I am so glad Halloween is over. I love that Cam wanted to dress up, but sometimes I get myself in too deep because it makes me happy to do things for him.

Cameron was Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series and I was Bellatrix LeStrange from the same. Bryce was Buzz Lightyear, Dane was a tiger again and Ella was a fairy of her own design. At least, Cam and I can wear our stuff to the final two Harry Potter films' midnight showings, right?Now that Halloween is over, what is next on your list?

I was in the mood to pull out a little Christmas last night. I KNOW, I know this is a crazy thing, but I have two huge trees and if I'm going to go to all that work, I'd like it to last a bit longer. So, one tree is out and assembled. I'm taking the decorating slowly, but just having it out makes me feel ahead of the game.
I'm singing at the funeral of a sweet lady on Thursday. She was my final great-great aunt, my great-grandmother's baby sister. She will definitely be missed. This puts practicing on my list.

I'm glad to have Thanksgiving figured out. My house. Cam's parents. The end. This I can handle. I'm pretty good at making that turkey. My secret.

Somewhere in all this, I'm excited to welcome my friend's new baby when she gets here. Yipee! Hopefully, Mom can hang in there?

Crafts I'm working on all include crocheting so far and that is relaxing. Hopefully, it can stay that way.

So, what's next for you?
Here's a little Z to finish up. He was Santa Claus for Halloween. The funny part is that he didn't even flinch when Aunt Bellatrix picked him up and he was making funny faces and cute dances for Uncle Snape all night.

Boo to you!

That's all I've got for the rest of the week.

Have a safe and fun Halloween! May your children get lots of candy that they don't like, but you love.

I have a lot of pictures to post and thought a summary would be the best way to get them on here.

Bryce has loved preschool so far. Back on the 5th Cameron and I got to present his VIP (which happens in honor of the child's birthday). It was so fun to help our youngest child feel special by talking about him and telling his classmates the things he enjoys to do. He loved handing out a special treat to his preschool friends. When you are the VIP you also get to take the class book home. Bryce looked through it over and over again. It contains a profile on each student and has pictures of things they've done in class up to that time. He took pictures of the book with my camera.

The morning of the 9th we had a long photo session with my parents and siblings and families. I'm really excited to see them when they're done. The kids loved being with their cousins and crazy uncles. After the photos Cameron and Dane had to take off for Dane's soccer game.

Dane thoroughly enjoyed soccer again this year. He gets kind of goofy, not very focused, but the kid has fun!

After the soccer games, Dane had the very special opportunity to go to the BYU game with his dad. I painted the Y insignia on his cheeks and after than, Bryce and Ella wanted in on the face painting.

This is a butterfly...sort of. I think my skills are a bit rusty. Bryce just wanted two lightning bolts on his cheeks.Cam reported that Dane enjoyed the football game (it probably helped that they won), but it's still a bit long for him. He crashed on the way home. It was a long day. While they were at the game, Ella and Bryce and I went to Toy Story 3 at the dollar movie. I had an awesome time watching them watch and I cried again.

A week ago, Bryce and I took a trip to Gardener Village with Angie and Sophie. As Buzz Lightyear he was a CELEBRITY! Every little boy 2 and older were whispering excitely to their mothers as he passed. I told him that any time he heard someone say 'Buzz Lightyear' that he should wave. My son was his own parade. One mother even had her child shake hands with Bryce and got her son's photo with him. The kid was in awe.

Bryce ATE IT UP!

Sophie and Bryce helped their mommies with the Witch Scavenger Hunt that would yield a prize at the end of a 25 cent cookie.
Bryce took a bunch of odd pictures, but this one turned out all right.He insisted on this final one.This past week we watched our final soccer games of the season.

I think Bryce was relieved it was all over.

This week has been an excellent one spiritually for me. I feel so full of gratitude. I am generally more at ease and I'm definitely happier. It's wonderful to see your own efforts pay off and the blessings that come.

Speaking of blessings, yesterday Zealand came to visit. He brought my mom with him. He's at one of those stranger anxiety stages and doesn't much like us, but Ella began playing the piano for him and it really settled him down and he started to babble and crawl around. (He's 10 months now)

At the end, though, Cam wanted to hold him (he's been very wary of his uncle lately). You can see how nervous he is, but he didn't cry.

I hope your Halloween preparations go well. I need to get started on Cameron's. Lots to do!

Neighborhoods are filling up with haunting Halloween decor.

The stores have all turned black and orange with purple accents inside.

Do you do Halloween big or small?

Are you dressing up this year or not?

What about your significant other?

It's funny how cool I get about Halloween once Cameron decides he wants to participate. I mentioned before that he wants to be Professor Snape from Harry Potter.

This is what I have to sew, but I don't care because he wants to have fun!

My friend Angie and I are taking our youngest two to Gardener Village today to see the witches they have displayed all over the place (and maybe get some fudge...uuuhhhhh...fudge). I'm really looking forward to some Halloween fun!

Last question: If you've already bought your Halloween candy...how much of it have you eaten?

Well, I've had many wonderful experiences since my last post, and of course, that's always how it goes, especially if you are choosing the better/best things after you turn away from the alternative.

I'm sitting here medicating myself with Karmel Sutra from Ben & Jerry's and with the peace that comes with being with family, being taught and retaught eternal truths and seeing Bryce finally kick the ball during a soccer game. I've nearly finished with my latest amigurumi. We're having crepes for breakfast tomorrow.

I was about to put in a quote here that I really like and then I realized it was from one of my own poems. There's got to be some coolness there.

One of my favorite moments of the day, right after Bryce's kick was that I got to hold my nephew today. As he was sitting on my lap, he suddenly stopped his playing and planted a sweet, squishy infant kiss on my lips without being prompted. How awesome is that?! 9 months and he already knows how to make my day.

Dang this ice cream is good.

I've been practicing the piano. I don't know how to play, really. I've been trying to use the Hymns made easy book and I'm improving, but just yesterday I borrowed The Little Mermaid piano music from the library and I'm doing quite well on "Part of Your World." I hope Ella's impressed. She still loves Ariel.

Credit for this artwork goes to Briana Garcia, whom I don't know, but here's a link.

Cameron has decided that he wants to dress up for Halloween. Yay! He's really gearing for the latest Harry Potter film and has decided to be Severus Snape. His costumer(me) and make-up artist (also me) are really excited. I may go all out and make myself into Bellatrix LeStrange. That'd be wild! I haven't started getting ready for Halloween this early for a long time. Should be a good one.

Have a lovely Sunday/week everyone...

Ella was Ariel, the little mermaid Dane loves getting his face painted a la me.
He went as tiger.

Bryce was my little dino (if you called him a dinosaur he would correct you)

Isn't he cute!

My lovely mother...

My...brother...this is Ryan.

The grandsons going outside for Nerf gun fun. Bryce and Dane love playing with my nephew Kyler.Me and my dad

Me and some crazy eyelashes.

Cameron and my grandma

My Grandpa Paul, me and Bryce Hope you had a happy Halloween!

I'm in the mood to blog. Glen Miller's In the Mood too.

Spent the morning at Dane's school for the costume parade and then helped in his classroom. I was in charge of the game. The kids are so much fun. It was interesting to see how each different group of kids interacted with each other and with me and how they reacted to the game. 2nd grade is a great age.

Ella and Bryce were so helpful and good while we were there. They loved the parade. Some of the costumes were hilarious. Dane's teacher was the cutest Red Riding Hood I've ever seen. The funniest costume that you wouldn't even see in five years from now was a boy with a stack of thin cardboard boxes hanging from his neck. They were painted like cash. There were googly eyes on top and a little sign that said: This is the money you could have saved.

We're looking forward to Halloween tomorrow.

Cam and I carved the kids' pumpkins last night. Bryce was the only one brave enought to put his hand into the pumpkin cavity. He was scooping out guts like a pro. I couldn't find my camera, but pulled out the all but obsolete video camera that we haven't used since here.

I still can't find my camera and yet I'm here blogging. It's time to start searching. Hmmm...

Great pics tomorrow of my Tiger (Dane), Ariel (Ella) and T-Rex (Bryce) and my eyelashes.

For many of you out there, this is, unfortunately, not an election of who to vote for, but who to NOT vote for.
At any rate, surely these two would get your vote!




Halloween was a blast. The kids attended their first trunk or treat and you could practically see their eyeballs popping at all the candy that was being continually tossed into their bags. The little tiger is my niece Addie (who says she's never taking off her make-up).

I told Ella that she should make sure to say thank you clearly and loudly. She did great and made sure that the candy-givers were looking at her as she hollered (in her quickly fading voice--a bit sick this week) "Thank Yaoh!"

Bryce just wanted to eat the candy, but Cam kept putting it back in the bag, telling him to wait (I don't know why, when I took over he got to eat this one.

In case you couldn't tell, Cam and I went as Senator McCain and Governor Sarah Palin. Dane was Anakin Skywalker, Ella a generic princess and Bryce was a "Cown."


After the trunk or treat event, we went back to my mom's house for the annual family party. For once (since Cam took the whole day off), we weren't the last to arrive and actually got to see everyone.

This is a pic of my lovely little stewardess sister Mandy, our grandmother and me. Incidentally, my sister just had her teeth beautified and veneered and I am so green with envy, I don't think I'll ever be able to smile in public again.

Don't forget to VOTE TOMORROW!!!