Halloween 2008

Halloween is officially over and I present to you a synopsis of our week:

I substituted the day before and on Halloween in 2nd grade and Middle School ESL classes respectively. I frazzled but was glad to be in the Middle School and not the Elementary school on "the" day.

Allison worked the high school "Trick or Treat Street" in a "Wizard of Oz" themed room. Obviously she was the Scarecrow.

On Halloween the girls went to school as each other; they both have distinctive styles. It sounds a little lame unless you've experienced it. When you know what clothes they wear it can really give you a start to realize the twin you're talking to and looking at is not the twin you thought she was. Everyone at school, teachers included, told them that what they did was creepier than most costumes roaming the halls. It even messed with The Old Woman's head a bit.

We had colored pancakes for dinner; jack o' lanterns, cat's heads and Jackson Pollock designs (I got really tired of designing and cooking). Our ward's Elders were over for a dinner, a huge dessert of Caramel Corn snacking and playing "The Great Dalmuti." I didn't feel like playing the game but Michael told me he'd let me begin the game in the prime role as Great Dalmuti. To have a little fun with it I decreed the Great Dalmuti shall wear the tiara, chunky earrings (non pierced in deference to any men that may win the title for a round) and ropes of Brighton pearls and crystals. The Lesser Dalmuti was granted the privilege of a regal opal brooch and ring ensemble. I didn't have to relinquish my crown the entire evening, much to Elder Caillier's dismay. At the conclusion of the game I allowed him to wear the crown jewels for one brief shining moment, and promised to send a picture to his mother.

Only THREE sets of doorbell ring for Trick or Treat. The my family is really sad we have so much candy left over.

We love you all... I'm going to put away decorations while Steven is, without any prompting, taking advantage of the warm day to wash some windows. Love him!

What Do You Say On a Monday?

Michael was asked by his best friend, David, to take a trip to Provo. David, just home from a mission in Mexico, wanted to do a few things before returning to school in January. Michael was excited to go because it was a free trip and it was a good chance to see Marianne's family. In calls he's said what a terrific time he's had. But what was a four day trip is now in its sixth day and I could hear the frustration in his voice as he just called. Marianne, if he has to stay another night could you please take care of him?


Emily became sad over the weekend because Michael wasn't here to play Monopoly with her. Steve and I sucked it up, and sucked Allison in, and we are still in the middle of a game that started yesterday. The things we do for our kids!



My wonderful missionary Chris who takes time to photograph the important things in life such as road kill.



A daughter who wants to go to Homecoming with a young man looking at her dressed like this...



... and NOT like this!


Sometimes actually being able to feel this is true.



Having a little granny to take care of.


Making yummy cupcakes with Nutella webs for the Ward Halloween Party.



Looking kind of cute while working on cupcakes.


Mom made Whole Wheat Bread. Steve made French Toast with it. I made Berry Blend Syrup. A good breakfast can make any day seem okay.

THE OLD WOMAN SPEAKS!!!

Well, she kind of speaks. She's telling me that she doesn't want to make a fool of herself by saying dumb things that may not be interesting to other people. (does she think we care... don't we all make fools of ourselves?)((now she's abusing me)).

There are many things she'd like to share. She'd like to post pictures of Daddy and let people know some the the memories she has. I've told her many times that I'd help her create her own blog and that I'd do the pictures and all that for her. So... Cast your vote! Let her know if you'd like this or not!

My vote: Yes, the world needs another blogging Granny, especially one who has so many good memories.

Warning: Mother Talking About Her Children

I like blogging about my children. I love them so much and I'm pleased and surprised at how they have developed their talents and it's awe inspiring to me to see the good choices they make for themselves. I get to tell you all and don't have to "brag" face to face. I think you all love my kids and some of you don't get to see them as often as we'd like. This is my way of sharing them with you.

That being said I'm so proud of my girls. Allison is in "Shades of Blue" and Emily is in "Women's Chamber Choir." Both are audition groups. Both had solos last night. Both performed wonderfully, and Emily was even playing drums when she sang! Sadly not everyone can stay in tune but our family does really well with pitch. It's not just my opinion, the choir director claims all four of our kids are amazing... good genes I'm sure.

I remember five years ago when the boys were in the same choirs attending a concert and both of them had solos, neither had told us. They were singing doo wop. Chris has a booming bass and really was the backbone on "Duke of Earl." The audience, especially the teenage girls, squealed when he was done. The groups changed on and off stage and when the men sang their final number it was "Earth Angel." All the little guys that sang solos were trying so hard and it made you smile to see their earnestness, off key and all. Michael stepped up to to the mike and as he belted out "earth angel, earth angel, will you be mine...?" the audience collectively dropped their jaws. It was one of those moments where you know they've come into their own.

Modesty Update: Em's choir could choose to order dresses with or without sleeves. She and one other LDS girl had sleeves on and they really looked better. The sleeveless dresses were cut a little tighter and, boy, does someone need to talk to the girls about bright lights on shiny dresses and how it highlights where their underwear is... shudder.

Another Saturday Night

This is what my evening has wound down to... Emily, Chistian and Allison Wii Bowling as I sit here trying to compose a thoughtful post. Crud, bowling's over and they're on to "Super Smash Bros. Brawl," a much louder game.
And there are two returned missionaries, one of them mine, in the basement on the PS2 playing "Kill Zone." Brawl? I know it's kid rated. Kill? They're both over 21 but I still growl a little.

I LOVED the fourth grade on Thursday and, well, I did enjoy the middle school drama classes on Friday. The loudest groups were the seventh graders working on their mime skits, go figure. And when I got home on Friday? There was another fourth grade teacher asking to reserve me for Monday. Wish I earned more... I've seen three teaching positions open, still, for this school year. One in Jeffco (Jefferson County, our school district) and two in Denver. The Denver school jobs are an easy commute and would be in poorer neighborhoods. The Jeffco job is a longer commute but in an area that would have much more community support. I'm not flattering myself that I'll be wanted by all three but I will be pondering greatly and trying to make the right decisions for my family. sigh.

Hey, Denise, look at what you did! Let me explain what Denise did and why it's so great. Allison's choir group ordered performance dresses that were sleeveless. She wasn't happy about it and with Denise's help she now has sleeves. The choir director loves "his Mormon kids" and was all for whatever she wanted to do to be comfortable. BTW, Denise, the other alteration is the dress third from the left. Yeah, you rock.

The kaleidoscope movie montage up top is what we were up to this week. Every evening after homework and dinner the youth of the house would come up with a movie to watch... frightening, spooky movies. It's been fun and little scary. If you take the time to see the titles you can tell which movies were added to the repertoire recently. They would be the ones that I have to watch in the light of day.

Eighth Grade Drama... sigh

The rehearsal mentioned yesterday was feebly structured chaos. Only three actors were involved leaving the other fifteen. Three to act as student directors, five to run back and forth to the prop room, three to play with a classmate's crutches, two to throw bottles of water at each other and cause me to yell for the first time as a substitute. The second time I yelled came two hours later with the 7th grade choir. As I tried to keep about twenty girls quiet enough for the rest of the class to finish watching "The Wizard of Oz" I kept watch on the clock, rocked myself and mumbled, "There's no place like home, there's no place like home..."

p.s. Thank you, Denise. You are my celestial inspiration today! I just couldn't face the sewing machine this week. Diet A&W Cream Sodas, on me. If I need a reciprocating saw sometime can I borrow yours? Can you say "covet"? I want one! With a 'saws all' and a Dremel tool (including a selection of bits) I'd feel my power tool collection would be close to complete! Oh, and the Firocet did the trick. Yea narcotics!

Life Can Be Good From a Certain Point of View

I'd like every day feel as if I'm living the picture...

I'm tired but happy... dreams of what can go wrong haunt me like kids walking out on class or not being able to remember how to turn mixed numerals into improper fractions for division but those dreams haven't materialized and I even was able to teach the weighty mathematical concepts of fractions and decimals to a non English speaking sweetie.

Stressing but focused... I can't worry about things while busy. Fearful yet faithful... have a prayer in your heart always and say "yes" to being a Den Mother. My family says they love me and that's the best.

Being appreciated outside of my family is uplifting. Within five days I will have taught choir, drama, algebra, pre-algebra, physical science and fourth grade. I am a Renaissance woman. The best is when the students come in the room and say, "Yea! It's you again!" I like feeling liked. I really don't think too highly of myself I'm just happy that I have a talent I can share.

Opposition in all things. If we were never unhappy we wouldn't fully comprehend the fleeting moments of happiness. More than joy is contentment. I have it good. This will be my mantra as I lead the 8th graders through their rehearsals of "Dracula" tomorrow.

My Twisted Tuesday Six

Long week and it's only Tuesday. Too many details to share so in an attempt to turn my frown upside down I'm looking for the good side of a few of my annoyances.


1. I'm sad I haven't had the time to do the fun baking for Halloween yet. But I am glad I made a cake with dark chocolate frosting and I had orange sprinkles and purple sugar to put on it.


2. I don't like having to take pills! Bleh! But I am grateful to live when there are medical options and that I have pretty, sparkly glitter and gems to make the prospect of taking pills much more fun.



3. Popcorn textured ceilings... what were they thinking? Having scraped a huge room in the basement last summer I think I'll deal with the upstairs later. But, in the meantime, I'm so happy that my honey is willing to patiently paint them.


4. Budget cuts in corporate America. Hate them. Never will be grateful for them.


5. I love rain but not rain that causes little muddy footprints to be cleaned off of the tile, carpet, couches and curtains. But I am grateful for a sweet puppy who loves me and keeps the d#@$ squirrels out of my yard. I'm also grateful for enough moisture this year that we haven't been under water regulations.


6. My ice maker was not working! I love ice especially when it's left in your glass and it's softenend and just the right texture to crunch. There's nothing worse than drinking something your ice has already melted away in. I'm grateful for my sensible farm girl training that drove me to jump in and fix that ice maker! In my opinion I will feel I've made it when I, like Matthew McConaughey, have a Sonic pellet ice maker in my home.