Happy Halloween!

We attempted to carve pumpkins the other night.  We are amateurs.  Leighton was comparing this warty pumpkins to the warts that are growing on his forehead.  Those things are obnoxious.

The pumpkins were so hard that Eric had to use an electric saw.  He thought I was just being wimpy but he soon realized what we were talking about.

Our band of misfits.  Boston the boxer, Jackson the navy seal, Leighton the 70's detective and Prince as  a morph.  Eric dawned the gorilla mask and kept everyone entertained at Trunk or Treat.  Class parties are next then actual trick or treating tonight.  Leighton says he's too old to trick or treat and will be handing out candy instead.  Fine with me.  I just might let the kids run through the neighborhood and take it easy.

Zion & Staheli Farm

Last Friday was Nevada Day so we crammed into Eric's truck and drove to St. George.  First stop, food.  We tried to go to Cafe Rio but it spilleth over.  Wendy's had to suffice.

Zion was gorgeous and the weather was perfect.

Kennedy had a little mishap with the stairs as we were heading out the door.  She sprained her ankle which sidelined her for most of the day.  Her and I sat and chatted while the guys hiked to the emerald pools.  I thought maybe a walking stick would do the trick but she wasn't having it.  She wouldn't even let me take her picture at this point.

Finally... she let me take a picture.

 We didn't leave Zion until 5 pm which meant we were going to get to Staheli Family Farm just in time for the night corn maze and haunted house.  As we were getting out of the truck (breathing in the lovely cow smell), I expressed my desire to go through the haunted house and corn maze.  Eric was encouraging them as well.  Leighton then says, "Dad, we came here to have fun, not pee our pants!"  The kids refused to go to the haunted house and corn maze.  We are raising chicken littles.

We settled for the farm activities and fun was had by all.

Boston thought this little guy was a unicorn, seriously.

Eric and Kennedy were content as could be, people watching, talking and rocking.  We ended the evening with dinner at Golden Corral (with the rest of St. George) and came home worn out and ready to hit the hay.

Fall Ball

Every fall my parents make the trek from Washington to come visit and see what the kids are up to.  Shannon made a special trip with her kids as well (UEA in Utah).  Boston is midway through flag football.  He's on a great team that has won every game.  It's full of talent with every player getting a chance to shine.

The twins are midway with their tackle football season and play with real heart and soul.  Their first loss occurred this day but they told Eric they gave it all they had.  Noah and Luke, along with Shannon, Ella and Sara came to support them as well.

Our kitchen has a small eat-in area that is very cozy and makes for intimate meal time.  It was a real treat to share a meal with Grandma and Grandpa Jenks.

Kennedy and Grandma Verdene.  I think Kennedy resembles her grandmas.  Shannon, Grandma, Ella and Sara came to Kennedy's volleyball game half way through(which happened to be the same time as the twin's game) but we weren't able to get a picture.  Bummer.

How many people can you fit on a sectional?  Looks like a lot more.  This couch, like our small kitchen table, brings us all together.  I am glad it doesn't have a chaise lounge because this way everyone can kick their feet up.

The weather is finally dreamy!  Eric pumped all the bike tires up and Boston broke all kinds of records with his pogo stick.  He's an animal on that thing.

Ella and Sara spent most of their time coloring.  Girls are so different than boys.  Quiet and easy (at this age). Sara asked me if grandpa was my dad too.  I asked her, "Don't I look like him?"  She responded, "You're cute."  She melts my heart.  She also told me I was pretty nice.  Ahhh.

Shannon bought Ella 2  jump ropes and we had the most fun with them.  We were pleasantly surprise at the jumping ability our kids displayed.  The twins tore it up, like professional boxers (who knew?).  Noah brought comic relief, and Kennedy was as intense as ever.  We laughed and jumped for about an hour.  Crazy how something so simple can bring so much entertainment and fun.

We cannot express how much we love having family and friends come visit.  It breaks up the monotony and keeps life interesting.  Thank you for making the effort!

Ready for an Island?

I sure am. 

Life is crazy and we do it to ourselves.

If we lived on an island, here are some parameters I would set:

1. School would be within walking distance and lunch would be served.

2. There would be no homework.

3. All recreational activities would be held in the same place - every kid dropped off and picked up at the same time.

4. In fact, everything would be within walking distance.

5. Church would only be on Sunday for 3 hours.  No other meetings allowed.

6. PTO wouldn't exist.

7. School carnivals and Harvest Festivals wouldn't exist.

8. Work would be 8 am - 3:30 pm (school hours).

9. Dust would be obsolete.

10. No one would pee on the seat, or on the wall, or the ceiling.

11. Ice cold Diet Pepsi would be on tap.

12. And one last thing, Target WOULD exist.

Of course I am just poking fun at the life we live.  I am happy with the chaos I function in but there are days when my chest is pumping with anxiety and I'm driving around like a chicken with my head cut off while texting, talking on the phone, emailing, eating (you name it)...that I want to be on an island where none of this matters.

Today I was pulled over for texting.  I was sitting at a red light looking at my emails and looked over to see a policeman staring at me.  Once I went through the green light he pulled me over.  I guess you can't text while sitting at a red light.  And my driver's license address isn't updated, surprise, surprise.  Those two tickets would have totaled $304.  Luckily, it was my "lucky" day as the officer referred to it.  He let me off with a warning.  Then, just in the mile and half home to my house, I reached for my phone about every 5 seconds.  It's a real addiction.  Try driving somewhere without touching your phone.  I have hands-free in my van but with the crash of my old phone, I haven't updated my new one.  I honestly haven't sat still enough to do it.  So you'd think I wouldn't want cell phones on my island?  Just like Diet Pepsi and Target, I am too addicted to go without.  And the circle of the life of a soccer mom continues!

(Please leave me your contact information so I can get my right arm back :))