Halloween

Jeesh. I'm glad he doesn't look like this full time.

My friend says only cute kids can pull off being a nerd for Halloween.

I think he is a pretty darling nerd.

Steve Urkel....Live and in Person

The Pumpkin Patch

We were thrilled when we got to the pumpkin patch the day before the "snow" and the farmer said we could take as many pumpkins as we wanted.

Ian carved his own pumpkins. He's getting very good. We didn't see any blood at all.

The Great Doughnut Dance-off

On Monday night, as F.H.E. was coming to an end, Ian and I decided to have a dance-off. We turned up the music and started to dance. The one who quit dancing first had to buy the doughnuts. (The doughnuts are 1/2 price after 7:00 and we thought it would make a tasty family home evening treat.) We danced, and danced and danced. Ian was getting sweaty and my side hurt a little, but we were still dancing.
Then, Ian shouted, "Hey mom! Watch how high I can kick!"
With that, he did a tremendous kick and fell right on his side! He hit his ribs and hip super hard and knocked the wind clean out of him. I kept on dancing!!!!
Just kidding. I helped him and I gave him some medicine for the pain, oh....and I paid for the doughnuts. He probably would have won anyway.

Fútbol

Soccer has ended for the fall season.

Ian had a great time.

We can't wait until spring!Of course, Ian had bunches of really great shots, and a lot of goals. But, when I bring the camera.....well, you know how it goes.

The Christmas List

I asked Ian to prepare a Christmas list. Ha. You should have seen it. I couldn't afford to buy one single thing on the list. He told me Santa could take care of the big things. Unfortunately, they were all big things. I gave him a Grandpa Fowler type lecture on fiscal responsibility, greed, and the sorrow of poverty. Then I told him to start his list again with that in mind. The second version was much better. At least I saw a few things I could afford and deemed appropriate. One of the things on his list was a unicycle. He's talked about one for years. Now seems about the right time. While were looking through a "wish" magazine, I saw a wheelchair.
I said, "Wouldn't you just rather have a wheelchair?"
He said, "Sure. First I'll have the unicycle and then I'll need the wheelchair."
What a guy. Ready for everything.

not true
by ian.

Very true.
By me.

Blogging

This blog business is really annoying me. I think I should be blogging, but I don't have anything to blog about. My life is very busy with the same old boring as always. Let's see. What could I talk about....?

• I made hot fudge for the R.S. service auction. The sad part was that I also drank the left over hot fudge straight from the pan. I'd do it again too. It was delicious!
• My kids in Sunday school asked me today if I was getting them a present for Christmas (all 16 of them). I asked them if they thought I looked like Santa Clause. There was no real answer. Maybe I do look like Santa Clause.
• I keep hacking at my own bangs. Sometimes with actual scissors, sometimes with fingernail clippers. I keep thinking I need a hair cut, but if I cut my hair, then I'll have to dye it....and that takes so long. Plus, if I get rid of my bangs my wrinkles will show.
• I still have piles of clean and dirty laundry stacked in laundry baskets. (Separate baskets...but still...both stacked. Remember that old post? I should post it again since it is funny and sadly...still appropriate.)
• I managed to clean out part of my flower garden in preparation for winter. I didn't ever even get into the backyard for the spring prep....so I guess I don't have to bother with the fall clean up either.
• Junior high kids are sort of dorky. Every day this girl came in complaining that my room smelled and asking why. Finally I said, "200 Jr. high kids keep coming in here every day. How do you expect it to smell?" She glared at me. I continued, "If you think I'm smelling up this room you are mistaken. It wouldn't smell like this at all if you and all your classmates would stop coming in here." Was that rude?
• I hate baseball. It is ruining my October by pushing my one and only show off the air.
• I have a crush on Glenn Beck. I don't care how fat he gets....I still think he's cute, but better than that he's funny....and who wants a dull man around?
• I think that Ian can talk more than me. I know it sounds impossible, but it seems strangely true. That kid never stops talking. Ever.
• I'm a little behind on my journal writing. I don't think I've written since last November...maybe October. Maybe I should worry a little more about that and less about this blog?
• The car is running and the fridge is clean. Those are two good things to report.

Okay. So that's it. See. I knew there was nothing to blog about. I'll try again in a month, or maybe after Christmas. :)

And now. The unfortunate reality of regular life....

We came back just in time for Ian to sing his solo in church. At first I was bothered by the timing of the entire thing. I mean, he was singing the very week we got home. However, in the end it worked out fine. Because we were going to Chile, we decided to sing I am a Child of God in both English and Spanish. As a result, we had to practice during our vacation. So, Ian sang, in Spanish to our family and friends and even sometimes on the subway. It was really nice to bring a little bit of the spirit into their homes. I was glad it worked out that way. The day of the solo it worked out great too. Ian was in perfect pitch and he was a major cutie pants.

Here is the soloist!!!

Of course, being back in regular life means returning to school as well. Here is Ian on the first day of school. If you think the picture looks like it was taken in the middle of the night, well....you are almost right. It was 6:30 in the morning. That is what time we have to leave for school. Major bummer.

But, Ian is in 2nd grade this year and so far is doing great! He was worried about his teacher until he found out she gives out "money" for good behavior and then they can actually "buy" stuff. If you know Ian you know he is all about that, so he decided he quite liked his teacher.

And, finally....soccer again. Ian is looking dashing in his new soccer duds. The team is yet nameless....baby blue isn't inspiring I guess. The first game was Saturday and Ian scored 4 goals. One of my sisters said, "Great! His team scored 4!" But that was just Ian. He is quite a player.

You may have noticed that all of these photos are taken in the same general area. That is because it is the only place in my entire yard that looks nice. I hate yard work. But, that is an unfortunate part of regular life too. Boo. Hiss. At least Ian is now mowing the lawn. That is reason to cheer!

Our Summer in Chile

We had a wonderful summer in Chile! These are some of my favorite photos of our trip. I tried to think of something important to say....something about the power of the city or the beauty and strength of the Andes. It was in that setting, as glorious as it is, where I remembered something that Elder Packer said, "love is never wasted." That is what all these pictures say to me---that love is never wasted.

See. Love is worth it.

Si Vas Para Chile

This was our first family trip to Chile when Ian was 4 years old. It was his first day ever at a beach! I smile every time I see this video because he just seems so happy. I love Chile. It is always going to be a part of our family and I am glad! We are excited to go again tomorrow and we just might do this same old happy dance when we arrive. Si vas para Chile.

The 4th of July

We had a fun holiday this year.....doing the usual.

First, the parade. It was long and crowded. Martin said next year he'd throw full sized candy bars in the yard. I must say.....it's a tempting idea.

After the parade we went swimming at Uncle Dave's pool.
Waiting patiently, sort of, for the fireworks.
And of course, my favorite moment of the night. This is the way Blake enjoyed the fireworks....hiding behind Aunt Kaila! He he.

More S'mores

Well, the sun finally came out, but I still don't have a fire pit. We decided to build a solar oven and try s'mores this way. Our oven turned out very nice. Check it out!

The kids got the s'mores set up just right, they cooked up fine, and were delicious. Note the chocolate covered faces.

Summer!

I thought it would be fun to make s'mores the day school got out to welcome in summer with a smash. However, we quickly ran into 2 problems.

1st: The bottom fell out of my terracotta fire pit, thus making it impossible to roast marshmallows over an open fire and,

2nd: IT WON'T STOP RAINING!!!

It has rained every stinkin' day since school got out. How is a person supposed to make s'mores with all this constant rain?

(I feel like I'm in Chile for the love of Pete!)

The s'more ingredients just kept calling to us from the kitchen counter, and we finally had to make them----in the microwave and then...for some extra exciting fun....over Kaila's stove!
Yum! Yum!