New Lens and Doggers

I wanted to take a family picture this year since we haven't done one since right after we were first married. I went and bought a new camera lens for the occasion and had a lot of fun playing with it. These are some of the pictures I took of what was laying around the house...which was mostly the dogs. But I have to say they are pretty good models. I know I don't have mad photography skills it is just fun to play around with it. Next I need to get into photo editing...fun times.

All Hallows Eve-ish

My mom had to work the night of Halloween so we had to forego the usual tradition of food, games, trick-or-treating, oh and LOTS of candy the night of so we moved it up to the Sunday before. I was in charge of desert which means that I get to try something fun I found on Pinterest.

This was my creation for the night. I had been wanting to try the technique on the side of the cake for awhile but never had an excuse. I also died the cake inside with purple, teal, and black.

The cake was served after the "GHOST" (bingo) game and the mass amounts of candy so no one wanted cake:(

GHOST and an overload of candy:

It wouldn't be Halloween without king sized candy-bars for black out winners.

I didn't get pictures of all of the kids in their costumes but I got pictures of most of them throughout the night.

 I got a picture of her when she was looking at me but I thought this one was so much cuter! She loves her Aunt Shannon.

This is one of the twins....I think McKylie

Jen was a dang cute cow-girl

 Tanner had his first real date the night before at a school dance and was exhausted.

McKayla...I think... :)

 Syd borrowed Pheobe's mask... Yep, she rocked it!

 Dad was participating in his usual fashion.

We broke out the happy birthday hats to celebrate the October birthdays. I don't think any of the kids wear them like a hat...it's more like a horn.

I love how Shannon is so riveted with what Pheobe has to say.

And finally the night ended with sugar overload.

Sweet, Sweet Adelines

My mom is in a barbershop chior. For those of you who don't know what barbershop is this is for you. Barbershop is a type of singing where the 4 parts harmonize and there is no accompaniment from musical instruments. I was in a barbershop choir when I was in high school. I loved the sound and so did my mom. I was introduced to the Sweet Adelines when I was in high school and told my mom that I thought she should join. She did and LOVES it. She keeps telling me that I need to come and join with her. Someday...hopefully I will feel like I have enough time to do that. Being a teacher which often has late night work and being in young women's eats up a lot of my free time during the week.

Anyway back to my mom. Her choir was preparing to go to their regional competition in Colorado and so they had a send off for the group where they got to practice and share their program with us. It is always fun for me to go and support my mom when she has these. It's payback for all of the times she was sitting in the audience for me when I was young. The show is always amazing and lots of fun. One of my favorite parts is watching my nieces and nephews be completely enthralled with the music.

 I love how she is sitting on the edge of her seat intently watching.

She gave them a standing ovation for every song.

These are a few pictures from the night. I wish I had an attachable flash for my camera...some day... so I apologize for the horrible lighting.

 Rockin the Y hat!

 Look at the devilish grin.

 Mom and Dad after the program. Love those shadows.

My sister-in-law and my niece. They are both so beautiful! Love you two!

October Craft-mania

At the beginning of the month I got to go over to one of my best friends house and do crafts with another one of my best friends. We went out to dinner before and then went back to Katie's house to get our craft on. We may have planned a lot to do and not all of it got done that night but it was a BLAST! This is the one activity that did get completed that night.

This is little Tom Turkey

Isn't that adorable. All he is made from is:

2x 4 cut to 3 1/2 inches

5 gallon paint stirrer

7 Popsicle sticks cut in half 

scrapbook paper

for the complete break down on how to complete this adorable turkey go here.

We also started the pumpkins and the mummy that night. We spray painted the pumpkin pieces and the mummy pieces. I finished of the pumpkins later on by sanding them down and tying the ribbon. Then I finished the mummy by tying the linen and adding the eyes.

I got this idea from Brown Paper Packages. All you need is 4 pieces of 2x4 cut to 7 inches.

My friend Emilee cut these pieces for us so I am not sure the measurements. I do know that she found this cute guy on Pinterest.

Later in the month we had our Super Saturday at my church. Super Saturday is a day when all of the women get together and make crafts. There are certain crafts that you can purchase or even get for free. I made these pumpkins which were free because I provided an old book and one of the husbands brought his jigsaw and cut the books down. 

This was a very easy craft but quite time consuming. All you do is:

trace the shape of your pumpkin on the cover of the book

cut the book with a jigsaw to match the shape

tear the covers and binding off the book

steep tea bags in water and dab the edges of the book with the tea bag to get a dark color

blow dry the edges of the book after you soak them with the tea

crumple each individual page (yes one page at a time)

get a stick and glue it to the center of the binding

glue around the stick and fold the book around the stick

tie decorative ribbon to the stick

This last picture is not something that I made...I wish I were that awesome! I go to the Farmer's Market at Pioneer Park every year and there is this one booth that I always go to and end up spending a lot of money at (not because it is expensive but because I LOVE everything there and I end up buying a ton of stuff). They pride themselves on not just using a laser cutter to complete their projects but doing a lot of it by hand. He also sells all of his stuff for cheaper than the booths that sell the laser cut items. There are certain parts that he does use his cutter for but you can tell the amount of craftsmanship that went into this piece alone. 

If you ask my husband he might agree with this sign;)

Forever Families

 Yesterday as I was standing outside on recess duty I saw my nephew playing with my friends. It struck me how big he had gotten...I know, I know, I sound like one of those dreadful aunts who pinch their nieces and nephews cheeks and smear lipstick all over their faces when I pull them in for a big slobbery kiss on the cheek. I am not like that (however I do love my nieces and nephews to pieces and if it weren't so embarrassing I probably would give them a big wet kiss on the cheek.)

Anyway back to my recess ponderings. As I saw my nephew running around playing tag with his friends I realized how much I love him. (I know, shouldn't I have known this all along?) I knew that I loved him but in that one moment it struck me just how much I would do for him. Not only him but any of member of my family. I am so grateful to be sealed to my family forever and even after I am gone I will be able to see them again.

Family is the most important part of life and I am so humbled that I get to spend mine with these lovely folks pictured below.

It amazes me at how different all of these people are and even though sometimes they make me mad, sad, and even glad...he he he I'm a rhymer...I would do anything in my power to make their frown turn upside down.

If you want to learn more about eternal families go here.