Treasure Hunt

In reading some blogs I have found that many peope were touched by President Monson's talk "Enjoy the Journey." I've been struggling lately (i think every woman does) with feeling overwhelmed and running around trying to get things done. I have heard quite a bit of councel lately to "slow down" and enjoy the moments. Monday, I had decided to take time to clean my house. Not such a great idea with three boys and their friends running around. I would clean one room and then come back to find it a mess again. I had just cleaned the kitchen and came in to find cereal all over the table, and certain items spread out. Automatically I found myself starting to get frustrated and upset, but then the words, "They won't be little for long," came into my head, so instead of getting upset, I decided to go on a little "treasure hunt" with my camera, so when they are long gone from the house I could remember those "little messes."

Cereal, a ball, and sucker
Found a trail of these candy corns down the stairs' I guess they missed the memo on no food downstairs

A Few Things.......Our Disneyland trip was a much needed vacation. We joined two of my sisters and families and went on a quest to find the shortest line and anywhere with air conditioning. Although now I am finding I'm missing the heat since it's been 27 DEGREES here! We enjoyed our favorite ride, Pirates of the Carribean, along with the Haunted Holiday Mansion. We stopped by the Teacups (it was quite amusing watching the kids try and walk afterwards) and Thunder Mountain, Tower of Terror and cooled off at Splash Mountain. Getting cooled off at Splash Mountain took a moment though, we found ourselves stuck in "the laughing place" for about 20 minutes. You know something has gone awry when the lights come on. We were the third ones in line to go up and had to be escorted out, what could you do but laugh? They did give us some fast passes to come back when it was operating again. We stopped and said "hi" to Jack the Skeleton and Sally, Mickey and Minnie and literally chased after Captain Jack Sparrow. We enjoyed munching on Power Packs (string cheese,yogurt,apples and a drink with color changing straw) candied apples, lollipops and cotton candy.) The highlight was my sister's friends being in the right place at the right time, they got us some Dream Fast Passes which has tabs with different rides and you can go through the fast pass line with them, that rocked!

Some things overheard on this trip:

"Would you like me to take your picture" (Lara)

"Please don't step on the animation" (Guy helping us out of our log)

"I like Ben'" (Lulu,said with a sheepish grin, she wouldn't hold anyone else's hand)

"Can I have a stuffed animal?" (Jared, about a million, trillion times)

"Let just stay here one more minute" (Auntie, staking out for Dream Fast Passes)

"I'm done" (Uncle Jake)

"I'm married to Mark" (Adam after waiting for Lara to finish another conversation with complete stangers)

"Daniel Boone!!!" (Libby, trying to get auntie and Lara to get a move on while talking to more strangers) FYI: Daniel Boone is what our Aunt and Uncle would yell if they were in a crowd and couldn't find one of their kids. At one time they were visiting with my cousin in New York and were in Soho when one of them got lost. They started yelling at the top of their lungs "Daniel Boone" much to the emabarrassment of my cousin.

Tea Cups with the Uncles
Thunder Mountain
Escaping the Laughing Place
Lara's in the white shirt
In line for the Matterhorn


Getting Buggy

Lara after terrorizing kids on the bumper cars
Auntie and Jake
Silouhettes we had done

(the lady did them free handed)
Adam with the Dream Fast Passes

Off the Air.......
Programming has been interrupted for some much needed R & R with Mickey and Minnie.

Who Knew This

Plus This

Could Equal This

Yep, it's that time of year again, Potato Harvest. The kids get out of school for a week and a half. So, instead of going and picking potatoes, we go on vacation! We're heading back to Disneyland this year along with my two sisters. The boys have never been to California Disney (Except for Bennett but just for a minute) so it will be fun to take them on rides they haven't really been on.

My sister Lara tagged me for telling what some of my quirks are, so here it goes,

I've used this one before, but I'll tell you again, I don't like it when people sneeze more then two times, it just puts everything off.

I have to have the cupboard and pantry doors shut. If they are open I immediately have to go shut them.

I'm an organize freak, that doesn't necessarily mean I'm a clean freak, just that things have to be structured in my head. For example I plan way ahead on how I will get off the exit on a freeway.

I have to have my blinds open.

At work I hate it when people come up through the exit even though there is no line. (I think it goes against my organized theory)

I'm sure there are more but I can't think of any now.

It FINALLY came out!

I am speaking of Jared's tooth. He has had a loose tooth for over a month now, so long that the other tooth was actually already coming in. Every time I would go to try and pull it out, I would have to threaten him to stay still, but could never get a good hold. Finally today I told him it HAD to come out. This is his first tooth that he has lost (my kids don't lose teeth very easily)even though he is in 2nd grade. So he was a little nervous about it. Today I had to bribe him to open his mouth and let me take a peek. Luckily I move quick, I reached in and snapped it out before he knew what happened. Poor kid, will he ever trust me again? In the end, he was happy to finally have it out so he could collect from the tooth fairy.

The Invitation

On Thursday mornings I have been going to Jared's class to help his teacher with odds and ends. I did this for Bennett's teacher last year, so I told Jared this would be his year. After I was finished last week, the kid's had left to go to lunch, I went by the luchroom to say goodbye. I told him to have a good day and started to leave. He then piped up, "Mom you know you can have lunch with me." his neighbor affirmed this, "Yeah you can, and it doesn't cost much." Jared then asked me to have lunch with him. I felt bad but had other things on my agenda for that day, so asked if I could join him the next week. So today when I came he asked if I was going to have lunch. I told him yes, and his bright blue eyes lit up and smiled that smile of his. As he trumped off to lunch, having been chosen the leader of the line that day, I called to him to save me a seat as I finished what I was doing. I came in and noticed him shewing the other kids away from "my seat." The menu consisted of lasagna, salad, roll, and for dessert curious george fruit snacks. (Ah the memories) The conversation consisted of what would be played at recess, and what items on the tray they didn't deem as edible. (I had brought my camera, but when I turned it on, I got the dreaded, change battery pack.) Tonight we went to pack meeting. Bennett was getting his Wolf badge, it was hard not to compare the things I would do for Pack meeting when I was Committee Chair and the things they did now. I haven't been able to go to Pack meetings because of my commute to Salt Lake. My beloved Book Club was meeting tonight in Salt Lake (we've been going for 5 years) but knew how important to Ben it was that I be there. After Pack Meeting I was invited to Bunco, so I was still able to get some girl time in anyways.

The Nature Club

Every day Jared comes home breathless (from riding his bike home fast) "Can I go play?"
"Do you have homework?" is my response. This usually leads to some negotiations. "Can't I do it later?" (him) "How about one page now and one before dinner?" (me) little pout "O.k. why not all of it right now." (me) "o.k. I'll do it" This is because he always wants to go meet up with his buddies at the Nature Club(which used to be the Book Club). This is a tree that is located at the church at the top of our street. It is called the Nature Club because they like to make things like slingshots, but it has to be done all out of nature. I asked if I could come by and check the place out today. I was shown favorite spots to sit, the best swinging off a branch area, and cubby holes they stash their treasures. I was just informed that the current project is collecting fallen branches to make a raft next week. I'll let you know how the maiden voyage goes.



Bennett in his favorite spot

Today I put the finishing touches on my Halloween decorations, I also got some "good mail"
My mom and dad sent a beautiful carved witch and cat, and my sister sent a witch barbie doll. This is all to celebrate that it's witches time again. In the past we have been able to get together and attend Gardner Villiages "Witches Night" but again this year we won't be able to make it. So last year some sent Witches packages, and the tradition continues this year. Can't wait for the other witches to get what Jenn and I sent. I'll share it once everyone has gotten it. Here's some pictures of my decor this year.
I love the bats!
Good mail from my parents
good mail from my sister