Falling In the Dark

Probably many of you have had the chance to go on "Tower of Terror" (formerly known as the "Hollywood Tower Hotel"). If not, don't make the mistake I did and underestimate this ride. Holy crud! It had the perfect combination of creepiness and free-falling through the dark that really caught me off guard (that and the fact that my roller-coaster and fizzy-drink hating mother said it was "fun").

I started laughing to cover up my inner panic and let my very nervous 7 yr old think mom was having a great time.
Emma appears to be dying (she has sworn off this ride forever). And thanks to my mom's iphone and all that adrenaline, I laughed for about 15 mins at this picture :)

Thanksgiving vacation was so much fun and don't worry- I have MANY more pictures to come.

*note to lady in front of Emma* how do you look bored?

One of life's mysteries I guess.

Spotlight #2

Eli has been having a great year in school so far in 4th grade. Ms. James is famous for being a strict teacher and all summer I felt sick every time I thought about Eli being in her class. But I feel this year is an answer to prayers after last year being such a hard one. One thing I've realized is that structure at school is one of the most important things for him. He and Ms. James have a great relationship. She seems to be good at finding the balance between pushing him- but not over the edge. He even made the honor roll (A's and B's) for 1st quarter! Woo-who Eli! He's taking in more of what they're learning and doing better with focus. I'm not sure how much to attribute to our GF diet, but I'm not one to mess with a working combination, so much to his dismay, the diet's continuing for now.

I love that this year when I ask him "How was your day?" he knows I'm not asking how his behavior was anymore but just how he liked his school day.

His only extracurricular thing right now is Scouts but I'm hoping to find a good karate class in January and get him started into that. (Please let me know if you know a good one around here:)

His loves are drawing, history, learning about other places, tv and computer games of course (I'm so glad we don't have a gaming system), reading (most of the time), helping dad, going anywhere (except clothes shopping), and making up games and playing with his sisters.

I think he still dreams of having a baby brother someday and was asking me what ages women can still have babies. He was all excited when he found out I still could. I said "Well it's not going to happen bud." He said "You never know mom...". I remember having basically the same conversation with my mom and felt so, so vindicated when she in fact did get pregnant again. I said "seeee mom?" And then our beautiful baby Miranda was born. Pretty funny. But really...he's out of luck :) He will have 3 bro-in-laws someday!

So proud of my BUG :)

Excuses, Excuses

Life has seemed extra busy lately. I check my blog everyday hoping that someone has updated it. But, like changing the t.p. roll, it seems that's a task left for me. So I promised myself I'd update today but I woke up at 3:50 AM to take the Beehives to do baptisms and I'm fading fast.

Here are some of the things that have made life busy:

• We had Evening in Excellence this week which followed a very special week we did for the girls called "Daughter of God" (to truly help the girls gain a testimony that they are exactly that). They were both awesome! I love my calling :) And all these great ladies I get to work with and learn from.
• I went on a field trip with Eli and the rest of the 4th grade yesterday.It was to the "Pueblo Grande" museum in Phoenix. We got to tour actual ruins of the ancient Hohokam Native Americans. Boy did Eli love it. See him there up in front pointing?
  And here running to get to the front while I and the other "old folks" (as our tour guide liked to call us) drug our feet at the back. I went on the same field trip 2 years ago with Em's class and we had the same tour guide! He's really, really nice and patient with all those 9 yr old questions.
  
• I went to watch Emma take part in the school Spelling Bee (She was one of two winners from her classroom)And I loved that she was still happy after getting "out" (on "broadcast" of all words! She left out the "a" out of nervousness). I think she has amazing perspective on life for a girl her age. I saw lots of teary-eyed kids over there.
  
• Dana's parents came to visit us over last weekend for Don's sister's 50th anniversary bash. Of course their visit included lots of fun stuff. Like comparing the passed down "crooked pinkie" gene...

And grandma had the fun idea to make "candy apples" with the kids (not caramel) They were yummy!(not recommended if you have braces or any unsecured teeth.)
The kids loved helping and trying something new.
Also going to "Organ Stop Pizza" which is quickly becoming tradition when grandma and grandpa visit :)

I promise I'll be back soon with Spotlight #2. (only a month and a half later). Gooodnight!

Scary-licious Fun

Our first Halloween party of 2011 was Sadie's preschool party. It was so fun making her look all princessy and even dabbing on a touch of make-up. And she's my first girl who wanted some! She chose the most popular little girl costume of the year: "Reee-pun-zul"- (which is how she started saying it after people asked her then couldn't understand her the first time). I counted at least 5 at our ward party.They has a little parade. At the end the kids were all repeatedly shouting "Happy Halloween!!"
Her cute little class :)
Saturday night we had our ward trunk-or-treat. Dana and I wore our costumes again so that was pretty fun to see everyone's reactions.

Here's Sadie at the face paint booth being helped by one of my sweet Beehives.
This years picks: Rapunzel, a green ninja, a pirate, and a cave-girl.
As usual on Halloween we had the school parties and parade.

Here's Holly and her BFF at school, Kinnedy.
Emma and Jane :)
And Eli in his class about to help transform his teacher into a mummy :) Of course they loved that.
And the best part of all- Halloween night. We had our haunted porch for the 3rd time (with a break last year since it was Sunday) and added a new feature. I could only get a picture with a flash since it was so dark, and that takes all the scariness away, but Eli did a great job jumping up and scaring people.
Then he got tired of it and wanted to trick-or-treat. We saw cousins up the street a little ways and I was so glad to get a picture of Sadie and Campbell together in their costumes :)
Here's the second round of trick-or-treaters after I came back with Sadie and Eli. They had a great time zig-zagging across the street, running from house-to-house. I have to say, our neighborhood rocks for "treatin".

Then first thing this morning after taking the kids to school, I grabbed our HUGE bowl of candy and high-tailed it to a local orthodontist who buys back trick-or-treat candy and sends it to the troops. It's so nice having it away so I'm not eating it all day! Hooray!

On Halloween I had to make a last minute Target run for a few things we needed that night and had to laugh because they had Christmas music playing. I guess they couldn't wait just one more day!

I Love My Punkin-Heads