Home Sweet Home

We made it! It only took 2 hours to load up and clean our apartment thanks to all of the help we had. Many hands make light work, especially when those hands belong to hard workers. We have great family members who helped out (promising to never do so again) and a couple from the ward.

I was a little worried when we left because I didn't know what we would be moving into. We had never seen this apartment. I had talked to the owner on the phone and then sent Deidra and Chris to scope it out, but I still didn't know what we were getting.

Bentley quickly attached himself to this weird closet under the stairs. He spent most of last night moving all of his toys (one at a time) down to it.

Now we just need to get unpacked.

Pack 'em up, Move 'em out

This:


Is beginning to look like this:

What are the chances!

I just sat down to check my email and noticed one with the subject "VT assignment". Since we are in the process of moving, I have been "released" as a visiting teacher in this ward, so I was intrigued.

So I clicked it.

And I found a little letter bearing the importance of visiting teaching along with the companionship and assignment intended for a Nikkala of a different last name.

I emailed Sister Allred back to let her know that I don't get to Maryland often enough to warrant an assignment.

There Really IS a Santa Claus!

Like most years, the fun of Christmas was in the anticipation. And the anticipation was so great Chod got Bentley up bright and early to see what Santa had brought. Bentley grew tired of opening gifts quickly and there are still 2 wrapped under the tree for him. Apparently he knows his birthday is in 5 days and I haven't thought of anything to get him so he is saving these...good thinking kid.

He does love his trike though.

And look what I got...
a fancy schmancy new toaster.


Thanks Santa!

Merry Christmas

We will be having a white Christmas!

Today has been a perfect Christmas Eve day. We went and saw Enchanted. Bentley sat so good through the entire movie (eating his popcorn of course).

Then when we got home it was so cute watching Bentley with his face pressed against the window watching Chod shovel the walk. I opened the window and he would yell "Go Dad!" or "Whoa Dad!" I really can't tell which it was, but either way it made Dad feel good.

Merry Christmas!

Pukey Pukerton

Nothing makes me appreciate our washer and dryer more than when Bentley is sick.

He woke up crying Saturday night. He had thrown up all over his bed. So into the washer went the sheets and blankets and jammies and Froggie.

Then he threw up all over me and the couch. Luckily, we don't have nice furniture so the slip cover went in the next load. Most days I don't appreciate the ease of doing laundry daily. But today I am thankful all is washed and not sitting in a pile waiting for a trip to the laundromat...ugh.


...needless to say he didn't get to show off his new suit yesterday at church.

Naughty or Nice?

When I Have Grown an Inch or Two

Bentley got a suit. A new suit.
Isn't he handsome. Now we just need to find a tailor and a barber....

TOYS!

We have been on the go a lot lately. Parties. House hunting. Driving. Parties.

We had a house in the scope, but before we could pull the trigger someone else did.

Guess it wasn't meant to be.

But now we have 10 until we need to be out of our current place...I'm not going to think about it until after Christmas.

This morning while Bentley and I were cuddling and he was half asleep I was telling him that today we are staying home all day. And he can take a nap in his own bed and play with his toys and...

With that he threw his little legs over the side of the bed and my Dudey was gone.

I called out "where are you going?"

To which he replied "TOYS!"

I found him sitting on the floor of his room in the dark playing with blocks.

We are both ready for a day at home.

3 Gifts

Only 6 days left until The Big One. While Bentley doesn't exactly get the whole Christmas thing yet, and he still hasn't met Santa, I am still excited for Christmas morning. Everyday has been like Christmas when we he insists we plug in the Christmas lights and then stands staring in awe...it will be sad when the tree is gone.

The first year we were married our stake put on a Christmas workshop. We learned about combining traditions and what not, but the only thing I remember is that one of the ladies said that she makes sure her gifts fit in 3 categories--and no, they're not gold, frankincense and myrrh. She always gives something to read, something to play with and something to wear. Ever since our first Christmas I have tried to stick to those.

I just read about another family that gives gifts that represents Love, Joy and Knowledge. As long as clothes make you feel loved, knowledge from something to read, and you get joy from toys I guess we are on the same page. But Love, Joy, and Knowledge sure make it sound less commercialized....

Flashback

Two years ago I was 9 months pregnant and living off of carrots and oranges.

Not kidding. We bought carrots in 5 lb bags and oranges by the case.

I knew my baby was going to be orange.

Sad day....

...when you accept the fact that your 2 year old no longer takes morning naps.

I want to

This afternoon we stopped by Chod's grandparents for a visit. His grandma is the sweetest little lady and she absolutely loves her family. Her home has always been full of kids. After raising her own children, she helped raise some of her grandkids, and now has great grandkids running around the place.

While we were in the front room talking with Grandpa I heard Grandma in the back bedroom playing trucks with Bentley. My first reaction was that I should go and save her from feeling like she needed to play with him. And then I realized that she was probably enjoying it more than he was, and so I let them play.

Soon her house was overtaken by a party. A few of the grandkids and their families had planned to meet at her house for their sibling Christmas party. Chod and I did not know this was planned and we completely crashed the party. Grandma insisted we stay and eat with them.

As kids were running up and down and around and Grandma was making sure everyone had enough to eat I looked at her and she had the happiest, most content expression on her face. She absolutely loves having her house full and taking care of the ones she loves.

Her Christmas tree is decorated with little framed pictures of all of the great grandkids and she can tell you all of their names and what they have been up to. She never misses a birthday. I don't know how she keeps track of all of them, but birthday cards always come before or on your birthday--never late. There is money tucked inside the cards for the older ones and the younger ones get toys or clothes. She said when she goes Christmas shopping she takes a list with the sizes of clothes she needs to buy and then goes down the racks making sure everyone is taken care of. I can't imagine what she spends on gifts and postage every year.

While we were eating she mentioned she had gift for the kids. One of the granddaughters said, "Grandma you didn't need to do that."

And she replied, "I don't have to do anything. I want to."

Can you reach this?

Yesterday in the grocery store a little lady stopped me, and asked me to reach the ground ginger off of the top shelf.

And I did could!

That is right I was asked to reach a high object instead of the other way around.

Dudey's 'tudey

Our little Dudey is developing quite the attitudey. "No!" is becoming a regular part of his vocabulary. When he isn't saying it, he is shaking his head and giving dirty looks.

He has also mastered the throwing of a tantrum. And he proudly displays his artwork on walls and furniture.

I suppose it is his age, but with his little 'tude come some really fun times. At bath time I say "On your mark" and he finishes with "get set, GO!" and takes off running to the bathroom.

We have a scale in the bathroom that Bentley uses at least once a day. Usually after waking up he walks into the bathroom, steps on the scale, looks down and waits for the number to settle. Once it displays his weight he is off to other activities. He also weighs himself before bath time while he is waiting for the bathtub to fill. I am not sure where he learned this from, because I am not a frequent weigher. And it is a good thing he doesn't know what he is doing, or it would seem that he is obsessed over his entire 22 lbs.

He also is learning the sounds of the alphabet thanks to Letter Factory. I am a huge fan of this movie. His favorites are Ssssss, and Mmmmm with an occasional Bbb thrown in.

Kitchen Aid Part III

It appears that Chod fixed the Kitchen Aid! I was a little worried to give it a try after all of the repairs, but it did just fine with the pizza dough tonight.

Now I can move onto bread, if it can last through a batch of whole wheat bread I'll be convinced that all the problems are fixed.

Little Switcheroo

This afternoon I sat down with a stack of gifts to wrap. There were 4 that were in a similar shape and size of box. Three were for the giving tree and one was for Chod.

Thinking that it would be very easy to get them mixed up I quickly sat Chod's off to the side.

I wonder how it would go if Christmas morning Chod opened this.

And the 14 year old girl opened this.

After weighing his disappointment with her joy--I decided that if I could be there to see it, I just might make the switch.

O Christmas Tree

Christmas Trees are serious business in the Parish home.

My dad perfected the art of watering the tree. A custom tree stand and a gallon of water a day ensure that his tree buds out. Every single year. Live trees don't possess a fire hazard when they are gulping up the water.

Grandpa will be proud to know that in the morning after making sure every stand of Christmas lights are plugged in, Bentley climbs under the tree and checks the water level in our (WEPCO rejected) tree stand.

Maybe our tree will bud this year...

Following the leader

I have a strange habit. Sometimes when I am driving I like to pick out a car I think is going to the same place, and then I just follow it.

Usually I am very good at guessing the right vehicle. I have only been wrong once (and maybe the car we were following was just as lost as we were). My odds are usually increased since these destinations are usually for a highly attended event.

Tonight, as I was driving to the stake center for the Christmas fireside I saw a mini van and assumed it was going to the same place we were. As Bentley and I were oohing and aaahing over the Christmas lights on houses, I realized that I wasn't paying attention to where I was going, but instead following the van.

Lucky for me, the van pulled into the stake center just minutes before the program began.

It's a bird, It's a plane...

Some boys like to dress as super heroes.

Mine?

Well, he prefers to be a turtle.

Let it be Christmas

I decided that this was the year for a tree makeover. I have had the same snowmen decorations on my tree for...well, for as long as I have had Christmas decorations. I know I used them my freshman year, and that I had them even before that--so this was the year for a change.

I started collecting ornaments in October and a few weeks ago when I pulled everything out I realized that they were all pretty much the same size, so there is no focal point in the tree--that will have to wait until next year.

And since I was making the Keck's stockings for Christmas, I figured I might as well make us some too. So I did.

And then I decided that it would me nice to have a tree skirt. So I made one to match the stockings.

Then Chod accepted the new job and he wanted to move in the middle of the month.

And I would have none of that. I had new Christmas decorations that I was not waiting another year to use them!

So it is...our Christmas home.

Christmas Stamps

Is anyone else disappointed in the choices of holiday stamps this season?

Kitchen Aid Update

So our gear box cover came yesterday. We opened it up to find that it was a metal one--amazing.

Chod went about replacing it. Which involved all of of removing 6 screws and replacing the 6 screws--so easy, I could have done it.

He replaced the cover and turned the thing on. It sounded funny, really funny. After a little investigating he found that some of the teeth on the gears were missing and things weren't fitting together like they should....

Nothing a little internet shopping couldn't fix. After dropping another $50, our parts should be here next week. And hopefully we will be good to go.

If not, I am asking Santa for a new mixer.

Hoodlum

.
Bentley loves to wear hats. Right now his favorite is this GW beanie Deidra and Chris gave him. First thing in the morning he brings it to me and asks for it to be put on. Then he will wear it for hours while he plays.

These pictures were taken last night after his bath. I don't know why he loves it so much, but he does.

Don't Tell Bentley

I have a nasty head cold.

Bentley has two bottles of Nasonex.

And since I know how much he likes his Nasonex, I've been waiting for him to go to bed before I use it.

Super Dad

Ever since the U of I asked Chod to use up some of his comp time and not come in until it had been reduced to 100 hours (he had 240) we have been seeing a lot of him. Since they don't pay overtime he has been steadily collecting comp time in its place. So, with 140 hours to burn up I have been finding all sorts of things to keep him busy.

Wednesday, Karisa called to see if I could watch her kids and a friend's son. I told her that wouldn't be a problem, I was going visiting teaching but should be done about a half an hour after they brought the kids---but Chod would be here and could handle 4 kids for 30 minutes. Even if the 4 were 2 nursing babies and 2 close to 2 years...

Two and a half hours after I thought I would be back, I walked in the door.

Hudson was holding Dalanie and they were both crying.

Chod was in the kitchen holding a crying Jaden and trying to warm up his bottle.

Bentley was in his crib.

"Where have you been!?"

"Sorry, it took a little longer than I thought."

"All 4 have been crying for the last two hours. And I only knew what to do with one of them."

I asked Hudson if he wanted to watch a movie. He said yes and picked out "Cars" and I threw a bag of popcorn in the microwave.

Chod fed Jaden. I held Dalanie, and Bentley and Hudson watch the movie and ate their popcorn. It only took a few minutes for everyone to calm down. We even got both of the babies to sleep.

I would like to think my mothering skills are the reason for the calmness. Chod thinks it was because there were two of us, and an arm for every kid.

Who knows if we'll ever find out....after those two hours Chod really thinks Bentley should be an only child.

Can He Fix It?

Chod ordered a replacement gear box for my Kitchen Aid. It should be here within a week. Hopefully this $30 part will get me at least another year's use out of my Kitchen Aid.

I've decided that mixers (whether Bosch, or Kitchen Aid) are much like cell phones. Before you have one you don't think you would use one much. But once you get one you don't know how you could ever live without it.

The Day the KitchenAid died

Yesterday, as I was making bread my KitchenAid killed over.

Dead.

My 3 year old KitchenAid Professional 6.

I called customer service this morning and they presented me with 3 options:

#1 For $32 I can ship the KitchenAid to them. They will open it up and look at it for another $25 dollars. Then they will tell me what is wrong I can either chose to have it fixed (for an additional cost) or choose to have it sent back to me still dead. This will take between 4-6 weeks.

#2 They do have service centers in Salt Lake, Boise, and Provo. I will need to call one of them and see what their turn around is, then I will need to haul the Kitchen Aid to them.

#3 To save me the hassle of having to wait for the repair, KitchenAid has new mixers for sale on their website. Brand new. And right now they are $50 off. $50 off of $400.

Chod opened it up this morning and has diagnosed it (that should save us $25).



The plastic gear box is broken, which after a minute or two online, appears to be a very common problem. They just don't make 'em like they used to.

The way I see it is that I have 3 options:

#1 Fork over the $60+ to have it sent back and repaired, buy a Bosch in the meantime, and when I get back my Kitchen Aid sell it to re-coup some of the cost.

#2 Drive to SLC, pay to have it fixed, sell it, and buy a Bosch.

#3 Buy a new Bosch for $350 (including the blender), or we could spring for the new Universal Plus for $400.


'Tis the season for new kitchen appliances.

Car Wash Monsters

After filling up my car with gas the pump asked if I would like a car wash.

Mmm, yes thank you.

I pull around to the car wash and have to wait since someone beat me to it. So Bentley and I sing a couple songs and I glance through the new CB2 catalog that came in the mail. Finally, the door opens and we are able to pull in.

Uh. Oh.

It's one on those washes. The ones with the furry monsters that attack the car. I much prefer "touchless" as to those with brushes and such. But I am a grown lady-I can handle it.

Bentley, on the other hand, screamed the entire time.

He doesn't like the monsters either.

Phew!

We survived the Thanksgiving Festivities. I didn't make it home with any pictures, so see Karisa's blog for those. And then last night we raced back to see Chod's family before they headed out.

Then we went grocery shopping.

And then it was home to unpack the car and, amazingly, we manage to bathe Bentley, unpack the car, put the groceries away, unpack suitcases, start laundry, and put Bentley to bed in a little over a half an hour. I am still impressed by our speediness.

Bring on Christmas!

Turkey Trotters

As soon as the turkey was in the oven we (all 12 of the Parish clan) headed to the local 5k Turkey Trot.

It was freezing and the wind was blowing, so the 3 children and a brother-in-law stayed in the suburban as our "support crew".

Chod ran the whole way! Not bad for a old guy who hasn't ran for a while.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'll Help You Dad

Bentley is Chod's self appointed tutor.

Last night Chod thought he would help Bentley put together a puzzle but Bentley thought he was helping Dad.

Bentley handed Chod a puzzle piece, Chod tried handing it back to Bentley so he could put it in the right spot. Bentley, thinking his Dad didn't know where the cat went, pointed to the correct spot and waited for Chod to set it down. When Chod placed the cat in the correct spot, Bentley clapped because he was so proud of his dad and proceeded to hand the next piece, point out the correct spot, and clap whenever Chod got it right.

Chod was downright insulted.

Go Long

Yesterday was our ward's first annual Turkey Bowl. The attendance was lacking, but everyone had a good time.
Since the turnout was low, they recruited wives and children to play too. After they served up some mean chili and cinnamon rolls.

Role Reversal

"Oh Crap!"

The toaster is jerked off the counter and thrown out the back door.

Me: "What is going on?"

Chod: "That stupid toaster burned my toast...it was even on the lowest setting!"

Pretty sure there will be a new toaster under our tree...from Chod.

Thanks Lady

Monday after the doctor's appointment I thought I would run to a couple stores, because we were in Idaho Falls--and they actually have stores there. Bentley did pretty well in Target. It did cost me a dollar for a clacking pig, but it kept him happy the entire time.

Our next stop was the fabric store. I just needed a few things and even though I knew I was pushing the napless child just a little, I thought I could handle it.

I was wrong.

Oh so wrong.

It started when I put him in the shopping cart and did up the strap of shame. He immediately wanted out. I tried distracting him, but I don't think he could hear me over his screaming.

So I took him out and was holding him while trying to decide what color of ribbon would be best. For about 10 seconds he was so good and laid his head on my shoulder.

And then he wanted down.

So down he went.

He ran as fast as his little legs would take him, weaving in and out of fabric. I was getting looks from everyone in the store (they were having a Veteran's Day sale, so of course the usually empty store was packed full--fabric people love sales).

At least he wasn't screaming, people.

I quickly made my fabric decision, grabbed Bentley and headed to the cutting counter. In my haste I ended up paying almost twice per yard what I would have if I had been thinking clearly, and who knows if the yardage will be enough or way too much.

And how I wish this is where the story ends. But it doesn't. As we are waiting in line to check out Bentley had the worst melt down in the history of Bentley. Kicking, screaming, throwing himself on the floor. It wasn't pretty. He smashed my finger so hard when he threw his head back on the edge of the cart I swore I was going to lose the nail.

The cashier was no help, as I apologized for his tantrum she rudely informed me that I was swiping my card too fast.

Twice.

I just wanted out of there.

Then she told me that I should really take him home and put him down for a nap.

Oh you think?

Randomness

I've been having a hard time coming up with a post I can share since apparently my life has become top secret.

I have been working on Christmas gifts, that are turning out lovely, but I can't share just in case the recipients are lurkers around here. There are a few projects left to finish, but I feel good since I at least know what I will be giving. One by one my Christmas list is whittling away...now if only I could decide on a gift for Chod....

I have some good stories to share, but haven't been able to figure out a way to protect the innocent (or not so innocent, as the case may be), so they will have to wait.

In other news, Bentley doesn't need tubes just yet. The doctor will give it a month before deciding since the infection is gone, but he is hoping the fluid will drain on its own. And we are now pre-approved and ready to start house shopping!

How's that for a random update?

Nasonex Dependance?

Remember this post? It was the one were I said that Bentley had his first ear infection...

Well, we still have that ear infection 2 months later. We've tried out most antibiotics without any luck. He has been on a prescription cold medicine for the last little while, but the poor guys head is still all clogged up.

We've been making weekly, sometimes bi-weekly visits to the doctor. Tomorrow we have an appointment with an ENT (ear, nose and throat specialist) to see if tubes are in his future. At our last visit with the doctor he sent me home with a bottle of Nasonex and told me some tricks to get him to allow us to squirt it up his nose, with the advice that "any little bit would help."

Chod and I both were a little skeptical of how Bentley would like it.

Then last night Bentley went and got his bottle of Nasonex, took the lid off, laid on the floor and stuck it up his nose. He doesn't know how to squirt it, or else he would be giving it to himself now.

I've got a little druggie on my hands...and to think I thought it was going to be a fight every night.

Hopefully it has done the trick, and he won't need tubes after all!

Heading Back

Sometimes moving forward means going back.

Almost 2 years ago Chod graduated and we moved to Blackfoot. In all honesty, we weren't ecstatic about moving to Blackfoot, but it did put us in a nice proximity to family. As things changed at his job, we became more attached to our friends and ward here in Blackfoot.

For about the past 8 months we have known we needed a change, and started praying for new employment for our family and Chod. Then the job hunting began and nights were spent working on cover letters and sending resumes out.

In the middle of the hunt Chod received an email from a previous boss asking if he would ever consider coming back to work with him. Chod replied saying he was all ears.

What came back was a job description and outline that matched Chod's ideal and future plan exactly!

So while we are sad to be leaving our friends and family, we are excited about the future. Chod can start there as soon as he would like, but has a few things to wrap up with the university here before we go.

And while we are moving forward we are also moving back to Logan,

Does your dryer do this?

Three and a half years ago we bought our washer and dryer.

This weekend I bought a helpful magazine. It had an article about a cool feature on newer dryers. They have a moisture sensor so when it senses that the load is dry it shuts off.

I thought that was a genius idea, and told Chod that when we needed a new dryer we should definitely make sure it had this sensor.

Chod looked at me and said, 'That IS why we bought the dryer we have."

...wouldn't that have been nice to know 3 1/2 years ago.....

Apparently I have been using the wrong setting all this time.

All he's ever wanted

Its Chod's birthday! Guess what he got....




The End of Daylight Savings!


What more could he want?

All or Nothing

Bentley loves to be read to, which is good....right?

Good, except that he isn't content having 1 book read to him at a time, nor 5. It takes every single book he owns before we can move on to another activity.

Every book. Several times a day.

I was thinking we needed new books, just to shake things up. But now I am thinking new books mean more books...and more books mean even more reading.

Trick or Treating Turtle

What a nice Halloween night we had! Usually it is snowing and blowing here on Halloween, but not last night. Bentley was a turtle, as per Aunt Tameka's request.
Bentley discovered what Trick or Treating was last night. He really likes the concept of ringing a doorbell and getting candy. We only went to 5 houses, which resulted in plenty of candy for our turtle.

New Froggie

Grandma Stephens sent Bentley a new froggie! He was a little unsure of it at first...it was a little too soft, a little too clean, and a little too intact to be mistaken for the old froggie, but he quickly warmed up to him. Thanks Grandma for the new froggie!

Trick or Treat

We are all set for Halloween. Our goodie bags are made for the trick or treaters. I don't think we will get many, so hopefully we will have enough.
Karisa and kids came over today for the Cousin Halloween Party. We made these Creepy Creature Cupcakes, we being Karisa and myself. Bentley and Dalanie were taking naps and Hudson was watching Toy Story....so maybe it was more of a Sister Halloween Party...

Happy Halloween!

Deck The Halls

Tomorrow Halloween is over. Which means Christmas season will be in full swing.

It is totally legal to start listening to Christmas music on October 1st in my family...but I haven't yet...

Maybe its because I need some new carols in my playlist.

What is your favorite Christmas song? Artist? CD?

Lost

Lost

Froggie
Description: Green, Droopy Eye, A little tattered, Very loved
Age: 2 years old
Last Seen: Shopko in Idaho Falls

If you have any information leading to the recovery of this frog, please leave a comment below.
A reward is being offered.

Engineering Problem

I haven't been to the doctor for an annual checkup since I had Bentley...so I finally broke down and made an appointment. It was for Thursday morning at 10:15.

All morning I dreaded it. I tried talking others into going for me, but no one would so I had to go.

As I was walking into the Women's Center I noticed that all of the rooms had their windows open and the blinds were up...allowing me to see right in. All of the rooms where empty, but I made a mental note to make sure they windows were closed and the blinds down before my appointment started.

I walked in and told the receptionist I had an appointment with Dr. Williams.

She looked at me and said, "Are you Nikkala? I just tried calling you. We are having a sewer problem. Could we reschedule for 2:45 this afternoon if we have the mess cleaned up?"

(The message she left actually said it was an "engineering problem.")

The sewer problem was the reason the windows were all open. After she mentioned it, I could smell the problem.

I ended up having to reschedule for this Wednesday, which means that my long dreaded appointment will be even more dreaded by the time it gets here.

Any one want to go for me?

Handsome Bentley

Bentley and I made a quick trip to Burley yesterday to pick up stuff for the Super Saturday tomorrow, and so the two of us could get our hair cut. It was Bentley's first time in the chair. His other haircuts have been a zoo with me trying to cut and him trying to steal the scissors and combs. Kandice was so quit, she made it look easy. Bentley made it look painful. He actually only cried for the first little bit and then he happily sucked on his hair covered sucker. I'll gladly make the trip to Burley for his next haircut.
Then we went to Grandma and Grandpa's where Grandpa insisted that Bentley (isn't he handsome with his haircut) sit on the pumpkins. I think this cart is cool. If I ever have a house and a yard with a garden I want a cart like this. Its an old milk cart.

It's Good

This morning Chod gave Bentley a little Twix bar from our countdown calender. As he was taking his first bite I told Chod that I didn't think Bentley had ever had a Twix before and I didn't know how he would like the carmel.

Bentley looked up, said "it's good" and went back to nibbling.

Like I honestly thought he wouldn't like Twix...

Here's How it All Went Down...

I've been slightly distanced from blogging as I have been busy planning a party I was afraid I might mention here, and that would have ruined everything.

Two months ago a friend and I assumed the titles of Zelda and Wanda D. Witch, respectively, as we sat out to plan the Grand Witches' Council Challenge 2007.

We sent out these invitations (printed on orange paper) to our friends, and awaited the RSVPs. The addresses were printed on the envelopes, and the return address was fake--all to protect our anonymity.

The RSVPs were so clever! Every RSVP received and email back saying this:

We're thrilled you've decided to join in the fun.
You won't regret it once the broomstick you've won.

Once all have applied we'll assign you a crew,
a captain, team name, and team color too.

You'll all work to decipher our clues.
And gather ingredients for our Grand Witches' brew.

Arrive on time, and come well prepared,
Bring a flashlight, a map, and try not to get scared.

Now the countdown begins. You know what to do,
Just practice your brewing and await your first clue.

We'll be in touch.
Wanda and Zelda Witch

We divided teams up and chose team captains. There were 5 teams with 3 couples each. Then late one night Zelda and I donned our witches' hats and set out to deliver the team captains the instructions and rules for the GWC. I felt oh so sneaky as we snuck to the doors and tied the instructions on the handles. Dogs and motion lights only added to the thrill, because honestly, it wasn't that late--only 9:30.

The instructions told each team that they would be finding ingredients to the witches' brew at each location along with the next clue. It was a scavenger hunt with an Amazing Race twist as there were several locations that had a challenge thrown in.

Last night at 6 we met our team and sat out. It was so much fun to participate and listen to who the others thought Wanda and Zelda were. I only slightly helped, more to steer the team in the right direction than to actually find the clues. The clues were written in rhyme and slightly ambiguous.

Our first stop was Great American Video where we had to find the movie starring Norman Bates and take it to the counter for our ingredient and the next clue. Once "Psycho" was shown and we had our rat we were directed to look in a pumpkin patch for our next clue.

It was so muddy in the pumpkin patch. We searched through the pumpkins and had to find a hollowed out pumpkin with our clue inside. We didn't have to search for long because when Wanda and Zelda set out to hide the ingredients--it was snowing and blowing like crazy, so they made the pumpkins very easy to find.

With our spider in tow, we had to count parking spaces at a church and then use that number to open a chest hiding under the goblin's bridge at the river's bend. There was a money box with 1-8-6 as the combination under the bridge, containing our snake.

The next stop was a cemetary, where our skeleton was located near the flag pole. By this time it was dark and snowing and blowing and we were sent to the State Hospital to find our bat under branches a tree. This clue took our team the longest, as we had to search through piles of branches on the ground. But at last we had our final clue, a very faint map without any road names on it leading us to the Grand Witches' Council.

My team had no idea I was Wanda (except for Chod), but the best part was that Zelda had managed to keep her true identity a secret from her husband. So he had no idea it was her, until the map sent them to his house! We sat around and relived our adventures and drank hot chocolate and ate cinnamon rolls while we waited for the last team to arrive. Our team didn't win the golden broomstick, we lost on a technicality.

The party was a lot of fun. I wish I would take credit for being the mastermind behind the party, but I found it on a blog. Thanks Maria!

Shhh...

Santa will be leaving this under our tree.

1-9

Happy Birthday to my Baby Tameka and Bentley's very most favorite (single) aunt!

Little Witches

Last night we had our Mother Daughter Activity for the activity day girls on our ward. We had a little Witches Night Out. It was so fun, and we had the cutest little witches there.

I'd like to thank Martha for her Halloween ideas....

We made her brown paper brooms as centerpieces


Her witch cupcakes as an activityAnd remember the cobwebby flowers--they were there too.


We played "Witch"inary, similar to Pictionary, but for little witches.

The attendance was better than expected and I think all of the witches had fun. Aren't they cute!

Different Plans

A little fall recap...

While Chod was at choir practice on Sunday, the little B and I went over to the church to play in the leaves. More for me than for him. I go crazy on Sunday afternoons and have to get out of the house, but that is a story for a different time.He had fun playing and stomping in the leaves.

Then he realized that the leaves in the parking lot make a much louder "crunch".

The weather was gorgeous yesterday, so Bentley and I went to the park. Obviously we had different agenda's once we got there. I wanted to take some pictures of him and the changing leaves.
Oh look at the cute boy.
You might want to look again, because it is the only picture I got before this started. Like I said, we had different agendas. Bentley went to climb and slide.Now that's a smile!
At least one of us got what we wanted.

Rexburg Temple

The Rexburg temple open house will be from Dec. 29-Jan. 26. Tickets will be available on Nov. 26th on this website.

Just in case any of you are interested.

Horse

"Horse."

"No Bentley, that one is a cow."

"Horse"

"That is actually a goat."

"Horse"

"Cow. Its a cow."

"Horse"

"You are so smart--that is a horse!"


Yes folks, the genius gene is hard at work here.

Pioneer or Little Red Hen?

My freshman year at Utah State was very much a learning experience; as I learned that not everyone was raised the same way I was.

I am the oldest, and the first one to leave home, so Mom would send me domestic things. Like holiday decorations, everyday decorations, loaves of frozen bread dough that only required to be pulled from the freezer and allowed to raise before I could stick them in the oven at 350. Then our apartment would smell like fresh baked bread, which would then attract every college kid within smelling distance.
Mmmm....homemade bread. Once we were having a discussion amongst roommates and bread was drug into the conversation. I am not sure what the question was, but I must have answered with a "you seriously don't know that?" tone. Because Jennifer's reply was "My mom isn't a pioneer like your mom!"

That made it into the quote book.

Apparently because my mom made bread she was considered a "pioneer".

About a month ago we got a wheat grinder. Since then our house has been full of that fresh baked bread smell, as I have been busy grinding my wheat and then making bread.

If only those roommates could see me now! Maybe I should don a bonnet send them a photo of me with my bread.

Toaster Troubles

I hate our toaster. Chod loves it. I despise it. Once when I asked for a new toaster Chod was so shocked by my lack of love for his favorite appliance that he didn't talk to me for hours.

Why the toaster?

At first I think I resented the stupid piece of chrome because of where it came from. It was Chod's ex-girlfriends parent's toaster. Then it was her toaster, and then when she didn't want it anymore it became Chod's, and I married into it from there. The only thing it has going for it is that it looks cool enough, and fits in well with my 50's dining table--but that isn't enough for me to overlook its other flaws.

The toaster is very frustrating to operate. First, you have to put the right slice of bread in first and hope that you get it in the slot at the right angle so it will lower down. There is no button to push it down. You have to wait for it to decide that it is willing to cooperate before you can start dreaming of toast. Then after you have convinced the toaster that you deserve this slice of toast you have to stand guard. Sometimes the toast comes up before it has even had a chance to warm, and other times it is charred black. The toaster toasts rather quickly when it feels like it (the main advantage of this toaster in Chod's eyes is the speed of toasting), but it doesn't feel like it enough that you expect the bread to be raised 3 times before beginning to turn golden and then suddenly it will burn the bread in 30 seconds flat.

The smell of burnt toast makes me angry.

Tonight when Chod burned his toast (he still claims it was "golden", but it was definitely black) I simply said, "I'm asking for a new toaster for Christmas."

From his reaction I suspect that he will not be the one buying me a new toaster, but I can guarantee come Christmas morning there will be a new shiny toaster sitting under the tree with a tag that says "from Santa."

Santa and I are close like that.

Still at it

We have had a busy week. Karisa and kids joined us on Tuesday and we have covered a lot of ground. Yesterday we visited the zoo. It was a gorgeous day!

And tiring. While Hudson was looking at giraffes Bentley was snoozing in the stroller.

And Bentley has been loving life in the hotel. The elevator, the telephones and all other buttons that are in the room. I don't think he has ever met a corded telephone before, and he thinks they are pretty cool.

And let's not forget swimming. The pool at our hotel was under construction, but they kindly shuttled us to the Hilton for pool usage. Look how cute my boys are!
We did a little shopping as well. We hit Bukoos, The Children's Place, Taiwan Imports, Bakers C & C, IKEA, Target, and Kohls. Phew, we were busy!

Here we go

We started our week of fun on Sunday in Logan and now we have moved to Salt Lake. Yesterday, I drove up Logan Canyon until Bentley fell asleep. I took a couple pictures, although none of them show the leaves in all their grandeur. This is at Second Dam. The drive through Sardine was pretty too.


Bentley got to eat his first Aggie Ice Cream cone while we were in Logan.
This afternoon the little man and myself hit the town. Our first stop was Gardner's Village, where all the witches are out and the whole village is ready for Halloween.

Bentley loved the witches and would run from one to the next. I think she was telling him the secrets to brew making.