This is Halloween

My Halloween fun failed this year.  Luckily Maddie knew how to make fun things happen.  We've been on the "Just Dance" kick for a while.  She found us spooky holiday songs.

This year we dressed up as "Dr. Babcock."  I think I'm so clever; he we a good sport.  The community took real well to my little joke.   I sewed our scrubs from black sheets, and the bald caps were just the ticket.

We only have 3 children under 12, so only 3 buckets of candy were collected.

This is how we finished the night -- perfectly.  I was brought a book about tongues, and together we devoured it, licking up every last word.

I really don't eat candy, it's still all about the cookies.

Maisie and I finished the night writing her BYU essays.  She had them all written, but we needed to finalize them.  To bed at 12 am and up again 5am, but she got it done!

Our jack-o-lanterns grew spookier over the coming days.  The black furry mold and shrunken heads were so gross,  The leaking pumpkin juice was the best bit.  Nick was charged with wiping up the mess, so of course he chased Molly around with the mold rag and threatened to make her eat it.

It's permit time for this cute boy.  $7 and 20 minutes later, this boy is good to go.

I let him drive home, but we were both stressed out.  Austin!  Drive training is your job, because I did all the potty training.

Thursday was sectionals.  Nick didn't quite make it to state, but he ran so fast.

Maisie and Makena led their team to state qualification.

It was just a tough race, because the conditions were freezing.

More dancing for PE.

Sundays are cold, so out comes our holiday clothing.

We spent the evening with the yard.  Maisie and I wrapped up in quilts and watched the friends.

Mostly the balls were dropped.  

Melijah moved to Pocatello this week to take over a business.  She looks cold when she facetimes.  Meg is keeping busy making progress in her academics; she will graduate in April.

Andy's call revealed that he's now a zone leader, and he's headed to an new area in Kentucky.  He is excited to lead through love.  He let his companions shave his head to #4 -- he assured me that a #4 is the shortest you can go and still be obedient. He's a goat.🐐

Do I obey just to behave, or do I obey to become?

Facts

It's a fine assessment that I blog Sunday night.  From now on, I will include Sunday as the final day in my blog -- ending the week with a day of rest and worship instead of beginning it.

FHE = CFE

Many of us have runny noses and loss of energy.  We just spent time on the floor reading together.  No wonder the pattern of fathers/mothers teaching faith to their children began with Adam.  It's so sweet to teach where Jesus Christ enters the stories of prophets, and then testify where we find Him in our lives.

Tuesday-Friday my scholars studied the laws of flight.  We read several books about the Wright Brothers and watched a few documentaries as well.  Here they are defying all they learned about the physics of flight.  Somehow, though, they do look like they are flying.

Wednesday Nick and Maisie raced.  She came home with a medal around her neck and collapsed on the floor.  She cried for a few minutes, picked herself back up and got to work studying and writing college etnrance essays.

Maisie and I minister to a Cora who turned 90 this week.  We celebrated her during lunch at Plaza Bonita.  We got to know each other better.

(She started crying when the proprietors came out to sing to her.)

That night I taught a few RS sisters how to bake bread.  I knew Cora was coming, so I decorated for her party as well.

Maddie requested soup bowls for dinner, which also happened.

Molly found Austin's glasses and decided that she looks just like him.  

Austin and his crew ripped out the basement carpet.

Then he floated the floor to make it level enough to lay new flooring.

Friday Austin took the three oldest to a haunted house in Phoenix.  I took the three youngest to a Halloween party.  

We cleaned the church building Saturday morning, and I had to take a picture of Austin's campaign signs proudly up and advertising.  

As he was demo-ing the cabinetry, a huge side landed just on his little toe.  I'm sure it's broken, but  somehow he keeps working on home projects (but in flip flops).

I was in charge of our stake barn dance.  We invited youth from other stakes, and they came.  The event was delightful.   Austin and I taught the kids how to two-step, and we watched Maisie and Nick enjoy themselves.

Post-church photo

We took some time in the afternoon to carve pumpkins.

Spooky. (Please find Nick and Maddie, since they were not adequately represented in the above photos.)

I filled my crown braid with glitter.  Today was a braid day because I fed everyone, dressed them, myself included, in just 69 minutes.  We were almost late to church because the bus wouldn't shift into gear, so we had to take two cars and speed.

Molly's #6

Little Miss Molly is 6! (Her birthday was a bit onconventional this year, because Austin had a dental conference all day, and I was his patient.  We celebrated the night prior with Grandma.  We still managed to make several of her birthday wishes come true.)

Molly wanted a unicorn cake and party, so we worked together.

 

Look!  Isn't she so cute?

Look!  Isn't SHE so cute?

Molly's birthday table filled with gifts sure made her happy.

Molly wanted a rainbow unicorn Build-a-Bear.

Happy Birthday 2022

My little baby girl.

6!

Saturday Molly's friend, Maelynn, came to spend the afternoon together.  They twitted and chattered just like happy little birds.

Molly stills write notes and cards to every person that walks into our home and into her life.  She keeps Eddie and Ryan honest in games, and they keep her entertained most moments.  Molly quietly nurtures all the animals in both her playroom and bedroom.  She loves visitors in her restaurant, where guests can only come as hetero pairs, but a kind baby is permitted if he doesn't go into "crazy baby mode."  Molly knows how to testify during CFM, and can answer all the questions in school that the boys cannnot.  She's reading with zeal and soaking up facts like a sponge.  We love Molly simply because she ours.  Watch out, by the end of this year she'll be carrying in math and caring for 100 more people that she meets.