Pumpkins to Jack-O-Lanterns

We waited until the night before Halloween to carve pumpkins. Our lives had been so busy and then we just took that last week to ourselves... sort of... just not doing anything extra.

Traditionally the kids all draw pictures on paper of what they want their pumpkins to look like and then Bob cuts and makes it real. This year, everyone dug out their own pumpkin - except Jacob who didn't really get to do it, though he thought the pumpkins were pretty neat.

Jeremy and Gabi didn't mind the slimy guts and went for it hands first.

The other two preferred to use the spoon. That was no big deal to Peter, but you'll notice that even that made Beth's face crinkle!

My job was gathering the guts and extracting seeds - which we dried over night and then tossed in melted butter and a touch of salt, the roasted in the oven. Yummy, yummy!

The next adventure with pumpkins will be Peter and I cooking and storing the others from the garden... and gathering more seeds for roasting... next week's adventures!

First Hair Cut

Jacob's hair has been hanging over his ears and getting that shaggy look in the back for a while now. Still, he had a enough wave and even some curl that I generally could coax it back to looking nice - though it didn't always stay that way. But with cold weather settling in, and us running the wood stove, the fuzzy head was more often than not being seen.


One evening last week when we'd finished dinner I suddenly decided that was the night! I stripped Jacob down to his diaper, handed him a lollipop and sat on the kitchen with him on my lap and a pair of scissor in my hand and a spray bottle on the side. Spraying and snipping, Jacob was content to suck on his lollipop and have his picture taken - of course, he never saw the scissors.

The sides were a little uneven - the one still slightly over the ear - so I touched it up later - which meant that Jacob saw the scissors and so things weren't so easy - then I adjusted the other. The sides were eventually evened up above the ears. And, if you don't look too closely, it turned out alright.

I HATE first hair cuts for boys... they look so grown up so fast afterward and that always bothers me! The girls' first hair cuts weren't so hard, but they were older. Thankfully though my little man looks more like a two year old than a one year old, he still snuggles, cuddles, kisses and plays his adorable games... he's still my little lovely Jacob... and now that I'm a week into the new hair cut, it doesn't sting my heart so much any more.

Caramel Apples

RCA puts on a fund raising Halloween Carnival every year. And every year they ask for volunteers to help with various things. Our ward party seems to always land on the same night - not intentionally (they've moved theirs some times, we've moved ours... just happens that way) - so being there isn't really an option for us. But I still wanted to help - so I offered to be the mom from second grade to make caramel apples. But no one had signed up for fourth grade either - so determining that it would be about 30 apples total, I told them I'd do both classes. Well, when the time came, no one else had signed up and I was asked if I thought I could do over 100 apples.

Now, I had heard it took hours... hours upon hours... to make a few. I wasn't sure how that was going to work, but I didn't have an extra kid the next day and I thought that if I got started that night, we might have a chance. So the materials came to my house: 116 apples, 25 pounds of caramel, 1 large can of nut - crushed, and 4 bags of mini M&Ms.

I started two bricks (10 pounds) in my slow cooker that afternoon knowing I wouldn't be able to really do anything until after dinner. It was ready about the time dishes were done and kids were getting in to PJs....as I started, Bob walks in and "tests it out" - making an apple and getting the toppings laid out.


Can I just say, rolling apples in caramel is hard on the wrists! Thank goodness for Bob! He got it figured out to an art - and aside from the first dozen topped ones - everything looked perfect! The first dozen still looked yummy, but they had a lot more drip down!

Well, reading the label, we found we could melt the caramel in the microwave without trouble, so I kept the rest of the caramel melting and poured it into the crockpot where is stayed warm so Bob cold roll apples. A 5-pound brick of Peter's Caramel melts thin enough in about 15 minutes.

We had them all done - all 116 - in about 2 1/2 hours from the time we started dipping. Our counters - all of them - were covered in caramel apples - where they stayed over night to cool completely. My table, however, was unrecognizable with all the counter stuff (and junk) dumped on it. (But hey, I wanted to clean my counters anyway, right?)

In the morning, I bagged them all and then tied them up with orange yarn. Peter was my helper and learned to do the first step of tying. He also learned how to twist the bag tops and get that first tying part done fast - and tight! He got pretty fast. At first I was tying off three or four to the one he'd pass me to bow. But by the end, in the time it took for me to bow the one he'd given me and to turn around to put it in the box and turn back around, he'd have another waiting for me.

We surprised everyone - and they were down at the school and set out a day early! (And we had to make a few for our kids too - Jacob was pretty happy about that)

Crazy Hair Day

There have already been two spirit days this year. The first one was School Spirit - so the kids each got a T-shirt with the school's name on it to support the school.

The next was Crazy Hair Day - Jeremy got spiked, Gabi wanted to go curly, and Beth wanted a mohawk (okay, so did Jeremy).

Anyway - Jeremy's was too short to mohawk - but made great mini spikes.



Gabi's looked nice .... normally when she curl her hair we do it wet and we do it too tight so it is really crazy and unable to be tamed. We didn't follow that the night before - I guess we know how to do it right next time. I offered to make it more crazy and she said no.


And Beth's was too long for a mohawk - so we rigged this up instead!

October Adventures

Early in the month, I helped Becca (the little girl we watch) and Peter make these cute little people from those tiny pumpkins, some paper, scraps of fabric, markers and yarn. I used a hot glue gun to keep it all together. Aren't they super cute?

Then we went off to the pumpkin patch and for the first year, I couldn't find the camera to take with me! Jen got a few on her phone, but I haven't gotten them yet, but still... I do miss the pictures of all the kids on everything - but the day was much nicer not having to run to one place and then the other.

It was sad for Gabi because this was the first year that she didn't get to go. Beth and Jeremy had fun with their classes, and Peter, Jacob and I rode with both and just played. Jacob was funny in the little hay maze - and at that moment I wished I'd had the camera .... and consider, briefly, planning a trip back just to get that picture. I decided against it.

We also had our Ward Harvest Fest. This was the first year that we did Harvest Fest instead of a Halloween Party. I was disappointed with last year's party because it seemed so crowded and as if there wasn't really anything planned for the kids. I was disappointed this year in not having the trunk or treat. HOWEVER - we LOVED harvest fest. The kids had games to play, there were hay rides, and there were plenty of warm places for adults to gather and visit. It was a great night.



I managed to get a couple of pictures as the kids were piled on for the first hay ride - but I was lucky since I didn't have my spare battery and the moment I turned on the camera the batter dead light started blinking. - But the hay ride was so fun with Jacob - the first time he decided he needed to sit beside me and then even with the wagon didn't bounce, he'd bounce along, thrilled, with a huge smile! When I asked him (later on) if he wanted to go on a hay ride again he yelled "YEAH!"

Hiking With Aunt Cheri & Uncle Andrew

Midway through September, Aunt Cheri and Uncle Andrew invited Bob and the girls to go on a hike with them. The idea was that they would hike Mt. Lassen... but, as noted in the summer with the sledding... it was still under snow. So, within Lassen National Park they hiked Brockoff Mountain - the biggest and most difficult to climb within in the park.


The girls were so excited! When Aunt Cheri and Uncle Andrew arrived, they became even more excited because they were given hiking packs and camelbaks to use! They loved them - and we've stored them in a safe place not to be damaged until further need!

I was not with them, so I do not have any fun, silly, or annoying stories to share. They did make it to the top - they did take turns being the leader - they did have fun - and the both became part of the National Volcanic Club! They came home exhausted, but with huge smiles! - Oh yeah, and they got to stop and get Milk Shakes from a place Aunt Cheri loved when she used to work for the fire service.



Thanks for taking them - they had a wonderful time!

4th Grade Adventures

To start the school year, the 4th grade class took a trip to Turtle Bay to explore the Grossology Exhibit. Of course, they couldn't just do that - and thank goodness as they was nothing to absorb the noise - so they started by feeding the lorakeets. They were brightly colored and would come to you if you had a nectar cup - though only if they were hungry. One landed on Gabi's hand - which was the most common location - though some landed on shoulders or heads.


Afterward, we ate lunch and watched the animal show - some pretty neat animals - all unable to live in the wild.

Then off to grossology.... all sorts of information - scattered everywhere.... there were games to play along the way as well as a quiz right at the end. Gabi knew quite a bit even without finding all the info.



I was able to go thanks to an awesome friend who took Jacob and Peter. I had no idea how Jacob would do since he still nurses - though I knew he could go without. He did well, and it was so good to be able to go with Gabi on a field trip - I have felt like I missed so much because of too little baby for so many years!

Next, I offered to make the cake for California's birthday. With Bob's help - lots of help - we had is shaped like California... and it was huge! I had layered a yummy moist cake with a oreo fudge center. Then I attempted to take it to school.... Seeing that the edges of the cake when clear to the edge of the board, I didn't want to put it on the floor of the van - not that I could have guaranteed a safe place on the floor anyway. Regardless, the idea of frosting smeared on the floor, or dirt particules on the the cake were not very appealing.

On the way, down a hill and around two corners, the weight of said cake was against me... and it came to hitting a mailbox or losing a cake... though I was hoping not to lose the cake.... the weight was just too much for my arm to maintain control of - seeing that the board was longer than my arms spread out - and I lost. And my van floor had frosting all over it anyway.



I managed not to cry or scream - amazing... and even Peter said "Mom, why aren't you crying about the cake?".... and after sending a sad email to the class teacher, I proceeded to throw together two smaller cakes which were not so elaborately decorated so they could make it to school on time.... no yummy center and the frosting / decorations were a combination of melted chocolate chips and skittles, but it was still warm.

(A side note.... I attempted a moist cake for a friend's baby shower and it was a total disaster.... after that, I decided that my cake making skills have left me... at least the ones that make things look nice... so I'm refusing to make cakes.... at least until Beth's birthday)

Soccer, Soccer, Soccer

.....IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!

As much as we love soccer around here - and we really do love soccer - we're also very happy when the season comes to a end. It's so busy and we're all going crazy, and it's nice to find a sense of every day routine again!

I did not attend as many games as I thought I might (and took the camera to even fewer)... in fact, after my last blog note about going to every game, Jacob got sick... so well, that ended that. Afterward, it became the game of "how many nights can the family endure being out in a week without getting over-tired and run down... and sometimes sick". Still, it was fun to watch - when Jacob wasn't trying to get to the parking lot and road!

Beth and Jeremy had a great time on the field... though a favorite was to say "hi, mom" when they'd catch sight of me ... at one point Beth even stopped in the game to ask if I'd seen another kids kick a ball from midfield nearly into the goal. Fun. That's what it's all about at that age... if only it could stay that way! We try.


Gabi got a lots of time in lots of positions. She did very well in goal once again - she still enjoys that position, but discovered she likes to see a little more action. She's a strong goalie and defender, but forward and midfield weren't here favorites starting the season. But as she was noting less and less action down in the defending area and goal (they had a great time and a great coach... yeah, plug for my wonderful husband), she found she enjoyed the upper positions too. She worked really hard on her shot - took some amazing shots - but always struggled to get it past the goalie. We were even told that two of Gabi's power shots that were stopped by the other goalie (doubling the goalie over even) were the only goals that goalie had managed to stop all year... and it was kind of luck - though to not fall over means that goalie had to be paying attention too.... Anyway, it took till the last game - every one else had made at least one goal this season already on the team - and the start of that first game, Gabi nailed two right in a row! Awesome shots - well deserved scoring! She's come such a long way since she first started learning the game several years ago now! - a versatile player... nothing better than that!


Peter did great - bringing trucks to play, climbing trees, snatching an extra ball and practicing his own kicks, and cheering. He's looking forward to next year when he gets to join the mix!

Jacob - well, once we showed him the dirt was fun on the upper side of the fields, he did pretty well. Though he still watched for chances to head toward the road, and he loved to walk the line - and dash onto the field whenever he thought he could get away with it. Another five years for that one.

And Bob - he was such a trooper... he coached two teams this year. Gabi's U-10 team and Beth and Jeremy (same time) U-8 team. Next year we're looking at three teams - we'll see how it all plays out. But, once again, we left the season with very happy parents. They specifically commented how Bob's ability to work with the kids, speak kindly to them, encourage them, all the while teaching them real skills and instructing them on how to play - and on teamwork as well as sportsmanship.

Check It Out

It's update day - seems to happen about once a month... I spend my computer time reading and writing... just not much blogging.

Anyway - before I get started:

My friend Courtney is having a giveaway that might interest you:

"Great American Documents for Latter-Day Saint families"

She give a wonderful review and instructions of entering her drawing on her site. So, if you're interested, head on over there and take a look!

Happily EverAfter

Very Insightful

On our way to church we often find ourselves discussing how some people do not go to church - some not to our church and some not at all. It always involves helping the children understand that every person has their own choices to make. Some decide not to go to church at all because they choose not to believe. Others have not had the chance yet to learn about the gospel and therefore do not choose to because they do not know. Others choose to attend a different church. Those kinds of things.

So today we're heading to church when our 4 year old promptly notes the path of an on coming car going the opposite way and thereby not going to church. At this point I prepare myself to start in with the choices response again when he expertly claims:

"I know why some people don't go to church. It's so the missionaries will have people to teach when they're on earth."

Very insightful.

Perfect Recipe For Disaster

1 antique yellow electric stove top (between 1970-1980)
1 set power controls on left hand front side
1 used, empty pie plate, glass
1 button happy toddler
1 dining room chair
1 helpful child

Step # 1: Make sure stove top is properly installed and power controls correctly connect current to appropriate burners.

Step #2: Place pie plate on small burner closest to power controls to cool and await washing over night.

Step #3: Allow helpful child to place dining room chair near power controls to retrieve the morning breakfast cereal. Do not remind said child to return chair to its proper location - thereby leaving it in perfect order for step number four.

Step#4: Add button happy toddler. He will inevitably press the correct button.

Step #5: Wait in separate room, oblivious to the fact that steps 3 and 4 have now been completed.

You will know things are done when you hear a loud explosive crash, followed by the sound of raining glass. It will be much the like the sound of a crystal chandelier falling to a marble floor. Check to be sure - you should see smoke wafting through your kitchen and dining room, a bright red burner, and chunks of hot and somewhat sticky glass thrown everywhere within an eight foot radius.

If you are lucky, there will have been no one in the eight foot radius at the time of explosion, thereby giving the best artistic display without being tainted by oozing and wailing - the boys missed it by a foot.

I'm Afloat

Apparently I'm afloat.... I've successfully washed the majority of dishes, cleared two surfaces, gone through half the paperwork, and FOUND the mysterious netflix movie AND my camera cord.... pictures and stories to come soon... off to attack some more surfaces and maybe the floors.... or maybe I'll dive into apples! =)

I May Be In Over My Head

Lately I've been thinking I'm seriously in over my head - after all, soccer recently started (two teams... I'll hate to see what three does to us next year), quickly followed by a new little one joining us most weeks up to three days a week (and she's so much fun), and then the beginning of school, and dance and violin. That's busy. Yes, our fall is very busy and shifting gears to jump back into schedules is never a smooth ride around here, although we always get through it and usually with many laughs and smiles and certainly with lots of fun and pictures!

But add to that apples and well.....

I now have successfully lost a netflix movie, I honestly have no time (or is it energy) to get the niddy-griddies around the house done as I'm generally barely keeping afloat on the dishes and laundry, I have lost my camera cord and have given up hope on attacking my bedroom until further notice... and my writing, I pulled up one story twice this week to immediately close it out without even reading any of it... now is just not the time!

And then....

Jacob decided now was the perfect time to get up on everything... the table wasn't a big deal because we have carpet (the one and only good thing about carpet in the dining room) so we just keep the chairs pushed in.... most of the time. But his excitement has shifted to the living room, specifically my computer... okay any computer... and the TV and DVD players. In other words, he's supposed to be on 24/7 watch again.

The good news...

We're still having fun, we're supporting the family at all the games (which means fresh autumn air) (though I cut out early last night because Jacob just wasn't handling it.. or I wasn't handling him all over the place). Half of my tree of apples are put up and the other half were picked today (okay, all the ones I thought were big enough to bother with) so I'll finish those up this week. I have a batch of beets to put up, and other wise I have no more "absolutes" that must get done immediately - which means, come next week I can just focus on routine again and by October I think we'll be settled in. By November soccer is done and we'll have one day a week full of crazy! That I can handle.

I may be in over my head at the moment, but someone recently told me that I was just being a good mom. I try to let that sink in - that being a good mom means putting them first and sometimes that means that things back up.... and though I may feel like I'm in over my head, I'll gladly take this swim every year, knowing that what matters most is what is being focused on!

Nursing, Books, and Toothpaste

When I nurse the baby, I often read a book or a magazine or something. It helps pass the time, or I get antzy. It's also been a great way for me to TRY to keep up with Gabi - I like to know what it is she's actually reading.

Last night, while nursing the baby before he went to bed, I instructed the kids that they needed to get ready for bed - especially that they needed to brush their teeth. We have a few who don't like to take the time, or don't like the toothpaste flavor or whatever. One who likes to tell us he did brush when he didn't just because he doesn't want to "waste the time".

Bob was "listening" to the stories of the tooth brushes for the boys - checking to see if they actually did what they were supposed to do - and had passed those brushes on to me. We were also having a conversation with Peter (our 4 year old) about the importance of using toothpaste, even though he hates it. (We've never found one he likes) I told him he needed to either brush his teeth with toothpaste himself or he could have help. He starts off across the room with his toothbrush telling us that "mom can help him". I tell him that I can't right now, that he'll need to wait for me or ask Dad for help (after all, I was nursing the baby).

His reply: "No. You can just put the book down!"

First Day Of School

It's that time of year again! Amazing! Summer went by both too quickly and too slowly. I guess it depending on what we were thinking about at the time.

We awoke this morning to the slamming of doors in utter excitement. The kids had woken before their 6:30am alarm and were racing to get ready before. Since they'd made lunches and set out clothes and packed bags the night before, it didn't take much. The only problem was that I didn't get up early enough to have the muffins on the table by 6:30am.... who would have thought. But they were patient with me while I made them and enjoyed the "special breakfast" for the first day of school!

Gabi is now in 4th grade - very excited -and we understand her workload will increase. She'll do fine, though the idea of a change makes her nervous and concerned that she won't be able to keep up. That will settle down by the end of next week.

Beth is moving into 2nd grade and is very excited to have a teacher she had in Kindergarten! It will be a new challenge for her, but she's eager to jump right in! I love it when she's eager and excited - because then she's all smiles!

Jeremy was also excited to learn he'd be having his Kindergarten teacher as his teacher moved up with the class. He's just glad to be back in school again and the idea of being in 1st grade some how makes him think he's a bit closer to the top! Let's hope it doesn't go to his head!

Peter was glad to have some space without the others again. His own schedule here at home without having to adjust for other people. And happy to be top dog again, as it's just him and Jacob at home. Last year for him to do that, then off to school for him too. He's ready in all the other ways - and we love listening to him!

Little Jacob, well, he was just thrilled to get an extra walk in today - first thing this morning! Grinning ear to ear, and trying to get us all to go out sooner!

I've got my own plans for here at home. I'll be working more in depth with sign language, both brushing up my own, and working with the boys - and maybe a few friends if they want to join in. We'll continue with the reading, the math related stuff, and the fun - but it feels good to get focused on something else too!

Petroglyhphs

Okay - so Gabi missed this field trip because she was really crazy sick, and so we told her we'd go this summer. It ended up being me and the kids because Bob's schedules has been jam packed, but we had a good time - though I'm not sure we found any drawings on rocks. I'm guessing we didn't wander far enough, but who knows. All I know is the kids had a blast playing in the little creek!






There were some large rock that appeared to have some "washed out painting" but we didn't get close enough to see if that's what we were supposed to find.

When we first got there, we were excited to read the sign and learn that the man who discovered - or at least named - the area came from Belfast, Maine... and therefore named the area Belfast. We love finding these kinds of connections to our own past!



We were also a little concerned looking out, because it was all in the open, it was really hot, and, well, dry looking. As we came to the end of the flat - which was where we'd start down hill, but we didn't know it - the trail turns slightly and there before us was the creek down in the valley, and green all around. Honestly, I don't think the pictures do it justice. The kids and I stopped up there and just looked - and a sense of excitement filled the kids' faces, as they were dragging their feet in disappointment before, and all I could think of were the Pioneers as they entered the Salt Lake valley and what they must have felt - I'm sure what hit me was only a teeny, tiny fraction of what they felt.


All in all we had a nice time... the only complaint was that we didn't stay long enough - we had left lunch up at the van and Jacob was ready for a nap. Another time we'll pack it all down with us and stay longer!