Giving Thanks, Days 22-30

I was drowning in post-holiday funk Monday, sad about circumstances on both sides of our extended families, missing my people, neck-deep in stuff to clean up. The kids DID go to bed nicely after decorating the Christmas trees in their rooms for FHE, so that was a tender mercy. Rich went out to take out the ranch trash, so I thought it would be good to take a nice hot bath and read. But my book ("Then Again") was in the car (shucks!). Then I noticed the new Ensign & Friend magazines, so I took them down and had a good soak and read. The messages made me feel so much better, like a band-aid for all the sore spots. I was feeling bad because I tried to get online all weekend and I just couldn't make the time and wondered how I could finish off my month of giving thanks. I turned to pages 4-6 in the Ensign and got my answer from the Youth Section. It's called "Take the Gratitude Challenge," so I accepted. Dear Readers, I give you 100 Things...

I. 10 Physical Abilities:
1. A sound mind and great memory
2. The ability to digest, breathe, and pump blood on my own
3. The ability to walk and run without assistance
4. Sight & Hearing
5. The ability to read
6. Sense of smell & taste
7. The ability to conceive and gestate and make new little people
8. Although it's weak, I am thankful for an immune system that protects and helps heal my body
9. I am thankful that I am not as sensitive to pain as others seem to be.
10. I am thankful to be ale to keep up with my children on most days. I was so afraid of losing that.

II. 10 Material Possessions
1. My house--oh, I am so thankful for a warm and comfy place to live that is within our means to afford!
2. As I said before, I love my van--reliable & comfy transportation
3. Kitchen utensils and appliances where we can make good food for our family
4. A big comfortable bed to sleep in
5. Radio, mp3 and CD players so we can enjoy music & talk
6. Books
7. Our wii, where we can play aport or learning games as a family and stream so many great movies and shows.
8. Appropriate clothing and shoes
9. Camera & Photographs to document this wonderful family life.
10. A washer & dryer--oh, so thankful for clean laundry!

III. 10 Living People
1. My husband, who saved this wretch from a path of lameness & is my best friend.
2. My mother for giving me life
3. My Grandma for loving me unconditionally and being my pal
4. All my daddies for giving me life & keeping me alive & caring about me & my family.
5. Living Prophets to guide us--today, that's Thomas S. Monson
6. My Four Amazing Children who teach me everyday
7. Aunt Debbie for helping me understand Heidi better, and all the Sisterfriends for helping me be a better wife, mom, and Woman.
8. Erin, for being my sister from another mister; for helping me to rise above the crazy and keep choosing the right; and being hilarious and sassy all along the way
9. My siblings--veterans of the same war, best friends on earth.
10. Aunts & Uncles--it takes a village, y'all.

IV. 5 Deceased People (if you add them up, there's more than 10)
1. Grandpa, for helping me grow a testimony and giving me self-respect
2. Prophets who wrote in the scriptures
3. Gramareee
4. Founding Fathers
5. Joseph Smith

V. 10 Things in Nature
1. Sunshine
2. Moving Water
3. Rain
4. Trees
5. Plants we eat
6. Plants that flower & beautify
7. The beach
8. The changing seasons
9. Stars ona clear night
10. Baby Animals

VI. 10 Things About TODAY
1. I got a good night's sleep
2. My husband is cute & thoughtful
3. I don't have pain, I can move & exercise
4. Niles is happy
5. It's sunny and warm
6. The kids' Christmas trees look so cute
7. I got the laundry done
8. Left over turkey!
9. Taking James to the dentist today--love that boy!
10. One more day adn relative peace & freedom

VII. 10 Places on Earth
1. My Home
2. The Temple
3. Our Church Building nearby
4. The Beach, especially the Oregon coast
5. The beautiful forests, fields & mountains of Bavaria
6. London town!
7. Northern Mexico, before the drug & border wars
8. Old Town & Beaches in San Diego
9. Paradise Valley Montana
10. Down town SLC & Temple Square at Christmas time

VIII. 10 Modern Inventions
1. The Interwebs
2. Cellular Phones
3. As stated before, electricity!
4. Indoor plumbing & city water systems
5. Refridgerators
6. Microwaves
7. GPS
8. Ipods
9. Passenger planes & cars
10. Extended-wear contact lenses

IX. 10 Foods
1. Chocolate (Chocolove Dark with Almonds & Sea Salt specifically)
2. Broccoli
3. Spinach
4. Blueberries (and all the "super-foods")
5. Spices & salt & sugar & butter to flavor it all
6. Corn tortillas/chips
7. Tacos
8. Potatoes
9. Montana grass-fed steak
10. Oatmeal & yogurt

X. 10 Things about the Gospel
1. Plan of Salvation-Knowing who I am and why I am here and where I am going
2. Agency- the choices we make everyday matter; in fact, they are everything--they are why we are here, to prove who we really are adn what we really want.
3. Continuing Revelation
5. The Gift of the Holy Ghost and personal revlation- gives me confidence in choices for me and my family
6. The Commandments-living them keeps me from physical and spiritual harm
7. Divine Nature- knowledge that I am a daughter of a Heavenly Mother and Father whose divine attributes I have inherited gives me strength to face life and also inspiration to create and try new things.
8. Repentance & Forgiveness- nothing has to stay as it is; things can and should always get better, and there is never EVER a justification for holding on to bad feelings about ourselves or others--it's so liberating.
9. Families are forever
10. The Atonement of Christ that gives hope in every situation, for every person. Like the song says: "There is hope for every soul that's lost/ there is a way back home no matter where you roam...there's a place for every heart in pain/ a place where there's no hurt and there's no shame...let His Love reach you and teach you every hour."

Giving Thanks Day 21

Day 21: Addie turned 10, so I've been a mom for 10 years. You can read what I wrote about being a mom HERE. Today I am thankful for my kids and all they have taught me. ***

Addie had a fun bday weekend. Between getting her nails done and going to a draft show and seeing "Annie", we went to the grocery store and ran into Addie's friend, Kendall who moved to Butte last year.

We made banana-nutella crepes for birthday breakfast

Niles had bananas & some cereal

Addie & her crepe

Addie turned 10 at 5:49pm...

Here's her self portrait at the very minute!

Here's a blurry picture of Great-Uncle Sam & Aunt Elaine arriving at our house for bday dinner (a pasta bar with salads and cake and ice cream).

Ad with her cake

Opening gifts--this one was jewelry from Gram & Gramp Melin

A new Minnie Mouse watch from Daddy

Addie and her new dress from Mommy

Happy 10th Birthday, Big Girl! We love you!

Giving Thanks, Days 17-20

I got behind again, but in my own defense, it was Costco's fault. Or Mother Nature's. Whatever. All I know is that it was kinda like Black Friday at the Costco Tire Center (which is, I might add, 30 miles from my house across a winding canyon road) all week long with the combination of a snowy forecast and a really great tire/installation sale. So I went and waited in line for a tire appointment both Thursday AND Friday, and finally got new tires on my van at noon on Friday, home by 1:30pm. Seriously messed up my schedule this week--my TG guests will enjoy a moderately tidy house rather than a clean one this week--shucks.

ANYHOOOOOOO...this was supposed to be about gratitude, not whining, right? I mean at least I have an awesome van to put tires on, right? So enough Wag-o-the-Finger. Time for Tip -o-the -Hat.

17. My College Friends. Stay with me here, folks. I know I already said Human Love, which certainly covers these guys, but I have to do these shout outs (don't be offended if I don't mention you by name, because I promise I'm thankful for you, too--sooo many memories).

So I was waiting in the eternal line at Costco on Thursday with Niles in his stroller and I heard the old song, "Walk Like a Man" playing. This song always reminds me of my UofA bff, Tom Hapgood, because of this: One time we went on a group date to an Ice Cats Ice Hockey game, and then we crammed into somebody's car to go somewhere after the game and that song came on the radio. In his totally hilarious but super-understated way, Tom interjected into the chorus, "How 'bout 'SING like a man'?" ( you know, cuz it's all falsetto and grating--a really good question on Tom's part, in all seriousness). He truly IS the King of Running Jokes. Here is where I would insert the epic poem I wrote back in 1998 called "The Gang of Three" (me, Tom, Lyz) so you would know how the whole 1996-1999 social scene went for us but I can't find it. Let's just say I think it all began with a Very Merry Unbirthday Party at Tom's House in 1996, then Tom served as Elders Quorum Prez while I served as Relief Society Prez in our student ward (church congregation for college kids), then he married the amazing and talented Adriane (whose cousins I practically grew up with, so she's like my cuz, too) and I got to be his best man-maid. Other things, like TLC's "A Wedding Story" and Ally McBeal and Chili's and all things apple/mac remind me of Tom, too. That was a good time. With you, too, Lyzzie. And Nic, may she rest in peace, and all our U2 & U4 friends. OH! And then that Thursday afternoon, Celeste (Arnett) called me on the phone and it was like a time machine. I was reminded once again what a great time I had finishing school in Tucson. GREAT friends.

BEFORE that, in 1994-5, just after my mission, I had a life-altering year back in Provo living at Rupper #5 with my soul sisters, Erin & Heidi. I wrote in detail about our friendship here and here and here, and I feel so deeply these days how much I love and miss them and wish we could share more of our "MOM-lives." But I also feel joy at the very fact that we don't have much time for each other right now because that means that we are each living the dreams we talked about so much back then--raising children with stellar husbands in far-flung places (me in my trusty mini-van) and giving it 100%. I love you two SO MUCH.

BEFORE that, starting in 1990 and ever since, there is the entire Buchert Tribe, my other family, whom I have already written about HERE. Here is a recent picture of the fam I stole from Becca's blog. I saved this picture because it looks like (in Rich's words), "Buchert Heaven." Indeed. I would love to be at that table with y'all, and Egans, too. In fact, it often is the promise that such a roundtable can and will happen in the future and forever after that keeps me going.

I am so thankful for all the loves at this table!

[UPDATE from Georgia via facebook:'Yeah! That's my brown head next to Rob's. Shall I narrate this moment for you? Each of our households had all taken a stack of thank-you notes home to write to people who helped when Heidi & Todd's house burned down. This photo is from the night we brought the composed notes to supper so the gang could sign them all en masse. There was a great confusion of John Hancocking going on around the table. I'm almost positive that this snapshot you're looking at captures one of two moments. It's either: (a) when Mum discovered that Rob had slipped in a fake note that read, "Thanks for nothing," or the time that one sample of Dad's handwriting made his heartfelt thanks mistakenly read like something hilariously obscene. I have NEVER seen Ellen Buchert laugh that hard in all the years I've known her. Lovely!"--Thanks for the backstory, Geo. I love it! And you!]

Also, Happy 6th Birthday to my nephew, Ben Petersen! Can't wait to see you next week, Benny-J!

18. I am so thankful for my TUB--a deep corner jetted tub where I can soak and read. LOVE. (My niece Rosalie turned 6 today--love you, Rosie!)

19. I am so thankful for health and for medicine of all sorts. Having a mortal body is such a blessing and a curse--I am simultaneously amazed at what my body can do (make new people! fix skin over night!) and also how fragile it can be. It is a miracle that any of us are alive and well, and I am so thankful for people & medicines that help us when we aren't so well.

20. I am thankful for sleep. It's so great that God built-in this time for us to just shut down--not just physically but mentally and emotionally as well. We can find respite from "this mortal coil" every 16 hours (or more often if you respect the siesta) or so and I think that is a very tender mercy sometimes.

TOMORROW marks my 10th anniversary of becoming a mother and I have a lot to be thankful for on that front so I'll be back!

Giving Thanks, Day 16

Today I am thankful for public education, specifically the excellent experience my children are having in our little local elementary schools. We have special teachers and a nurturing, family-friendly environment and it is really good for us. For all its shortcomings, we are blessed to live in a country where literacy is a priority and education is free and available where ever you go. THANK YOU, EDUCATORS!

Giving Thanks, Days 1-15

Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.
-Henry Van Dyke


Oh, my, this month has been a busy one! I want a pause button so bad--pause time with my Gram, with my baby who is growing way too fast, with my girls who will all -too- soon be teenagers and want less and less to do with me, with my scriptures & other good books, with the amazing friends who cross my path with whom I want to just sit down and visit for hours but scarecely get in a "HI!" and a hug, with beautiful doumentaries on BYUTV & Netflix, with James and his kindergarten tales & questions & lovey hugs. And how about some time to BLOG? I am trying to MAKE time. I promise I have been making a November Daily Gratitude list in my head because gratitude is kind of My Thing, and Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I need to take November by the horns and get the upper hand and start doing the things that matter most, so I am catching up with my thankful list TODAY. Well, I might not finish it til tomorrow because I THOUGHT all the kids were asleep but have just learned otherwise, but that is neither here nor there...so let us begin to catch up with 14 days of giving thanks (I promise to keep up on the next 16!).

FIRST, a quote that motivated me to write this stuff down:
"A grateful heart, then, comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives. This requires conscious effort—at least until we have truly learned and cultivated an attitude of gratitude. Often we feel grateful and intend to express our thanks but forget to do so or just don’t get around to it. Someone has said that 'feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.' "
- Thomas S. Monson (in THIS talk)

So it's time to take this exquisitely-wrapped gift and give-oh-give away! In no particular order or significance (except the first 2, I suppose):

1. The Atonement, Life, and Love of Jesus Christ and His Restored Gospel--central to every breath I take and every choice I make; It shapes the way I experience life and the way, in turn, life nearly drowns me in hope & joy.

2. A kind, pure, devoted, thoughtful, consistent, strong, patient husband & bff. I would have a completely different and certainly more hollow life without him. Seriously--if I'd stayed on the path where I was when we intersected--ugh, I shudder to think! In a nutshell: no children, no Montana, no "zion perspective", no teamwork, no sacrifice for the greater good, and no one to love me unconditionally and motivate me to be better, to be his equal--pure lameness! Thank you, dear hubs, for taking me up to the higher ground. [please oh please click on that link. you will laugh.]

3. Electricity & Indoor Plumbing. I get that the day may come when I don't have these things. I rue that day, and until then I savor my fridge and microwave and I flush my toilet with utmost gratitude!

4. Motherhood: I get why parenting is part of God's plan because I have truly been schooled by my children. And we're just getting started! I am also grateful to know the depths of emotion that one can never know any other way than to have and raise a child--it's a wild ride. Mind you stay strapped in.

5. I am so thankful for my minivan. I wish it came in all-wheel drive cuz if it did, I would never drive another car. It's like my little home-on-wheels, perfect for our family. Nice and cool in the summer, cozy and comfy in the winter, space to stash so much stuff AND to safely transport the fam where ever we need to go. When we go on long trips, I never stop being amazed that we can just get into this little mechanized bubble--watch movies, eat snacks, do car-karaoke, all in relative comfort--and end up anywhere we want to go (AND I always think, "if I were a pioneer, that woulda taken three months and only 2 of us would have survived!"). It's amazing and I am so thankful for it (also, shout out to the Grand Caravan because in 130K miles we've never had any problems. knock on wood).

6. ChocoLove Dark Chocolate with Almonds and Sea Salt

7. To live in such a beautiful, clean, free state (Montana)--with four distinct and breath-takingly beautiful seasons. After nine years I am still thrilled with every change of seasons (It's so stimulating for my monkey mind)

8. Living Prophets and conferences twice a year. Keeps me close to My Father, keeps me focused like nothing else. Like I said to a friend back in October, conference is like a homecoming and, conversely, the close of conference feels like getting dropped off at an orphanage. *heavy sigh* Can't wait til April...

9. Alternative news sources. I cannot bear to watch any kind of regular news anymore. They all make me sick. Which is why I am thankful for All Things Considered, Morning Edition, The EIB network, National Native News, and last but never least, Stewart & Colbert.

10. ipods. Thousands of songs on my hard drive. Playlists created with the click of a mouse. New music available with another click or two. Anything I am in the mood for, all of it portable. Steve Jobs, you read my mind!

11. Moisturizers. I have terribly dry, cracked, itchy skin. I require several layers of moisturizer per day just to move around or wear clothes. I am thankful for lotions of all viscosities and have gallons in my storage room because I'd be so uncomfortable without it.

12. Along the same vein, with the itchy skin, I am so thankful for soft cotton, the fabric of our lives.

13. I am so thankful for the spiritual gifts and strength that I have been given from My Heavenly Father. I have realized more and more as time goes by that so many things I have taken for granted--a testimony, for one--are GIFTS, endowed by my creator to help me through my specific life challenges, that not everyone has. That's special and I am thankful. I'm also thankful for my daddy, who turns 67 today.

14. Human love. Like the song says, "brother sister, parent, child; friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts (and actions) and mild." I truly believe that God has sent some of his finest children across my path and I have been saved and blessed and comforted by relationships all throughout my life. It's just beautiful and I am so grateful for my friends and family.

15. Which brings us to TODAY! Half way through November. I am feeling really thankful for clean, potable water today. It is such a blessing to live in a place where I can go to my faucet and get a glass of cold, clear, clean water that helps my body do its work. So many places around the world have unsafe or just plain gross-tasting/smelling water which you wouldn't want to drink. I am thankful for our good tapwater.

I'll be back tomorrow and try to do some daily thanking. Here's a closing thought:

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend."
-Melody Beattie

Mid-November Fun

This year we had Veteran's Day completely off from school, so the kids and I went shopping in Bozeman. We happened to be at Walmart (our 3rd stop) at 11:11am on 11.11.11, so we snapped some pictures to remember the moment:Me & Addie
All the kids at 11:11: Addie, Niles, Heidi & James
***
The kids kept saying, "Mom, getmethis for Christmas! Iwant THIS for Christmas! Will you get me this for Christmas? I want Santa to bring me THIS for Christmas..." so I curbed all the greed and demands by snapping photos of what they were holding up and saying, "Okay, I put it on your list." Worked like a charm. I deleted half the pix...

...but here's James in Macy's holding up a model jet set.


This is from today. Addie got fake glasses at Claire's with her bday money from Papa Jim, and Heidi got real glasses today.



It was kind of a fun day, in a really somber way, because Rich had the day off to attend 2 funerals. So at 10am we went to Ray Van der Voort's funeral where I sang inthe choir and left a pumpkin cake for the luncheon, and then at 2pm (after a stop at Costco), we went to Doug Lanphear's funeral. Ray was a member of our ward family at church--a dear grandpa character for us, and Doug was an insurance associate of Rich's who died suddenly on his lunch break last Tuesday at the age of 56. The services were nice and I agreed with something that was said at Ray's funeral. Jim Blatter said that of all the meetings we have at the church, funerals are one of his favorites because we celebrate the life of ONE individual and we are reminded that individuals matter. And we also celebrate the beauties of the gospel of Jesus Christ--the resurrection, eternal relationships, forgiveness, and the peace and the Rest of The Lord--at moments when they mean the most to us. I also like coming together with loved ones in our extremities, whether it's extreme joy (like a baby blesssing or Christmas) or extreme sorrow (like a funeral). We've had a lot of fall funerals, it seems, and it's always cold and gray and movie-like outside and I think of THIS song, blasphemous as it may be. I still love it for all the memories it stirs {"It is complete now, two ends of time are neatly tied..." "Underneath the chilly grey November sky we can makebelieve that Kennedy is still alive, we're shooting for the moon, and smiling Jackie's driving by..." oooo, the guitar is so haunting...}


Anyway, we got home about the same time as our kids and we had a really nice evening with them. It is so nice to have Daddy home! We made soem Korean BBQ chicken with vegetable rice and now we are getting ready for FHE. Life is good! Rich took these pictures of
His Girls in Glasses AKA Rich's NERD HERD

just a few minutes ago:


Heidi, Jamie, Addie

Laughing! Have a great night!

The First Week of November

We spent the firstof November recovering from Halloween, attending PTo meeting, and packing to go to Utah to take Gram back to my mama's house. On the second of November, I took Addie out of school and Niles, Ad, Gram, and I headed south at 9am. By 3pm, Niles was getting tired of his seat and we were almost to Nana's house so I didn't want to stop. I had Addie share her Halloween candy with him instead. It worked--he didn't make a peep for 470 miles. And I think he made it to the center of a tootsie pop!
Addie's self-portrait near SLC

A sock is almost as good as a tootsie pop

***

On Thursday, we got up early and headed down to Provo with Gram. We stopped by to see the Bucherts and Ellen taught us how to do encaustic painting while we visited.

It was a lovely & too-short visit!

Niles & Jeanne

We enjoyed looking around Provo at all the things that have changed in the 9 years since we moved. We are so excited about the tabernacle becoming a temple. I showed Addie the tabernacle and the adjoining park where I used to walk with her when she was a baby. We had a late Cafe Rio lunch and hung out with Mom & Jill the rest of the evening.

***

On Friday, we went to see the new Footloose with Mom, Jill, Abby, and Addie while Gram watched Niles at home. Later we made a big taco buffet and the Laytons and the Mayberrys came over.

Autumn, Kristen & baby Gavin

Brent & Henry--yes, Brent is as cute a daddy as we all imagined he'd be! Henry has a sibling on the way in March, too--we're hoping for a sister!

Nana with Niles & Uncle Sam

Sam & Gram

We drove home to Montana in a blizzard most of the way. We left mom's at 6:20 and got to Bozeman at 2pm. Niles was not as cheerful this time, so here we are on a break near the MT-ID border.

Later, Aunt Laura and her boys joined us for dinner on their way back to the Billings airport with Tallon.
Here's Niles in his high chair.

Niles & Heidi

Tallon's early bday cake

We had a pajama dance party before bed time to celebrate Tallon's visit/bday/mission call

We couldn't get his candles to light!

So he just blew out the "19"

Tallon & his cake

Funny things about this pic:

1. the cake looks like a cupcake in Tallon's hands

2. Gabriel's eye on the left
Tallon got his missionary books & a tie/Captain Moroni tie tack from Gram, Mom, & Me
Hugs for our BIG missionary boy!

***

So we're all caught up on SO MANY good times! Thanks for sharing your pix, Roo, and thanks to Bucherts and Drews and Gram and Laytons and Mayberrys for the fun times in Utah. Now it's time to get ready for Thanksgiving...my FAVORITE holiday of all!!!

An October Recap

See what happens when blogging goes to the back burner? You get a backlog of funphotos that need to be shared with far-away loved ones! Sowithout further ado, I give you the rest of October in photos (mostly courtesy of my sis, Laura). Let's start back on the 8th when Grandma first arrived... Gram & Gabriel (my nephew, age17)

Me, Gram & Laura

Gram & Roo

Ha!

Us again :)

Me (in an unflattering tshirt) and my cutie Gram

First snow fall on our mountains!

"Pete & Repete"

Gabriel & Niles

Niles

(photographed & captioned by Laura)

{{A lovely photo of a wooded road from Roo's hunting photos}}

Gabriel skating at the church

***

Jump ahead to October 26th (Happy Birthday, Wills & Henry!).

We went to Billings to pick up nephew Tallon.

Nephews Jared, Tallon, and Gabriel at the Billings Temple

Tallon & Laura

{{quick update: in case you missed the backstory last year, Tallon was born to Laura when I was on my mission in NC; he was adopted by the Smith Family of Colorado and contacted Laura--his "birth mom"--for the first time last year when he was 17; he's about to turn 19 & just got his mission call to California Anaheim Spanish-speaking. YAY!}}

Laura's great shot of the Billings Temple

Jared & Gram at lunch

Niles & me at lunch

Gabriel skating at our Livingston "skatepark."

Addie, Niles & Gram when we got home from Billings

Look at my happychunky-monkey!

Heidi, me, Tallon, and Addie after school on 10/26

Gram, Tallon, & Addie

***

The next day (10/27) was Niece Emily's FIRST BIRTHDAY!

Laura took these pix of the festivities in Helena...

Amie made Emily this big, pretty cake!

Em says "YUM!"

Emily with her Dad

(my brother Matt, the birthday princess)

Big Tallon with tiny Sister Jensen at Helena's halloween party
***

Meanwhile back at my house, we got ready for Halloween!

Last Saturday was our ward Trunk-or-Treat, but I failed to take ANY pictures! I did take these of the kids carving their pumpkins that afternoon, though:

Addie & James

Heidi

On Monday, 10/31 James wanted to dress up as a ghost rather than Lightning McQueen's crew chief (which is the costume he wore on Saturday night). So here's our little ghost with his kindergarten class.

Addie's class had a "Healthy Halloween" party. She made jack-o-lantern mini-pizzas and a veggie tray.

Here's Addie's Timeline displayed in her classroom

Izzi & Addie

Not-so-scary Vampire!

Lydia, Madi, Izzi, & Addie in their 4th grade classroom

After school, I offered to take the kids trick-or-treating to businesses. So Heidi wanted to dress up as a cat (her THIRD costume--Saturday she was a zombie and at school she was Laura Ingalls/pioneer girl). Addie did Heidi's cat makeup and my heart just about burst over the cuteness of those two getting ready.

Gram & Niles watched "Friday Night Lights" while I took the kids around.

James the Ghost, Heidi the Cat, and Addie the Vampire heading out to trick-or treat. (Their jack-o-lanterns are on the stairs--James' bat, Addie's smiley face, Niles' silly face, and Heidi's howling coyote)

Off we go!

My little ghost just cracked me up--reminded me of Charlie Brown!

My little kitty-girl

(didn't Ad do so great on her makeup?!)

Trick-or-Treating at Sky Federal Credit Union

(We went to the gorcery stores, too)

***

We came home and had homemade pizza for dinner,then Rich took the kids to Grandma's house and down her street.

Here they are at the Phillips' house. Mrs. Phillips was both Rich's and Addie's first grade teacher, but she's retired now.

On Grandma Melin's proch with cousin Danny and Uncle Mike the Gangster

Addie making donuts with Grandma

Cousin Hannah, Uncle Mike, Heidi, Grandma, Aunt Angie & her not-boyfriend, Jex, hangin' out waiting for donuts.

Heidi & Uncle Mike just before my kids came home for bed.

Happy Halloween!