Halloween

We were not very on the ball with Halloween this year. 

We finally managed to buy some pumpkins at the Glen Ray corn maze and carved them the day before Halloween. 

Better late than never, I guess.

Halloween morning, I managed to fix my special goblin breakfast. You know the one...

The one where I stay up late battling goblins to keep my family safe and then serve the goblins up hot and fresh for breakfast.

Everyone dressed up for school except Parker. (We were a little late in the getting going and never pulled something together for him. oh well. didn't seem to bother him)

Syd was a black cat and the only picture I snapped of her was scarfing her breakfast down on her way out the door.

Camille decorated her shirt with fabric markers and was Little Miss Smartie Pants!

And Bryce, well, he's a funny one. He has been wanting to be the Lobster Bisque guy from Studio C for a long time. So I ordered parts of the costume and made sure it was ready to go. And then he decided he didn't want to wear it to school. So I told him to come up with something else on his own. He decided to be Smartie Pants just like Camille.

Rachel was Little Red Riding Hood. 

As per tradition and as part of my parental obligation, I went to the school for the Halloween parade. 

My extravagant plans for a Halloween dinner never happened so no pictures there. My awesome breakfast will have to suffice.

And then, I only had two kids go trick-or-treating. It was so weird to have three kids home. Such a turning of the tables, a new chapter of our lives. It was great though. Everyone had a good time. 

And Bryce finally did dress up in his Lobster Bisque Guy costume and he looked adorable. He even copied the accent when he talked. Actually, he always slips into the funny way lobster bisque guy talks and its hilarious.

May Stuff

One night we had an artichoke for dinner. We kept peeling and peeling until we opened the flower. I had no idea they were so beautiful!!!

Our poor kitty, Congo, went missing. Sydney and Parker had been in Arizona for Peter's mission farewell. Syd brought home a ceramic kitty named, Congo Kitty Pot. We didn't realize that in one day's time it would become a memorial to Congo.

Sydney had her last volleyball tourney. This team were good friends and they had a lot of fun together, probably for the last time. I'm so glad she had such a great coach in Becky and friends to last beyond volleyball.

Parker also had a great time playing tennis. His coach was awesome and very inclusive of all the boys who wanted to play. We're so glad Parker has found a sport he really enjoys!

The girls have had a lot of fun coloring these mandalas. In this book, you scratch off the black to reveal color underneath.

We had the sister missionaries over for dinner and I thought it was funny how the meal is different for sisters vs. elders. If we had the elders over, both pans would have been empty. 

The girls had a lot of fun making up a new song about the joys of dirt vs. the joy of technology. They have so much fun together!

And just look at my grocery cart. Little pies, sno-cone syrup, corndogs, marshmallows and a diabetes cookbook. HAHA.  Which one doesn't belong?

St. Patrick's Day

I got out of bed before the kids this morning and laid down next to Camille and Rachel. "Happy St. Patrick's day," I whispered.

After a few stretches, yawns and muffled groans, I heard, 

"I bet there are some moms, that got up early

 and went to Walgreens 

and got gold chocolate coins 

so they could put them on their kids pillows." 

Another yawn, another stretch. 

My words left me.

I had nothing.

Not even Lucky Charms. 

But I DID have food coloring!!!

However, this tasty dinner did not require any food coloring at all! Because it was chuck full of green veggies!

The kids said they would tolerate it at least once a year for St. Patrick's day.

But that's it. One day. Once a year!

Oh and also, the principal told the kids they should not pinch each other at school. But as soon as they got, they could pinch their MOM! So guess how pinches I got, even though I was wearing GREEN!

Green Mac N' Cheese Recipe

Ingredients:

1 pound elbow macaroni 

3 cups milk 

1/2­1 cup spinach 

3 Tablespoons butter 

3 Tablespoons flour 

1/2 cup water 

4 cups grated white cheddar cheese 

2 cups chopped broccoli florets 

1 cup peas 

salt and pepper, to taste 

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. 

Place the milk and spinach in a blender and blend until smooth. 

In a large saucepan, melt the butter and whisk in flour for 2­3 minutes. 

Slowly whisk in milk and bring to a boil. 

Reduce heat to low and whisk occasionally for 3­4 minutes until mixture starts to thicken. 

Add 1/2 cup water and cheese and whisk until melted. 

Stir in the pasta, broccoli and peas. 

Season with salt and pepper, to taste and mix until well combined. 

Transfer to a 9x13­inch baking dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. 

Bake for 20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbling. 

* From Six Sisters Stuff

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving morning baking rolls, making salads and dips and preparing games for our family party at G'ma and G'pa's house. 

The party started at 1:00 with a rousing game of Thanksgiving Bingo! We even got Uncle Mike and Uncle Geoff to play.

Next, we played a dice game, adding part of a turkey for each specific number we rolled. Hash enjoyed counting the dots on the dice. 

When they were all put together and feathered up...

... we began the exciting event: TURKEY RACES!

When those games were finished, we bundled up and went outside to check on the turkey Uncle Dallin was deep-frying. It smelled GOOD! And tasted even better when it was finished.

While we were outside, we played one more game: TURKEY TAG. Each player got 5 clothespins to pin on the back of their jacket, each one a different color. On the ready, set, go, everyone scattered and then tried to pluck the feather's off of each other. The last person left with feathers not plucked, won.

While we were outside running around, the inside of the house was preparing for our delicious Thanksgiving feast. 

I love how warm and cozy this picture looks.

I don't have the words to describe how much I love this picture!

Before siblings left to be with in-laws, we took the traditional family picture.

Our next stop, before home, was stopping by the cousins house to play a few games. This is the middle of rousing game of LIAR. The Browns are particularly good players at this game. Hashbrown even played but he wasn't a very liar. He did look pretty 'gangsta' though. 

Speaking of Hash, he sure loves playing with his cousins. Even when it borders on torture.

The next day, we went back to the cousins for dinner and more games. We divided into teams and played a photo scavenger hunt using things we are thankful for. Our team had a lot of fun and the pictures we great!

And not to be forgotten, the legendary Around the World ping-pong game. It came down to Grade, Ster and Syd, which came down to the final two...

Food

Family

Games

Fun

Those of some of the things I am the most grateful for and I was practically swimming in them all weekend long. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

End of School events

Looking back at these pictures, I feel like I should re-title this post to be Sydney's end of school events. And I guess that's ok, because once you hit Jr. High, life gets busy and you're involved in so many different activities, there are more experiences to keep track of. 

Anyway, let's recap...

Sydney received an award at school for having a 4.0 for the entire year. She received the same award last year too. Here she is with her principal, Dr. Stewart. I'm so proud of her.

I'm awfully proud of her friends as well. They were all awarded as well. I'm so grateful for such a good group of girls Sydney chooses to surround herself with.

Sydney and Sterling participated in a Young Women's Pinewood Derby. It's about time the girls get to use that derby track! I can't remember exactly what was going on that evening, but I do know that Sterling had to skip a meeting and then arrived just in the nick of time. He would and does jump through all sorts of hoops for his kids. That's a dedicated, loving dad for you, right there, in living color.

And then there was the choir concert. Sydney was part of the Songbird group, which is an all girl, audition choir. Next year she will be in the Hawk-apellas, the top audition choir at the school. A couple of friends also made the group. Anyway, the final choir is always a pop concert and is so fun. The kids are also able to try-out for solo numbers between the choir numbers. The solo numbers are so entertaining and really showcases how awkward the jr. high years are. Priceless. We were so lucky to have G'ma and G'pa join us. 

This last semester, Sydney took a foods class. On the last day of school we benefited from all her learning. Sydney made us Crepes with Banana Brule. It was delicious. 

And nothing says end of the school year like Rachel's reading chart for May. Zero minutes out of 330. She read, we just didn't record it. And you know what, I don't feel bad about it at all. That's how we roll!

Just a couple of more things. Hash made a Tardis with his legos. That made me happy!

Also, I went to LDStorymakers conference. It was fantastic. I learned so much and had a great time. I met up with this wonderful lady (Amy Wilson) who was in my morning group last year at the WIFYR conference.

Jessilyn Peaslee was my security blanket and came with me. We had a great time. Jess's first book, Ella, is coming out in December. I'm so happy for her.

May was such a busy month, but a good one too. If May was this busy, what does June have in store?