Happy Halloween

Kitten, Sorceress, Batman and lots of candy.

Yes, the cat is still here.         Iron man boots complete the outfit.

New white bands on Emily's braces. 

We had a good and busy week.  The kids had an ortho appointment.  The night before we tried to pull out Tara's tooth that was loose.  She wanted to try shooting it with the Nerf shooter...I tied around dental floss and shot the thing....and the floss broke.  It was stuck around the root of the tooth but, she wouldn't let me pull it out.  So, when we went to the appointment, the orthodontist took it out before she could even blink.  It was barely hanging in there.  Jacob's teeth have moved so quickly he will "be out of braces soon."  Don't know the date...but, that is good news.
We had red ribbon week at school.  Jacob got a free chick-fil-a meal from school for his good behavior.  As a side note, we celebrated that he has had 3 weeks of no "signing in the book" at school.  For those of  you unaware, signing the book = bad.  Emily was chosen to go to a 3rd grade party of kids who were chosen for good behavior and grades. 
Tara treated us to dinner at Texas Roadhouse with a gift certificate she got from her teacher.  She received it after the unmentionable unfortunate event at the Raptor visit at school a couple of weeks ago.  Tara will never look at a red-tailed hawk the same way again! 
We spent almost every day after school at the park because the weather has just been beautiful.  We took photos in front of the school to remember the vivid orange trees. 
There was trunk-or-treating Weds. night and then we watched "nightmare before christmas" projected on the side of a friend's house last night.  There has been a lot of candy consumption and not a lot of sleep so, we will see how this next week turns out.  Happy Fall Y'all!

kids school pix

Talent show

Tara participated in the ward talent show this past Weds. ....she sang "Fireflies" by Owl city with a few other girls.

a few more kittens

We had dress up day at school this past Friday.....Emily and Anna were kittens for a day. 

sweet cookies

I came home and Gene had found the letter sugar cookies ....and left this message.

How very sweet!

End of cross country

The girl's coach made

these photo sheets for them at the party this week.

See how they worked so hard.

fall break

It was a short week...Thurs. and Friday we had no school.  But, I blinked and now they are gone.  I must admit, my blinks were a couple hours in length at a time. We (well, the kids) raked the leaves and put the cat in the pile over and over again. No need for a mulcher!  We went through some closets to get out some warmer clothes  and donate other smaller clothes to the clothing drive.

                                            Beware of the bat-raker....he's armed and dangerous.

                                               Nothing cuter to Emily than a black kitten......

 Thanks to our friends who stood in line and got Jacob a Lowe's kit for a funhouse mirror on Saturday

He put it together all by himself...well, almost.

We bought halloween costumes (we grit our teeth, closed our eyes and ran to the back of the store past all things gooey and scary) and some of us have been in them ever since.  I'm sure Lydia would agree that there is nothing like new dress-up clothes.  This year should be a little bit of a downer since most halloween candy is not compatable with braces.  We'll have to find some other lucky little monsters to donate our candy to.   Thanks to uncle Bennett....we've all learned the MONSTER MASH on the wii "JUST DANCE" new game.

A long few days

Aunt Cherie and Emily

Gene's mother has been sick for awhile.  She's been to the hospital a few times over the past month and into a care facility.  We thought she was getting better....but, after her last son David came in town to visit on Tuesday (all the other boys have been in town the past month)....she passed away on Wednesday.  I'ts been a long week, but such a great reunion of family and friends. 

top left to right: Gene, Justin, Chris, Adam, David, Brooke,Tina, Kari, Connor, Tara, Maddie
bottom left:  Erica (Chris' girlfriend), Tina, Tracy, (Richard's girls) Jacob and Emily (after luncheon at the stake center)

Bob, Justin, Adam, Kari and Cheryl

                   Darryl, Maddie, Grant, Cherie, Brett (not pictured are Ashley, Bradley and Chase)

                                                     David, Tina, Connor and Brooke

The viewing was really nice at the Highland Memorial West funeral home.  It was so great to see so many people.  The kids lasted the whole time and were really patient.....and LOVED spending time with their cousins.  Jacob drew a sweet note of him crying  next to grandma's open coffin.  He put it in the drawer in the casket.  Emily and Tara put in a ring.  They loved all the flowers and were a little sad, but no tears. 
They've taken it all really well....I thought at first it was because they didn't understand what was going on.  But, as time went on throughout the funeral, I realized it was because they DO understand exactly what happens to a person when they die.....and that grandma truly is in a better place, and no longer in pain.  What a great blessing for them at such a young age to not have that unknown....and truly believe what we tell them is true about a loving Heavenly Father. 

                                             Late dinner at Fudruckers

                               Girl cousins:  Tara, Brooke, Kari, Maddie and Emily

 Playing wii  JUST DANCE...the perfect way to put a smile on everyone's face...and boogie

 The girls convinced Chris to try it...what a good sport to dance to Britney Spears.

 For family home evening on Monday Gene played "Amazing Grace" and "Scotland the Brave" for his mom

Gene and Emily (fhe)

                                                 Tara with her big brother Christopher

                                                          Brooke and Connor

Jacob giving uncle David a hug

After the viewing, we all changed clothes and went to dinner at Fudruckers (I think they were about to close the place, but kept it open for us to all eat).  The next morning we met at 10, funeral at 11am then drove to the gravesite for the dedication of the grave at 1.  Then a luncheon was provided by our wards.  It was a fabulous meal and so kind of all those sisters who donated time and food.  It was a group of 35+ of us all together.  I appreciate the fact that I didn't have to feed everyone myself.  Everyone joined us at our house about 4pm and stayed playing wii "just dance" (which is a super fun dance game) and wii "wipeout", and "oh heck" card game.....until.......about midnight.  It was so  much fun.  We attended sacrament meeting on Sunday and then everyone was over again until about 7pm.  Surrounded by family was the best way to spend the last few days.

We found a new motivation for finishing the race.....an icee at the end.


Jacob set up this shot and came running in and said, "Mom, take a picture for your blog so people know sometimes I'm happy."


Jacob found his (grandpa's) bow tie and wanted to show you.
You can see we decorated for fall.

The girls had a fantastic run on Tuesday. I, however, had a fantastic cold hit and I barely made it home from the park....dizzy, chills, headache and sneezing. Not sure where it came from, but it lasted the week and I had to cancel so many plans for helping in the library and Jacob's class, I didn't get all my paperwork done for Reflections, forgot completely to pay the bills and missed book club....ugh! I had really forgotten what it was like to be really sick. It's been so long. We truly are blessed with good health and I often forget to realize that it is a blessing.
We have had beautiful weather and the kids have been outside every day on the swing, rolling in the grass, blowing bubbles ( I thought they'd be to old to enjoy that still...guess it helps when the cat chases the bubbles) and running!
Emily was so funny after the cross country meet this week she said, "it's like it's a war...a war with me and running....and right now the running is winning....but one day I am going to conquer!"