Trick or Treat

Halloween 2012 at our house this year was fun and memorable. 

It started with our annual Family Night Pumpkin-Carving.

Joe and Maddie did their favorite "pumpkin elf" together.

Miss Katie-lady tackled hers alone and created her own 3-sided self-designed wonder: "trick-or-treat/KU/traditional jack-o-lantern".

And Jake and Levi got busy wielding sharp objects on their jack-o-lanterns together. 

Over the weekend, we enjoyed a fun-filled night out with our church, and they threw quite the Halloween shin-dig. There was an indoor carnival, with various games (ring toss, face painting, doughnut-on-a-string, balloon animals, etc). This accompanied a chili contest/feast, complete with hot dogs, homemade breads, cupcakes/cookies and HOMEADE ROOTBEER! 

 

(Some scary Yong Women with one of their scary leaders)

Then, the traditional trunk-or-treat ritual continued outside.

 

We got a little shocker a few days before Halloween---when we found out that our new schools do not have parades nor parties for Halloween.  After 9 years of school Halloween festivities, there was an adjustment period with this news!  We all spent a few days of sulking and wondering how Halloween was ever going to be fun again.  But, funny thing---life does go on.  And soon enough it played into the most wonderful surprise.  The most precious highlight of our Halloween this year was a package we received on Halloween from my drop-dead, amazing sister, Delight.  It was packed with so much love, that we couldn't help but get teary when we opened it!  Aunt Dee had all the KS girl cousins together over the weekend, and they all had made tu-tu costumes AND included Katie and Maddie. And they made them the exact characters they had wanted in the first place. Awww.  They also packed some fun stuff for Levi and some of Uncle Matt's BDU's for Jake's costume.  Very special for us. 



Trick-Or-Treating in our neighborhood made up for the lack of fun at school that day.  So many people put a lot of time and creativity into making the trick-or-treating fun and memorable for all.  (Jake broke away and went to a different neighborhood with some friends.  Even though he had fun, after hearing of our adventures, he regrets leaving our 'hood).  Katie ran around with the large pack of  kids that are in her grade,  and Maddie hung out with 3 of her favorite classmates.  Levi took off with Katie's group first (they have adopted him), while I stuck with Maddie.  About 45 minutes into it I got a call that Levi was exhausted---made me laugh outright.  Evidently, he lost steam after one too many frights from Halloween displays.  So, I caught up with them and carried my tuckered little man most of the way back home.  On our trek back home, we discovered a few awesome houses that gave me some great ideas for future reference!  But Levi's personal fav was the house that had the Monsters, Inc movie on a big screen in their front yard---complete with blankets, chairs and coolers of pop for relaxation. (Ahhh.  I needed the rest, too!)  I missed a lot of the fun stuff the girls got to see, but they told me about it.  Their favorite was their librarian's house.  It was "tricked-out" (Maddie's term) with a circus theme complete with fake tatoos and a "fire-ant circus" (instead of "flea circus"-lol)
Of course, when it was all over, we had quite a haul.  What do we do with all that candy?!?!  Well, for starters, we ALWAYS spend a few days eating candy to our hearts content!  Yes.  Yes we do.  We indulge in our personal favorites---namely the chocolate! (Mine happen to be Snickers, peanut M&M's and Twizzlers!)  Then we move on to the second favs THEN, it becomes time to simply start making it all "disappear"....you know, randomly throwing handfuls away when no one is looking?!  It usually only takes a week or so to get "back-to-normal".  Sugar rushes?  Cavities?  Bad behavior?  Maybe.  But, not so much.  It's so fun...it's worth it.

**happy little sigh**

Now, believe it or not, our neighborhood is starting to decorate for CHRISTMAS, and I say, BRING IT ON!  I could always use a little more "holly' and a lot more "jolly"!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like...

HAPPY FALL, YA'LL!!!
 

***For my budget-conscience friends, I have two words: DOLLAR TREE!***
 

I only buy the stuff I can re-use and that will pack away nicely;
 I've used my $1 finds 3 years in a row now. 

 

New to Texas? New to us!

 

We've had a little fun spending our last few weeks noticing the differences between
 Texas and our home state.

When I went to get some information on vehicle registration, I got a laugh.

"To learn how, read our Apply to be Texan booklet. In no time at all, we will be proud to call you a Registered Texan!"

The booklet is SO Texan and kinda cheesy, but, hey! This IS Texas.

 

 

The Texas flag flies the same height as the American flag, and my school aged kids have had to learn to recite the Texas Pledge of Allegiance every morning after the National Pledge. 

One can find the Texan flag everywhere...At Dairy Queen one day, I noticed my hamburger wrapped in paper that was a Texas flag! 
Pickup trucks proudly display the fact that they are "Texas Truck"(s) and most are built with some special package that gives them EXTRA 

manufactured Texas bling-age.
Proud.

 

And lest we forget at some point that we are not in Kansas anymore, the Lone Star itself is proudly displayed on bridges, buildings and houses!

 

 

Now, here is something I like...in the dead middle of the ferocious summer heat, Crepe Myrtle trees are in full, beautiful bloom.  And when I say they are everywhere, I do not exaggerate.  These trees line the streets, highways, tollways in multiples and are in every shopping center and yard. 

 Beautiful.

 

 

And then, you've heard about football in this big state...

and it's all true. 

 This is our high school stadium, and the current largest HS marching band in the US (about 850.

One fun annual tradition in our town is when the marching band spends a weekend going through every neighborhood right before school starts. 

Impressive.

 

 

Two things about this picture:

1)  Dallas traffic.  Ick. 

Construction is everywhere. 

Rumble bumps are used instead of painted lines.

Motorcycle cops are sneaky.

(Kansas City should win an award for BEST road system!)

2)  The puffy white clouds.  Every day brings on a new display, and I love it. 

 



Then there are these little critters...they get in my HOUSE!

Although quite endearing and enamoring to my family, I am not so impressed!

 

 

We also have gotten the opportunity to experience FIRE ANTS. 
More on that later.

Maybe.

 We have SO enjoyed being in a house.  It's been such a long time. 

We've enjoyed making carpet angels and having a couple of empty rooms!

It's interesting that all the houses are brick around here.  And even though they look huge from the outside, they typically aren't that big.  There's no basement to double the square footage like we are used to.

 And the newer neighborhoods are truly small communities within themselves complete with an elementary school, parks, and pools. 

Ours also happens to boast our church! 

***Happy Sigh***

 

 

Remember how I have spent the past few years bemoaning the fact that the hardest job on the chore chart was taking garbage to the dumpster?!

Now, the kids vie to mow grass, to use the weed eater and the blower.

Added incentive is they get to run across the street and jump in the pool when they are done!

We'll see how it goes....I give it ONE season...

We did it...

After eight years and eight months of thinking we would live in our tiny shoebox forever...

 

We pulled up stakes and headed south...



On a Big Adventure...

Distracted

Today I seem to be distracted....maybe it's avoidance of this never-ending mountain of laundry.  

Maybe it's because I can't stop thinking about the month of May.  The end-of-school year stuff is fun.  My super-duper talented kids shining and showing me what they are made of---awards, accolades for the record-breakers, band and strings concerts, the leadership team campaign, all in glorious prelude to the excitement and anticipation of summer break....I love it all.  

But here's what ESPECIALLY comes to mind in thinking about May 2012....

Jacob's participation in the Cultural Celebration with the Lenexa Stake, and over 3,000 other teenagers!

Attending the Temple Dedication with my three oldest children!

Going on an unbelievable vacation with my best friend!!!

What amazing memories.  A truly blessed time in my life.  

And I foresee more on the horizon....stay tuned.

Just gotta say it...

Friday morning, October 28, 2011, Joe received the news that he passed the last of his national board exams. He is finally able to receive a license to practice. What wonderful, long-awaited news! Way to go JOE!!!

You may know that I posted this on Facebook: “Dear National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Joe kicked your can, now you can kiss ours!” (For the record, I don't care to EVER have to deal with Cleveland Chiropractic College OR the NBCE again in this life...just sayin'...)

I know you can imagine the happiness and relief we feel in our family. All the trials, tears, heartache and heaviness of these past years suddenly became history. It was not unlike the feeling one has after the birth of a long-awaited child. The correlations are so similar!

We’ve been truly overwhelmed at the outpouring of love, tears, cheers and all-out support from so many. Thanking you all seems so inadequate! Your love and support has become a part of who we are, and we are better in countless ways because of it...

Surprisingly, I have noticed how tempting it is to want to bury the difficulty of our trial when we are rejoicing in the triumph. It would be nice to forget the feelings of relentless frustration, and disappointment. But, as with other painful trials in my life, I cannot deny as sure as I live that the experience is EMBLAZONED on the soul! Our wise and loving Heavenly Father needed us to learn and learn and learn some more, and that is why I cannot make light of this. We could’ve taken any path and still would have had to learn the many valuable lessons of life that we did through chiro school and boards. Putting one foot in front of the other day after day; seeking solutions to mind-boggling dilemmas; seeking employment in a disastrous economy...I could go on and on elaborating on the challenges. But our blessings completely sweetened the pot this entire time. Not once have we ever been without immense blessings---Where we live, our church, our children, etc--- We're so richly blessed. We have learned that when He says He will provide our needs according to His riches, He does. When He says to draw nigh to Him and He will draw nigh to us, He does. He has needed for us to become more humble (ugh-pride!). More reliant and trusting that He does what He has promised. His will and His plan of happiness will be accomplished. It's too easy to become blinded by what WE want in this life. He needs us to be fit for His use, and to do our part and be the strength that He needs us to be in troubled times, so His work continues.

Experience is a miraculous thing. I pray my children learn and apply something wonderful from this experience as well. We don’t need a lot to be joyful and content. We only need:

To love our God with all our hearts, mind and strength...

To love our neighbors as ourselves...

To learn to follow the commandments diligently...

and to take notice of the important lessons He has for us.

Then we apply them. And grow.

I am deeply grateful for the experience.

Painful, yes. But, that is progression.

He loves us and blesses us.

After such a long, hard-fought trial---shame on me if I ever forget…

"Fashion Fiesta"...from someone who knows...

In case you are in need of some Fashion advice....

"Fashion Fiesta

What To Wear?

Are you coming to a point in your life were you think that your close seem so yesterday?

Well if you are don’t fell bad about it , just go to your closet and see what you have ….

Lay it out on your bed and just look at it ,be grateful for what you have because some people

don’t have close at all . So look at your close and think …. What am I going to wear tomorrow?

Well here is a news flash for you - to much pattern is weird and to much solid is to bland .If you want my opinion you would want a pair of black skinny jeans, a purple blouse and some black open toed 3inched high heals that would be a going out to eat out fit but that’s just my opinion . For a regular day I would wear a yellow blouse with ruffles on the chest with white or black skinny jeans. For school I would wear a black& white checked mini skirt with knee sock for the top I would have a black blouse.

Well that’s it for today for fashion fiesta read next week!

Chow"

I found a copy of this on my printer last week, and just about DIED from loving it so much!

It was written by the 10 year old "fashonista" in my house...

Just thought I'd share it in it's original form...