Witches' Night Out

Going to Witches' Night Out is an annual event for Grandpa J and I. It's an outdoor event held two weeks before Halloween. It started out to be an evening for the ladies while their husbands were away hunting. Now, it's developed into somewhat of a family affair.

I love to go because of the fall atmosphere and it's just plain 'ol fun to people watch. Hundreds.... no, thousands, of witches come dressed in all sorts of witch attire. No two witches are alike. Some wear their hats, plain or very fancy, others go all out with fancy dresses and crazy makeup. There were scarey witches, baby witches, elegant witches, pretty witches, dog witches and white witches. I think my favorite this year was the witch who obviously was wearing some sort of "blow-up" costume. She reminded me of a humpty-dumpty witch. She was as wide as she was tall.

As the sunsets, more and more witches converge on the grounds until it's so crowded, you can't move and you can't get into the shops. You just stand in one place gawking and oohing at all the amazing costumes.

This year, Grandpa J and I got to take two of our grandchildren, Aryn and Alyza. I concocted a couple of witch outfits for them and brewed up a hat for each. These little girls had as much fun dressing up as I did making the costumes for them. We had a great time making memories!

As promised, here are a few pictures. Grandpa J and I both had "camera" issues, so don't expect perfect or great pictures.


The place is full of caricature witches posed in fun poses. This one had it's arm around me. Aryn couldn't stop talking about the one with the skirt lifted up showing a cat chasing a rat.


We try to get to the place before dark so we can take pictures. There are witches mulling around, but the crowd hasn't arrived yet.




This witch rides a bicycle in the air over a duck pond.


The girls enjoyed looking at this dog with a witch hat and cape on. I tell you, there are all kinds.



Since it was Grandpa J's birthday, we had to get a picture of him in here.


It's starting to get crowded and the sun is setting. Everytime I went to take a picture of a "good" crowd of witches, by the time I got the camera set up, everybody dispursed.


Witches of all sorts and styles show up.


It started to get so crowded, poor Alyza had a hard time keeping her hat on.


We stood in a very long line for soup in bread bowls. Aryn and Alyza enjoyed cotton candy.
I was trying to get a good picture, when all of a sudden...


This witch jumped in between Aryn and Alyza and surprised them!


Again, there were some crazy hats...



But, Aryn and Alyza, I think, were most fascinated with this werewolf and the witch. They couldn't stop talking about them.

Austen and Hats

When I think of Austen, I can't help but picture him with a hat on his head. For those of you who don't know Austen, you've got to know he LOVES to wear ball caps and always has one on. If I didn't know better, I'd think his hat was attached to his head in some manner. He ALWAYS has on a hat. But then, his dad was just like that when he was little too.





















I understand Austen would sleep with his hat on if his mom and dad let him. Also, he's not allowed to wear a hat on Sunday. I can understand why. . .to see him without a hat is a RARE occasion.



So, in honor of Austen's birthday today, Grandpa J and I are wearing ball caps and wishing him a happy birthday!






Austen is a CUTIE! His dark brown eyes just lure you in and then his smile will melt your heart.

Happy birthday Austen on your second birthday! We love you!

Playing With Joshua

The worst thing about being a grandma is not living close to ALL of the grandchildren. I HATE long distances! I miss out on all the small things like the first hiccup, the first tooth, the first steps and the first waving goodbye. I miss all of the great milestones achieved daily when they are so young. I miss out on the slobbery kisses and the gooey fingers reaching around my neck for a tight squeeze. I miss out on the "I love you Grandma" and the "Guess what, Grandma?" I simply, plain ‘ol miss out.

I love to play and chase my grand kids around the house. I love to jump out and scare them and chase them up the stairs and down the stairs and around the corners. I like to trick them and switch back the other direction and catch them so unexpectedly that they yell and scream and then laugh and laugh and laugh. Then, I laugh and laugh and laugh. It is simply the ultimate in PURE, PURE JOY: family.

Today is Joshua's birthday. He and I live a very long distance apart from each other. Just so Joshua may sort of know me and what I am like, here is a special video so he and I can play long distance as often as he wants. I want him to have the best birthday ever!

A Chat With Adam

Today is Adam's 5th birthday. I decided to have a little chat with him the other day to find out about his favorite things. I learned quite a bit. I'll bet you didn't know some of this.


Adam's favorite color is blue and his most favorite thing to eat is CHOCOLATE! Now that's a boy after my heart.



He loves to read and play with cars, but most of all, he really loves to play with swords and bows and any of the weapons from Narnia. He likes cowboy hats and handcuffs and all sorts of police stuff.



Adam's favorite movie is "Cars" and his favorite song is "Scripture Power." In his spare time Adam likes to sleep and play Phase 10 cards with his mom. He likes to help his Daddy fix tires.
Jaron, you must fix a lot of tires.

Aryn told me that Adam helps her when she has an "owie." She likes to tease him a lot! Alyza said Adam plays "choo choo train" with her, but he's a trouble maker and eats part of her cake.



Austen likes to sword fight with Adam.

Adam is a very sweet boy, kind of shy and a lot of fun to be around and tease. I hope he has a very nice birthday today. I love you Adam!

Fun at Lagoon

Here we are at Lagoon soaking up some sun and getting drenched on the water rides.  We went three times on the Rattle Snake Rapids and got soaked.  But, boy, it was sure fun!  The kids wanted to go again and again.  A day to laugh is good for you!

The Parable of the Houseplants

Those of you who know me, know that I have a LOT of house plants in my house. This morning I looked outside and there were a lot of dark clouds hovering in the sky. I decided today would be a great day to take all of my houseplants outside, give them a "bath" and clean them up a bit.


Over time, some of my plants get long lanky stems with just a few leaves on the ends, some are root bound and need repotting, some need the dead leaves plucked, others need staked and supported and some need a good pruning and cut way back drastically. Sometimes I'm ruthless and, once in a while, a poor plant is hacked so bad, there's not much left of it.

I did all that today, loosened up the soil (in some cases it was rock hard), repotted some, added some fresh clean dirt and fertilizer and hosed them off to get off all the dust that's been collecting on their leaves. I watered them really good.


Most of the time, this treatment sends the plants into quite a shock and they appear wilted. But, after a few hours pass, I know they will snap out of it. I do all of this because I know in the end, they will grow bigger, greener, lusher and they will flourish and become more beautiful.

I have to be careful if the sun comes out. . .the plants will sunburn very easily. So, today when the sun peaked out from the clouds, I moved them into the garage where they were warm enough to dry off before I brought them into the house, but also where they were protected from burning in the sun.

A month or so ago, I woke up one morning to dark clouds hanging over my house. That should have been a warning to me right then, but unbeknownst to me, the Lord was going to take me outside and clean ME up a bit.

I'm not sure what all He is going to do to me, but I am getting my lanky stems pruned back and my dead leaves plucked. I've learned I don't need to buy movies every week or comb DI for a fifty cent bargain or eat out two or three times a week. Perhaps I am rootbound and my soil needs loosening up. I am sure, though, He is wacking me back pretty hard. Grandpa J is not having a lot of luck finding a job.

I know that what He is doing to me is for my own good and that when He's done I will be much better off, a BETTER person and "LUSHER" in my faith. The fertilizer He uses on me is a combination of scriptures and prayer where I can learn to grow in my faith and put my trust in Heavenly Father. Getting hosed off washes the dust from me and reveals my blessings. I have SO very much to be thankful for.

With all that's happened to us, I have gone into "shock." Most days I feel pretty wilted and can barely put one foot in front of the other, so I go to the Temple where I can get out of the "burning sun" and away from the disappointments of the world. The temple brings me warmth and solace and peace. It's the refuge I need and it's where I can get a "stake" to prop me up so I can make it through the day without falling over. Sometimes one time a week will do the trick. Other times, like this past week, I had to go three days in a row.




I just hope my Heavenly Father doesn't have to "repot" me. I really want to stay in this house. But, whatever happens, I know I have to put my trust in Him. He knows best and I will do whatever is required of me because in the end, I know, I will be much better off and I will flourish again one day.

Ten Reasons Why I Love Mercedes!

1. She's dang cute!
2. She looks like the Gerber baby with her curls on the top of her head.


(This is the Gerber Baby and Mercedes)

3. She (mostly) never cries.
4. She waves hysterically when she sees ME.
5. She chewed the edge of the baby bed and left permanent teeth marks. (Kind of like her signature - Mercedes Was Here!)
6. She blub-bla, blub, blub-bla's when I flip my finger on her lips.
7. She crawls like I did doing the one-armed thing.
8. She's MY grand baby!
9. She visits me at work wearing her "I Love Grandma" shirt and brings me a Diet Pepsi or leaves me a note on my desk if I'm not there.
10. She sticks her tongue out at me when I stick mine out at her.
11. She brings joy to my life.
12. We are sealed together FOREVER!

(Who can stop at just ten, the list could go on forever.)



Mercedes and Grandma



WARNING: The following pictures and video are pretty goofy. What grandparents won't do for their grand babies on their birthdays!









Note: My camera now will only do 15 second videos, so whatever we do has to be pretty fast. Also, in way of explanation of the "short distance" hugs - Mercedes only lives a "short distance" from us. We can always give her up close and personal hugs-no need for long distance ones.

We love you Mercedes! Happy Blub-blub, bla Birthday!