PARTY, PARTY, PARTY!

I can't believe how busy the last two weeks have been! I had my preschool party yesterday, so I can breath for one day! Tonight is "Trick or Treat"! The kids are so excited. Aysia keeps asking me how many more hours, and it's not even 10 am yet.

Grandma's party was a lot of fun! Apparently it didn't go off just as Grandma had envisioned, but everyone else thought it was great. I'm glad I wasn't Jonathan trying to figure out just what she wanted.

It was a big production

James (JR), Taunie and Myles shared a dance.

Lots of cousin's, some I barely know were there.

Grandma enjoyed her great grand kids. She told me later she was very touched Aysia came running back to tell her Happy Birthday as we were leaving.

At one point all the kids were waiting for Grandpa/Uncle Brent to lasso them all.

Suprise, suprise...Alec is first in line for some cake!


Katherine Hall was also very touched Aysia remembered her from primary. She used to be "Captain CTR". I think most of out primary would remember her. Aysia is just very outgoing, friendly and loving. She gave her a hug and talked to her.

We went to Cornbelly's Corn Maze in Lehi on Monday for Family night. Amanda actually wanted to join us, which is a rare treat. The kids adore her and wish she'd come around more. Thirteen year old girls have a lot more interesting things to do with their time I guess.

All the kids.

Aidan and Alec on the Hay ride.

Daddy took Lil Al on the cow train ride.

Amanda with Alec.
Aysia thought it was a very bumpy ride. Aren't most cow rides bumpy?

Aysia at her school Halloween parade. She is NOT Hannah Montana. She is Hilary Duff. I know...It's hard to tell the difference. Hilary wears page boy hats, short skirts (Hannah wears pants more) and ankle boots, which you can't see in this picture (Hannah wears cowboy boots) and Hilary's favorite color is pink.


Aidan is Bumblebee. That's the transformer...not the insect. He didn't want to wear his mask, but that's ok. You can see his cute face this way.
He's enjoying the pre-k party. We missed having Aysia there this year.



...since when did vampires like cotton candy?
My vampire boy won't keep his cape on. But he's cute anyway.
Grandpa Williams was on guard duty at the party. He wasn't allowed outside the party room. The Taylorsville Fire Department was not invite to the party.

We enjoy going to the Murray Farmer's Market. Our favorite thing to buy is Schmidt's Salt n Pepper corn. As you can see Alec LOVES it.

I was released on Sunday from my RS calling. I am sad. I really enjoyed being in RS, and I even liked teaching every few weeks. They say when you get comfortable you get another opportunity to grow and learn. This next calling will be a very BIG learning experience. I have to say right now I'm VERY nervous. I do really well with little kids and Adults. Teens however are off my radar. I hated High School, now I get to experience it again vicariously through the Laurels. Everyone says I'll love it. So I need to start praying for this unrealistic fear to go away. The bishop set me apart and gave me a great long blessing. I don't think he left anything uncovered. I should be healthy and open to the spirit to guide my words. I should have time for everything without getting tired. Wow...I'm tired all the time as it is! So here's to the new adventure.

We had a bumper crop of pumpkins this year. We have already given 8 beautiful orange pumpkins away.

We carved two in Pre-k, and will carve the other three later today with the kids.


Here are the Motley rest. Some are orange and some are still green. Some are half way between orange and green. I think the green streaked ones are pretty cool. The kids and I are going to go sit out front and sell them for $0.50 each.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Picture time

I'm a partial judge...but dang my kids are CUTE!

My little girl is growing up.
Isn't she a beautiful princess?
Billy's looking for a really big bat.
And he'll need it, she's already boy crazy.
(notice her WHOLE outfit shows)
Wow-- He's one handsome prince.
He'll have a hundred princesses
vying for his attention in a few short years.
Who's blond kid is this?
LOL--
Dye his hair brown and he's his daddy's clone.
In looks as well as in personality!
(I'm changing his middle name from Wayne to Trouble)

Of course he's handsome too!

Fall is here!

Burrr.....
Aysia has her last soccer game today. The weatherman had said there was a chance for snow today. So far it's just cold!

Last Friday was school picture day at Aysia's school. I told her she could pick out her outfit. When I explained to her that only her top would be seen, she had a melt down and couldn't understand why they couldn't make an exception for her. You see, her skirt had apples on it to match the shirt she had picked. She was very upset her whole outfit wouldn't be seen. I tried to explain it was her cute face I wanted to see in the picture. I apparently lack her fashion sense. I finally compromised with her and told her she could stay home from school on Monday to have her pictures taken with the pre-k students. Aysia was very happy to get to stay home from school.

Bowling Wednesday was a traumatic experience for Aidan and Eleanor. I had an awesome first game with a score of 176. I actually got 4 strikes in a row! However, it wasn't so great for Aidan.
At one point during bowling Eleanor came over, her little face was so serious as she explained she and Aidan had just been playing in the doors. The were going in and out, opening and closing the doors, but now the door was closed and Aidan was stuck in the doors. I didn't understand what she was telling me, but she seemed so upset about it I asked her to show me where he was stuck. I thought he was in the breeze way at the far north entrance. However, when she walked me over I didn't see Aidan anywhere and she walked over to a closed locker, and said he's in here. My heart stopped. I called to Aidan trying to figure out which locker he was locked in. Ellie was right, he was stuck! I couldn't open the door either. I told him I would get the key to let him out. Another bowler stayed to talk to him while I ran to the front, hoping they had a master key. They took their time getting down to him. But when I got back to him, the lady who I left with him said, "He's stopped talking to me." I heard his little voice whisper "I'm just scared". When Carl finally found the right key and after putting on his glasses to see the key hole - my nerves were about shot. When I looked in the open door Aidan was curled up almost in a fetal position ( the only way he could fit in the locker) holding his little Halloween flashlight with both hands. At least it wasn't pitch black. I had taken Chloe and Aidan to Arctic Circle for lunch on the way to bowling. They both received flash lights with their meals. Aidan and Ellie had been climbing in and out of lockers to see the flashlight in the dark.
Tammis said she feared all last year that Eleanor would get locked in because she kept climbing in the lockers. She had told her many times not to play in the lockers. Poor Ellie got in trouble for climbing in the lockers and for shutting the door on Aidan. They had just been playing. She wasn't trying to be mean. I'm sure she had her turn inside with the light too; she just didn't get locked in. Aidan was very traumatized. He sat on my lap almost through the rest of bowling, except when it was my turn. I had a few wild frames while my heart calmed down. It took a while for the uneasy feeling to leave. We did win three of the four games. Eleanor kept saying, Aidan won't play with me. He's not my friend anymore. She was worried he was mad at her for locking him in. I told her; He's not mad, he's still your friend. He's just scared and wants to sit with his mom for a minute. When we left he was feeling better and was playing with Ellie again. She came home with us for a play date. I told her on the way home I was proud of her for coming to tell me when Aidan got stuck, and that she was the hero for helping to rescue him. I think a child who was maybe a year or two older may have been more worried about getting in trouble than helping their friend get help.


We had a ward "service auction" last night. Ward members offered services to be "auctioned" for points you could earn by answering about fifty questions when you arrived. Questions like: Did you make your bed this morning? 10 points for each year you've been married. Did you say you morning prayers. etc.
I took two pumpkins from our garden and a basket of home canned goods. It was "sold" for 1050 points. Only the quilt Carol Todd made and two tickets to Hale Center Theater went for more points. There was a lot of babysitting and lawn mowing offered. But many individual items too. Brother Overson offered to hold a family home evening on how to carve pumpkins. Welding went for a high price too. There was dinner for 6, homemade egg rolls and homemade dinner rolls. Oil changes, computer work, swamp cooler service, birthday party with cake and games, house work, snow removal and weed pulling. It was fun, even Billy said he enjoyed it.

Next week is Grandma Boam's birthday and UEA. We will have even more time for mischief! Grandma has planned quite a big party for herself. It should be fun to report on that. :)

Fire trucks and rain

Wednesday we went to the PTA silent auction and dinner at Aysia's school. We sat with Karine, Greg and Lauren and The Anderson's. It was fun for the kids. There were games, a magic show and an animal balloon artist. My kids love Lauren, and it's good to see the Romero's. Aysia won "her" bid on make-up for mom, but Aidan was bid out at the last minute on frozen cookie dough.

Aidan went to pre-k on Tuesday this week. He usually goes to Chloe's on T/TH to play, but Christy was being a good mom; she supervised a field trip for Adison's 1st grade class. Aidan and Eleanor get along really well. They always play together at bowling. Eleanor was thrilled to see Aidan in class. She could hardly contain her excitement. She insisted on sitting by him and was his shadow for 2.5 hrs. Aidan felt like the big man on campus. He was the only four year old with 5 little girls following his every move.

I enjoyed conference yesterday. Billy took the older two to Aysia's soccer game, and then on a few errands. Just Alec and I stayed home. It was nice to get to listen a little better with a few less children vying for my attention. I was able to set my computer up in the kitchen and watch conference while I put up salsa, apples and I even shredded a few gallon bags full of zucchini; some of which I made into zucchini bread. You can get a lot done while a two year old boy entertains himself with pots and pans.


The weather has changed. It has been so warm lately, now it's cold and rainy. Aysia had to wear leggings and a jacket under her soccer uniform.

Who's that hiding from the rain under there?

Oh...It's Aidan!

On Thursday while Aidan was playing with Chloe I took Alec to get his stitches out. The Taylorsville Recreation Center is on the way to Kid Care, so I decided to stop and see about renting the party room for my Pre-k Halloween party. I can't use the Assembly Hall since it's been sold and is now an Islamic Center. While I was filling out paperwork at the front desk, Alec walked over by the front doors. I was keeping one eye on him and one on the paperwork when I noticed he was reaching up and flipping open the cover to a fire alarm. I ran to him and grabbed him just as he pulled the alarm. Well, curiosity didn't kill the cat, but the loud alarms and a mom grabbing him up as they began did scare him about half to death. So there I am, being told this isn't the first time this has happened and you'll have to pay a fine for the false alarm.

-I ask you...WHO PUTS AN ALARM IN THE REACH OF A TWO YEAR OLD???? The sad part of this is, NO ONE took the alarm seriously! NO ONE tried to leave the building. The fire department is just across the street, I expected to see them within a minute. When the manager turned the bells and whistle off, I asked can't you call them and tell them it was an accident? The receptionist called the number in her book, it was WRONG! Don't we feel safe now? She tried another number and was given yet a third number to try. Finally I said look there in your book, try the police dispatch number, they can probably help. She was told Taylorsville Fire was already out on a call, that's why we hadn't seen anyone yet. They had called West Valley Fire to come out. We explained the situation, and about 1 minute later we saw the fire engine drive by - but not stop! Guess Alec just wanted to see a Fire truck up close!


While getting his stitches out he was again praised for being an Angel. He held almost as still as when they put them in!

I'm looking forward to hearing conference today and going over to Karine's after. We don't get together much with Gramee and Poppi on a mission so far away. Aysia asked me yesterday if Gramee and Poppi would be home for her 8th birthday. They will be home six months before that! I'm grateful for the blessing of their service, but I'm excited for them to come home. I'll just have to step it up when they get home to continue to receive the extra blessings.