminiscings}

I thought I would start something that I do each Sunday...{Sunday Reminiscing}. Since I'm so behind on my scrapbooking, and don't see myself ever catching up, I'm going to try and chronicle some of our family memories each week. Here goes the first one:

NEW YORK 2006

It's hard to believe it's almost been a year since Bob and I went to NYC with Kevin and Kellie. Last year, Bob turned 40 and I surprised him with a trip to New York. My mom was working for Jet Blue at the time and she gave us some Buddy Passes to use for the flight out there. It was so great. We took the midnight flight to JFK and arrived about 6 in the morning. That was the worst part of the trip...we were so tired. We stayed at a Marriot in New Jersey, but the PATH station was right outside the front doors of the hotel. We spent the first few hours on Thursday morning sleeping in our hotel room! We wanted to go into the city so bad, but we were just too tired. We finally dragged ourselves out of bed and then dragged ourselves around the city. We went into a Banana Republic and Kevin sat down in a chair and fell asleep! I took a photo! We caught up on our sleep that night and the by the time we had to come home we were tired again. We had a great time together. I wish we could make it a yearly tradition...but I know how those things go...they don't!

Some highlights:

We saw "Wicked" the night we arrived. I loved it. The music was fantastic. I could watch it over and over again. "Mary Poppins" was the second show we saw. We bought our tickets from a guy selling them on the street...the one thing we were told not to do. But it turned out just fine-although I was the one who was going to take the heat for it if was a bust :O! Our seats were not that great but we still enjoyed the show. We all agreed that the kids would have loved it.

We rode the ferry over to Ellis Island and to the Statue of Liberty. Both Bob and I had been on the ferry to see the statue but just as a "float by". Getting off and visiting the museum at Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty was so worth it. We walked up as far as we could in the statue. Since 9/11, you can no longer walk to the top of the Lady Liberty. It was a little chilly and it rained quite a bit at the statue...but we didn't mind.

SOHO...we spent a lot of time there...shopping and eating! Even Kevin shopped. And of course Bob shopped...for shoes! Kellie had some Friends and Family discount cards to Banana Republic that were good while we were in NYC. Kevin and Kellie purchased some things for themselves. Bob spent most of his shopping time in shoe stores...go figure. It is so funny to see the different way the two of them shop. Kevin just sees it and does it all at once. Bob goes into the store and looks at the shoes 4-5 times (on different occasions) before he buys them!

Kellie and I bought some fun things for the kids at the Scholastic Store and some fun shoes at the Skechers Store. The Skechers Store on Times Square was so great. They have a DJ stand at the back of the store where the employees, (one in particular), DJ the super loud music. This "sister" was so dang funny. She was singing and dancing and offering discounts if you purchased in the next 20 minutes...which we did!

We also found this really great store-UNIQLO. They had some cute kids clothes for great prices. Kellie and I got some great shirts and jeans for the boys. And I actually got something for myselft too. That was the first time Kellie used her bargaining skills. We had both been rung up and paid but then a lady at a register next to us was getting quite a discount. Kellie asked about it and the employee then returned everything Kellie bought, rung it up again and gave her the discount. Kellie then made her do it for me. Not happy employees...too bad!

All of our traveling in and out of the city was through this PATH station. It is the site of the former World Trade Center. The station is huge and a major connecting point. Since our hotel was actually in New Jersey, we always took the train into the city and then connected onto the Subway from there. Thank goodness we had Bob as our guide. He is amazing with the maps. Of course, he is not spontaneous at all and is not happy if we accidentally get on the wrong train. I say, go with the flow!

We had some yummy eats. If you don't know where to eat in Manhattan it can be a little overwhelming. I mean, where do you go? I think you absolutely need to find out where to eat ahead of time from people who are in the know. My mom and I and Maddie had been to Balthazar in SOHO before, so we knew we couldn't go wrong. Balthazar is a little French bistro with delicious food. And the atmosphere is so European-loved it!

We also grabbed a sandwich at Dean and Deluca, one of my favorite places. Kevin got some of the most delicious cheese I have ever tasted-it had ash in it-I wish I could remember the name.

And of course, we had to have New York pizza. However, I must say, it was not as good as I thought it was going to be. We still haven't found the best New York pizza there is to offer...I'm sure of it.

On our last night there, we were in SOHO (of course) and we wanted some really good food. Not knowing where to go, we walked up and down the streets and we. were. starving. We decided to go in this little Italian place...bad idea! We sat down and I think, Bob or Kellie went to the restroom...YUCK! Yes, it was Kellie and she said the bathrooms were dirty. We all decided to walk out! I've never done that before but boy was I glad we did! We found the absolute yummiest Italian food I've ever eaten. Apparantly it is a favorite of the locals. We all really enjoyed our food and would have gone back if we'd had another night. YUMMO!

Since our trip, I've watched the Food Network and seen a few different shows on NYC. There are a few places I would like to try.

One of the great things about the trip was the weather...it was the end of November and the beginning of December. Instead of Winter weather we had Spring temperatures. In fact, there were a few times, it was too hot because of the clothes we were wearing. We never really needed our coats, except for the day we went to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. If we took our coats with us, we were sorry we had them because we just had to carry them around with us-I'm not complaining. :)

We had such a great time...I hope we can do it again sometime!

p.s. thanks Mom and Dad for watching the kids-we couldn't have gone without your help.

Yummy!!!

With it being Halloween, I thought this was fun...

Gummy Bears

You may be smooshie and taste unnatural, but you're so darn cute.

What Kind of Candy Are You?

William/Funny=Maddie/Sassy

WILLIAM-so funny

William is killing me with his comments lately. He is totally into girls-huh? I guess we don't have to worry about his preferences!

• "Mom, I love girls, I don't know why-I just do. They are so beautiful."
• "Mom, Trevor and I like girls in bathing suits"
• "Mom, Isabella had to ask someone today to find out if I liked her." Well do you, I said. "yes"
• "Mom, I made a new friend at school today. Her name is Isabella and she kissed me."
• When he's trying to make a point he puts the word he's emphasizing in quotes with his two fingers on each hand..."I'm hungry {in finger quotes}" He does this all day long.
• He's always saying to me "Get it?"
• One of my personal favorites is his use of the word "dang" as in "I have to poo so dang bad!"

MADDIE-not so funny

• "One sec"
• "Hold on"
• "I'm coming!"
• "Wiiillllliiiiaaammmm-ugh" (imagine this one really loud)

New Quiz...

You Are a Purple Crayon

Your world is colored in dreamy, divine, and classy colors. You hold yourself to a sky high standard, and you are always graceful. People envy, idolize, and copy you without realizing it. You are an icon for those who know you. And while it is hard to be a perfectionist, rest assured it's paying off! Your color wheel opposite is yellow. While yellow people may be wise, they lack the manners and class needed to impress you.

What Color Crayon Are You?

I love General Conference!

I took some time yesterday and rewatched some of the talks again from General Conference. I love General Conference so much...and not just because I don't have to get the kids ready and go to church, although that is nice too. The talks are so uplifting and inspiring. After listening, they make me want to be a better person and be more obedient. I am so happy I have the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for a living prophet who teaches me and leads me. I love President Hinckley and I wish he would live forever!

One of my favorite talks was by Elder Spencer J. Condie. He talked about the generous and wonderful blessings the Lord has promised us when we do what He says.

In these latter days, the Lord revealed that “when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated” (D&C 130:21). The Lord makes generous promises, and He certifies that He will not vary from these promises, for, said He, “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise” (D&C 82:10).

The Lord’s countless exceeding great and precious promises include forgiveness of our sins when we “confess them and forsake them” (D&C 58:43; see also D&C 1:32). Opening the windows of heaven is a promise claimed by those who pay a faithful tithe (see Malachi 3:10), and finding “great treasures of knowledge” accrues to those who observe the Word of Wisdom (D&C 89:19).

Becoming unspotted from the world is a promise to those who keep the Sabbath holy (see D&C 59:9; Exodus 31:13). Divine guidance and inspiration are promised to those who “feast upon the words of Christ” (2 Nephi 32:3) and who “liken all scriptures” unto themselves (1 Nephi 19:23).

The Lord also promised that “whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you” (3 Nephi 18:20). We are promised that the Holy Ghost will be our constant companion when we “let virtue garnish [our] thoughts unceasingly” (see D&C 121:45–46). We can claim the spiritually liberating promise of fasting, which will “loose the bands of wickedness,” undo our “heavy burdens,” and “break every yoke” (Isaiah 58:6).

Those who are sealed in holy temples and who faithfully keep their covenants will receive God’s glory, which “shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever” (D&C 132:19).

Sometimes, in our earthly impatience, we may lose sight of the Lord’s precious promises and disconnect our obedience from the fulfillment of these promises. The Lord has declared:

“Who am I, saith the Lord, that have promised and have not fulfilled?

“I command and men obey not; I revoke and they receive not the blessing.

“Then they say in their hearts: This is not the work of the Lord, for his promises are not fulfilled. But wo unto such, for their reward lurketh beneath, and not from above” (D&C 58:31–33).

Elder Condie then recounts the story of Isaac's son Jacob and his marriage to Rachel. Rachel so desperately wanted children and thought that God had forgotten His promise to her that her seed would be multiplied. But the Lord is "long-suffering" toward us. He does not forget. And then my favorite part: "And God Remembered Rachel" (Genesis 30:22). Elder Condie ends with: "When heaven’s promises sometimes seem afar off, I pray that each of us will embrace these exceeding great and precious promises and never let go. And just as God remembered Rachel, God will remember you."

I have at times in my life felt like the Lord had temporarily forgotten about me, but it was not His forgetting, it was mine. I must do my part to claim the promises and blessings He will bestow.

The Lesson Columbus Taught Us

Columbus by Joaquin Miller

BEHIND him lay the gray Azores,
Behind the Gates of Hercules;
Before him not the ghost of shores,
Before him only shoreless seas.
The good mate said: "Now we must pray,
For lo! the very stars are gone.
Brave Admiral, speak, what shall I say?"
"Why, say, 'Sail on! sail on! and on!'"

"My men grow mutinous day by day;
My men grow ghastly wan and weak."
The stout mate thought of home; a spray
Of salt wave washed his swarthy cheek.
"What shall I say, brave Admiral, say,
If we sight naught but seas at dawn?"
"Why, you shall say at break of day,
'Sail on! sail on! and on!"

They sailed and sailed, as winds might blow,
Until at last the blanched mate said:
"Why, now not even God would know
Should I and all my men fall dead.
These very winds forget their way,
For God from these dead seas is gone.
Now speak, brave Admiral, speak and say"--
He said, "Sail on! sail on! and on!"

They sailed. They sailed. Then spake the mate:
"This mad sea shows his teeth tonight.
He curls his lip, he lies in wait,
With lifted teeth, as if to bite!
Brave Admiral, say but one good word:
What shall we do when hope is gone!"
The words leapt like a leaping sword:
"Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!"

Then pale and worn, he kept his deck,
And peered through darkness. Ah, that night
Of all dark nights! And then a speck--
A light! a light! at last a light!
It grew, a starlit flag unfurled!
It grew to be Time's burst of dawn.
He gained a world; he gave that world
Its grandest lesson: "On! sail on!"

I read this poem this morning and for some reason it really struck an emotion in me. I could feel the sorrow and despair of the mate and the hope and determination of Columbus! Reading the poem outloud brings it all to life. What a great lesson this poem has for us and what a great lesson Columbus taught us: never give up on your dreams and your hopes,

endure to the end...SAIL ON!

Each week in school, Maddie memorizes a new poem. And this is the poem for this week (they actually have 2 weeks for this one considering the length). They recite their poems each Thursday in front of the class. Maddie has been memorizing a poem a week since Kindergarten! That's a lot of poetry. Every April, they have a Speech Festival-needless to say, Maddie really shines! We are so proud of her and her accomplishments. She does so well in school and is a conscientious student. I am so grateful Maddie has been able to attend Challenger.

Maddie in front of her school...Challenger.

Some of My Favorite Things!

Enough said

This is the cutest spatula from William's Sonoma. Maddie and William love it! We make pancakes for dinner every Monday night. It has become a tradition-yeah! This is the best spatula for flipping pancakes...I think we'll use it all year long:)



How cute are these...I bought these at Macey's from the Martha Stewart Collection. When they are filled with milk they are so dang cute!



Do I really need to say anything at all about this...I can say this loud and proud...I. am. addicted. It is now, and always will be, my beverage of choice - so back off!



okay, if you've never tried this...you are truly missing out on one delicious treat. The first time I had it was in NYC at Serendipity {frozen hot chocolate}. I then bought some online. Bob and I will have it as a "little" bed-time snack once the kids have gone to bed...we don't share!



I bought this dish soap at "The Store" the other day. I am addicted to the scent-basil blue sage. I fill up my sink with hot soapy water and leave it in pretty much all day. My kitchen smells like I've been cleaning all day. It is so yummy!

Paris Here I Come

I've found myself wasting way too much time...I found this and don't you know...I love Paris. I knew I belonged there! Je t'aime Paris!

You Belong in Paris

Stylish and expressive, you were meant for Paris. The art, the fashion, the wine! Whether you're enjoying the cafe life or a beautiful park... You'll love living in the most chic place on earth.

What City Do You Belong In?