A Night Out

John and I were invited to a formal fundraising dinner for the Boy Scouts of America at the Four Seasons Hotel. It was a fun night with a silent auction, a live auction - complete with auctioneers (one thousand give me two didigididigidi or whatever he says), live entertainment, a wonderful dinner and

scrumptious dessert. And the best part, besides being dressed to the nines and out on a date together, was being with a large group of wonderful friends and a ballroom filled with generous people who love God and Country and the BSA.

Here's a video clip of the auctioneer (and part of our table).

Morning Walks

When we take Cole for a walk to the field in the morning (I love having Ashlyn home in the mornings! Afternoon kindergarten is the best!), Ashlyn sometimes likes to take the electric scooter. She seriously scares me on that thing! She has no fear and will tear down our steep driveway and sharply turn onto the street like a speed demon.

The fall colors are becoming beautiful and the days sunny and gorgeous. I love this time of year.

Halloween '11

Halloween is here and is kicked off on the Friday before with the

first of four activities . . .

Friday morning was the Award Assembly at school and kindergarten carnival. Christian was chosen to receive the Teacher's Choice Award (a.k.a. the teacher's pet award as John calls it). He was so excited. On his award said he "is a well rounded young man. He does well academically, is fun to be around, and he is a great friend." Can't get better than that! Good job Christian!

The kindergartners are the only ones who dress up and each year have a Carnival. They get to parade into the assembly room to show off their costumes for the rest of the school. It is totally darling. Ashlyn was Rapunzel this year and was beyond ecstatic with her wig.

At the Carnival, I was in charge of the cookie decorating station. I can't believe Ashlyn is now participating in the carnival, she has been there twice before; first as a little pumpkin baby, then helping me when Christian was in K. Now it's her turn, and my last!!

On Friday night, Brooke had a daddy-daughter Activity Days night Halloween dinner. They got to dress up; John came up with an impromptu Bob the Builder and Brooke is the Mad Hatter. They had a great time!

The next night, we were invited to the Zdenek's annual Halloween party which Madison and Brooke were enlisted to help. Lisa Zdenek is Ashlyn's kindergarten teacher, and has had all the Merrill kids.

Here she is with her darling family. When she was Madison's teacher, she just got married and now she has three cute boys. I love the lake in their backyard - such a beautiful setting.

Look, Ashlyn really does have eyelashes! A little mascara made her feel pretty grown up.

The candy house table! M&B were in charge of helping kids with decorating the houses.

Lots of sprinkles, lots of frosting, lots of sticky.

Super fun night!!!!

Then the next night we carved our pumpkins! It's funny how the kids beg and beg to do it, and we put it off, knowing how messy and difficult it can be. Then half way through they complain that it's messy and difficult. ha!

But they turned out darling. Madison donated her cleaned-out shell to me to use for our traditional pumpkin stew for Halloween night. Thank you Maddy! It saved me from having to clean out one!

Halloween day: the after school snack was pumpkin smoothies. YUM!!!

Everyone's dressed up and ready to trick or treat throughout the neighborhood.

And I mean everyone! Even I donned a costume for the first time this year.

They all got their fill of loot; enough to keep dentists in business for the year.

Happy Halloween!

Edible Cell, Anyone?

For science class, Maddy had to create a replica of an animal cell. We went with Rice Krispie treats for the ball shape, frosting, sprinkles, fruit snacks, and fruit-by-the-foot for everything else. It turned out great and I can't believe that the class ate it!

Yellow to Orange

Christian has sure loved learning Tae Kwon Do and is ready to test to the next level.

First Grand Master Yoo put on a demonstration

which was really cool, especially when the wood splintered and flew across the room.

Here is Christian's group showing the moves . . .

He got to kick to break the board too . . . and did it!

Congratulations to the new orange belts!

Good job Christian!!!!!

Totally Random

My mom brought over this little blast from the past. I totally remember making it. I was ten years old.

I remember sitting at Agnes Fuchigami's dining room table watching while she tatted tiny detailed flowers and Tom Fuchigami painstakingly placed the tiny letters. I remember being in awe at how neatly they were able to do it all. Sister Fuchigami was my Merrie Miss teacher and she was awesome. This was one of the events we had at her house; a Miss and Her Mom Party. I also remember having a Daddy Daughter Dinner there as well where we wore kimonos. For my birthday in class, she made sushi, which of course was the first time I ever had it, and she lit a candle in our classroom. My braid swung down and the end got singed - that was also the first time I ever smelled burned hair. Man did that stink!

Look at that cute baby with all that hair!

Last week while John was away for more than a week and had been working 80-100-hour weeks for a couple of months, he had these delivered to me - what a surprise. I sure do have a keeper! He's been under so much pressure though I think he should be the one on the receiving end.

News update: he has been released from the Bishopric (they all were), had a week off, in which he was traveling, got home on Friday afternoon, and Friday night was called into the Stake President's office to be called to serve on the High Council. No rest for the weary!

We've been having more fun with hairdos in the morning. It's great bonding time and she loves being a princess.

This one is the letter "C". She's done A and B as well.

'tis the Season

Soccer season that is.

Anyone wonder how we spend our Saturdays?

It's like this . . .

Watching this . . .

and this . . .

and this . . .

and this . . .

Four soccer players mean four soccer games mean many hours on the soccer fields.