Halloween '09

As always, the kids had tons of fun this Halloween. Our holiday lasted all month, which made this post quite long.


During their track out time at the beginning of the month, I let them decorate the house. We also went to the Dollar Store so they could each choose one new decoration. Then we made this really cute craft.

Our spoon creatures
Travis hard at work
Dylan, after stripping off his costume so no paint would get on it.
Courtney was a pro

We had a fun ward Fall Festival at the church. The kids got to dress up in their costumes, we had a yummy chili cook-off, (mine never wins!) and a trunk-or-treat in the halls of the church. The exciting moment of the evening came when the youth's spook alley set off the fire alarm because of their fog machine. The alarm system automatically notifies the fire department, so before long, the big truck came. All the kids thought it was great, the leaders not so much.
I didn't get any pictures of this night, so on to the next.

On Friday the 30th, the Kindergarten and 1st grade classes had a book character parade. The schools don't allow kids to come in their Halloween costumes, but they got around that rule by incorporating reading into dressing up. The kids were supposed to bring a book and dress up as a character. Of course, most of the costumes were just their Halloween costumes, and some kids didn't even bother with the book. But it was still a fun event. We had a fireman costume from a previous year, so I found some firemen books at the library and let Dylan choose one to use. Courtney's class also dressed up. They had been doing some fun dress up things all week to celebrate Red Ribbon Week, (pajama day, wild hair day, crazy sock day, wear red day.) Because their Kindergarten reading buddies were dressing up, her class also got to dress up as a book character. Again, I just found an old costume, which happened to be a Little Red Riding Hood cape she had worn when she was about 4.

A quick picture before school
Walking the halls during the parade
Mrs. Spina, Dylan's teacher, had a great costume
Dylan's Kindergarten class
Courtney's 5th Grade class

And finally, Halloween day. I told the kids I wouldn't buy costumes this year because we had plenty of things they could wear. Courtney chose to go as a ninja again, just like last year. Dylan decided to save his own money to buy a power ranger costume. His favorite guy is Green Ranger. It was going to cost $40 from online. After saving and saving, he only had about $18, and not much time left. We found Red Ranger at Walmart for $20, so he chose that one instead. Travis used his ninja costume last year at our Ward Fall Festival. Courtney wanted him to go as a cowboy and got the outfit all ready. Each day, if you asked Travis, he would have a new answer as to which he would dress up as. But Halloween day he decided on the cowboy outfit.

Travis the cowboy
Dylan, aka Red Ranger
Courtney the ninja
Showing me their best poses
Displaying their artwork
Handing out candy to the last of the trick-or-treaters

Courtney turns 11!

My little girl has only one more year of elementary school, one more year of Primary. How is she growing up so quickly? She's turning into a beautiful, kind, loving girl. I feel very blessed every day to see what a great person she is, to be taught and loved by her, to share in her learning and growing. I always pray that others will see her the way I do and see what a wonderful daughter of God she is.

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Here are some pictures from our family party for her.

She has a new love of Babel cheese, because she loves to play with the wax afterwards. (Although she will tell you its only because she likes the cheese.) Since Mom is too frugal to actually buy some, so Travis got it for her as a present. Now she can go a few days without mooching the neighbor's cheese.

Mom and Dad finally broke down and bought her the Harry Potter movies. She's only read the books about a dozen times each.

Showing off her loot.

Her pokeball cake.

This is what I found in the kitchen while letting her cake cool. I also found a 3 year old with chocolate cake covering his face. He thought it was hilarious. I didn't.

Camping at Hanging Rock

We had a great camping trip last weekend. We stayed 2 nights in Hanging Rock State Park. After getting lost on the way, (and me complaining for the millionth time about not have a GPS,) we finally made it and set up camp. We roasted hot dogs that first night and then went on a short hike down to the lake. We ended the first day with s'mores. It was a beautiful area and perfect fall weather. We had a heater in the camper, although we couldn't get it to work. Thankfully I had packed tons of blankets so we stayed pretty warm at night.

Our first big hike the next day was to Hanging Rock, a beautiful area that looks out over the Piedmont Valley. It was only a 1 mile hike, so we thought it would be no problem. Well, we didn't know it was uphill most of the way, pretty steep for some of it. But the kids did awesome and made it without complaining. We had a lunch up on the rocks, played a little, then hiked down, ready for a nap (at least Bruce and I were.) Travis made it almost the whole way. About 1/4 mile from the parking lot he decided he just couldn't go any farther, so Bruce carried him the rest of the way.




Later that day and the next day we hiked some shorter, easier trails that led to waterfalls. The kids loved climbing all the rocks and exploring the area. We love this park and can't wait to camp there again.









I love these photos.
Courtney wanted me to take her picture on this rock.

Then, Dylan decided he wanted to copy Courtney and climbed up so I could take his picture.

Then, Travis couldn't be left out, so he climbed up and copied Dylan's pose with a hand on his hip. It was so funny and cute.

2 Milestones

Courtney and Dylan both had some big events recently.


Dylan lost his first 2 teeth within about 2 weeks of each other. The first came out and was lost while in the shower. We aren't sure if it dropped down the drain or if he swallowed it. Luckily, the tooth fairy visited him anyways. The second one he managed to pull out and hang on to. He was so proud to put that one under his pillow.


Courtney came home from school a few weeks ago with a note explaining that she failed the eye screening. We've never noticed any problems with her vision. Her grades are good, she doesn't complain of things being blurred, no headaches, nothing unusual. I took her to the eye doctor and it turns out she is practically blind in her left eye, while her right eye is perfect. He prescribed glasses, which she was pretty upset about. But during the next week while we were waiting for her glasses to be made, she had a change of heart. I pointed out all of the kids in her class, including her teacher that wears them. We explained that she only needs to wear them for school work and reading. And we talked to her about how important it is to have healthy eyes. I don't know what did it, but by the time her glasses were ready, she was actually excited to get them. She takes great care of them, cleaning them and putting them in a safe place. She showed them off to her friends. And she is so beautiful with them.

Great Quotes

These are some of my favorite quotes from the LDS Relief Society Broadcast last night. I can't promise that they are the exact words, but I tried to get them down as accurate as I could. As usual, it was wonderful and inspiring and uplifting.

Julie B Beck (Relief Society General President)

• "Visiting teaching is more a way of life than a task."

• "Never supress a generous thought." (quoting Sister Kimball)

• (This is not an exact quote, I couldn't get it down fast enough to get her exact words.)"Women should be worthy of and magnify their membership in Relief Society just as a man does his priesthood."

Silvia H Allred (1st Counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency)

• "True heroines are women who value being righteous above all else."

• "Teach women with love what Relief Society will do for them."

Barbara Thompson (2nd Counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency)

• "Mind the Gap"

• "Nothing can separate us from the love of God."

• "Recognize the Lord's approval in your life."

President Henry B Eyring (1st Counselor in the First Presidency)

• "Charity is born of faith in Jesus Christ."

• "Through charity we can do uncommon things for others even when the unmet needs of self are great."
  

Lessons in the Kitchen

I left Courtney home a few days ago while I went to the grocery store with the boys. Bruce was home for a few minutes and then left for a meeting. She called me on the phone, here's our conversation:

Courtney: "Mom, can I make popcorn using the air popper?"

Mom: "Let me think for a second." (Trying to decide if this is a dangerous appliance.) "I guess it's okay. Do you know how to put the butter on?"

Courtney: (exasperated) "Yes, Mom!"

Mom: "Okay, tell me how."

Courtney: "I just cut up a few pieces and put it on the popcorn and stir it up."

Mom: "Well, the popcorn won't be hot enough to melt the butter by itself, so you actually need to melt it in the microwave."

Courtney: "oh"

Mom: "Put a few tablespoons in a bowl, melt it for about 15 seconds. If its not melted, try again for 5 seconds at a time. Then pour it over the popcorn and stir it up."

Courtney: "Okay Mom. Thanks. Bye."

{About 30 minutes later, as I walk in the door, Courtney has just finished making her popcorn and is fixing some hot cocoa to go along with it. I peek into her bowl.)

Mom: (pausing and thinking for a moment) "Um, Courtney, how much butter did you use?" (As I stare at a bowl of very glossy popcorn.)

Courtney: "Well, it was kind of bland after one stick so I added another."

Mom: (mouth hanging open, speechless, then laughing hysterically.)


I let her eat just a small amount, but told her she wasn't allowed to give herself a heart attack just because she loves butter.

Life's little lessons.

Horse Show '09

Courtney had her first horse show today. It took place at EE Stables where she trains, and today's event was for all of their beginning riders. She was AWESOME. She's been working hard to get ready for the show and it payed off. She did great and had a lot of fun. Here are pictures from her 5 events.

Trail Skills
They created an obstacle course for the riders to navigate. This course was new for everyone. The riders had received a paper a few weeks ago with the course drawn out, and had to memorize it, but could not actually do the course with a horse until the competition. She did great remembering everything. It included turning around 2 barrels, trotting over a jump, weaving through cones, stopping the horse for 3 seconds, grabbing a potato and dropping it in a barrel, turning the horse 360 degrees, dropping stirrups and picking them up again, and trotting to the finish line. She got 2nd place in this event!


Cone Weaving
This event is just as it says. They had to weave through a set of 6 cones 2 times. It isn't timed, just supposed to demonstrate their skill. They are allowed to walk or trot. She did good. The first time she tried trotting and missed a cone. The second time she slowed down and got through them great. Her horse loped a little at the end which isn't allowed. She didn't place but got a participation ribbon.

Flag Exchange
In this timed event, they hold a baton at the starting line, have to get to a bucket by walking or trotting, walk around the outside of it while exchanging their baton with one in the bucket, and get back to the starting line. If they go around the front of the bucket or drop the baton, they are disqualified. She was super. She completed it in 25 seconds, coming in 1st place!!! (She was worried about not be able to beat the first rider who got 1 minute 30 seconds.) I put the video of this event since it was her best.



Jumping
They teach the kids to jump over a small obstacle. They don't ever get much higher, unlike English style. It's supposed to simulate a fallen tree or a ditch in the trail. She loves jumping. They had to go over the jump 2 times at a walk or trot. Her horse loped during the second jump, so she didn't place, but again got a participation ribbon.

Cloverleaf
This event is like barrel racing, but it's not timed. They are just testing the riders skill at controlling the horse. If they go around the barrels the wrong way they get disqualified. Because Courtney had problems with her horse loping some of the other events, she decided to play it safe and walk. She did really good and got 2nd place.


This show was great because it comes almost exactly 1 year since she started lessons. It was a great showcase of how much she has learned and how far she has come. I don't think we'll ever get her away from these horses now.

Courtney & Ben
who she rode for 3 events. He is one of her favorites at the barn.

A group shot of all the kids and instructors.