Halloween

Halloween started off with the annual Costume Parade at the girls' school. They moved SO quickly it was nearly impossible to get a good picture...but I'll take what I can get. Here's our little witch, Ellie:

And Lindy, the Fairy Princess:

I'm also lucky enough to be neighbors with the room mom for Lindy's class. That means I get to help out during the parties. I'm not sure why Lindy looks bored in this photo...I specifically remember her having a blast! Here she is next to her BFF, Ashlyn, making noodle skeletons.

We had to get in a picture of Lindy's teacher. She has worked miracles with Lindy this year. We heart her!

After all the school hoopla...grandpa and grandma H. AND great-grandma R. arrived to join in the fun. While great-grandma stayed home to hand out candy to the neighbor kids (dressed in a slightly scary clown costume...) the rest of us ventured out to fill up those buckets. (Notice the Jedi stalking off in the background? Curtis had a great aversion to the camera that night. Jedi's have bad days too, I guess.)

My favorite costume? My hubby dressed as a police detective. The mustache made me laugh. Every. Single. Time.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Oh...and Pumpkins

Sadly, our annual family pumpkin-carving night was a no-go this year. Ian's schedule has been a mess this month and we just never fit it in. Luckily, with a little help from grandma, Ellie, Curtis and I were able to (quickly) fit in a little jack-o-lantern fun.

(Though it is sad to see all those blank pumpkin faces staring accusingly at the camera, isn't it?)

The Early Years

Once upon a time there were two friends. Obi Wan Kenobi was a Jedi with a penchant for mischief. His friend, Darth Vader was a brooding soul who often forgot his light saber when he left his house in the morning.

Sometimes they would get in fights over little things. Like when Obi Wan accidentally hit Darth in the head with his light saber.

Or when Obi Wan non-accidentally shoved Darth out of his way.

In spite of Obi Wan's continued bullying, Darth was a forgiving sort and their friendship survived.

Until.....

Grandma Rae

Ian's grandma passed away this last week. We feel blessed that our schedules allowed us to make a quick trip to Canada this last weekend for her funeral. While it was, of course, an occasion for tears (and there were plenty of them) it was also a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the wonderful woman that she was, the exemplary life she led, and to marvel at the sheer number of family that loved her and were there to honor her. At the time of her passing, she and grandpa has 244 descendants! Unbelievable.

While she wasn't one to have anyone make a big fuss over her...they sure did a wonderful job paying tribute to her and warming the hearts of all those who attended. Each of her children were able to take a few moments to share fond memories (and to argue over who was the favorite).

Following the funeral, there was a quick grave-side service...where everyone was invited to take a flower from grandma's casket-piece.

Curtis playing in the dirt

Ian's sisters - Elizabeth (Tizzy) and Becca

My cute kids.

Ellie and Grandpa

Following the funeral, graveside, and luncheon, everyone seemed to congregate at grandpa & grandma's old farm house. There the grandkids started a huge game of anti-i-over. (Yours truly participated for the first time (because we were finally baby-free) and I made my first catch. Awesome.)

Everyone kept saying how happy grandma was at that moment...watching all her family laughing together and having fun. While she will be missed, we know she is happily reunited with grandpa. And that's something to celebrate.

Grandma and Grandpa (around 1939)

Now This is Getting Ridiculous

Today's fortune:

Should I be concerned? My next vacation is a cruise.

And we all know how those seem to turn out.

Curtis Did His Own Hair Today

My Faith is Shaken

I love fortune cookies. (My purse-filling cookie heists at Pei Wei are a testament to that fact.) However, when Curtis and I opened up our cookies today and found these little nuggets of wisdom, I must admit that my faith in the "fortune" part of the cookie was severely tested:

Mine: Exercise will be an important part of your life this week.

Curtis': Take action today on that excellent thought you just had.

I didn't know that fortune-telling would involve such an incredible sense of sarcasm.

Crazy Hair Day

Lindy wanted her hair to be "crazy, but cute at the same time". Hopefully this was what she had in mind.

This is Ellie's first Crazy Hair Day. She was SO EXCITED! And who wouldn't be? "Next year," she said, "I want MORE braids!"

Crazy.

Happy Thanksgiving, Eh!

In an attempt to celebrate the traditions of our culture, my family often find itself gathered together to observe the Canadian holiday known as Thanksgiving. It's always fun with the brothers around. It's touching to see them taking such care of each other during this festive time.

This next photo is a classic example of how everyone else perceives our family. You're right, Mike...we're all a little nuts.

Grumble, Grumble...

In my "inbox" this morning:

ciao, my hon!

The reduction of the universe to a single being, the expansion of a single being even to God, this is love.

Hello Honey! I would like to tell you a bit about myself. I'm tall with a middle figure. I have long blond, very beautiful hair, small nice nose, perfect lips and big blue eyes.  I am a sociable easy going person, so I like meeting friends, going out, have fun and new something interesting. I'm looking for a strong relations with a caring and smart man!

I am really tired of all these temporary relations.  I would like to find a man who will be able to estimate not only my beauty, but also my brain and my soul...I want him to kind and handsome, brave and tender, romantic and honest.

sweet, bye for now

Vera

I honestly can't tell what irritates me more:

a) that someone littered my inbox with such inane drivel without my consent...

b) that there are people dumb enough out there to actually click on the link... 

OR

c) the fact that the author of the note has no apparent understanding of the english language or the rules of punctuation.

I feel violated.

Mom, It's Me!

In the midst of a daily routine (staring hopefully into the fridge waiting for dinner to magically make itself known) Curtis came running into the kitchen and planted himself beside me. He was wearing his Superman cape and standing majestically, hands on hips, as he announced, "I'm hungry! Superman is HUNGRY!!!"

With a chuckle, I asked, "Okay, Superman...what would you like to eat?"

He suddenly reached up, yanked off the cape, and grabbed me by the shoulder to let me in on a little secret.

"Mom, it's me! Curtis!"

As you can imagine, I was SO surprised.

New Girls

We spent some time today watching the Saturday sessions of General Conference. Ian and I were surprised to see our son exhibit some odd behavior. He sat down in front of the television and began to pay attention. (I know, right?)

He suddenly announced, "Mom, we need to get some new girls!"

"What?"

"We need some new girls, mom."

"Do you mean, instead of Lindy and Ellie?"

"Yup...those girls up there match."

From what I was able to gather, he was letting us know that the girls in the Primary choir were more preferable than his sisters due to their matching shirts. Go figure.