{Pumpkins}

It is that time of year again when we get to gut and carve pumpkins.  Last year for some reason we didn't do pumpkins.  I didn't even decorate for Halloween.  No idea why, it apparently wasn't on my to-do list.  The kids realized a few days after Halloween that we hadn't done our pumpkins and they were sad, so I had to promise that we wouldn't forget this year.  Let it be known I kept my promise.  We picked up two pumpkins at Target while we were stocking up on batteries for the fun storm coming our way.  

In years past, the kids carving pumpkins actually meant that Ryan and I gutted and carved pumpkins and the kids got to take pictures with them when they were done.  Ryan would hack away with our severely dull knives and pray out loud that he wouldn't cut his finger off.  I would be in charge of getting all the gunk out from the inside, basically slimming myself clear up to my armpit.  This year Ryan and I got smart, we got a carving kit that had patterns and those handy little carving knives.  I guess in addition to our brilliance, the kids are finally old enough to use said pumpkin kit (with a little help) to carve their own pumpkins.  I felt lazy this year, what with my clean armpit and everything.  

My job this year actually happened to be Hot Chocolate.  Caramel Hot Chocolate to be exact.  It was heaven in a mug I tell ya.  I made the caramel sauce myself and then made the hot chocolate from chocolate ganache and milk.  Of course I had to make real whipped cream to go on top, we couldn't go without that!!  It probably wasn't light on calories but oh man, when Ryan and I had both tried it we looked at each other with that "oh-my-gravy-this-is-to-die-for-I-can't-believe-we-shared-it-with-the-kids" kinda look.  It made the night what it was.  For me anyway :)!

The kids finished carving their pumpkins, one for the girls and one for the boys.  They were so excited to get them outside and get them lit up.  I guess our brilliance ran out because we couldn't find our bag of like 500 tea lights that we always use for our pumpkins.  We searched and searched and to no avail.  Ryan kipped the two little tea lights that smell like cinnamon nutmeg from the little candle holder that sits on our piano.  Hey a tea light is a tea light!  I am not sure what we will do when those puppies burn out.  Perhaps we won't have to worry about it.  Halloween looks like it may be cancelled around these parts this year.  Hurricane Sandy is such a party pooper and no one even invited her!!  We will keep ya posted on how it all goes.  

   

{Las Vegas}

It isn't very often that I get to tag along with Ryan to one of his conferences.  He goes to two or three a year and this is only the second one I have gotten to go on.  Life with small kids just doesn't afford that kind of luxuary.  I guess that makes the times I do get to run away that much more special.  This year AFD (Armed Forces District meeting) was in Las Vegas!!  Ryan's mom was brave and came to keep the hoodlums in check and make sure they were still alive when we got home.  We owe her a big THANK YOU!!

The last time I was in Las Vegas was over 14 years ago.  My roommate Gloria and I had traveled to Southern California to surprise Ryan for Spring Break.  After we left sunny Southern Cali, we headed up through Vegas to head back to Boise.  We got to town late at night and had to find a hotel to sleep in.  We almost slept in our car but finally found one that was affordable for two college girls.  We didn't want to venture out onto the strip at night.  It looked less than appealing because again we were two young girls.  So we slept in our economy hotel and then ventured out the next morning.  We spent just an afternoon there but had some fun dreaming that we could afford to shop at the Forum Shops in Ceasars Palace.

This time around the trip was a little better planned, we actually had a room booked before we got there.  Funny how much easier that is!!  The conference was held in the Paris Hotel, which is basically right across from the Beliagio.  Vegas is not the same as it was 14 years ago.  I hardly recognized that strip.  They have really built up in between all the hotels with little shops and there are tons more shops all which are mainly for the high end shoppers, which is not me!!  The nights are still less than appealing to me but I had my bodyguard along on this trip so I was brave.  We met up with our good friends, the Millers, and Heather and I hung out during the day shopping and eating.  Really there wasn't much else for us to do in Vegas.  We don't gamble, we don't drink and we don't go to strip clubs!!  Shopping and eating are all that is left!  We had tried to go on a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon and that didn't work out with our schedual.  I did get to meet up for dinner with my cousin who lives there.  It was really nice catching up with her.  It was nice to sleep in, read in peace and quiet and just spend some one on one time with my honey!

Every now and then I need to run away from my everyday life and this trip was much needed.  Thanks babe for inviting me to tag along!  Love ya-

{Outdoor Ed}

 I am not sure how I am truly handling this thing called Middle School.  Everything has been fine, good really.  I just have this mental block that my child surely can't be old enough to be in middle school.  With the rate at which I find grey hairs you would believe that he is that old but my brain just can't wrap my head around it all.  This morning I dropped him off at school all prepared to head out for Outdoor Ed.  Outdoor Education is a 2 1/2 day program just for sixth graders.  It is the highlight of the year and Ayden has been looking forward to this week since before school even started for the year.  They stay at a wilderness retreat about an hour from here and learn everything from geo-caching to acting out the predator-prey cycle.

We got him checked in this morning, noting which bus he was going to ride on and where to drop off his one piece of luggage and sleeping bag. It was time for him to get with his group and I noticed there was not any hesitation at all coming from Ayden.  I realized he was waiting for me to turn around and leave and that he didn't need me to hang around and wait.  So I said the usual last minute nagging mom sayings like, "mind your manners", "remember who you are", "brush your teeth", which only got me last minute eye rolls. He has heard them a hundred times before ya know!!  I on the other hand was a little bit nervous letting him go.  Other than the occasional sleep over with cousins at Grandma's house when we have been visiting, or the scout camp outs that he has gone on with his Dad, he hasn't slept overnight anywhere, ever.  That has been on purpose, our family doesn't do sleepovers.  So I was interested in how he was going to do with being gone for two nights, by himself.  His behavior made it very clear that he had this covered!!

As I turned to head to the car and Ayden nearly ran back to the school to get with his group, I felt like I had been slapped right across the face.  I realized in an instant that he was a capable young man who didn't need his mama to hang around and hold his hand!!  What?  Since when?!  He didn't even look back.  Not once!!  But almost as quick as that realization hit me I was hit with another slap, gentler though this time.  I realized that this is exactly what I wanted for my son.  I wanted him to be self-assured and confident.  I didn't want to have to hold his hand and reassure him constantly.  I didn't want him to be afraid of the unknown and I wanted him to enjoy and look forward to an adventure!!  Well that is what I have!!  A self-assured, confident kid who can't wait to experience Outdoor Education.  I am thankful that Ayden is who he is.  I hope he has an amazing time and that he at least remembers to brush his teeth every night!  Oh yeah and to remember who he is, that's an important one too!!

{Family Pictures 2012}

We were lucky enough again this year to have my Mother-in-Law help us take our family pictures.  She gets to wrangle all of us to get a family shot and then I get the easy job of taking the individuals.  Her job is much harder.  We found a little nook in a park nearby our home and were able to get some good shots of the family.  It is fun to see how much difference a year makes in how fast these kids of ours are growing.  Thanks again Margaret for helping us!!  We love how they turned out!

{Day of Service}

In our neck of the woods, September 29th (really all of September) had been declared a Day of Service by our Governor as well as the neighboring states Governors in their respective states.  Our church decided that we wanted to join in on that Day of Service.  We chose to collect food for an area food bank and our project was called "Feed a Family for a Day".  Our hope was that each family would donate enough food or money to feed a family of their size for a day.  As Latter-Day Saints, one Sunday a month is set aside as a Fast Sunday.  We fast for two meals and the money that we would have spent on those missed meals we give to the church in what we call fast offerings.  Those fast offerings are used by the church to help those in need.  So the idea that each family would feed a family for a day was not a far stretch for us.  We were also asked to reach out to our neighbors and other churches to join with us in feeding families.

I was asked to be a photographer for the Day of Service and it was a lot of fun capturing the goodness of people.  The day was crazy busy.  Ryan was on call, so I had all the kids.  Thankfully a wonderful friend took my three youngest and I took Ayden along.  He was helpful and I didn't have to worry about where he was while I was trying to get pictures.  I was asked to cover our church building and the people dropping off food there and I was also covering a nearby grocery store where we had people asking for food donations.  I ran back and forth between the two and I was able to capture some good shots of people.  There was also a way that people could donate money straight to the food bank, which was nice because the food bank can make that money go a lot farther than we could buying the food at the grocery store.

I think the day was a success.  We  donated over 2,000 pounds of actual food products, 2,337 families will be fed for one day (a family of 3), and we had nearly $7,000 donated directly to the food bank!!  It was wonderful to be given the opportunity to share the blessings that I have been given with those who have less than I do.