Carving Pumpkins

The big rule for this year: "If you cut it open you have to take out the pumpkin guts yourself." Even Morgan had fun pulling out a large handful of pumpkin guts. Of course Morgan wanted to use the knife to help cut the pumpkins and predictably she cut herself on her finger and started wailing. I would put crying but it doesn't capture the essence of Morgan's high pitch, loud cry. I asked her if she wanted a band-aid and she said "no." I asked why? And she said while wailing, "because I just want to look at it and cry." Heaven help us!!!

My New Hobby

Does this look appetizing? Can you all guess what is in these jars?

34 Years Old!!!!!

Happy Birthday Shannon!

Weekend at Uncle Lee's Cabin

My sister Lara was in Utah for a girls only weekend , so Lara's Husband Lee and I decided to take the kids to his family cabin for the weekend in Christopher Creek, Arizona. Shannon had her own vacation at home without any kids. This is the crew with the cousins Ethan and Bryce.
We played old fashioned baseball with a bat made from a tree limb. The first limb was a little weak. I pitched, Adam hit it, the tree limb broke in two and the broken part of the bat hit me in the stomach. Adam thought that was hilarious and the best part of the trip.

We went fishing twice. The first time, Morgan and her cousin Ethan caught fish. The second time we were skunked. Even though we could see the fish in the stream, they just looked at our bait and turned away. They were so close that if we had a fishing net we could have just scooped them out. After Morgan caught her fish and pulled it out, she ran screaming into the woods, because she "didn't want to touch it." Unfortunately, she is all girl! With no one willing to eat the fish, it was catch and release. We also visited the fish hatchery. The kids were amazed at the thousands of fish!
Here is Lee and Bryce. Bryce lived off Cheetos, cookies and Starbursts! Bryce kept things real. We were constantly trying to figure out what Bryce wanted. Lee and I wondered how Lara does this every day! We probably undid in 2 days, all the parenting Lara has done in 2 years. This was our philosophy, if it kept him happy, he got it!

Morgan's Two Favorite Things

Joel and the boys went camping last night with friends from the ward and left Morgan and I home alone. I didn't complain since I'm not a big camper but everyone knows I don't like to be home alone at night. I checked all the doors and windows twice and then had Morgan sleep in my bed and locked my bedroom door. I know that's silly but it made me feel safer. I read a book for a little while before I went to sleep and as I was about to turn the light off, I noticed Morgan. One thumb in her mouth and a hand on Lilly. I wish she could stay little forever!

Yes on 102!

"Marriage between one man and one woman. Can it get any simpler than that? Prop 102 simply secures the definition of marriage through an Arizona constitutional amendment.
Prop 102 is 20 simple and clear words that define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
A YES vote on Prop 102 does one thing and one thing only – defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman in the Arizona Constitution, the highest law in our state.
One man. One Woman. Prop 102. That's Marriage."

I hammered in my last Prop 102 sign this afternoon. The bishop called on Joel and I to help with the Prop 102 effort for our ward weeks ago and I've thought of little else since then. The hardest part was spending hours on the phone trying to find people to work at the calling center but the best part was going with Joel and Tamara Taylor and making the calls ourselves. That day will always be memorable as we were stuck in a random office with tiny little cell phones. Joel of course had the stronger voice and I couldn't hear myself speak when I actually had a real person answer the phone. Anyone that has been on the phone with me knows I sound like a ten year old girl so I can't imagine what people where thinking when they heard my recorded message. That day made me realize how important this proposition is and I pray everyday that it will pass. I love seeing my sign in my yard each day and feeling proud as I stand up for something so important to our families! Now it's time to vote!

We're painting!

It's Fall Break for the boys and Joel decided to take the week off. Yesterday he invited all the little neighborhood boys over for some football and popcorn and a movie and then back to the park for some more football. They stayed from 11 am to 5:30pm and I don't know who had more fun, Joel or the boys? Well, today the kids went over to Lara's to play so I thought Joel and I had better get to work on our downstairs bathroom. I have had this can of paint for almost a year so I thought before it goes bad we had better use it. We just finished the second coat of paint so the tape comes off tomorrow morning. I'll post the finished product once I find a shower curtain and hang up some pictures. I chose the paint before finding a shower curtain and I've been finding that a bit of a problem. I can't find one that matches! Today reminded me of the good old days in Maryland fixing up our little townhouse. I really miss all of those home improvement projects! I need to start on the upstairs bedrooms so maybe this will give me the motivation I need. In the meantime it's fun to have Joel home.