Boy, Am I Behind!

I'm going to jump right in with Halloween! It was, I know, over a week ago, but here are the pumpkins that had their pride and joy on our front porch! We didn't have the usual crowd. Maybe that was because Halloween was on a Sunday. I noticed several parties going on on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Reminiscing back to a Halloween, maybe about 12 years ago, we had a guest for dinner that night. It was also a Sunday, so my kids were not going Trick-or-Treating. Our guest was Ilkka Aura, from Finland visiting before moving his family over to the states and move into Saratoga. He had a job transfer, found a house in Saratoga to rent, and came to check out the ward that day.

As we were all sitting at the table, the doorbell kept ringing! It was disruptive to our dinner, but a good opportunity to explain Halloween to Ilkka! We all had a great laugh about it, and we remember that night, every Halloween that passes us by!

This was Jonathan's pumpkin. Several Trick-or-Treaters commented as they came to the door about the Pac-Man pumpkin! Not sure why he decided on Pac-Man, but it was cute!

Sarah had started one design, then she messed up. I think her second idea was great! I love the big plastic butcher knife in his head! There was even "blood" dripping down the side of his face.

Martha did a meticulous job on this wolf! It did come from a pattern, and it turned out very nice. This photo doesn't capture how good it was!

It did feel kind of funny not going out to Trick-or-Treat this year with Jonathan. What can I say. . . .my family is growing up. Maybe I can go Trick-or-Treating with my grandchildren some day! Maybe I will let their parents borrow some of the great costumes I made for them!

More Beautiful Clouds

I was taking the garbage out last week when I noticed a pink cast of color over everything. I looked up and saw this beautiful sky. I ran into the house for my camera. I have posted before, that clouds are one of my most favorite things in nature. Heavenly Father has truly blessed us with a beautiful place to live in this mortal existence.

Cookie Party!

A couple of weeks ago, Sarah and Martha had a cookie party! Martha was going camping with some friends, and Sarah had sugar cookies for "Daring Bakers" challenge, so they made leaves, acorns, cows, and circles with Halloween sprinkles. They had fun decorating!

They're Back!

During the fall, we start to see these strange critters in our front hall. . . . I call them the "Turf Fleas"! Since the field at Saratoga High was changed to an artificial turf, these little black "thingies" started to arrive. They invade the house for a few months and then they are gone. As marching band or color guard children start practicing on the field, about mid-August, they seem to multiply through the weeks! Marching season is over the weekend before Thanksgiving. Just when you sweep them up~~they're back before you know it.

This year is Jonathan's turn to help the "fleas" invade the house. Especially, when he dumps his shoes right in the front hall.

After a long day on the field, which can be up to 10 hours on a non-competition

day, the shoes coming off are such a relief to the feet!

Those little black "thingies" spread all over the floor, including the

passenger seat floor in the car.

These little black pieces of recycled rubber stick to the socks, trail to the bathroom before a shower, track into the kitchen, and they remind me of Easter grass! If you know what I mean. . .

Thank goodness they are not real "fleas"! If real, this many would be a real mess. . .

Welcome Home Scott!

This is just a small post to say "Welcome Home Scott"! Scott had been gone for 5 weeks and is so good to have him home again! His ventures in China are going well, and he will be going back in October.

Water Bottle Crystals

Yesterday, Jonathan took out a water bottle that he had filled, and put in the fridge a few days ago to chill. It had been sitting in the same place all that time. When he opened the bottle for a drink, he looked inside and found these super crystals!

There are so many beautiful and awesome things in this world!

Sweet Sushi!

On a day at the beginning of August, we came home from going out to dinner with my dad and found this tray of sushi on our doorstep! At a closer look, we discovered the sushi was made out of rice crispy treats, Swedish fish, pop-rocks, and sour apple strips. Aren't they fun? We had to really chuckle when we turned over the "wasabi", and saw that it was a green, marshmallow Shrek! Very clever.

The tray of "sweet sushi" was a gift from the other Wheelwright's in the area. Greg and Judy Wheelwright were in a serious accident middle of June and Scott made many visits and helped with moving apartments.

The sushi was so cute, we didn't want to eat it! But when we did, it was very tasty!