Halloween preparations

It is so strange that we only had one pumpkin being carved at our house this year. Samantha was not interested in getting or carving one, at all. I'm sure our other girls are keeping up with the tradition at their own homes now. This is Luke's finished product:


Samantha will be participating in the dressing up and getting candy tomorrow night. We can't wait!

clubbing

Mariah is taking full advantage of her time in Salt Lake City, joining clubs and going clubbing. You can find anything you want to in Salt Lake City, including "dry" clubs. One of her favorite is Latin Dancing. She says she's getting pretty good at it. Watch out next time she and Rocio are home together!

She has also joined an improv group and has even had the chance to teach it a couple of times. This weekend she is participating in a "dinner and a murder" theatre production, that sounds like a lot of fun.

A year ago I was pushing her to get out of this house/ go away to school. She wanted to go, but I don't think she realized what a great experience it would be. I did. Just another example of how mother knows best. Ha Ha.

It will be interesting to see where her future takes her after LDSBC. On to a major university? Maybe a mission? Maybe marriage to a hot latin dancer? Maybe everything! Whatever she chooses, I'm sure it is a bright future ahead!

(Here she is, in the middle, at one of her many activities. I stole it off of facebook.)

So much fun, I don't know if we can handle it!

As I've said before, we've been without t.v. reception for over a year. During this time we have taken full advantage of the library; they have a great selection of DVDs. Recently our DVD player in the living room died, and we found out that if we had a Blu Ray player we could get free Wi_Fi. And if we had WiFi we could get Netflix. And if we had Netflix we could rule the world! - Or at least have a library full of movies and t.v. shows right at our fingertips!

The kids have already found a bunch of Phineas & Ferb episodes they've never seen. Reggie has found some documentaries he thinks he'll enjoy. And I have found every episode of every season of Monk and Bernie Mac!

I am serious when I say that I don't know if we can handle this. I don't want to spend too much time searching through the menu, watching it when I should be sleeping, watching shows that I know are trash, or forgetting to play games with each other. I guess we'll see how it goes.

So far, like with the library DVDs, we are still having good family time watching things together and I love the fact that there are no loud, obnoxious commercials to deal with.

Wish us luck!

p.s. And lets not forget, that even without Netflix, having WiFi means that Reggie can get some sports now on the t.v. and we can watch all the Mormon messages from YouTube on the good screen. Woo Hoo!

I love my Samantha!

I've just been thinking alot lately of how wonderful she is and how lucky I am to have her. She loves life. She never feels sorry for herself. She finds happiness in whatever she is doing, whether she is alone or with family or friends. The world is a better place because she is in it.

I only have a few years left of her official childhood. Luckily I have learned, from my other daughters growing up, that you never stop being a Mom. And so I guess I'll let her grow up after all, and everything will be okay.

(and here is a picture to go with this post, just because. Its a few years old, but I just love it.)

getting our fix

Even though Reggie and I don't have little ones at home anymore (under 10 anyway), we still get an opportunity to enjoy them from time to time.

Today I had the opportunity to talk to Tzuri and Evani. We sure do miss those "fat baby"s.

I love my job, where we are doing Autumn activities, and recently went to the pumpkin patch. Chasing these kids around is like having toddlers again. I love it.

Tonight Reggie's 3-year-old good buddy from church called to excitedly tell him that he had pooped in the toilet. Reggie was very proud of him.

And finally, some of my nieces and nephews came over tonight. Reggie read our favorite fall story to them "Too Many Pumpkins", and they rewarded him by sitting on him.





I think we can handle this stage of life, as long as we keep getting our fix.

My absolute favorite Bible picture

This is a picture of Jacob and Esau; it is a picture about forgiveness. I have always loved this picture. We are coming up on the story of Jacob and Esau in seminary, and I can't wait to share my feelings on the subject by showing this picture.

In my preparation for the lesson, I have learned that it was not a "stolen" birthright; it was meant for Jacob all along, because of the way he lived his life. Esau was technically born first, but did not live his life in a way that he could have received the blessing; we know that he sold it to Jacob for a bowl of porridge. But when it came down to the time of receiving the blessing, Esau did want it, very much.

I think that anybody who reads the story (in Genesis chapter 27) can't help but feel sorry for Esau. When he realizes that the birthright blessing is gone, he asks Isaac "Hast though but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father" - "And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept". Then he swears that he will kill Jacob, as soon as their father dies.

Jacob flees to safety and makes a life for himself. Years later (Genesis: 33) Jacob's circumstances find him (and his huge family) heading back to his homeland, where Esau still lives. He is of course very nervous. When they are almost there Jacob sees Esau and an army full of men heading towards them. Jacob thinks that this is it. Then, as the picture shows, "Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him; and they wept." All is forgiven. Esau loves his brother and is so happy to have him home.

I know that Jacob was righteous and did what he had to do. I know that Esau made some bad choices in his life. But Esau, to me, is a wonderful example of forgiveness. He got over it; he let it go; he didn't insist on an agreement or apology in order to love his brother again.

I guess its ironic that I love this picture so much. I have realized, in the last couple of years, that I have a problem with forgiveness. I have a hard time getting over things; letting it go; loving without an apology first.

We are all a work in progress, and this is one of my projects. And I just love this picture.

the big debate around here:

Which is the best one. We can't agree, but it is alot of fun trying to convincing each other by watching them over and over again.

Luke turns 10

Started the day off with breakfast at our favorite "house of pancakes" with some of our favorite people.



Ended the day with family, presents and cake. Yes, my boy does like getting clothes. Throw in some Wii games, Legos, etc. and he's a very happy kid.




No pictures for the middle of the day. The family photographer stayed home to make a cake while Reggie took the kids to a beach for an annual sandcastle contest. From what I hear, it's pretty amazing.

It was a great day. He's a great kid, and we are so happy to have him in our family.

Fiddler on the Roof

While looking for something to watch I came across Fiddler on the Roof, and it really peeked my interest, especially since we are studying the Old Testament. I think I might show the song "Wonder of Wonder, Miracles of Miracles" to the seminary students, as it mentions so many of the Old Testament stories.

I found the historal aspect of the movie very interesting. In the end, when they are all telling each other where they are going, I was happy for those going to America - like Tevia's family, but I wanted to yell "no! get out of Europe!" to the other people; because, as we know, World War 2 happens about 30 years later.

Tevia is definately my favorite character. He doesn't pray in the most conventional way, but he is constantly talking to God and looking to God in his daily life. I like that. I also think the actor who plays Tevia has the most amazing voice.

But I guess what touched me the most was watching him being a father to all of those girls. They took him through many unexpected experiences, and you can see how much he loves them through it all.

truths we all must face

Putting off unpleasant things only makes them more painful when you finally do them. For example, when your throat is so sore that you don't want to swallow, putting it off only feels worse when you finally do swallow - and let's face it - everyone has to swallow. And, when it hurts to pee, putting if off only feels worse when you finally do pee - and let's face it - everyone has to pee.

These are some profound truths.

p.s. - George Clooney is hilarious. I like him in comedies, like Fantastic Mr. Fox and Oh Brother Where Art Thou.