Halloween 2017

In our family, we don't let the kids go trick-or-treating once they get into junior high. But, we do have a church trunk-or-treat that happens every year (or has happened every year so far). Westley wasn't able to come with us because he was at a marching band competition all day. But Caleb came with us to the trunk-or-treat.

Aunt Kaori came over on Monday night before Halloween and we all carved pumpkins together. We usually carve just one pumpkin for the whole family. In their family, they each carve at least one. So she brought pumpkins for all of us and each person carved one. We made them scoop the pumpkin seeds out themselves, or at least start the process and then we helped get the seeds out. They had fun and enjoyed the time with cousins.

I took the younger kids out trick-or-treating on Halloween. Westley had a little get together at the house and Caleb answered the door for trick-or-treaters. Corey put Nathan to bed and then watched a movie. The kids had fun.

Caleb is a vending machine; Travis an FBI agent; Eliza a farmer; Jonah is Mario; Annmarie is Belle; Nathan is Charlie Brown

I'm proud of how great Belle's hair turned out.  It was sort of an old, falling apart dress, but at least she had the hair!  (and this girl has such great hair!)

The kids in their costumes for trick-or-treating.  We switched out Annmarie's dress for the prettier one and I had a harder time with her hair.  But they still looked good.  I love years where the costumes are simple and put together from items we already own!

October Miscellanous Fun

Westley had some dress up days the week of Homecoming for spirit week.  One of the days they had to dress up as a movie character.  He chose to dress up as Squints from "The Sand Lot".  I thought that was such a great idea and a super easy costume!

Eliza has worked really hard since second grade to make the Principal's Honor Roll.  That is where they go for the entire grading period with 95 and higher in every school subject.  For the past two years, she's gotten so close every time, always missing it by one grade in one subject, and usually that grade is a 94.  This time around, she finally got it!  Her hard work paid off.  She was thrilled and proud of herself.

Jonah also earned a Good Effort award in first grade from this first nine weeks of school.  He is a good student who works hard and follows directions.  Way to go, Jonah!

Annmarie loved the cookie she got from her sunbeam teachers for the primary program.  She loves Sunbeams and church.

The kids were playing outside and Nathan was just too cute in his hat and gloves, so I took a picture.  I am glad that my older kids watch the younger ones so well.  I'm so busy with teaching piano after school that I'm hardly ever able to take them out myself, so it's good that Nathan and Annmarie have older siblings who do it for me.

Eliza really wanted her hair cut, but money is tight and $16-$20 for a haircut wasn't in the budget, so I did it myself.  I did a pretty good job too, and I'm proud of myself for being thrifty and still making her look good.  I cut off about six inches of hair.  I didn't realize it had gotten so long!

Homecoming Parade

We went to the Wylie High School Homecoming Parade. Kaori brought her kids to it too.  Westley was marching in it with the band, of course.  Fun fact:  Wylie High School doesn't actually have a formal homecoming dance.  They found that not enough students went to make the expense worth it so they stopped doing it quite some time ago.  But heaven forbid you mention it's weird, because they'll eat you alive and tell you how they like it this way so they'll keep doing it this way.  Despite not having a dance, they still do the crazy ridiculous Texas tradition of exchanging mums.  I remember when I moved away from Texas in 10th grade, I was surprised to find that mums were not a thing anywhere else, that they were a Texas thing.  I was disappointed.  In the ensuing years, I forgot about mums.  Until Facebook arrived and my Texas friends would post about mums every year around Homecoming time.  Now that I'm back here, I almost hope we move before Eliza has a chance to get a mum.  What a ridiculous tradition! 

Moving on...I didn't get any pictures of the actual parade because, well, I am terrible at taking pictures, my phone takes terrible pictures, and I can't ever get a good one of Westley while he marches by anyway.  But we still had a good time.  And Kevin Watts, a boy in our ward who is a senior (and a football player) was a nominee for Homecoming King, which I thought was pretty cool.  A Mormon out here in Texas being nominated for something like that! 

Westley is only a freshman and will therefore not be attending the Homecoming celebration (they have a party after the game instead of a dance the next night).  But we will be going to the game.  I do enjoy going to these games with my kids.

We Have Another Teenager!

Caleb turned thirteen today. He discovered at scout camp over the summer that he absolutely loves fishing, so we bought him a fishing rod and made him a fishing cake. He loved both and is excited to use his new rod. Unfortunately, the weather doesn't look too promising for him to go anytime soon, plus school sort of puts a damper on that as well. Hopefully in the summer he'll be able to use it a lot at the ponds and lakes around here. Happy birthday to my awesome thirteen-year-old! My kids are just growing up so fast.

Marching Band Boy

Tonight was the home game where freshman band parents are supposed to help out in the snack stand at the football game.  Feeling the pressure due to being a freshman parent, I signed up.  Truthfully, I later tried to get out of it, but ended up doing it anyway.  I really was dreading it, but it wasn't as bad as I feared it would be.  Plus, I got to see this handsome kid when he came over to say hi.  They aren't allowed to eat in their uniforms, but he was on a bathroom break from the stands.  I hadn't gotten a picture of him in full uniform yet, but was glad I was able to tonight!  I can't believe how quickly he is growing up!

Preschool Accomplishment and Parenting Win

Okay, the top picture is showing how Annmarie figured out ON HER OWN how to write her full name.  She is four years old.  I have some preschool students who are still struggling to hold a writing utensil the correct way and not with a fist.  I'm very proud of  her.  She's a smart little girl and I can't wait to see how she takes on the world. 

The second picture is a parenting win.  That is "Anne of Green Gables" playing and two of the kids watching it would be my 14-year-old son and my 11-year-old son.  They watched it until I made them turn it off to go to bed.  But they would never admit it.

Night With Mom

Tonight, Westley is at an away football game for marching band.  Corey is working.  Caleb and Travis are at a scout campout.  Since Blue Bell pints were on sale for $1.75 each, we went to the store and each of these three got to pick out the one they wanted.  We came home, put Nathan to bed, and ate our ice cream while watching a show of their choice: "Miraculous Ladybug".  It was a great night!

Jonah's First Grade Program

Jonah's first grade class had a musical program that we were able to attend.  He even got to do a dance part with a partner and he did it and did it well.  It's been amazing to see him blossom.  I'm so glad I didn't home school him as people suggested when I was worried about how he'd do in school, being so shy and easily frustrated.  He just has done amazingly well!  I'm glad I let him have that chance!  He has made friends and learned to do things on his own.  Keeping him home with me would have held him back from learning and growing on his own.  Way to go, Jonah!

Road Guard Girl

Eliza got to be Road Guard for school this month.  She gets to do the outside post for two weeks and then she is inside for the rest of the time.  I got lucky and got to have her open the car door this time!

General Conference Treat

This General Conference we tried something new to keep the kids in the room while we watch.  We had s'mores!  S'mores are seriously one of my most favorite treats and this s'mores maker was such a great gift from my sister-in-law for Christmas this last year.  We love it and use it all the time!