Happy Halloween!

Boy, have we been having a fun school year! Sorry I haven't put up a real blog lately, but we have been very busy.

School started out just great for everyone! All the kids enjoy school, as well as their days off. Somehow we found time to go with the Durham family both apple-picking and to the beach. Mike lost his first three teeth and Abby two more.

Mike and Aidan have had a full soccer season, their last games are on Saturday. Mike is on the Raptors and Aidan's on the Rockets. Both are having a great time! Aidan used Silly Putty as hair product and had to have his head shaved. He looks cute and tough.

Abigail hurt her foot at the beach. :( We were walking the tidepools and she sliced open the bottom of her foot. 4 stitches and two weeks on crutches later, she has minimal scarring and is walking fine! She never complained once but did milk it for attention a little bit. ;)

Jed and I moved some things around in our living room, and got a new couch. We're thrilled with how it looks and when we're all done I'll post photos. We also had a grand time at the ward talent show playing Rock Band with Julia and Dean Harmon. We dressed up as rockers and projected the game for the audience, and sang two songs. Jed's one hot drummer! And yes, he did wear a fauxhawk.

We had a great time at the ward Trunk-or-Treat. We took an eyeball for our ugly cake contest and the kids went as the Chipmunks. Darth Mommy even made an appearance! We will be skipping trick-or-treating again this year. Our family has had a tradition the last few years of going in our costumes for dinner at Rainforest Cafe. They give free kids meals to kids in costume, and it's usually just us and one or two other families. I mean, who goes to the mall on Halloween, right? We get the place to ourselves!

The next couple months will bring even more excitement as Jed's Birthday, Thanksgiving, Jed's big business trip, and our California Christmas are all forthcoming! Hope all is well with everyone.

Rewards

A mommy's joy is never done,
she loves each snaggle-toothed smile.
She's lucky each child will stick around
and love her for such a long while.

Each kid tells her just what he thinks of all things
and every thought is so droll,
And he asks her why and makes her think too
with every question and poll.

A mommy sees every millimeter of growth
in each little spirit so small,
Each moment amazing and of infinite worth
as they grow up so great big and tall.

A mommy can see how the little brains work
and how the personalities are made,
and while each moment slips on and is lost
the memories will never fade.

No one hears "Let us dance!" or "I love you!"
as much as a mom, and the kids say
"Thanks for the food!" and "Thanks for my stuff!"
And give her a million and one hugs every day.

She recieves many gifts such as leaves and bugs
and feathers and drawings by the score.
Mom never can say she doesn't have anything to do,
and her life is never a bore.

And while many a complaint piles up in her mind
and she might once in a while explode,
It's not very hard to see a million miracles
and thus easily slip out of that mode.

So a mom gets the most blessings all piling up
more than her husband or kids will ever know.
For there's no job more important or hobby more fun
than helping the littlest souls grow.

Rant

A mommy's work is never done.
She's got homework too.
She's got to take care of everyone,
and do all the right things too.

A mommy has to clean the house
and dishes and laundry and kids,
And find everything from socks to keys
to shoes and tupperware lids.

A mom wipes up noses and bums and small faces
and takes the bugs and the rocks back outside.
And she's got to stop kids who are off to the races
and find the ones who like to hide.

A mom can't complain if there's only one car
cause at least there's a car at all,
But she has to wait in the work lot for hours
If during the day she wants to go to the mall.

If a mommy takes time to do things for herself
she can't take much more than a minute.
Cause the work can't be left no matter what
even when there is just no fun in it.

Mommy can't cry or be angry or mean
because she sets the tone for them all,
and she has to be good and try her darn best
for the impressionable spirits of the small.

And if Legos bruise her tired feet
or her head aches from cries that are shrill,
She has to get up at the crack of dawn
to make it to the bus stop still.

A mom doesn't want to be pessimistic or down
but sometimes she must let it out,
So she'll complain just this once and let you all know.
And then she'll smile and let go of her pout.