Halloween 2011

Emmalee, the cutest little witch.

 Last minute she decided she wanted her face green, so we quickly got it painted.  But I didn't have time to get a "wart" on her nose.

 Rusty had to report for jury duty today at 1pm, so he moved him party to 11am.  Callum getting ready to play a game.

 I helped him get it together & planned a few games.

 More 5th grade party time.  I didn't get pictures taken at Emmalee's party--it seems I don't get the pictures taken at the younger grade-school parties because I am a bit busier.

 Callum performing at Rocktober.

 Getting ready for trick-or-treating.  Callum the spy & Benjamin the cow.  When I called Ben a cow, he would just take his hood off and say "no cow".

 Rusty's costume glows in the dark--but I forgot to get a picture of it tonight while he was wearing it.

 Brienna (aka: Little Red Riding Hood), Benjamin (who isn't a cow if his hood is off) & Spy Callum.

 Callum showing me his badge & spy watch.

Emmalee decided she didn't want to be a witch tonight, and instead wanted to be a princess fairy.  But of course we couldn't find her wand (which was "ok") or her princess crown (which was NOT "ok").

 So this is the only picture I was able to get of her.  I finally sent Brienna, Ben & Callum off without her.  But a minute later she had Rusty catch her up to the others.

 Zane (aka: Phantom of the Opera) went trick-or-treating with his friend, Chandler.

My trick-or-treating set-up for the evening.

 Our lovely jack-o-lanterns.

 Zane carved the spider & Callum carved the "large" mini-pumpkin.

Brienna did the Perry the Platypus, and Callum did both Lady Liberty & the cat.

 Here is my costume (same one from Spooktacular).

That's right.......DR. PEPPER.  When I first planned this costume (last year), my very favorite pop was Dr. Diet Pepper (caffeine-free).  And I planned on carrying/drinking a pop while wearing my costume.  But I gave up pop in February, so I was "pop-less."

We had 30-40 trick-or-treaters tonight, which is about average.  We usually have the kids that know us since we live at the end of a dead end street.  And we have a "haunted" street light that likes to turn off when people drive/walk by it.

Brienna took the younger 3 kids out and I told her to call me when/if she wanted me to drive them around to a few houses (usually the ones that are "out of town" a little ways).  It was a pretty decent night overall--started out quite comfortable,and then it rained (well--more like sprinkled) for about 20 minutes. After the rain storm passed, the wind picked up some and that is when Brienna called me.  I think the kids all got wayyyyy too much candy, but they think they are in candy heaven. 

And one last thing--Rusty did NOT get picked for the jury.  So he can have a "normal" week now. 

October Recap--Part 2

October 19th was our Roundtable and I had to complete the re-charter paperwork for the pack.

I also sent out postcard reminders to all the primary children about our sacrament meeting presentation on the 23rd.

Friday the 21st, I taught piano, cleaned & went through the costumes (organized a bit & got rid of a bunch), and then went to the high school football game.  Callum's friend, Weston had gotten his appendix out earlier this week, and I prepared a meal for them.  And since they were at the game, I just gave them the food there (since they live about 20 minutes out of town).  

Saturday morning Zane & Rusty went hunting again and I took Callum to see if the Boy Scouts needed help with Scouting for Food collection.  Thankfully there were enough leaders & vehicles, so I came home & then volunteered at Bountiful Baskets.  That took most of the afternoon (the truck was late) but I also got some housecleaning done.

After everyone had gone to bed, I made a double batch of cookies for church. 

Sunday the 23rd was our Primary Presentation.  It was awesome!  The kids did a great job and they all enjoyed the cookies I made for them.  I also gave the young women some cookies (a few helped out & there were only a couple YW who didn't, but I have had all of them in primary) & all the young men got 2 cookies.  They sang "I Hope They Call Me On a Mission" with the primary boys.  We had all the boys standing according to height--so it was very powerful.  (We had 31 boys/young men up there).

 That Sunday was a very busy one--I had an early meeting, then a scout meeting after church.  We decided we had better have Family Home Evening and carve our pumpkins since we didn't have an opened evening before Halloween.  Emmalee was excited about the pumpkins. 

 I couldn't get the camera on a good setting for a "dark" picture of the pumpkins. (L-R=Lady Liberty, spider, & Perry the Platypus).

But here are most of the pumpkins.  By the time we cleaned up, it was time for bed.

 Monday, Oct. 25th I took Emmalee, Ben & Zane to the dentist.  Emmalee didn't cooperate at all (again), but Benjamin just climbed right onto the chair and did great the whole time.

 In fact, he fell asleep for part of the time.  He has a lot of work to be done and has 2 more appointments in December.  

Zane had 1 tooth pulled, and needs to get braces.  We found out that our insurance does not cover orthodontic procedures, even when they are necessary.  Zane's I-teeth on both sides are growing in sideways & so the only way they will come down is with oral surgery, braces and time.  We are quite frustrated with insurance (since we pay so much), but we'll do what we need to do.  

But we are waiting until the next flex-plan beginning date so we can use the flex money.  And it begins Feb. 1st. 

Monday evening was the 4-H awards, so Rusty took the older 4 kids while I stayed home with Benjamin.  

Brienna & Zane both received trophies, and all of them got money for their ribbons.

Also, the boys finally got their money from the livestock sale of their pigs.  They were excited to have so much money.

 Tuesday, Oct. 25th, was the stake Harvest Dance in Terreton.  Brienna went right to the Farr's after school to get ready, 

 Brienna is in the middle of the picture.

 She said she had a lot of fun.

And she looked very beautiful!

Wednesday was Cub Scout pack meeting.  Our Cubmaster couldn't be there, so I was in charge.  I had the boys color a paper jack-o-lantern & then they prepared a play about a pumpkin patch.

There was also an Arrow of Light ceremony & then they got to each decorate a mini-pumpkin & take it home.

But as soon as pack meeting was over (even before I left the church), I felt sick.

And I went home and went to bed.  I didn't have a fever, throw up or have the stomach flu, but I just didn't feel good.  All day Thursday I "rested" (as much as I can with Benjamin around all day).

Emmalee & Callum had a jump-rope clinic after school, and Brienna and Zane played in the band at the football game.  Thankfully, Rusty took Ben with him to our land for about 45 minutes so I had a few "real" minutes of rest.

Friday I still didn't feel 100%, but since I have most of the games & set-up stuff for Spooktacular, I got up and going.  We set up at the school for about 3 hours, then I went home and gathered the stuff I didn't take in the morning, got the costumes ready & then went back to the school about an hour early.

 My Scooby-Doo Benjamin

 Little Red Riding Hood Brienna

 Princess Emmalee

 Phantom of the Opera Zane & Little Red Riding Hood Brienna at the cupcake walk.

 A closer look at the Phantom of the Opera Zane

 Scooby-Doo Benjamin and Rusty

 Benjamin was unsure about the whole dressing up thing and didn't want to do much at Spooktacular.

And here is my "off-the-wall" costume this year.  Can you tell who I am?

If you can see my name badge, it says who I am.

October Recap--Part 1

I'm pretty sure the first of October was just yesterday, but here it is the end of the month! Here's a re-cap:

Zane walking onto the field as one of the team captains at the last home game.

  Zane finished his last year of Junior High football.   Each game I had to almost do a double=take trying to find him on the field.  I had a hard time remembering that he was one of the "big guys" on the field.  

He did a great job playing center!

 My parents came over on Monday the 10th and stayed until Wednesday morning.  We loved having them here.  It was a busy week (but when don't I have a busy week?) and they got to meet 6 of my piano students.

 The kids love having Grandma and Grandpa here.  We walked to the post office on Tuesday.  They brought about 50 mini pumpkins they had grown in their garden.  Emmalee shared them with her 1st grade class & I used them later in the month for scouts.

When my parents left Wednesday morning (after I gave my mom a haircut), they had no idea where they were going, but I later got a phone call from them that they were headed towards Sun Valley.

 Wednesday, the 12th was the Performing Arts potato bar fundraiser.  I made a few desserts & Brienna & Zane both made desserts too.  

Brienna plays the flute

(I forgot my camera so these were taken with my phone) 

 and Zane plays the trumpet.  The band has consistently shrunk over the past few years, and they are down to 8 students in band.  But they sounded great.

The PTO sponsored the potato bar this year, so I helped set up, serve and clean up. 

Thursday evening I attended our ward Temple night.  My friend, Jill & her husband were kind enough to give me a ride since Rusty needed to get ready to go hunting.  I played the organ that night.  I love attending the temple!

Friday I helped a lady in our community with her yard sale--set up & attend--for a couple of hours.  Then I went to Idaho Falls with just Emmalee to get our shopping done.

 Saturday the boys went hunting.  Rusty said it was so beautiful.

 Gotta love that Callum!

 See anything, Zane?

 YES!!  Zane's deer.

 It is a 3 by 4.

 And it took allllllllllllll  day to get home.  He shot it at 9:30 am and they didn't get home until 5:30.  

 Rusty, Zane & Callum with Zane's deer.

 The school is offering a taxidermy class next month, so Rusty & Zane prepared the deer so Zane could use it for the class.  The deer had 2-3 inches of fat--I have never seen so much fat on a deer!

While the boys were hunting, I was at Snake River at University of Scouting learning more about all the scouting programs.  I took classes about integrating Faith in God with Cubs, the 11-year old scout program, being a merit badge counselor, Cub Scout magic, and using pre-openers at den  & pack meetings.  They were all great classes and I got to have a mini-reunion with about 1/2 of the people from Wood Badge!

I left home at 6 am and got home just a few minutes before the boys got home from hunting.

 I had won tickets to the IF symphony opening night, but since Rusty and I were just getting home, and Rusty had the deer to take care of (and he was quite tired from trying to get it out all day!).So we decided we would stay home.