Happy Anniversary to me

I was baptized 25 years ago today! It's ironic that my nickname on my mission translated into "Sister Ghost."

Scroll down...

...to see the Halloween pictures. I truly lost count on the tries it took to get Rebekah's picture to load. I'm guessing around 20. Please look at her picture extra long (it's so cute anyway) to really make it worth it!

I think I have a new cavity tonight!

Patience is a virtue

I have been trying to post some pictures today, but Blogger seems to be feeling a little down. You'll get that post, complete with costumes and pumpkin carving when I can load my pictures. Until then, you'll have to be patient!

An interesting package came in the mail today; we got two cans of Enfamil formula. It was addressed to Chad. Ironically, Chad's taste buds have really matured in the past couple of years and he really doesn't care for formula anymore! We're not really sure how we got on that mailing list. I haven't been in an OB's office in over a year. Rebekah has been drinking cow's milk for two months now.

I went visiting teaching this morning. I have a quiet companion. I worry that part of the reason she's quiet is because I talk so much. She was my visiting teacher before we were paired, so I don't think I'm entirely to blame - based on what I observed. We visit a woman who has been to church about 4 times since I started visiting her two years ago. I like to visit her and get to know her, but she can be very negative about many things. I always hope that I can say just the right stuff. I don't think I'm going to be the glorious reason she comes back to church. I just hope I don't say anything that gives her more reason not to! It's like walking a tight rope! Our other two women are next door neighbors and very active. With them, I hope to at least add to the conversation and spirit of the visit.

My visiting teachers are MIA. They are the kind that suddenly care so much about you about 5 minutes after they find out you're on their route. The last time they came (in August), they husband-bashed (mildly) while I just sat and listened. I didn't really have that much to contribute - Chad is hard to complain about! (I'm not just saying that because he reads this.)

Our home teachers are even worse. They don't pretend to suddenly care. It's hard to know if they even recognize us on Sundays. To be fair, one of them is at least realistic and friendly when he comes. He just doesn't come very often.

I had the best visiting teacher in college. She would leave notes and treats on days that I had a big test or project. I knew she cared. Honestly, I don't remember much about the home teachers I had. I was just focused on the fact that there were guys sitting in our living room! :)


When Leah takes an afternoon nap, she sleeps in one of the boys' beds, declining an opportunity to share a room with Rebekah. Last week, as she was getting ready to take her nap, she said to me, "Little girls sleep in the girls' room and big girls sleep in the boys' room." OH! I had a mild seizure as I worried about our future! I'm hoping she doesn't adopt this philosophy later in her youth!

Happy Halloween! (Finally!)

We went trick-or-treating at "Boo at the Zoo" on Saturday. The kids were SO excited to finally put on their costumes! Here is the final result. Daniel was a mummy. I have already had to fix this costume. I didn't tack the strips down well enough.
Nathan was a bumble bee.



















Leah and Rebekah were clowns.
Everyone got some paint on their faces. They had fun and are looking forward to the trunk-or-treat at church tomorrow night. Ironically, I just threw away the last nasty candy from Halloween 2005. It sits in a little bowl in the cupboard and gets forgotten. Well, the bowl is back and filling up again.

We carved the jack-o-lantern tonight. Chad let the kids draw everything on before he carved on their lines. We should have picked a smaller pumpkin! That made me start to wonder how tiny a face a jack-o-lantern has ever had. This was the smallest for us!



This picture was taken in the dark as the kids reacted to the lit jack-o-lantern. While they did really like the effect, please know that there is some serious acting going on in this picture!



(31 October 2006)

We went to the church for chili and a trunk or treat. It was very cold! Leah only lasted a few trunks before Chad was carrying her. When we got home, I took the boys around the neighborhood to some houses while the girls stayed home to greet candy beggars.

I'm so glad it's all over! Now I don't have to think about Halloween costumes for at least another 10 months! It will take us that long to eat all the candy we got (talk about beggars!).

Happy Fall Y'all!

We went to get our pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns last week for FHE. They had slim pickins as we were shopping on the last day of business. We still got some cute pictures and some decent pumpkins. The boys enjoyed a maze formed from straw bales and riding in the (very dirty) carts over the bumpy pumpkin patch. There is video of each, so you can experience the thrill yourselves. Don't miss the ADORABLE picture of Rebekah in the pumpkins. (She has tiny pigtails. Only one is visible in the picture, but it looks like a horn.) I know I'm biased, but I think you'll agree with me on this one.

What will come first?

Tuesday night, Chad was having a conversation with the boys. Someone asked when it would snow. Chad responded that it probably wouldn't snow before Halloween. One boy said they wanted it to snow, the other said they wanted it to be winter. I replied that one of them was likely to get their wish come true before the other (hello, this IS Idaho!). Well, this is what we woke up to in the morning.



Do you see that? Chad was wrong and I was right! Of course, my comment was hardly a prediction and Chad was only a week from Halloween without having even come close to snow. Nathan and Leah had fun that afternoon "making tracks" in the backyard. Nathan was quite proud of their work. Leah just decided that she was cold and came inside. Practicality can be a blessing.

I'm So Pretty

Daniel and Nathan loaded Leah's hair with barrettes after baths on Saturday. I find it amazing that she'll hold still for 20 barrettes, but fights me for one! It was after dark though, so the lighting is bad.

We're nearly there with the Halloween pictures. Daniel's mummy costume is nearing completion!

Great Local Restaurant

We treated the kids to a "down home" restaurant tonight. The food was good, not too expensive and the kids loved the coloring activities on the menu. There was some background music, too. I didn't appreciate it after a while though, because the kids got up on their chairs to dance to it. I think it was the "creak, creak, creak, creak" of the ox cart that finally got them moving. The other pioneer songs were good. The children in one song sure did a lot of walking! There were some yummy desserts, which we weren't too full for since they didn't pile on the food. (I hate when you pay for 5 meals when 2 would feed the entire family.) There is a bathhouse nearby which we headed for after dessert was served. I'm not sure about the hum of a washer and dryer in the background. Someone needs to be more sensitive to the atmosphere of the dinner! Unfortunately, we did have to wash dishes afterwards. Just for that, the cooks didn't get a tip!

Huh?

Oh yeah...we ate at home. But I made up a menu for the kids since they had been asking to eat at a restaurant. There were two choices each for things from Appetizers to Desserts and there were coloring activites and a maze for their enjoyment while Chad and I made their orders in the kitchen. One amazing result: they each chose broccoli for their side and we got through the entire dinner without a complaint about any of the food!

And after dinner, it was time for Saturday night baths. We're still reeling from the flooding of that!

It's the Primary Program tomorrow. I'll be glad when that is all over. I have enjoyed not having to prepare or present a lesson. (Call me Lazy. I can take it.)

This is my 100th Post!

It took me just over a year to get here. Has it been a year already? Rebekah was nearly 6 weeks when I started and now she's walking! Daniel is reading simple sentences and Nathan is close behind him. Leah has decided that she's royalty and constantly flaunts her status. Oh wait, that hasn't changed in the past year. Chad is still working down the hall (although I suspect he's really napping under his desk)! I am still unorganized and behind on my mental "To Do" list. I wonder where we'll all be when I hit my 200th post. I'm sure it won't take another year to get there. We are all just too full of unbelievable adventures to keep me quiet for too long!

Nathan's ? Homework

Daniel has reading homework every day. He's not thrilled about it, but he's not too bad when he tries. Today, Daniel was dragging his feet about it all so I gave Nathan a try on it. Here is what the page looks like:

pit pat pot spot

mom dad not nod

hops pops stop top

Here is a spot to spin your top.

Mom said, "This pot is not too hot."

Where is the man with the mop?

Dad can spin a top.

Pam and Sam pat Spot.

Nathan read the bold. I think he could have read the last sentence if I asked him to. He will be 5 in February. Now I really want some honest opinions here. Am I biased or is this normal? Remember, he didn't even start talking until after his 3rd birthday.

He and Leah wear me out with their desire to do worksheets. I like this drive to learn, but I could use a break! Should we start applying to medical schools now? When does the government start taking requests for financial aid? Anyone want to make a doctor's appointment for the year 2030?

Little Beggars

My kids hate to eat dinner. If we call it dinner, they don't want it. On the other hand, they sustain life on crackers, fruit snacks, granola bars and cookies. I even resort to dried cereal because they think it's snack-like. But with as many snacks as they can consume (it would be all day long if their lives were perfect), I don't waste my money on baggies or my energy on snack bowls.

I taught them long ago to hold out their shirt bottoms so I can pour the snacks right in. The added benefit is that they are using both hands to hold their own snacks and therefore not trying to steal another's stash (Daniel comes to mind about now).

So when they see a box of crackers or cereal, they approach me with their shirt bottoms held out. I think of Oliver in the orphanage asking, "Please, sir. May I have some more?" This is bound to happen in front of a stranger one day. I wonder just how embarrassing that will be.

Now don't think I am constantly feeding them snacks. I am a very mean mother and limit snacks to twice a day (usually) - despite the constant pleas of, "I'm hungry!" beginning each morning, less than 30 mintues after they've abandoned a half eaten bowl of cereal.

Not always rosey

Sometimes I wish I lived closer to family. Some of my family is easier to spend long amounts of time with than others, but I think most people have that experience. I miss being able to visit for an hour or so without making a big trip out of it. And usually when I do visit, something always has to be "done." I usually spend the short amount of time I'm there going from one errand to the other. I would like to sit and visit and just be there.

I would also like to have someone ask me how I am and then listen. I'm not looking for a poor-me contest to see who has it worse or better. I don't need anyone giving me advice. This is tricky actually because if the advice comes after really listening and caring, it's ok. But not if it's just because the person is "smarter" than I am. Can't you just tell when someone feels it? Conversely, it's great when someone can really appreciate your good times and say so instead of feeling jealous and trying to share something about themselves to "keep up."

Here, in a small town, hours away from any family, I feel isolated. A phone call usually needs to accomplish something. If I do chat with someone (friends or family) on the phone, it's usually because I called. A visit to our home is often on the way to or from somewhere else. And there doesn't seem to be much sitting and visiting. I often hear, "When are you going to be back in town?" I can understand that because we're only one and we reach more people when we travel, but it would really feel good that someone wanted to just come and visit US (and spend some time and gas of their own).

On Sunday afternoons, I particularly feel the isolation. It's such a perfect time for visiting!

I have a few friends in the area, but somehow each situation has something that just doesn't allow for frequent visiting and getting close. (One friend has the same number of kids, about the same ages, but her husband is usually working.) I would really love to have someone that I wouldn't mind seeing when my house is a mess and can sit comfortably to visit until they're thirsty and they get up to get themselves a drink.

Being in Primary has taken me out of the little socialization that I usually got on Sundays. I don't mind the primary, I just miss women! Why do mothers with young children CONSTANTLY get put into the primary? Who is that really helping? Where are the older couples that like to dote on kids? And why do the women in Primary just sit there and stare ahead? Don't they want to interact with the other teachers? Do we feel so separated? Of course, most of the women around here have some family very nearby. They probably have plans to go visiting at least weekly.

These kind of connections with other women are what make the cranky kids, eternally messy homes, $0 bank accounts and general feelings of failure bearable.

And she's off!

Rebekah has finally decided to trust her legs to hold her and her brain to keep her upright. She took off this week and really enjoys walking across the floor. About the same time, she realized that she can stand up without grabbing anything first. She was dancing on the Wiggles dance mat and giggling at her new freedom. She reminded so much of Leah doing that same thing. Whenever she gets up Leah says, "Look at my sister! She is walking!"

If my camera had some charged batteries, you'd be enjoying the show, too. I'll have to get them soon!

A change of subject:
Daniel got to show off the rabbits during Show and Tell today. Nathan and I brought them in. He was quite the man of the hour! The rabbits were very glad to get out from under 20 little hands!

Halloween is coming. I'm only making one costume this year. All the rest are coming from the costume box. Daniel is going to be a mummy. That word is confusing him and he keeps saying mimmy (he knows it's NOT mommy)! It's fun to make costumes, but I always imagine it better than it turns out. Stay tuned for pictures!

Here's one to tide you over until the end of the month. This is Chad and Daniel with some of Chad's co-workers in 2000. The green guy is Chad's business partner now. It must be a pretty strong bond that was formed this long-ago day!

Uggg! Is this just the beginning?

Daniel came home from school today and went straight for the cupboard with the baggies. He had two "insects" in his backpack that he wanted to put in baggies. He told me he had a butterfly and a grasshopper. I didn't think that could be good.

He emptied out his backpack and then couldn't find his treasures. It turns out the grasshopper was along the side, with a leg caught in the zipper and the butterfly, a.k.a. moth, was near death in the fold of the bottom seam.

He tugged hard enough on the grasshopper to free him from the shackles and held him in one fist while he struggled to open the "ziplock" on the baggie. YUCK. We had to dump the moth into the other baggie...most of his wings were gone by now.

As he organized and admired his new property, I thought to myself, "What's next?" Boys can be very gross and I have a feeling I'm in for an interesting ride.

Incidentally, he freed the moth (better to be eaten by a bird and end its suffering), but kept the grasshopper. It's currently in the baggie on the bathroom floor...clearly treasured.

Some Random Tidbits

Leah's tummy is called "Pig and Chicken." And that's straight from the horse's mouth!

While we were shopping on Saturday, Daniel saw a kid from Kindergarten who used to call him Shorty. We talked about how the outside of us is not nearly as important as the inside and he's pretty humongous on the inside!

I am undertaking a new challenge....machine quilting a large quilt. It looks awesome in my mind. I haven't actually started the machine yet.

The kitten thinks I am a tree. I'm sure I have track marks up and down my back.

Today Daniel had to wear a hat to the bus stop (yes, it has come to that...brrr!). He didn't want to wear his hat because some kids made fun of him (it hangs down to a point in the back). I reasoned that it was better to be warm than to worry about the teasing, but that I would make him a new hat today if he wore the funny one. He agreed and then upon seeing the hat exclaimed that he liked that hat! I said I thought the kids make fun of him. He suddenly didn't care. I made a new hat this morning. Now he can choose depending on his self-esteem level each morning.

I lost 10 lbs., found 4 during the Philly trip and just recently lost them again. Net loss: 10 lbs! Some things are better lost!

Yesterday the family room floor was cleaned up enough to run the vacuum. I should have done it while the chance was there!

A new fuel pump costs $825 (parts and labor).

I have found a new series of novels that I'm really enjoying. Check out Dee Henderson's O'Malley Family Series. No bad language, Christian based without making you nauseous and a nice mixture of romance mixed with mystery! And the shocker? You don't have to look in the Juvenile section of the library to find it!

Another book I just read (for the Enrichment Book Club), is "Love Comes Softly" by Janette Oke. It's a sweet story of unexpected love in a pioneer setting. There are 8 in this series. I will be making a few trips to the library!

All four of my kids (usually hard of hearing) come running (well, Rebekah crawls really fast) when they hear the food storage room door open. "Snacks" is a major food group in this house.

We have put out the Halloween decorations. Nathan and Leah are so confused and keep wondering when we're going Trick-or-Treating. They have a hard time distinguishing between the SEASON and the DAY. I can see where the old tradition of putting up the Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve could be very valuable. I'm going 'batty' with all the questions!

When I turn on the TV in the afternoon, Nathan says (somewhat dejectedly), "It's Dr. Phil." And when Daniel reads his flash card that says "fill" he usually follows up with "Dr. Phil!" I don't think Dr. Phil would consider me a great fan. I really only watch once or twice a week, often times I don't watch at all! I think my kids are just trying to get me to surrender the TV to them!

Leah has started crawling into bed with us in the mornings. I kind of like it because she snuggles right up and keeps my back warm. The kitten likes to have someone to attack!

I had to get up 4 or 5 times while I typed this.

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

It's someone's birthday (10 Oct)! Happy 55th Birthday, Grandma! You don't look a day over 49! *wink*

September and October Quilt Blocks

Here are the quilt blocks for the past two months. I've had the flowers done for awhile, but didn't get around to taking pictures of them until today. The October blocks are very recent. I did one of them just today!

September (Beginner and Advanced are both called Grandma's Flower Garden)

B:


These flowers were all sewn together by hand and then sewn onto the background. Some people make a whole quilt out of these flowers without the background. That is a lot of little pieces. I think there is a way to do them on the machine, but I didn't take the initiative to figure it out.

A:












October

B: Martha Washington Star



I purposely cut the stripes to be sewn all in the same direction. It still looks a little busy, but I have to believe that it would have been worse!



A: Coronation












This little block right here is called Card Trick. It's not for the quilt group. It's a personal project, just like this recent quilt (that I've already posted). I seem to need to have some kind of project in production. It sure feels good to see a finished product!

Philadelphia, PA - a photo journey

Chad had a chance to attend a steel seminar in Philadelphia this past week and I was lucky enough to go with him. We were even luckier to have my mom watch the kids for us during the 3 nights we were gone. It was almost surreal to be without kids that long. Of course, I only lasted one night before I was dreaming about them!

So while Chad was trying to find his way to his seminar, I was wandering around some hot spots of our country's beginnings. I saw some beautiful architecture and took a tour of Independence Hall. This is where the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution were all signed. Pretty neat, huh? That chair up front is the ACTUAL chair that George Washington used when he presided over the creation of the Constitution. I don't get really excited about the government and all, but this was cool.

Of course, the Liberty Bell was there, too. It doesn't ring anymore, but whatever bell they've got in the tower now is LOUD!

This video is of a blown glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly named, "Flame of Liberty" in the National Liberty Museum. I am a fan of Chihuly's art and really enjoyed this piece. There is a mirror at the bottom of the "flame" that makes it seem to go on forever - a hope for the future of peace and liberty.



Some other things I enjoyed in the museum were this glass chess set (Jewish vs. Catholic, I think) and this quilt (neither by Chihuly).






This neighborhood is known as Society Hill. It was near our hotel. I thought the old buildings were beautiful. It was strange to think of how old they are and that people are living in them. The neighborhood stunk though. (Maybe they have a drainage problem. It had been raining heavily.)

When Daniel heard we were going somewhere he said he wished he could see what it looked like. I promised him we would take pictures and he specifically requested some statues. Lucky for him, Philadelphia is full of statues. Here are two.











We drove highway 611 and saw some beautiful scenery and very old houses. I loved it! We got to visit my old high school friend and visit a bit.

All in all, it was a nice get-a-way, just in time for my birthday. I'm sure it's the LAST time I will pay over $7 for a bagel and milk!

Amish Diamond

I just finished this mini quilt (it's about 3' x 3') for a friend's new baby. I found the pattern on an awesome quilt site. I used remnants and scraps for the top and on-sale flannel for the back. The true value lies in the sentiment. Otherwise, it's a bargain project! :)

I wanted to give them a nice gift because I've known them since we first moved to Las Vegas. We were both trying to get pregnant at the same time. It came a little easier for us than it did for them.

They did adopt a very cute little boy and then they got the surprise of their life which resulted in a second son about a month ago. Doesn't Heavenly Father work in funny ways? And they named him Daniel. I hope that they know what that name does to little boys!!

Plenty of fish in the sea...one less in the pond.

There is a kids' fishing pond on the county line. Apparently, the power company has tagged a few of them as a contest for the kids. Does this get the kids excited about fishing? Possibly, but you should see what it does to the dads! Chad and his partner were talking about it this evening and decided that they were taking their kids fishing. It's important to bring the kids because you have to be 14 or under to fish (I don't know if anyone ever patrols the pond to check).

So we got there this evening and set up shop. While I was holding the pole during Leah's turn, LEAH caught a fish. (Because LEAH is under 14 years old.) This is impressive because Chad has taken the kids fishing here before and never caught anything. The girls caught one! he he Rebekah was helping...she was trying to find the tastiest worms in the cup. At least I know the dirt wasn't too deadly since it came from our backyard.

Now there is a fish (it's a rainbow, I think) sitting in a grocery bag on the kitchen counter upstairs. I don't like fish. I hope Chad cooks it outside on the BBQ!

But I do enjoy fishing. We'll have to take the kids back soon.