Monday, November 28, 2011

first snow first lights


Friday November 18 Bethany and Olivia went to a sleep over. I intended to take everyone to Riverwoods to see the light celebration, but had to bring back the little ones, due to fighting over who got to wear which hat. Sam, Ben, and Kyle took Caitlin. Anyway, its fun for the kids to have separate outings. Everyone enjoys the new dynamic. 

They returned and we had Pier 49 for pizza night. I ordered Sam's favorites, pesto chicken and spinach Alfredo.  Later we looked outside and saw snow falling.  Grant was so excited, he ran out in his pajamas and bare feet.  Sam helped all the kids get on coats and boots for a late night snow ball fight.  I was nervous about driving Grandma Martha home in the new, slippery snow, and grateful to return home safely.  The biggest thing I don't like about winter is the possibility of limited mobility.  Grant wasn't worried about anything.
Saturday morning the kids went outside as soon as they could. Sam and Kyle took Grant and William sledding. I had to take Olivia shopping, which was agony for her. She couldn't wait to get back to sledding. Mary and Kyle started a snow man at the park, but decided to transplant it to our yard. By afternoon the snow was almost gone, but the kids intended to use up what they could.


Monday, November 21, the little kids went to Grandma Martha's house for the day.  I spent the time getting my Utah driver's license, the kind of thing I dread.  Not sure what hoops I'll have to jump through, what paperwork will be slightly off. As predicted there was one glitch.  I went to the wrong office. Testing was only done across town.  Just as well since I had forgotten my glasses. Tried again after lunch, passed the open book test, failed the eye exam--good thing I had my glasses, and the happiest thing, walked out with a picture I didn't detest.  I felt pretty euphoric about the whole thing.

In the afternoon Sam wanted to accompany Ben and me to downtown Provo for Ben's guitar lesson. He  found out that I sometimes get lured in to the Peruvian restaurant next to the guitar shop for papas fritas and the most delicious spicy green dipping sauce.  On the way we saw this rainbow over the Y.  I was limited by my cell phone camera and the fact that the light turned green right as I decided to go for the picture. Here's the best I could do.

Tuesday was the kids' last day of school for the week. Mary and Caitlin came home dressed in paper bags and construction paper feathers. I can remember so clearly my own oatmeal box Indian drums of childhood. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

Caitlin and her new friend from school.

Tuesday evening, I surprised the kids with a trip to Pizza Pie Cafe to start off the weekend.  I loved this pumpkin pizza.  The place was packed. They were having a text special; three dollars off the regular buffet price.  Caitlin had a coupon for two free kids buffets for her October reading reward. 

After dinner Sam and Mary walked over to the mall to enjoy the lights and the gingerbread houses in all the shops.



Thanks for the pictures Sam.

Friday, November 25, 2011

holding still

I was grateful for warm days in November.


Monday, November 21, 2011

bethany's birthday

I think Bethany looks beautiful in this picture.  This is the morning of her tenth birthday.  We had waffles with lots of toppings and Bethany opened her gift from Granddad and Judith, with the big colorful bows. How could she resist?  It was new outfits and this sparkly hat.

Bethany's birthday was riciculously busy, with parent teacher conferences and dance rehearsals. Back and forth between the two all day.  The kid were asking "where are we going for dinner?"  because that's what we usually do for birthdays, but Bethany always prefers to stay home for shepherd's pie and jello, and no cake what-so-ever.  Oreo pie instead.
I love you Bethany.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

gyros and eulogy

The first weekend in November the girls had a dance performance in the mall.


Grant and William spent a lot of time travelling back and forth to dance rehearsals. Here they are taking a peek at Caitlin's class.

More unpacking discoveries.  Kyle has been our french toast fanatic.

Still trying to make sense of things, piece life together, find my direction, move forward. This is the basement after the box opening.  Looks hopeless.  Olivia pointed out to me, during a moment of my own frustration, that we once had an enormous laundry pile in the basement hallway, and now it is gone, so we can make it through this, she said.  I was grateful for her encouragement and wisdom.

Here is where all the boxes were in the pictures that I posted before. So she is right. We can make sense of things, little by little.  We call this the clean room. I was hoping to sell the big sofas that our old land lords gave us, but they never sold.  Ben and I lugged them to the garage, where perhaps they will stay when I create the clubhouse of my fantasy out there...someday.  I replaced them with these chairs from Ecuador. They leave more room for the music.

Second week in November.  Grandma Martha and the at home kids and I had a fun day driving to Salt Lake City.  I had to go pay for my massage therapist license.  We had lunch at one of our family favorites, Crown Burger.


This gyros was amazing.


The last of our hamsters passed away so Kyle and his friends held a funeral...

New Orleans style.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

halloween 2011


Halloween morning, the boys were dressed-up early.  We went to the school for the kindergarten parade and party.


Caught in the act.

Caitlin and her teacher.

After the morning activities Grandma took us to lunch, then I went back to school for the big kids parade and helped out at Mary's class party.

In the afternoon, Kyle was the first to head off trick-or-treating. He and his friends wanted to be finished by seven.  They had been creating, rehearsing, publicizing their haunted house all month. Kyle loves zombies these days.


This was prep time.

The gathering for the picture took until night fall...


..mostly because of this guy.  William called him "my Joker" all night.  Word was he was the creepiest trick-or-treater in the neighborhood... I think that's a good thing.
The kids and some friends.

Olivia and her good friend.

Bethany had gone trick-or-treating with her good friend too.

Friday, November 11, 2011