Merry Christmas!!

JK!

Happy Halloween!

(Christmas to follow shortly)

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit for Caden's birthday and Halloween.

It's very nice when Grandma's around for Halloween because she does all the fantastic makeup.

(even Caden wanted her to work her magic - he sat down when she was packing up after doing the girls, she turned around and realized she had another customer)

KD was a beauty queen witch.

Her eyebrows were her pride and joy.

Taffy didn't want the eyebrows so she ended up looking like a witch more her age, hee, hee.

Sarah was a zombie which turned into a 3-bodied monster. 

These three friends from church wanted to be a 3-headed monster.

They talked it up every week and each of the three moms were wondering how we were going to make it happen. . . but then another girl from church called and said she had made them a 3-headed monster body.  What an awesome friend!!  If you look at Sarah's legs you can imagine how she enjoyed walking at the ward trunk or treat.

Timo was Dr. Who

(we miss the Bowler's)

Caden was Dracula with an interesting twist.

(I can't remember what it was right now - I'll have to ask and get back with you)

And Benny helped the little ladies trunk or treating.

(She was a lovely Katniss at the youth Halloween activity.)

The youth ran games for all the younger children.

Jaycie has found her calling - holding donuts on a stick for people to eat - and wants to pursue teaching in the future.  She is loving little kids.

 Maybe KD should have been Sleeping Beauty instead of a witch, eh?

We had a Halloween game night with Zombie Tag,

(which is awesome when the fog rolls in and you're hiding near the woods wondering if the coyote's are around)

and watched the traditional Disney "Ichabod Crane" while the older kids and dads set up the traditional "Spooky Walk".

It's hard to tell who has more fun with this "Spooky Walk", the participants or those that put it on.

Jeremy was out buying a swamp monster camo suit 15 minutes before the party started.

(Jaycie, Benny, Logan, the boogey man, swamp monster, Reed, camo dad who came out of one of the decorative grasses (scared me!), and Landon.)

Happy Halloween!!

Now on to Christmas. . .

All District

Jaycie and Benny made all district choir and they put on a great concert,

(even though they said I should quit trying to get a good pic of them singing).

It's tricky you know!

Caden is a teenager!

 Somehow I missed recording Caden's birthday in October.

It began with the very early donuts and singing before seminary. . .

. . . and ended with cake and presents, as usual.

But Caden is anything but usual.

Caden is the kind of kid who reads the card,

and goes over and gives a thank you hug BEFORE opening the present.

It was a special treat to have Grandma and Grandpa Baird here to help celebrate.

Pellet guns in the yard finished out the celebration.

Caden is still the delightful soul he has always been, although he has grown another foot and is now

(DON'T TELL HIM I SAID THIS)

taller than me. . . and Jaycie.

With his quick growth, he's been struggling with Osgood Schlatters (a painful condition of the knees that will hopefully go away when he quits growing so quickly.)

Even though he's in pain most of the time, he doesn't let it get him down.

He's in 7th grade this year, is playing percussion, is being a champion at making new friends and is impressing all his teachers with his maturity.

He's the only active deacon in our ward, but that doesn't stop him from being involved and making the best of the situation.

The chance to play Mine Craft will make him do anything and he is the number one helper around the house lately.  He loves mowing the lawn, holding puppies, carrying around KD and just being a buddy to all - except Timo who he regularly beats up (but we all know Timo brings it on). . . BOYS!

We love you Caden!  Happy teenagedom turning 13!

Girl Scout Horse Camp

Sometimes I forget we live in the country,

but then we get to go on an outing and we get to drive through beauty like this.

This particular outing was to watch Sarah perform the skills she learned in the Horse Camp with the Girl Scouts.

(I think Sarah liked the boots they loaned her even more than the horses.)

Posin'

Sarah enjoyed introducing Taffy, KD and I to all the horses.

She got to ride "Fancy" to show off her skills.

There's a flag in that bucket that she picked up on her way around.

Then she came down around a barrel and headed back to stick it back in.

Ride 'em cowgirl.

Sarah is actually pretty allergic to horses and after the first hour she almost came home because she was sneezing so much.  I had stuck a note in her lunch sack telling her how much I had loved riding horses with my Dad.  She said that note gave her courage to stay. . . even when she got a nosebleed.

KD and Taffy enjoyed the rocks outside more than anything.

(We need to make a gravel box like the one we created for the kids in Michigan.)

Way to be brave and learn something new, Sarah!

Some fun moments. . .

Timo's Webelos Rain gutter Regatta

(racing Sis. Sparks with the boat resetters standing ready)

Blowdryer fun

Friend's cool mom who lets them write on the windows

What could be better than Halloween lights and a balloon?

One beautiful fall day. . .

We went out into the country and shot guns.

KD does not like loud noises.

She thinks I don't either.  What a cute ear plugger.
(The dots all over my face were the result of biopsies and freezing of rough spots - more on that later.)

I'm not sure how we came to own guns when I've never been a fan. . .

. . . but the kids (other than KD) and Jeremy sure love them.

There is probably some good in knowing how to respect and use them properly.

Plus, it was fun to get out and do something as a family.

Jaycie may be the best shot out of the 9 of us.

(I may have scheduled us another gun outing with that comment.)