This is Halloween......

I didn't have to work today which actually made me sad because we could dress up. So I broke my day off rule which is, unless it is something life threatening, I do NOT go into Wally's.

I had to go and see my friends Conly, Mo and Kyle's costumes. You all know I watch anime. Well so do these guys and we all are (yes I hate to admit it) fans of Bleach. In fact I was watching it before they were. The new episode comes out on Internet every Tuesday and we all make sure we watch it so we can comment on it the next day at work. Except for Mo, he reads the manga so he actually is ahead of us on what is happening.

So here are 3 captains of the 12 Court Guard from l to r..... Byakuya Kuchiki (Conly), Kenpachi Zaraki (Mo) and Jushiro Ukitake (Kyle). There costumes were awesome and they even had the swords and made name badges with their characters names. They have been planning this since August so I couldn't miss it. Except for me and Joe, who works in TLE, no one else knew who they were. One lady asked Mo while he was cashiering if he was anime (her granddaughter is into it) and when I was walking with Mo to find Conly and Kyle a couple went by us and actually knew who Mo was dressed as.

Conly (and his sister Megan) is who I eat lunch with everyday. He is always stealing my phone because it has Internet on it and he is always pulling up things to watch. He is also responsible for some of my random FB status updates because I forget to log off my FB app.

I went to our ward's Trunk or Treat. It is always a lot of fun. The kids in our ward are so cute. I forgot my camera so I couldn't take pictures to show you some of my favorites. Jax was spending Halloween with his dad so Johnny brought him so I could see his costume. His Jason turned out great. Leslie sent me a couple of pictures to my phone of her kids. I missed them all not coming into town.

I then spent the evening watching TV and munching on leftover candy.

First Snow.......

When I got off work this is what it was doing.......
Those white spots are NOT a defect in my camera those were the flakes that were falling. Where is a hot tub when you need one? When we had our hot tub we waited for flakes like that to fall and then we would run out and jump in. There is nothing better then sitting in a hot tub with the snow falling all around you.

These were the bushes in front of my house.........

As long as I can remember I have always loved snow. I wait anxiously every fall/winter for the snow to fall. Besides sitting in the hot tub my other favorite thing to do when it is snowing is go out for a walk. It is so quiet and peaceful when it is snowing.

I do have to admit though that I don't like to drive in snow except when we had our big 4 wheel drive Ford Bronco. That I loved to drive in the snow! Shoveling the snow isn't too bad, except for the end of my driveway after the plows have make their final pass.

Today's snow made me think of a first snow a couple of years ago. It was on December 8, 2007. I didn't think we were ever going to get snow. That day it snowed it only left MAYBE one inch, if that much, on the ground. I was watching Leslie's kids for her for some reason.

When they got to my house of course they wanted to go out and play in the snow. After a little while Cambria came running into the house and told me she needed a carrot. I asked her what for and she told me for the snowman they had built.

All I could think was that there wasn't enough snow to build a snowman. So I went out to see just what they had done. So when I came out I brought my camera (because I figured this would be a good photo opp) this is what I was met with.....

Can you see that tiny little snowman in Cambria's hand????? The snow you see flying in the air was the "snowballs" they had made and threw at me when I came out. I'm pretty sure they gathered up ALL the snow in my backyard just to make that tiny snowman.

Just goes to show you that there is nothing a kid can't do if they put their mind to it. :)

More Halloween fun......

Friday Leslie had a Halloween party for the kids. She invited all the cousins and a few close friends. I went out after work to watch and ended up giving her a hand. There was a pretty good turn out which meant we were busy.

First she served them dinner. She made mummy dogs, pizza, french fries, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches cut into Halloween shapes and eyeballs(made of frozen pudding and gummy lifesavers). For dessert she had cupcakes with "dirt" and worms on top. She put in a lot of work and will now be know as one of the coolest mom's in Tremonton.

Then we divided them into groups for the activities. I ran the bingo game while she helped with the pumpkin decorating and Halloween arts and crafts. Then they played games-they had a race to see who could wrap someone with toilet paper like a mummy, hot pumpkin (like hot potato), pumpkin relay races, and the ever favorite freeze tag.

I also brought my camera because I knew that Les would have her hands too full to get pictures all the time and it was a good thing I did because she ended up running out of memory.

Some of my favorites times during the party were.....
When the kids were all served their dinner I looked around and ALL the boys were sitting on the stairs eating and watching "Transformers II" that the kids had left playing before the party started.

Braxton is the mummy

My other favorite time was when they were playing Hot Pumpkin. At first Gunner was trying to get into the game the best he could.

But when he got bored with it he decide to crash the game and rode his 4 wheeler into the middle of the circle.

Saturday night Leslie had a Halloween party for her friends so Cambria, Braxton and Gunner spent the night with me.

We watched Halloween movies all night. Gunner's favorite was the Winnie the Pooh one. Cambria and Braxton love "Hocus Pocus". Of course we also watched "The Great Pumpkin" too.

Usually Braxton is that last one to get to sleep but this time it was Gunner. I had him in my lap and every time I thought he was asleep a commercial for the "Transformer II" movie would come on and he would pop up all bright eyed and start shouting transformer! He didn't fall asleep until midnight.

Family Fun

It was a busy fun weekend....

I burned some vacation on Friday and left at noon. Leslie and the kids came by and picked me up and we headed down to Jamie's.

For several years now Jamie and Leslie get together about this time and they have a night were they make gifts for Christmas for their neighbors. This year they were doing it at Jamie's. I went along cause I like to be with my girls and the kids.

All the kids were there except for Jax. He was spending the night at Angel's and she was taking him to see the Star Wars concert.

Jamie and Leslie worked until 3am on their projects. I kept the kids from getting in their way and played on the computer and just enjoyed my family. I went to bed around 1am after I finally got the kids to sleep. Well all the kids but Cambria and her friend McKayla. They were helping Leslie and Jamie with their projects.

Saturday we all got up and we were going to all go and watch Trevon play soccer but we hit a snag...... Leslie locked her car keys in the trunk. She was not happy and we had to stay and wait for a locksmith to come and we missed Trevon playing.

We then headed to Salt Lake to Angel's house. Jamie and the boys ended up having top go back because of plans that Johnny had for Jax. We were sad that they had to go and Jax was not happy about it at all.

Angel took us to Apollo Burger. Very yummy, I had the mushroom swiss burger. So big I couldn't finish it. Then we were going to go to Gardener's Village for our yearly visit to the Witch festival. But is was so packed that we decided to go and find something else to do.

Angel took us to a Halloween store were Leslie was trying to find a few things for the Halloween party that she is having for the kids and for her costume for the adult party she is having. Then we went to the pumpkin patch....they sell pumpkins but they also have fun things for the kids. So they went through the maze and in the big blowup fun house. They were selling some watermelons also and while we were waiting for the kids to come out of the maze they cut one up and gave us huge pieces to try. It was good, sweet and juicy. Gunner especially loved his and the piece he had was almost as big as he was.

Sunday I over slept and so I stayed home from church. It felt good just to relax. I dug out my Christmas music....I can hear you groaning...but I get it out now so I can practice it so in December I can play it with minimal mistakes. Plus I admit it, I do love Christmas music, what can I say, it's who I am.

Trevon's Soccer Game......

Saturday morning we had to get up bright and early for Trevon's soccer game at 9:30. We made a quick stop at McDonald's for some breakfast and then headed to the soccer field.

Patrick met us there and Trevon's father Mike was there also. It was a little tense at first because Patrick and Mike do not like each other. I was a little tense too because I am not too fond of Mike either. But everyone played nice and there was no problems.

Trevon loves to play soccer and he really got into the game. Patrick had to leave early to go to work and missed seeing Trevon play because they didn't put him in until the 2nd quarter. He did get to see him practice though so it wasn't a total loss.

Jamie and Trevon trying to keep warm.........

Jax kept himself happy playing with his nerf gun..........

Trevon making a goal during practice................

The game is on and Trevon was no slacker.......

Look at that kick......................

Heading towards the goal........

Trevon ended up making 2 goals during the game, sorry I didn't get a picture of those. Maybe next time.

After the game we went to Halloween USA to look for Jax a costume. He wants to be Jason (the original white hockey mask one). We discovered that the boys are not into the really scary gory stuff. They had a display at the front of the store that was like a mini spook alley and neither boy would go over even close to it.

Trevon started to freak out a little and so I held his hand. Every time he was really scared or if I walked too close to something that was in his eyes too scary he would squeeze my hand so hard that my fingers felt like they were going to go numb. Then he would say "I don't want to go there" and come to a dead stop. (no pun intended)

Jamie (who is my freak child who loves scary gory stuff just like her father) wanted to go over and check out the life size Jason they had so she could get some ideas for Jax's costume. So I had to take Trevon down the aisles that had the cutesy kids costumes to get his mind off the spook alley.

Even Jax was a little freaked by some of the things he saw. They had these figures crawling up the walls that were like dead and decaying bodies and Jax's comment was "Those are just disturbing." I had to agree with him on that one.

The shopping trip was a success and Jax was happy. Jamie just has to find an old jacket at the DI that she can rip and cut up and he's ready for Halloween.

After that the boys had dentist appointments. That was also a success-NO CAVITIES!

Then we headed to Brigham so that Jamie could take me home and drop Jax off at his dad's. It was fun spending time with Jamie and the boys.

Sunday I went to church. It was my week to teach the lesson and it went well. Rhonda canceled choir practice so I didn't have to stay after. The old bishopric was released and a new bishopric was sustained. The new bishop is my old home teacher. I was wondering why when he came the Sunday before that he told me I was getting a new home teacher. Now I know why.

My dearest friends Maren and Gary D. came home from their mission in (are you ready for this?) Hawaii this last week. I didn't get to see them till after the meetings. They looked great and I was so happy that they are back. On their mission they worked at the Polynesian Center and Gary taught some business classes. How fun.

Crime Free Social

Friday after work I went with Leslie and her kids down to Jamie's. She was having her annual Crime Free Social.

Jamie manages an apartment complex. She is in a program that works closely with the police department. They send her weekly reports of every time the police are called to her complex. It helps with evictions and keeping the crime rate down. So she has to have a social once a year to stay in the program. This year she had a Halloween theme. There was pumpkin painting and a bean bag ghost toss. For refreshments she had cookies and punch. Everyone in the complex is invited and encouraged to attend.

This is Brady the police officer that Jamie works with....

Jamie worked hard to keep things going smoothly and to make sure everyone was having a good time.

Leslie jumped in and helped her. I love it that my girls can work so well together. I am very proud of both of them.

The kids had a lot of fun..........................
McKayla and Cambria pick out their pumpkins and are ready to go..........

Gunner loved painting.........

Gunner and Cambria

A couple of times he leaned over and started painting Cambria's pumpkin.

Which she did not appreciate......

Trevon painting.................

Braxton and his finished pumpkin.......

Jax, the artist .......................

Brady gave the kids all police badge stickers and then talked to them about being safe. Then he talked to the parents about their responsibilities to keep the complex safe and crime free for all the children.

Jax, Braxton, Trevon, Cambria and McKayla......

After Brady talked to the kids they all got to go out and check out the police car and one of the motorcycle cops came and they got to sit on his bike.

Braxton on the motorcycle. I love this picture, just check out his face

After it was all over and cleaned up Leslie and her kids went home. I spent the night at Jamie's so that I could go to Trevon's soccer game in the morning. We had pizza and just relaxed. Jamie was beat she had been hard at work for over twelve hours. The social had a good turn out and was a big success.

Gunner is becoming a nudist.........

I went to the doctor Tuesday morning. The reason......did you know that if you checked the box on your drivers license application that says high blood pressure (it's in the same spot that you check to say you need corrective lenses) that you have to have a doctor fill out a paper saying that you can drive with or without restrictions? Well you do. That's what I get for being honest.

I needed to see the doctor anyways. Results of the visit....My blood pressure was good, my Pro Tine levels were perfect. He told me that I can get a flu shot. I never have gotten one because I used to be allergic to eggs. But I eat them now with no problems so he told me to ahead and get it. He prescribed Celebrex for my knees and yes he put me on the "happy" pill (Zoloft). He started writing out the prescription when I started crying as I talked to him. I have to go back in a month so he can see if it's helping or not.

I've tried now for months to pull out of this depression but it is stronger than I am. I was tired of not being myself anymore. I keep telling myself it's okay and everyone is being supportive and I knew it was time when I was starting to feel like no one would even miss me if I just quit showing up for anything. Not suicidal..... just becoming a total recluse.

So three days later my knees feel soooo much better and I actually walked into work this morning with a smile on my face! The doctor said it would take a week for me to notice if the happy pills were working or not but I have to tell you I almost felt giddy today. I just felt lighter and at one point I swear my face hurt from smiling and laughing so much.

When I saw the two shopping carts full of stuff from the maintenance closet in front of my office door.....It didn't even bother me. Normally I would have ranted and raved but I just pushed them back into the maintenance area. WOW....who is that masked women?????????

Yesterday I went out to Leslie's to help with the kids while she worked. When I walked in the house I was greeted by Cambria vacuuming the family room and Gunner running to the top of the stairs shouting "Gamma Gamma!" with nothing on but his shirt.

I had to take Cambria to dance. While she was there Braxton and I were watching a Scooby Doo Halloween movie on CN. I noticed Gunner wasn't downstairs with us. I turned around to see where he was and he was standing in the dinning room with the box of Chocolate Nestle Quick and a spoon eating the chocolate mix right out of the container. He had chocolate all over his face and was happy as a clam. I don't even know where he got it or how. But I cleaned him up and put the Nestle Quick up high in the pantry closet.

After we had eaten dinner Gunner walked into the play room and shut the door. I sent Braxton to see what he was doing (no I don't trust Gunner) and when Braxton opened the door I said "What is he doing?" and Braxton simply replied like it was a normal thing "Oh nothing, Gunner has just taken off all his clothes." I had to chase him down to get his diaper and pajamas on him. What is with this kid and clothes?