Little Lady and Safari Guy

 Alyssa was not so happy about dressing up for her Preschool Halloween Party today.  She loves to sleep in.  She wanted to just stay in her PJs, but with a little coaxing she finally consented to be a ladybug.

I love teaching these sweet little girls when its my turn for preschool!

Good things:
Perfect Fall Weather
Being a SAHM
Morning Scriptures
Kind Friends

Prince and Princesses

 This weekend we hosted another "ball" at our house.  The advice of my mother to play more and let the work wait keeps ringing in my ears when faced with a choice, so despite my messy kitchen and heaps of laundry, I gave in to Emily's request to have a late night party and let the dishes wait.  She eagerly brought up my fine dishes which are a pretty meager assortment (a fancy glass bowl, 1 goblet, a glass cake platter/punch bowl).  Alyssa ran in my room to pull out my long white dress that I bought the year we got married.  I turned on some Mozart and we took turns dancing with Prince Jared (Josh) and then dined on mint muffins and veggies that Princess Kathryn and Nicole helped me make.

They scampered out the door  half dressed in the cold after 10 pm to "leave" the ball, which I imagine looked a little interesting to the neighbor across the street who happened to be outside.  Good times:)

The mint muffins were an interesting surprise.  I actually was making poppyseed muffins, but I grabbed mint extract instead of almond on accident and smelled my mistake the second I dumped it in.  They actually tasted really good... maybe I'll substitute a little cocoa for the flour next time.

From the Kitchen of Alyssa

 I was pruning trees yesterday when Alyssa came out and kindly offered me a drink of water...... in a used soap container.  She assured me it didn't taste like soap, but I waited to dump it in the grass drink it when her back was turned.  When I came in the house she had another concoction - cake sprinkles and water.  I had to decline on this one, but Joshua was eager to eat up despite the look of vomit! I sure love spending time with my 2 little ones at home even though it tries my patience when I find surprises like cups of sugar dumped on the floor I just swept and mopped or a can of orange juice concentrate spilled on the couch.

Braceless Becca

Becca got her braces off this week!  She went to a Halloween party over the weekend hosted by a boy in our ward and had a great time once she got there.  Searching for the right costume that would please her was a bit stressful and I'm glad my friend let her borrow this m&m at the last moment.

After the party she reluctantly headed to her first Stake Dance after some persuasion from her friends.  She swapped out the costume and went as a sister missionary with a friend.  She was not too fond of the dance.  I felt the same way at her age, but I'm glad she at least tried it and has made new fun friends to hang out with.

Underdog Fans

 Jacob's football team started out the season with 2 losses, but they won the next few games and surprisingly went to the "playoffs."  We were pretty shocked when they won their playoff game by one point against the undefeated team.   One of the awesome things about living in a smaller community is that you get some bigger opportunities.  He got to play in the championship game at ISU on their field with fun music pumping us up and an announcer recognizing the boys who were in on the tackles and catches.   Football doesn't usually get me emotional, but the atmosphere at the Holt Arena and seeing my not so little boy rush out onto the field for the starting lineup really got me choked up.  The game started out with an interception which the opposing team ran in for a touchdown during the first series of the game.  But the boys kept their heads up and answered the score with a touchdown in the same quarter.  There were no more points scored the rest of the game.  Jacob's team lost by one point with a score of 7-6 because they were not able to score the extra point after their touchdown.  Now that the madness of football season is finally over at our house (except for the BYU games) I'm looking forward to a more normal evening schedule :)

The Kitchen Table

Through 15 years of married life, we have never purchased a kitchen table.  Each "upgrade" has come from a nice friend, neighbor or family member.
Our first table as newlyweds was a real beauty given to us by a neighbor (which they probably got from a neighbor).  It was a lovely bright yellow laminate from the 70s.  We painted the legs white and covered it with a tablecloth :)  We purchased 2 "kitchen chairs" (green metal folding chairs).  When we invited some friends over for dinner, we sat on a cardboard box and cooler and let them use the chairs.
Jared's mom gave us a small dark table for 4,which  the kids sat on too often  we swiftly outgrew.

 Kara donated her old table to us which lasted for many years and several repairs.  When one of the legs broke again, my friend Traci gave us sturdy table that has since been so well used and abused that the varnish was almost stripped bare after so many cleanings.  I enjoyed reminiscing its uses through these pictures through the years.

 

 

 

Someone decided to embellish it with a bottle of blue nail polish. But it is still sturdy and we can all squeeze around it so Jared refinished the top and painted the legs white.  I'm loving the new look and want to finish the benches to match. 

Dan the Man

 Daniel is the first of our kids choosing to run for Student Council.  Rebecca doesn't like the limelight.  Jacob considered it, but when he realized he'd have to submit an essay to run and his best friend was running for the position he desired, he chose to support him instead.

With the crazy schedule at our house due to football season, his campaign took a backseat and he ended up staying up late nights to prepare his skit, speech and posters.  Emily was a real sport and helped him lip sinc his speech while dancing and wearing some crazy wigs.  We prerecorded her singing to a modified version of "What Makes You Beautiful."
"Dan is so kind, and helpful too.
You can depend on him to stick up for you.
Everyone else in the school can see it.
Everyone knows that it's true.
When you think Treasurer Vote Dan the Man
He is a super awesome Viking Fan
When you think Treasurer Vote Dan the Man
He's a super Viking Fan."

Someone who he didn't know came up to him later in the day and said "Are YOU Dan the Man??"
He was pretty elated when he found out that he won, and after his first Student Council Mtg, he reported that he actually will have to do a lot of counting for Red Ribbon Week.  I'm glad he has this opportunity as I have fond memories of being Elementary Student Council Secretary even though it marvels me to think I even had the desire to run as a young child because I was super shy.   But I won with the slogan  "I'll be the best Knight Writer" in the school.  I'm pretty sure it was the black "Knight Rider" car that I sent down the aisle that swung the boy vote in my favor.