Halloween 2023

This is the second year that the kids went trick or treating without Matthew or I to supervise. Last year, E's mom tagged along, and this year it was A's dad, but they are definitely moving in that independent direction. They came back after only an hour and a half, having faithfully kept to their route they mapped out the previous week, completely laden with candy. Here they are prior to setting out and antsy with excitement and anticipation. Not pictured is Luca's friend G who came shortly after the picture was taken. We have a baseball player, the grim reaper, a woodland fairy (Luca bought and/or made her entire costume by herself, complete with buying a green shirt and fake flowers that she hot-glued onto it herself), and a character from the Marvel movies that I am still at a loss as to what she is.

Overall, I'm pretty sure they had one of the best nights of their lives.

And a couple more shots of the pumpkins, this time with some guts Dude made using his chemistry kit.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Pumpkins 2023

This October really got away from me. I worked really hard for the first two weeks and then went out of town after that. I guess we could have gone to a pumpkin patch sometime this week, but it just never happened. So Saturday afternoon, while we were out running errands, we stopped by a grocery store and quickly picked out something acceptable. Honestly, I might start doing that from now on if the kids will let me. Matthew, was infinitely happier with the arrangement as well.

Dude made me promise that my pumpkin would not be a pattern as I've done in years past. Fine, fine, fine. Matthew, who thinks Halloween is otherwise a pretty worthless holiday seems to get the most pleasure out of carving his pumpkin. So here we are, Dude's mine, Luca's (not pictured is the knife wedged in the top with pumpkin guts spewing out from the wound), and Matthew's raven.

Did I mention this month got away from me? Conference weekend I pulled out our bin with our Halloween decorations. The kids were in charge of putting them up. Luca put up what she wanted and then asked that, at some point, I get to the rest of them. Yeah, I never did. This afternoon, she took it upon herself to at least put up the spider's web. She couldn't reach with just the stepstool so I pulled out the ladder and made her put on a helmet. 

She was so scared to be so high, but I think that spider's web is pretty entertaining with her "additions". 

Family Pictures 2023

 Some  beautiful pictures of my most darlingest of people.

Quite possibly the easiest set of pictures, not once did I freak out and threaten anyone in my family. Dude, a few days before picture day, lamented that the photoshoot always takes so long. Why couldn't everyone just be perfect and smile nicely so we could get in and out in short order. I agreed wholeheartedly and challenged him to do his best so we could make the whole experience as painless as possible. I am happy to report that everyone did admirably and we were in and out in record timing, getting Chick-fil-A as a reward - complete with milkshakes. Oooh. And three weeks later, I am so pleased with how they turned out, gray hair and everything.

2023-2024 School Pictures

School pictures are in for the new year and I am once again in love with those babies of mine. At first I might have been a wee bit disappointed in that boy child of mine, but the more I look at him, and his lopsided haircut and family reunion t-shirt, I think he looks pretty distinguished. Luca, let me do her hair in braids so she could get a cute wave effect. Both are adorable.

I Belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

You may know that I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's not a perfect institution and I'm not a perfect person for belonging, but here are a few reasons (in no particular order) why I go every week, even when I travel.

1. I love learning about how Christ's Atonement is helping my church family in ways that are meaningful to them that may be different than for me.

2. I love when I get to hear the children singing songs of love and Christ and families and snowmen.

3. I love how serving in different capacities over the years has made me a better person than I would otherwise be on my own.

4. I love the meaningful relationships I have built with those I have served, served with, and been served by.

5. I love that wherever I have moved, there has always been a community of people I have come to love and adore.

6. I love the peace and guidance and joy I have found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because life is so so hard, but it's so much easier with Jesus.

7. I love the people who have served and loved my children through their own dedicated service in the Church.

8. I love that I know for sure that I am a changed and kinder person through my relationship with my Savior Jesus Christ, my Heavenly Parents and church family.

If you are curious about how your life could be better with Christ, I invite you to reach out and learn more. Find out when the children in your area will be taking over Sunday church services and be prepared for the cutest hour of your life. For my area, it's happening on October 29th at 9am. I sure hope you can join.