HAPPY HALLOWEEN

halloween kind of busy

Here at our house there is no school today.

OUr school district opted to have a teacher prep day on Halloween (cowards.) That's just fine with me, because that means the Halloween celebrations last a little longer. Yesterday was the annual Halloween parade, then I was in charge of treats in Trent's class. After school we carved Trent's gigantic pumpkin-- then forgot to go to the city's pumpkin carving contest!

The scariest part of Halloween... I'm losing my mind, as usual.On Tuesday Hailey had her first Madrigal performance- WOO HOO!! My ninth year in a row going to the Jr. High Fall concert- not that I'm counting. Unfortunately only half of the dresses had been delivered before the day of the performance- dang- so they had to wear black & white. While Brett & I were at the concert, Jack took Trent to the local grocery store with a coupon for a free pumpkin. They came out of the store with the absolute biggest pumpkin they could find. Oh MY-Trent picked out the face design- but carving it yesterday afternoon was a family affair.It's a good thing Chloe's not squeamish.Hailey collected the oh so delicious pumpkin seeds for roasting.Earlier in the day....

Things were a little more scary. I LOVE the Halloween parade- LOVE IT. But, for a little guy with asperger's it's not as much fun. MOst of the time in our everyday life- we just know Trent as Trent & forget about his differences - days like today make it very apparent- and it's hard.Because we couldn't find an Optimus Prime Transformer costume in his size, even online, & I wasn't willing to put 100 hours into making one from scratch- loser mom here- he had to finally choose from a list of 4- cowboy, pirate, superman, & construction worker. Brett was trying to make it easier (which he did) by making the list short & more manageable to choose from. Still- imagination- and asperger's don't always go together. Having a completely different day where the schedule is all messed up & everyone is looking at you is definitely not comfortable. Then, having mom volunteer in the class & ultimately have to leave you there, even after her big pep talk on how strong, smart & brave you are & how much she believes in you- still brings loads of tears from -ya-both participants...

to keep things positive-

some of the highlights
Jake the crazy U fan- aren't all U fans crazy?

Lily the cutest Jack -o-lantern.

And the spook alley with a friend & mom. This is the first year Trent has gone through the sixth grade spook alley with the lights off. (progress)

We both commented on how silly it was.

Here we are inside- he was warning me of a bat, not a real bat, near my head.

Thanks buddy.

Just a little more nervous, mom is leaving... here we are in front of his class- next to him are some words he wrote to describe Halloween- next to the class poems.

He felt a little warm to me- but no matter what- at this point I couldn't bring him home. I was strong & left with a huge smile & thumbs up. Hmmm- the walk home- tough. Thanks Kristy for checking on him & calling to let me know he was just fine.

Now this is funny -

Jack & friends went to a party later that night as bathroom fixtures.

Shower jack- faucet zach- and toilet paper roll cory.

These guys are hilarious! they came up with this all on their own too!

well- I love Halloween.

MOre to come tomorrow!

family night with airplanes

Airplanes need:

Lift

Thrust

Attitude

People do too.

What lifts you up?
What motivates you?
How's your attitude?

***

my answers...

1.Genuine compliments

2.Usually someone else's example

3.Pretty good :)
-Just a little family night wrap up-
What about you?

lunch with megan

Friday is Megan's day off from work & school. We met up at Gardner Village & had so much fun!

Megan had never been to G.Village- Unbelievable- since I love it so much.

{isn't she beautiful?!}

I had my camera set on tela photo on accident when I took our self portrait & got this. I am putting it up anyway because.... I love it. :)

Lunch was fantastic & look at the gorgeous Fall/Halloween decorations. It was packed with people, but so worth the trip, and so much fun to be with Megan. The weather has been truly perfect here the past few weeks & we are looking at record highs for Halloween! I am so thrilled to have an extra long Fall. I always take the weather personal... (I'm crazy... but I do)- so thank you to the heaven's above- we are loving it!

I hope we get to spend more Fridays together before she leaves.

She is graduating with her Associates degree & Tony with his Bachelor's in December then they are off to Bentonville. I hope we go to visit soon!

Last night she & tony came up for Hailey's official birthday dinner.

Did I take a picture... of course not %$#@^*

But I did get a picture of these babies:

(I promise to put the recipe on blogger moms cook this week)

Homemade donuts.

I make them every year & hand them out to trick or treaters

except

this year I'm not doing it.

After sitting around for weeks & just now getting mobile with the whole ankle drama, I am seriously trying to psych myself up for a diet... right before the holidays??

I just know that standing over eight batches of fried dough & powdered sugar is not what I need right now. So I opted to make one batch, & do it for Hailey's day.
so sorry local trick or treaters. I'm sure the bowls of chocolate will be just as tempting. I don't know who I'm trying to fool- but I'm trying to be good or at least better.

That's something right?

Have you ever been to G.V.?

what's your favorite store?

missionary update

I asked the missionary if he had heard of the problems up here in the good ol' US. This is his reply. I thought it was worth sharing :)

"I have heard some things about the whole economic problem and all that. It sounds prettty hairy up there. Hopefully things dont get too bad. I love the United States. Sometimes the people dont want to talk to me because I am "gringo" or they do talk to me but they dont do it very nicely haha. They like to tell me that I am prideful... that might be true but I dont understand the whole stereotyping deal that they have here (: One day a guy told me to go home because the problems were in my country... "and thats why you live in a shack" I almost told him haha. One day an older guy, not really old, in his late fifties got mad at me. I told him we were missionaries yada yada yada (not seinfeld yada yada yada jaja) and he said "you, are coming to tell me this, you are coming to ME to tell me this" he had his voice raised a little and seemed a little peeved. So, I raised my voice over his so he would hear me and said "yes, I come to tell YOU this... repent of your pride" and walked away. I thought my companion was going to have to change his underwear. Dont worry, I didnt yell at him and it wasnt because I wanted to be contentious and it wasnt. "

"I am really happy right now. I am content. I feel a little pressured sometimes with my calling to set the example but it motivates me to be better. I know that I am here for a reason and that people are waiting for me."

Kids really do grow up.

Who knew?

grandpa's horses

Riding Grandpa's horses is always something the kids

really look forward to on a trip to Cody.The men saddled up the horses for a windy ride.I wonder what Max was thinking? Bandos used to live at our house- I think he's definately the family favorite.

We miss him, but lets face it- horses= lots of work!

Except for the photos with her in them- Chloe took all of these!
Isn't this one - of the horse shoes- great?!

Someday Trent will be big & strong enough to help with the saddles too.

For now- he was begging Grandpa to let him take off on Bandos...

It's a good thing Grandpa is smarter than that.

Poor Hailey had a cold & wasn't feeling great-

I'm not sure she rode at all?

Fun times!

day at the capitol, hailey's day, & religious hair??

Today Karrie & I spent the day at the Capitol building. We went to the state legislative PTA conference. It was really great. We went to some fabulous classes on:Community councils, class size reduction, the state school plan- why we should have one- we don't, and gold medal schools. I really learned a lot & love being with such involved & educated women. We had lunch & witnessed some state awards given to two different people who happen to live in our school district- pretty cool.I love the capitol building. It is fantastic. I really need to go on a tour. I really want to go on a tour. I will definitely keep- going on a tour of the capitol- off my new years list for 2009- since I haven't done one single thing on my 2008 list....... (heavy sigh & rolling my eyes.) While walking to a class we spied this amazing room with the door open. We wanted so badly to go in. We discussed sneaking in & getting pictures of us sitting in the hot seat- hee hee hee. Then, noticed there were two people in there- dang. Surely we would've gotten in big trouble then kicked out of the building & kicked out of the PTA.

Cowards...

On the way there we drove by this bumper sticker...?

What in the world?

I didn't know the campaign was religious?

I won't say which is my candidate of choice,

(I think there are enough political blogs out there)

but I will say I think this is a very strange bumper sticker. Now I will also mention that the political sign in my front yard was stolen while we were in Wyoming... brett was totally ticked off. A neighbor brought it by tonight. He found it in his bushes.

Just to be fair- here's another bumper sticker we saw.

Strictly political, no religion attached.

I spent the whole first class listening intently & trying to get a good photo of the cutest haircut ever. This girl was so cute! I think I'm in love with her hair. Actually I'm pretty sure I am. I won't put her irritated, front face photo up. I think she may have guessed I was stalking her. I tried to find the right moment to tell her she had the best hair ever but didn't get the chance.

**

I got home before school got out- I ran a couple of errands- then took Hailey to a group piano lesson. While she was gone her friends came by to secretly decorate her room for her birthday. How fun!
When we got back from the lesson- I told her Chloe had put a birthday present on her bed. She opened her bedroom door & SurpRIse!! How exciting :)
What thoughtful girls! Good friends are such a blessing at every age.

We had our first of two birthday dinners.

The second one is Sunday when Megan & Tony can come down.

Jack had a rugby meeting- he is the captain this year-

so he had to skip out after the present opening.

She opened her presents- spoiled ;) -then- I told her about the girl with the great hair. She said- oh ya that's called the Mormon A line cut. What the world, again? Hairstyles religious too?

what's this world coming to?

Do YOU think this bumper sticker is weird, or am I just off?

Should I get my haircut like this... I really want to- but- Mormon A line? Have you heard of this?

Am I going mad? I think I need get some sleep for once!