Deer Friends,

Like the new blog template? Here are a couple pics of the real deal, our backyard neighbors, for your viewing pleasure.

WF Ram

So, these are the rules for "WF Ram." Intimidate the opposing team with various posturing techniques. Hightail it down the hall leap-frog style. Turn around, grab your partner by the feet and wheelbarrow back down the hall. Book it back down the other way by piggyback. And for the final stretch, grab a big pillow and ram your way past your opponents to the finish line. 

It's somethin' to do. 

Let Me Count the Ways

Cam: I love you moon and back.

Me: I love you to the moon and back.

Cam: I love you finity and beyon.

Me: I love you infinity and beyond.

Cam: I love you to the stars.

Me: Thanks, dude.

Cam: [Giggles]

Repeated a hundred times...

Role Reversal

Baby Girl makes crashing and growling noises with her killer whale, while Big Brother plays "house" with his mommy and baby dinosaurs.

Morning Routine

Get the big kids off to school, munch on some cold cereal, and watch for Doe, Ray, and Mi, the deer family who visit the forest out back.

Studying for MBA in the peace and quiet

Twelve months of lovin' on this mug

Puddin's Number One Birthday!

So, we'd baked two bundt cakes and eaten three batches of cookies in the last two weeks, so Elle didn't even get a birthday cake today. But she got plenty of gifts. Oh ya, no gifts either. I didn't think she'd notice, but judging from the look on her face, I'm never gonna live this one down.

Triple Threat

Getty started out Halloween morning saying stubbornly, "I'm not dressing up for school." We made a $5 bet that everyone in his class would be dressed up. He changed into his clone trooper costume and had me paint his face. (I lost the bet—Conner owes me $5!). When we all went trunk-or-treating that night, Getty changed into a skeleton costume and insisted on staying in the trunk to scare all the little Disney characters who dared ask for a treat. MK and Mia climbed aboard after they were done running the parking lot and kindly offered candy to the toddlers and such, which sent Getty through the roof, "All I wanted was to scare kids, and YOU RUINED EVERYTHING!" Howling ensues. Afterwords, the big kids decided to hit up the neighborhood in the rain. This required a third makeover, a Geek costume. Nine gallons of candy later, Halloween is over. Better start planning wardrobe for next year....

Word

Here are the rules: 

Answer the following questions with one word only. Then pass it on to others.

1. Where is your cell phone? Pocket

2. Where is your significant other? Work

3. Your hair color? Brown

4. Your mother? Changed

5. Your father? Missed

6. Your favorite thing? Home

7. Your dream last night? Forgotten

8. Your dream/goal? Perfection

9. The room you're in? Bedroom

10. Your hobby? Reading

11. Your fear? Fear

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Here

13. Where were you last night? Temple

14. What you're not? Gourmet

15. One of your wish-list items? Baby?

16. The last thing you did? Homework

17. Where you grew up? BYU

18. What are you wearing? Levi's

19. Your TV? Off

20. Your pet? None :)

21. Your computer? Fun

22. Your mood? Content

23. Missing someone? Yep

24. Your car? Burb

25. Something you're not wearing? Polish

26. Favorite store? Target

27. Your summer? Life-changing

28. Love someone? Eternally

29. Favorite color? Red

30. When was the last time you laughed? Mia

31. Last time you cried? Neighbor

32. Music? Boccelli

I pass this on to:

Megan

Brit

Jen

Cindy

Linda

Marianne

Heather

Tamera

The Sparkling Cherries

Mia's new crew. They call themselves the "Sparkling Cherries." Makes me laugh.

What's Candice up to now?

Cam has a new imaginary friend named Candice. He talks about her at certain opportune times, like for instance, the other day Cam said, "You're a butt!" Mia scolded him, "Cam! We don't say 'butt!'" He replied, "That was my friend, Candice. She say 'butt.' I don't say 'butt.'" One day I asked him what Candice looked like. He said, "Just pink."

NTB, but I am her mom...

MK was dubbed "Evans Almighty" at her soccer banquet for her "great speed and ability to take down players twice her size."

Mi-oh-my

You know how moms ask their kids about their day after school? Mia either won't answer, or she'll mumble something unintelligible... four, five, six times, until you stop repeating the question. Is it some sort of control issue? She doesn't want anyone to suggest what she talks or thinks about? Well, I don't know about that, wanting to be in charge just seems so out of character for our meek, timid Mia-Bomb, don't you think? 

So, now she gets in the car, and I completely ignore her. Works like a charm. Now who's in charge?Heh, heh, heh...

Mia recently filled out a journal/album she got for her 12th birthday (thanks, 2nd cousin Sara!), and these were some of her comments: My talents: "being bossy and having the record of going to time-out the most in one day." My favorite memories of my family: "Dad always tooting, Mom always saying, 'Thanks for not arguing' [can you hear the sarcasm?], MK spanking people, Getty talking in his high-pitched voice, Cy humming or singing, Cam smiling or laughing, Elle eating." What I like about Mom: "I like it when my mom is normal, which never happens. Also when she says yes."

A Prayer Full of Thanks

I was inspired by a great Relief Society lesson today on gratitude to only give thanks in our family prayers for the entire month of November and to reserve asking for favors and blessings for individual prayers. We tried it tonight in family prayer, and I was surprised at the difference it made. I realized our family has not been in the habit of giving much thought or appreciation in our prayers for our blessings. We're also challenging ourselves to not repeat what was said in previous prayers. Amen!