Happy Halloween!

Last night was our ward's "Trunk or Treat."  Our kids had a great time dressing up and acquiring vast amounts of candy.

Can you tell what Tyler dressed up as?  He was a little sad that more people didn't ask what his costume was, because he had candy in his pockets to give out as clues.  He said most people assumed he was a scare-crow.

Randy's costume is my favorite.  Because he dressed up as Megamatic- his own invented superhero- for the 3rd year in a row.  All I had to do was find his costume at the bottom of the dress-up box.

Emily is Belle.  Grandma Scott made the two princess dresses.  I like Emily's version of this dress better than Disney's because it is MODEST, and my daughter is simply precious.  We will be taking the princess dresses with us to Disney World next month.  Thanks, Grandma!!!

Lucy dressed as her favorite princess- Cinderella.  A couple of months ago, she got into my make-up bag.  I told her that she could wear make-up only on Halloween.  I think she was just as excited about the blush and lipstick as she was the candy.  She walked around the carnival in a pucker face all night.  It was adorable.

Another Reason Why KatyISD Rocks

Last week, Randy and I sat down at 4:10 to begin his homework.  After many tears and bouts of screaming- from both of us- we finished.  At 7:30.  It was a complete and total nightmare.  On Friday, Jason and I met with seven therapists, teachers and administrators from our school district for an ARD- an Admissions, Review and Dismissal meeting.  One of the results of that ARD is that Randy was able to bring home a "Neo"- a small word-processor- to help him with his homework.  He was so excited and wanted me to leave so that he could do his homework by himself.  What an amazing change!!!  To me, it's nothing short of a miracle.  He uses it at school as well, and hopefully, it will greatly diminish the frustrations he has with writing.  I don't know how long the novelty will last.  And I fully expect to see tantrums in the future when we do homework.  But now, I'm just enjoying the peace and grateful for the help.

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

Once upon a time, there were two beautiful princess.  These princesses and their brothers lived with The-Meanest-Mother-in-the-World.  Not a bad as a Wicked-Stepmother. But close, very close.  

Now, these children have a wonderful Fairy Grandmother.  The Fairy Grandmother tells her son that she feels that the Princesses and their brothers should be able to go to the magical world of Disney.  "Every child deserves the chance to go to Disney sometime," she tells her son.  He nods and says, "True.  True.  However, I'm married to The-Meanest-Mother-in-the-World.  I'm pretty sure what she'll say about the whole idea."  

Sure enough, The-Meanest-Mother-in-the-World flatly refuses to consider a trip to Disney World.  "First of all," she screeches, "I don't buy all this propaganda about magic.  We can go somewhere closer and cheaper and have just as much fun.  Secondly, vacations  cut into chore and homework time.  What kind of fun is that?  For me, I mean."  But the Fairy Grandmother wasn't deterred.  She waves her magic wand, tells her son that she and Grandpa would like to come with the family, and amazingly, The-Meanest-Mother-in-the-World relents.  

Convinced that this trip was a pending disaster, The-Meanest-Mother-in-the-World begins her research.  She buys The Complete Guide to Disney World and admires all the pretty pictures.  She regularly listens to podcasts- The Dis Unplugged and WDW Today become her favorites.  She frequents allears.net, poring over menus and making spreadsheets of touring plans.  She buys trading pins and matching shirts.  She discusses the family's plans with her mother (who used to be the The-Meanest-Mother-in-the-World, but is now the children's other Fairy Grandmother.)  Magically, the princesses receive beautiful gowns appropriate for a trip to the World.

Almost a year's time passes between the time the reservations are made and the day the family leaves for the trip.  And an amazing transformation occurs.  The Meanest-Mother-in-the-World still forces her children to do chores, homework and says "No" on a regular basis, with perverse glee.  But the frigid heart begins to thaw, and now The-Meanest-Mother-in-the-World is the first one every morning to remind her princes and princesses how many days left until their departure (25) and secretly wishes she had a princess dress of her own.    

And they'll live (hopefully) magically ever after. 

The Fun(ny) House

When I was a newlywed and a young mother, I made many ambitious plans for how I would raise my children.  I planned to feed them only nutritional food, teach them to cook and clean, expose them to culture.  I uttered many wise statements like "I want my house to be the fun house.  That way my kid's friends will want to come over here, and I'll know who they're playing with and what they're doing."  Then, the real world set it.  

I still want all those things.  I just had no idea how yucky "nutritious" could be, how aggravating cooking and cleaning with kids could be, how expensive culture could be, how loud a fun house would be.  

Friday night, we had Austin,  (Tyler's friend) Teya (Emily's friend) and Joshua (Randy's friend) spend the night.  All three are wonderful kids and we love having them over.  (Really, parents, we do love having your kids over.)  But what was I thinking have everyone over at once?  Oh yeah.  I was thinking we could get our social obligations finished in one weekend.  And now, I'm not sure if we're the fun house anymore.  Austin and Joshua had to leave early on Saturday morning.  So we (gasp) actually put kids in bed at a relative early time.  They problem is they took me at my word about leaving early.  So everyone got UP early.  At dark-thirty in the morning, Jason and I were awakened by the pitter-patter of a herd of elephants above our heads.  Well, at least I know where they are, who they're with and what they're doing!

Tagged- 5th Folder

I've been tagged again.  This time by another sensational sister-in-law, Auntie Heather.  The tag is this . . . Open your fifth photo folder and post the fifth photo.  I'm actually publishing a couple, because I can interpret "folder" that many different ways (and because it's fun.)

This photo was taken during the summer of 1995.  Jason and I took a road trip to Victoria, British Columbia.  I was pregnant with Tyler.  LOVE the glasses (not really).

Speaking of Tyler, here he is thirteen years after the picture in Victoria.  When I went to our family website,  this was the fifth picture in the fifth folder.  What a handsome guy.

Now I tag Elise (from our ward) because I'm jealous of her camera and her pictures, Susan (my sister) because I hope to see cute pix of her family, Brooke (another sister-in-law) because I'm jealous of her camera and she has my adorable nephews, and finally Tara (another friend from our ward) because hopefully there's a picture of Austin and then my Ty won't feel so embarrassed.  

Comfort Zones

A couple of weeks ago, Emily and I were asked to go with the sister missionaries to teach a discussion to a girl Emily's age.  We were happy to help and just as excited to hear that Jennifer decided to be baptized.  That is until the sisters asked us to participate in the program- Emily to give a talk, and I to play the piano.

I've tried to keep my extremely limited piano "skills" a secret.  I know, I know, candle under a bushel and all that.  Look, I will give talks in Sacrament, lead music, or bake for a funeral.  I will clean the bathrooms in our building or for a sick sister.  I will serve with a smile in Nursery, Primary, Young Women's, Relief Society, even Cub Scouts.   But, I really don't like to play the piano in front of other people.  My fingers get sweaty- it's very hard to play the piano with sweaty fingers!  I lose my place in the music- all those notes start to swim around.  I freeze in the middle of a song- completely forgetting how to play at all. Those wrong notes (and I hit a lot of them) sound like they resonate and echo around the room.  Logically, I know my playing isn't quite as bad as I imagine.  But I'm not a very logical person.  Still, I try to make it a habit of assisting anyway I can and said I'd be "happy" to help.  

When I told Emily that Jennifer would like her to give a talk, she had the same expression on her face that I had when asked to play.  By nature, Emily is a quiet, reserved girl.  She doesn't seek a lot of attention to herself- unlike her mother.  She felt shy in the discussion when it was just the sisters, Jennifer and Jennifer's parents.  But lovely Emily still accepted and said she would give the talk.

While I practiced the songs Jennifer asked me to play- songs I didn't know- I wanted to call someone else and asked them to play for me.  I didn't want my mistakes to detract from the spirit of the baptism.  But I kept thinking of Emily, who got a little tearful when she felt overwhelmed at the idea of preparing and delivering a talk.  I was grateful that she had the opportunity of stretching her comfort zones, of accomplishing something difficult.  What kind of mother would I be- asking her to do something uncomfortable and then chickening out myself?

This morning, Emily gave an amazing talk on baptism.  It was beautiful in its simplicity and sincerity.  I stumbled my way through three songs.  But the Spirit was still there and the church is still true.  When the baptism was over, Emily admitted that she kind of enjoyed giving her talk, that it wasn't as bad as she thought.  I still hate playing the piano.  But I'm grateful that my daughter and I were both blessed with the chance to stretch and grow, just a little bit more.   

Let Me Count the Ways

(Get out your wet wipes.  This might get a little bit sticky.)

Why I Love My Husband

1.  He sends me flowers when he is away on business trips and I've had a rough week.

2.  He still makes me mix CD's like he did when we dated in college.

3.  He has an infectious laugh, that few people have really heard.

4.  He listens to our prophet, our stake president, and our bishop.  And then does what they counsel.

5.  He works hard- at his job, at his relationships with each of his children, on Saturdays, in his callings.

6.  He's incredibly hot.

7.  He sings bass in church.

8.  He insists we sit beside each other in Sacrament Meeting.  No children coming between us.

9.  He is respectful to his mother, his wife , his daughters, his mother-in-law and women, in general.

10.  He loves his God, his church, his family, his country, his friends and neighbors.

11.  Did I mention that he's hot?

12.  He loved me enough to take me to the temple to be sealed to him for eternity and he honors those covenants.

I am a lucky, lucky, lucky girl.

Rice is Nice!

There are many reasons why I love living in Katy, Texas.  We have all the benefits of suburbia- fantastic schools, shopping and entertainment.  We are convenient to all the benefits of urban Houston- museums, sports, zoo, hospitals, etc.  But Katy is still firmly rooted in the small, rural town it once was.  Once upon a time, Katy was a tiny stop on the Kansas/Texas railroad, surrounded by rice fields.   The first couple of weekends of October celebrate that past with Katy's Annual Rice Harvest Festival.  The festivities are kicked off with a simple, no-frills parade.  My kids loved it!

The parade isn't particularly special.  No marching bands, no elaborate floats, no real entertainment.  To a jaded parent, it's an hour long commercial.  The "floats" are cars and trucks festooned in advertisements for politicians, dog walkers, Scout troops, churches and private schools.  But to the kids . . . They saw police on motorcycles, firetrucks, retired soldiers (VFA), dogs, beads and candy, candy, CANDY!!!  Could there be a better way to spend a Saturday morning?

Lucy was a bunny that day.  A bunny who liked beads.

There's nothing better than watching your kids grub around the ground for free candy.  See the jeeps in the road?  That's the parade.  Like I said- simple and no-frills.

Randy didn't particularly like the sirens, but he handled it much better than in years past.  With hands pressed tightly on his ears, he still jumped up and down and did his best handless wave.

My kids show off their haul from an hour-long parade.  I guess we're ready for Halloween now! (Lucy still with a bunny face.)

Quirks Tag

My dear sweet sister-in-law, Brooke, tagged me for this "Quirks Tag".  The challenge is this . . . 

- Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours

- Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them.

So here goes . . .

1.  When I blow dry my hair, I lift my left leg and rest it on the sink- kind of like I'm half standing, half Indian style.  It's hard to describe but it makes Jason crack up.  I don't know why, but I've done this since I was a teenager.  I had a little trouble in our last house, because we had a pedestal style sink.  I still managed though.

2.  I like to sing in the car.  Yeah, I know, everyone does that.  But I like to sing along to classical music.  And to songs I don't really know the words to.  I just make them up as I go.  And my new improved lyrics are never offensive.  Ask Jason about Toto and the "men on Mars".

3.  I HAVE to read myself to sleep.  I read until I can't keep my eyes open any longer, then turn the light off and snooze.  If I turn the light off sooner than that, I can't sleep.  This is a problem because sometimes my books are quite interesting.  So if I stay up too late, I pick up my "boring" book and then I can drift off.  (Don't ask me what's boring.  That too embarrassing.)

4.  My skin literally crawls when I read bad grammar.  Theirs no reason for it.  I no, I no, I'm a hypocrite, because I, like, don't write perfect.  I guess it's that hi-school editer coming out in me.

5.  I don't like anyone else folding my family's clothes.  Everyone else just does it wrong.

6.  I have to have eat something sweet last.  If Jason and I munch on popcorn or potato chips at night, I have to have one bite of something sweet before I turn in.

I know everyone already suspected that I'm weird and bizarre.  Now you know.

I tag Cindi, Auntie Heather, and Susan.  Since I don't know many bloggers, I tag Kim, Melanie and Brenda to start a blog.  This tag is a great way to start.