Halloween

Last week was crazy!  I usually look at our calendar to help me write so I don't forget anything and I just want to crawl in a hole right now it just looks so busy, but here we go.  Last Monday they got to have an all school assembly, so I didn't go help in Lauren's class.  It had been raining in the night and a little that morning, but it didn't rain during their assembly.  Which is good because they were having it outside at the jog/walk track (it is 1/6th of a mile).  I think that is the only place the whole school will fit.  There are over 800 kids in their school and it is only a K-5 school.  They don't really have a gym.  The do have one inside place called Rose Hall but it is little.  The assembly was part of Red Ribbon Week.  Monday here at home we just tried to catch up on dishes and laundry.  When we got tired of that Bradley, Connor, and I made monsters with the Make a Monster thing Lindsay sent out a couple of weeks ago.  We had a fun time getting our monsters just right.  We worked on some homework after school and made some no-bakes (both kinds, chocolate and peanut butter) so we could deliver some phantom treats.  Alan had a chiropractic adjustment and got home a little later.  We decided to go right out and deliver our treats and then came back home for dinner.  We have gotten in the habit of having big salads for dinner on Mondays.  We usually have been having chicken on/ with our salad, but Bradley requested ham last week.

A fun picture Alan drew one afternoon.

Tuesday after getting Jared and Lauren to school and eating breakfast I delayed changing Connor's diaper.  I was chatting with Ashley and looked over and Connor had taken off his own pajamas...which were leaked on big time...up the back and out the leg.  It made a nice mess here on this floor (luckily it's tile).  I got him into the bath tub and all cleaned up.  Then I was coming out to clean this floor and the pine sol (which has a new scent I...I don't love it.  It smells like men's deodorant or cologne) spilled...probably 1/4 -1/2 cup all over the floor.  I decided the whole thing just needed cleaned since it splattered so much.  So then I got to clean this floor.  I guess I learned my lesson and I should change stinky diapers before chatting with Ashley, but chatting with Ash is just so much fun!  I did get it all finished and Connor dressed again just in time to leave for my doctor's appointment....it takes about 30 minutes to get there.  Bradley and Connor have been going with me since they are just listening to the heart beat and measuring me.  I kind of alternate who I see (there is a doctor and his nurse practitioner that works with him and they have 2 offices.  One in Oceanside and one in Encinitas.)  Plus I have been to a different office for a TB test and back to get it read.  So Bradley has been asking me why I always go to a different doctor.  After leaving the doctor on Tuesday and an office we had been to before he said "Hey we went to the same doctor!"  I kind of feel the same way.  Although in Provo it was different doctors they were always at the same place.  The baby's heart beat sounds good...and I'm still growing.  Everything looks good.  The doctor was checking the position of the baby and said wow the baby is low.  I just wanted to say yes, yes I know.  Tuesday after school and a little homework we played outside.  It was kind of a cool evening and believe it or not we needed our sweatshirts with the breeze we get.  Some neighbors played outside with us.  After awhile we went for a walk to see some of the Halloween decorations that are around.  Down the street and around the corner most of the houses are all decorated with lots of fun and some spooky decorations.  It is fun to see them during the day and they look different at night when the lights are on and blow-ups are full.  I learned that our neighbor next door is from Albania...I told her you were coming for Thanksgiving Will.

Wednesday Alan had to be at the doctor nice and early for a flu shot.  He had to get there at 7:30.  Lauren and Jared made sure to wear their red to school for part of red ribbon week.  Bradley, Connor, and I made some candy corn fudge in the morning.  We just used the universal fudge recipe with white chocolate chips and then layered them into a loaf pan white, orange, and yellow and cut them up.  They turned out pretty cool.  We made them to take to a playgroup Halloween party that morning and they were still kind of sticky and hard to cut then, but they still looked cool.  I have more in the freezer that need cut and when I do hopefully they won't be as sticky.  I'll have to get a picture then.  Then at the playgroup Halloween party they got to make cute mummies cut out of black poster board and then "wrapped in masking tape" and googly eyes.  They did ghost and pumpkin bowling with toilet paper rolls with faces and a fake pumpkin.  They played musical pumpkins with "The Monster Mash" and got to eat lots of yummy treats.  Bradley and Connor had a great time.  After school we stopped by Mrs. Friedberg's class for a couple of minutes to make sure everything was there for Lauren's class party the next day and to see what we still needed to bring.  Then we hurried to the doctor so Jared, Lauren, Bradley, and Connor could get their flu shots.  (I got mine a couple weeks before at one of my other appointments)  After their flu shots we hurried to the library so we could hear the spooky story teller.  She told some really fun ones first and then said the last one really was a scary one and little kids should leave.  She didn't have to tell us twice...we were out of there.  The first ones were really good...we just aren't into really scary ones.  Alan went to the chiropractor again.  He just stops on his way home from work....it's right on the way.  We worked on more homework.

Scooping out the guts!

Reading stories

Thursday was Halloween!!!!  It was the last day of Red Ribbon week and it was dress like a hero day...which really was wear your costume, but I guess they felt like they could get away with it if they said dress like a hero...and it would eliminate some costumes too.  First thing in the morning they had a costume parade out on the track.  We lucked out and got a parking spot in the parking lot.  I was super surprised!  They had all the classes go out around the track and then each grade took a turn walking all the way around the track.  It was fun to see all their costumes.  Of course Jared's and Lauren's were the best...but I might be a little biased.  After getting home from the costume parade we ate breakfast and did a little around here.  Then we got ready for Lauren's class party....the last few little things.  We got there a little early so we could set up.  I was just in charge of the snack part and Lauren's teacher was going to do the craft.  Well they did the craft earlier in the day, so we just got 45 min to eat.  They drew faces on tangerines to make them look like jack-o-lanterns, made apple smiles...with marshmallows after all that, and made spiders with ritz crackers, peanut butter, pretzels, and raisins.  I think all the kids had fun...and who doesn't like to play with their food before they eat it. :)  I was a little worried that they wouldn't be hungry since they were coming in from lunch recess and then we were giving them more food, but they all scarfed it right down...for the most part.  Mrs. Friedberg said something like You can tell they don't eat lunch!  Some of them did get done before the time was up so Mrs. Friedberg had them color a bookmark.  She just has a big stack of card stock cut up all ready to go and they can make bookmarks anytime they need a little filler time.  Lauren's class was extremely quiet the whole party time.  They aren't used to getting to talk to each other.  Her teacher made a comment like see how calm they all are...they have been so excited all day long.  I think they are all just afraid to do anything.  By the end it seemed like they were having a little more fun.  Lauren's party went right to the end of school, so we got Jared and came home.  Scouts got canceled for the afternoon, so we had a little extra time to just relax here before going out.  They had a few last homework things they had to do (things they have to do daily) and couldn't get done before.  Both Jared and Lauren's homework is due on Fridays.  For dinner we had mummies and bones...and potato salad at Brad's request.  First I made biscuit dough to make the mummies, but I could tell it was going to be long and slow if I used it to wrap them up, so I just made buscuits and baked them.  I mixed up some pretzel dough to make the mummies and it was much easier and faster to wrap them up.  I'm sure all you smarties already figured that out, but I was glad to had thought of it.  I took the easy way out with the bones and we just had frozen fries.  Not a super healthy dinner, but they ate it.  I just wanted them to eat something before going out the door.  We left to go trick-or-treating right about 6.  We were the first ones to some of our neighbors, but it wasn't long before the street was full!  I went down the street and around the corner and around that cul de sac with all the decorations with these guys.  It was super fun to see people's reaction to their costumes.  Then I came back home.  I felt like someone should be home passing out candy.  They kept going and made a pretty big loop around our neighborhood.  They got home just a little after 8.  I got home about 6:45 and passed out candy until they got home.  We had between 300-310 trick-or-treaters.  I didn't want to get up and down every time someone rang the door bell so I just sat on the porch by our pumpkins and passed out candy.  It was pretty fun to see everyone come by.  I was wearing an orange shirt with a jack-o-lantern face cut out of construction paper taped to my belly.  My favorite comment of the night was from a little girl who said "Pretty cool pumpkin trick"  I'm pretty sure she thought I had stuffed my shirt with a pillow or something.  We had a great Halloween and these guys got tons of candy!!!  Which they are thrilled about.

Betsy Ross and Benjamin Franklin ready for school

Everyone has to try Mr. Potato Head's glasses on at least once!

Mummies and bones

Octopus, Train Engineer, Paul Revere, Betsy Ross, and Benjamin Franklin ready for trick or treating  

Our pumpkins that night...there are 3, but one of the lights is just really dim

One of our neighbor's decorations

Around the side of the house...snake eating a trick or treater 

Friday was a rough morning.  They were in bed by about 9 the night before, so not super late but it had been an exhausting day.  They were having a Halloween hangover.  That morning the little kids who come on Fridays came to play.  They were tired too.  Their little girl cried almost the entire time.  She would cry louder if I got close to her or if Connor got close.  It was a rough hour and a half!  When they left we hurried and packed a little lunch and went to story time at the library.  We got there just a few minutes late.  From there we ate lunch in the car and hurried to their school.  Jared was having his class party on Friday and calling it a harvest celebration.  They ate food first and then did a couple of little crafts.  They were foam pumpkins and they were just sticking foam shapes on them and making bookmarks with pre-cut felt pieces and shapes and designs all ready to go.  The crafts weren't hard and the kids seemed to be having fun.  Jared said it was the funnest day so far.  He only had to do 10 easy math problems that morning.  His party got over about 30 minutes before the end of school.  On Fridays the 2nd grade has something called free play time if they have been good for the week and gotten all their school and homework done.  Basically it's like an extra recess.  We just stayed there and waited for Jared and Lauren to be done.  30 minutes isn't enough time to get home and do anything before having to go back and then there are the lines...so we just waited.  After school we just relaxed and played and I made pumpkin squares.  Friday night was our ward's Fabulous Friday (like a super Saturday).  I made 3 crafts.  Alan and the kids dropped me off and then they went to the store.  On their way home they stopped by the church and picked me up.  Then I went back to the church.  I did etching on a plate, a nativity scene on a glass block (which I'm trying to figure out a way to change the lights inside so I'll like it better) and a burlap banner that says give thanks.  The banner took the longest by far!  I still need to do a little gluing, but it is almost done.

Saturday we were able to sleep in.  Then we went to a builder workshop at home depot.  We got a few little nails to fix some shelves someone gave us.  I also found a box of mini red ornaments (plastic) to go on my Christ Tree that I hope to do this year.  We went to food 4 less on the way home.  In the afternoon we just worked on projects around the house.  We got some dressers in our room moved where we want them and cleaned out so they are ready to be filled up...our room is looking better.  Alan also changed a belt on the car.  It has been squeaky since leaving Provo...and long before that.  Hopefully this will take care of that.  All our neighbors know when we go somewhere.  All the boys also got hair cuts.  Lauren wants one and I need one, but they will have to be another day.

We kept forgetting to take a good picture in the daytime of them with their pumpkins.  Luckily we remembered before they turned black...which didn't take too long here.

Today was a good day.  It was nice to have an extra hour this morning.  I started a book I've been meaning to start for awhile.  At church it wasn't my turn to teach, so I just had to show up.  My class always keeps me laughing though.  After church the wolf den leader came over to talk to Jared a little about scouting.  We had a simple lunch and then did stations.  These guys all love stations so far.  We are only on week 2. (We have tried them in the past and it didn't work to well, but now that they are older it is going better and they look forward to it.)  We don't have too many yet...just scriptures, friend, letter, and talking with dad so far but they are a hit!  And it helps us have a better day.  We did a simple dinner...just burritos.  I have spent a good chunk of time today trying to get our blog caught up....and I'm getting there.  I decided though that I better write about this last week since it was still fresh and I can work on the weeks I missed after doing this week.  My goal is to have it all caught up by the time the baby comes.  I think I can do it...I just have to keep working on it!

Some of our other Halloween decorations that I finally got around to taking pictures of... The eyes were Alan's idea...a few people noticed them Halloween night.

Sugar skulls they got to decorate at the library

Monsters they made and some other fun art projects.

This coming week won't be quite as crazy...I hope!  But it should be another fun one!

Cookie Time!

Monday Alan went to the chiropractor on his way to work.  We didn't have much going on at home...except some cleaning needing done...like always.  So why clean up when you have a reason to make a mess :)  Since it was birthdays for two of the boys in my primary class I decided to make them giant sugar cookies that looked like cakes.  Bradley and Connor had a great time helping too.  We got them all baked and frosted so we could deliver them right after school.  We even managed to clean up a little too.  With the left over dough from the 2 big cake cookies we made some Y cookies for the big football game coming up on Saturday.  We picked Jared and Lauren up and went and delivered the cookies...it's always fun to take someone a giant cookie.  Then we came home and just did our normal after school things.  That night we had family home evening.

Tuesday was a little bit of a crazy day.  I had to go to the doctor for the first time here in Vista...it's hard find a new doctor and I was just slow doing it and then it took them a bit to fit me in.  To get to my appointment  in time I had to leave right when Jared and Lauren were getting done with school and with pick up taking so long I wasn't sure I would make it.  I also didn't know who would be able to pick up Jared and Lauren along with their kids, so I just had Alan come home to help.  I dropped Alan, Bradley, and Connor...and a wagon (it fit in the car better than our stroller) off at the school and went to my appointment.  They picked up Jared and Lauren and then walked home.  It took them a long time!  Bradley has told me several times since then how he had to go to the bathroom the whole way home, but he just held it and made it.  I went down to my appointment in Encinitas.  They thought I was a new patient...not a transfer of care patient so after a bit of confusion it all got figured out. (I had called several times to make sure my previous records were transferred.)  After my appointment I had to go over to the lab and get some blood tests and do the glucose test.  I could have waited to do them, but I was right there and I didn't have to worry about entertaining anyone else right then either.  I did stay and do the tests, but it did make me about 10 minutes late getting home for the missionaries coming to dinner.  It was ok though.  They were out talking to our neighbor across the street when I got there and Alan had dinner pretty much under control.  We were having Hawaiian haystacks.  There were 3 elders that came that night and they said they had only had it one other time their whole mission...and I'm pretty sure one of them was asking his companion what it was and how to eat it.  I was really surprised.  I expected them to say they got fed that all the time.  It was fun to have them over for dinner.

I'm not sure where Alan found this, but he took a picture and I like it.  It is a fun spin on all the posters that you see like this trying to sell something.

Had to pause the Monopoly game in the middle...

Wednesday in the morning we went to playgroup and I made a pie that afternoon to take to a Relief Society Activity that night.  Alan went to a chiropractor appointment on the way home from work again and then stayed for a new patient class after that.  I took everyone with me to the relief society meeting and Alan came to the church when he was done.  The activity was a family history fair.  There were lots of fun ideas on how to do family history.  There was a pie contest.  I was really surprised when my apple pie won best over all pie.  I was excited though because I won a pie plate...and I need a few more of those.  There was also a temple craft to make.  By the time Alan got there I was almost done so they just waited for me and I drove everyone home and Alan rode his bike home.  It fits in the back of the car, but not easily.

Thursday morning Bradley, Connor and I went for an adventure.  We drove down to the Temple to find the distribution center there so we could buy some scriptures for Jared for his birthday.  While we were there we walked around the Temple grounds.  Connor found lots of snails living under the white wall that goes around part of the grounds.  He smashed several (on accident) and got his hands all gross!  Then we drove across the freeway to find Deseret book so we could get Jared's name embossed on his scriptures.  We were lucky the distribution center had them in stock because they were back ordered online.  Since the new edition of scriptures came out in August they are in high demand.  We had a fun adventure.  It was hard for Bradley to keep it a secret though.  I told him he couldn't even tell Alan where we went.  (Alan knew already I just didn't want him to slip in front of the other two.)  Bradley did good and didn't let it come out until after Jared opened them up on his birthday.  Thursday I also tried to get some cleaning done and more just organizing of all our stuff.  It's hard to find places for everything...even if it is more space.  There aren't as many built in book shelves and closets and things, so that has been a little bit of a hold up.  Alan went to the chiropractor again on the way home...he goes 3 times a week...Monday, Wednesday, Thursday.

Friday I had to go to a volunteer meeting at the school to learn about some of the rules and guidelines and about the workroom.  It was right at the start of the school day.  Bradley and Connor just went with me.  Then we came home for breakfast, went to the library for story time, and went to Frazier Farms to do our produce shopping before the other guys were done at school.  We worked on cleaning up a little and getting ready for our company coming on Monday.
 
Saturday we went to the store and just worked around here.  Alan had to go do a little birthday shopping.  I made some more sugar cookies, because I didn't think there were enough to take to the game.  Some people from our ward invited everyone over to their house to watch the BYU vs. Utah football game.  We took the cookies and some black bean corn salsa.  It was fun to watch the game with everyone even if it didn't turn out how we hoped.

Sunday was just a normal Sunday.  Jared had to finish his VIP poster to take to school the next day.  We were excited for the up coming week with birthdays, lots of company, and a baptism.

Helping get the corn ready for dinner!

Alan's first visits to the Chiropractor

Monday and Tuesday were pretty normal days.  Although this week was park week.  We went to a different park every day after school.  I don't remember which ones we went to on which days, but since playgroup is at different parks frequently I've gotten to know lots around here.  I don't know which ones we went to on Monday and Tuesday, but we did go to the park.  Tuesday was also the day I think that Alan woke up and wasn't feeling great...well I guess it started before that...maybe Sunday.  His neck was really bothering him and he could hardly function.  We had to drive him to work several days this week because he wasn't able to ride his bike.

Wednesday the Relief Society President came over for a visit in the morning and we went to playgroup.  It was also early release, so since playgroup was at the park close to the school we just stayed there until school got out.  Then we came home ate lunch and went to the library for the craft.  After that we went to a park kind of close to the library and went and got Alan when he was ready to be picked up.  That night our home teachers came to visit.

Thursday Alan was feeling really bad and didn't feel like he could go to work.  I took him into the Chiropractor for a consultation.  He took some x-rays came up with a plan for treatment.  Alan stayed home all day.  We went to another park after school.  After dinner Brother Gunter came by and gave me a calling....teaching the CTR 8 class.  He asked if I could start teaching that Sunday.  They are a good class.  As soon as he left I took the kids and went to a PTA meeting at the school.  The first part of it was meeting stuff, but then they had a 2 man dunk team come and perform.  Everyone had a fun time watching them.

Friday morning Alan went back to the chiropractor for his first adjustment.  He felt better after that and was able to go to work.  We stopped by another park to play before picking Alan up that night.  I also found the hair clippers.  I had been looking for them for what seemed like weeks!  All the boys finally got some much needed hair cuts!

Saturday morning we went to Lowes for a builder workshop.  They made little fire trucks.  Connor liked driving his all around when it was finished.  We worked on more things around here.  I went to the Temple that evening for our ward Temple night.

Sunday I got to teach my primary class.  I wasn't planning on it.  Another teacher was getting called too and she had planned on teaching, but then got sick.  I found out that I would be teaching late the night before, but it all worked out.  I also found out it was 2 boys in the class birthdays the next week.  The rest of the day was spent relaxing and doing things around here.

A member of the secret service came to primary to talk about service.  At the end of sharing time she gave all the kids little tags that say You've Been Served! by the secret service to leave behind after they do something good.  The first place I found one was taped to Connor's back because they helped him put his pants on.  It was fun finding these little tags around the house all week.

Just a picture of our house from the outside.  Jared needed one for school...and I'm not sure if I posted one before.

Labor day!

Monday was Labor day!  It's always nice to have a day off from school and work.  Most of the people from Alan's work got together for a potluck brunch.  It was at a really fun park in San Marcos.  Beside playing on the playground they also played ultimate frisbee and frisbee golf.  We had a fun morning and early afternoon playing there.  It was a pretty warm day and we all got a little hot there.  On the way home we stopped in Target to look at some book shelves and organizing type things.  Later we went swimming at the pool of one of Alan's co-workers.  Then we came home for dinner.

The best looking plant in the back yard.

I'm not sure what we had for dinner...besides broccoli, but Connor sure got a full tummy.

Tuesday was back to the normal...school and work.  We tried to work on getting more done around here.

Alan caught a Lizard out front.

Jared got brave enough to hold it.

Wednesday we went to playgroup in the morning.  Then after school I took them to the library for the craft.  They got to paint cupcake banks.  Even Connor did a really good job with it.  Wednesday or Thursday evening we went to home depot and got some light bulbs.  Lots of the bulbs in the house were burned out and combined with the fact that there are no lights in bedrooms upstairs it was just seeming really dark in the whole house.  I was really glad once we got more bulbs and changed them so it seems a little brighter.  If we were going to live here forever I would definitely add more lights.

Friday I took Bradley and Connor to story time at the library.  Then we did some shopping at Frazier Farms.  We are starting to get in a little better routine and more used to being here.

Saturday morning Alan had to go into work for a little bit.  The rest of us went to a builder workshop at Home Depot.  They got to make football ring toss games.  I let them paint them...which was a big mess!  Alan called when we were about ready to leave and said he was done and would meet us at home so he could go to the library with us.  The library was having a big celebration for the 100th year of being a branch...I think.  They had a ukulele band there and crafts and ice cream with toppings.  After the library we did some  grocery shopping...then just more trying to unpack.

The only person I know who can get away with eating only sour cream (and maybe a few bites of something else) for dinner.

Sunday Alan taught Elders Quorum and I played piano in primary.  That night was an adult fireside at the stake center.  Alan went and I stayed home.  At the fireside they talked about how it is the stake's 50 Birthday and they want to give a special gift to the Savior.  They talked about some goals they have made for the stake for Temple work.  It was another good week.  Progress around here is slow, but we are making progress...and that's all that matters.

Alan's Birthday!

Since I'm writing this three months later (I got a little behind) I don't remember what happened each day very well.  Also we weren't so good at taking pictures once we got here and school and work started.  I didn't have internet to keep up the calendar at first either.  Sometime during this week the internet got connected.  I was able to look up some things to do...and how to get places.  Not to mention check email.  Sometime during this week Alan got a bike so he can bike to work.  His work is less than 5 miles away.  He enjoys getting the exercise each day and it saves us money too.

Wednesday in the morning I took Bradley and Connor to playgroup.  They have playgroup at parks around town.  There are so many parks that it can be a different park almost every week...for several weeks at least. Then after school I took the kids to the library for a craft.  They got to make origami our first week there.  There were people from an ukelele seniors band there to help with lots of different origami designs.  That night was also a ward temple night.  There were some people from the elders quorum who volunteered to watch kids at the church.  Even though it would be a late night for us I thought we should go.  We were the only ones to drop our kids off at the church....which I felt kind of bad about, but they offered.  It was nice to get to go to the Temple with Alan.  It was a super late night though...especially for school.

Thursday was back to school night.  From 5:30-6:00 we were supposed to meet in the classroom with the teacher.  Since Jared's and Lauren's were at the same time Bradley, Lauren and I went to her classroom and Alan, Jared, and Connor went to Jared's classroom.  Then from 6-6:30 they had meet the staff and PTA for the whole school.  Then from 6:30-7 they had the classroom presentations for 3-4th grades.  We were able to just come home.  It was nice to learn a little bit more about their school day and a little more about their teachers.

Friday morning I took Bradley and Connor to do a little birthday shopping for Alan...and wrapping.  Then after school we all worked on making some fun birthday banners.  We tried to tape them up on the wall, but our tape wasn't very good and they mostly all fell down before he got home from work.

Saturday was Alan's birthday day.  The big 33!  We did some shopping and things around here.  Alan opened his presents.  In the evening we went to the Elders Quorum pinewood derby.  Alan didn't make a car and we didn't have one to just take, so we just went to watch.  They had dinner there which was just hot dogs, but it was nice to have it taken care of.  We came home and had cake.

Nothing too exciting...just some crackers, cereal, hand soap, grass beach mat, and a movie (The Apple Dumpling Gang and Apple Dumpling Gang rides again) and a necklace and stickers from Lauren (which Alan proudly wore the rest of the day).

Yum! Carrot Cake.

Sunday I got to sub Lauren's class in primary.  They were a good class.  It was a little challenging just because I didn't know any of the kids at all.  We had a good rest of the day here at home.  Someone got a hold of the camera and took lots! of pictures....I guess it was something to do since we still hadn't unpacked most of the toys.  Here are some of my favorites :)

If you need a close up of a single car we have several of those to choose from.... :)

View out Jared's window.