Halloween

Halloween today.  We're getting to the age where the kids won't dress up, but this year, Blythe did want to dress up.  She wanted to be a fortune teller, but she had very definitive ideas about what that should look like.  Specifically, Blythe wanted a crystal ball she could hold.  She wanted to be able to say to people, "I'm a fortune teller.  It's a skill that comes in handy.  (turn crystal ball around) Your future is a generous one--you're gonna give me candy."  When I wouldn't spend a lot of money on a crystal ball and instead suggested she read people's palms (no monetary outlay necessary), she said she didn't want to be a fortune teller, even though I fixed her up with a great costume.  Instead, she got online and searched for easy costumes you could make with stuff around the house.  She settled on a tacky tourist, wearing shorts, sandals with socks, sun glasses, a wide-brimmed straw hat, and a fanny pack.  She looked great.  Blythe and the sixth graders were going roller skating at Classic Skating, which I suppose is another reason not to wear a long skirt.  She went off for the day and reported back that she had a great time skating.  Although the tacky tourist costume was not very warm, she went out with Lilly and Emma, wearing summer clothing.  She used her fanny pack as a holder for all her candy haul.

Brandt didn't really want to dress up, but we have a long white lab coat and scrubs, so I suggested he go to school as a doctor.  That was acceptable.  He went trick-or-treating with Paul, but this will probably be the last year for him.  I think I need to provide other options next year. 

For our part, I made chicken pot pie for dinner, homemade root beer for the neighborhood hotdog party, and Kent and I went down to the Davis' for a dog, a cup of brew, and a visit with neighbors.  The Stices had donuts, the Seamons had churros.  We handed out candy and oohed and aahed over cute costumed kids we both knew and didn't know.  I tried to raid the kids' candy, unsuccessfully, but we had plenty of left over we can eat over the next several weeks.  Here's to dressed up sugar highs!

Pumpkin Carving

Halloween is tomorrow and we went for pumpkins yesterday (so late!).  We needed to do carving today, so after dinner, I gutted while the kids contemplated carving patterns.  Blythe decided to make her pumpkin into a green witch and did painting after carving.  She made a glittery pompom topped wand and a felt hat, then painted red teeth and eyes.  Brandt's pumpkin was much larger.  He did minimal carving of eyes, nose, and mouth, but then hacked at his pumpkin with a bayonet.  I see no real explanation for this except that he is a boy, he found a sword, and hacking was irresistible.  Poor pumpkin.  I carved a winking face in my small pumpkin, and feel that the pumpkins will add a festive touch to the front porch for tomorrow's trick-or-treating.

Car Repair

We've had an oil leak in the BMW for months now.  There has been a small puddle of oil on the garage floor, but lately the puddle has grown, a clear indication that something was going from bad to worse.  We took the car in for a diagnostic evaluation so we knew exactly what was wrong, and then Kent decided he would fix it.  Several gaskets had gone bad and were leaking, but Kent was convinced that replacing all those gaskets was in the realm of his abilities, and so he ordered in parts.  They arrived early this week, and he's been repairing on and off all week.  He watches a YouTube video, goes away and tinkers, returns to the video, then tinkers some more.  We've been a one car family for a few days now, but we none of us have far to go on a regular basis, so it has been fine.  He is convinced he will work it out, and I am confident he is right.  Having him do it will probably take longer than if we took it into a shop, but it will be a whole lot cheaper, and right now, cheaper is better.  When I posted this picture on Instagram, Linda Pugmire said, "He should be in a spook alley as the mad scientist cutting up body parts."  My mom said, "He looks incredibly serious like he's undertaking surgery."  It was sort of like that.  We hope all his hard work will fix the problem.

Flu Shots All Around

Mikayla suggested that we have an outing to go get flu shots.  She thought her children would be somewhat more willing to go if we were with them, and after our flu/pneumonia experience last winter, I was keen on having us all get shots, too.  In addition, our insurance was offering anyone who got a flu shot before December 31st a $100 gift card to Target.  Considering the financial situation we are in, $400 at Christmas time would be a huge blessing.  So I agreed we should all go.  Today was the day.  We tried not to freak all the small (or big) people out with the thought of a shot, but Brick was crying almost before we left.  When we arrived, there was drama and screaming, crying and arguing; it was generally a fiasco.  But in the end, all the Barri got a shot, and all the Johnsens but the twins got one, too.  And to sweeten the deal, we went for frozen yogurt when we were finished.  Three cheers for being healthy and preventing influenza.  At least, fingers crossed we stay healthy and don't get influenza.

The Barrus Family Sees the Addams Family

It's October and the Hale Center Theater is putting on The Addams Family.  I thought it would be fun to see this play about sort of creepy people in this sort of creepy month, so we went.  It was well done and funny; we all enjoyed it.  Sadly, my eyes are closed in this picture.

Ward Halloween Party

This evening was our ward Halloween Party.  Sometimes we call it the Fall Carnival, but really, it's the Ward Halloween Party.  For the past four years, the Relief Society has been in charge of the party which has been a pretty big job.  Last year, after putting together dinner and games and decoration, I told the Ward Council that we needed help.  I said the Relief Society would continue to be in charge of the food, if the youth could take the games, both coming up with the games and manning them.  As a presidency, we talked about doing a chili cook-off as we have done in years past, but when we sent out a sign-up, only three people volunteered to bring chili, and I was one of them.  We decided to mix things up this year and do J-Dawgs, although not real J-Dawgs which were going to be expensive.  We bought dogs and buns at Costco, bags of chips, too, and then did our own toppings.  We did buy J-Dawg sauce so they would taste authentic, as well as chopped onions, relish, and yellow peppers. 

The evening turned out really well.  While Linda, Barbara, and I passed out hotdogs and chips, Gregg, Jeff, Kent, and Brandt grilled dogs outside.  They were delicious!  The youth had put together great games and were super good with the Primary aged children.  The Mia Maids did a cake walk, and Blythe wound up running the whole thing.  She did the music, then called out the cake numbers.  Jeri Covey said to me, "That Blythe!  She could run a small country."  Truth!  It really was a fun evening, with lots of ward members in attendance, and much visiting as well as carnival gaming for the kids.  Here's to ward gatherings.

Reluctant to go Home

Cora and Kal were hanging out with me this afternoon.  It was a lovely afternoon, so we walked over to pick up Brick from school.  Brick and Cora were keen to walk home with Blythe and set off with her and the Bradfords.  Kal, on the other hand, was keen to play outside on the equipment.  I was happy to let him play, so we hung out on the kindergarten playground a bit, then on the big playground.  Kal wanted me to help him climb up to the top so he could go down the slide, then wanted me to go down with him.  We had to go over and over.  Eventually, I did have to go home, but Kal didn't want to go.  I picked him up and carried him for a bit, but he's heavy and I didn't want to carry all the way home.  I put him down and he just sat down on the ground, unwilling to move.  The pill!  I walked a bit further and encouraged him to come, but he wouldn't.  I sat down on the ground, too, and that intrigued him.  He came over to me and we made a bit of progress.  I held his hand and he walked next to me.  We didn't make it too far, however, before he pulled away from my hand and ran off.  He wouldn't come back, he kept running and running, and I got irritated.  It was too much to chase him and carry him kicking and screaming; I was getting frustrated.  Then I remembered--Kal is not my child!  I don't have to deal with his huge pout.  So I called Mikayla and asked her to come get him and pick up her other kids.  Thea and Freya were sleeping, so she jumped in the car and came and collected them.  I had a lovely, calm walk home in the sunshine, though I had to walk all alone.

What I texted Mikayla:  "A pi-shur for you."

Unwilling to walk any further

"Another pi-shur. He's pouting because I won't carry him."

"He's ok now.  We're making progress towards home.

I had to lie down in the grass myself and then he came over to see what I was doing."

"Spoke to soon.  We're at a sit still again."

This is when I called Mikayla

Apple Crunch Day

It was Apple Crunch Day at school.  I didn't know anything about Apple Crunch Day, but apparently it's a Mountain Plains Region, and Farm to School thing.  To celebrate eating better , the Apple Crunch is a "way to get excited about delicious local produce, help students understand where their food comes from, and support local farmers."  Some schools have taste tests, others have field trips to local farms, or participate in other apple-themed learning activities.  Sounds exciting, don't you think?  The whole Apple Crunch thing is also a competition to see what state can get the most "crunches" per capita.  Utah was this year's defending champions. 

I have heard nothing about this, but there was a picture posted to social media, and there was our Blythe, standing in the back row, crunching an apple.

Casting My Ballot

Voted today.  I was a YES! for Provo School Bonds.  

I hope I'm not in the minority on this one.

Sprouting

Somebody's grown a bit.

Moab for Fall Break, Day 3

This morning, we went to hike to Corona Arch, outside Arches, but still in Moab.  Blythe wasn't feel well, so she stayed at the house with Mikayla, the babies, and Makenna who just didn't want to hike (maybe).  The hike is very doable for children and ends at two arches--Corona and Bow Tie.  I hiked with Kal who walked the whole way all by himself.  He stopped many times along the way to pick up rocks and play in the sand and stomp on bugs.  We weren't speedy, but we were steady. The morning was beautiful, we had a great time, and I was so happy to be hiking.  I love the landscape of southern Utah, the red rock and grey-green bushes against the blue sky.  I told Mom I was thinking of redecorating in all the Arches colors.  My walls are already the blue of the sky, I just need to add the rusts and greens of the rest of the landscape.  It has been a wonderful few days.

Small arch in the distance.

Adding a little something to this cairn.

DeMartini family picture

Partial Johnsen family picture

Corona Arch in the background

Half a Barrus family picture

Boys throwing rocks.

Clearly, it doesn't matter how old a boy gets, he will still like to throw rocks.

Bow Tie Arch

After spending the morning at Corona, we had lunch, then loaded up the cars and headed home.  It has been a fun weekend.  Blythe hasn't felt well and we hope the rest of us don't get sick after spending so much time together.  But even so, the fantastic weekend will be worth it.