Veteran's Day

The kids had no school and we were having a quiet morning, when my friend called. She mentioned that they were going to the parade. I thought nothing of it, then we talked again a little later and she asked if we were going to the parade. I said "uhhh I don't think so, I don't know..." Then She called again (we were coordinating a play date) She said maybe we will see you at the parade. So I pulled myself together and the kids were excited to go out so we went to the parade! It was fun. There was a big extended family that we were standing near, and I noticed that they had a huge quilt on the ground that 1 little girl was sitting on sometimes. I mustered my courage and asked the Grandma if we could sit on it. They all said sure, go ahead. I don't think they realized how many we were. But it all worked out great. One of my children photograghed the entire parade, I am posting a sampling of the photos. Can you tell which kid took the pictures?

Jack-O-Lantern

Is it Jacks-O-Lantern or Jack-O-Lanterns?
I found these leftover photos of the carved pumpkins on my camera. The kids did all the work themselves this year, I was so impressed!

Blah Blah Blah

I feel like I just hurry and post pictures lately... So here is a blabbing entry.

I don't think we have explained the dog very well, so we will start there because the dog is a big event at our house. We are members of the Phoenix Guide Dog Raisers Club. We joined back in February and have been attending meetings every month to learn how to socialize and prepare our puppy to be successful in the Guide dog training. We will have Dejay in our home for about 1.5 years and then he will go back to Guide Dogs for his "official training". Yes, we think it will be hard to let him go, but it also feels really good knowing we did something significant in the world!

My October Soap Box. Our ward has Trunk or Treat on Halloween night and this is our second year of our official and publicly declared boycott.

1. Reason 1: Trunk or Treat is "a safe place to go." As my friend said "Do you think I live in the ghetto?" I say if we don't feel safe in our neighborhoods then we need to do something about it.
   
2. That leads me to Reason 2: We decided to put our money where our mouth is and last year we hosted a block party. That block party changed the whole neighborhood. This year we had our block party the weekend before Halloween because Kenneth was going out of town. It was great again this year. So when we went Trick or Treating this year all out neighbors were looking for us and a couple of people were not going to be home actually brought us treats early. I look around my neighborhood and I feel very safe.
3. Reason 3: I think fears of wickedness, bad things, or just the unknown drives members of the church to withdraw from larger society and get a bit (sometimes a lot) exclusive. We talk at church about being in the world but not of the world but I think many people over correct and they are not of the world but they aren't in it either. I think there is much good we can do in our communities!

And last but not least, again... The beard. I don't love it. Kenneth knows that and we still love each other. I don't know exactly why he is doing it, my theory is that he has been working really hard to be a great father and husband. And so his little bit of rebellious spirit is making a stand with braids. He tells me that his friends at work tell him it is cool, I think they might be humoring him. I will say it again... if this the worst of it, bring it on! ( I did warn him as I left him at the airport on Halloween (dressed all in black, the beard in braids and wearing an eyepatch) not to joke with any security personnel as I didn't want to have to come back later that morning to get him out of a holding cell. I talked to him tonight and he made it without incident.

The Morning After

The best part of Halloween is the morning after...
Candy Sorting!

A Motley Crew

Halloween Dinner

Sydney and Abby made a special dinner for us. We had Jack-o-lantern chili cups, graveyard potatoes, mummy dogs, and spiderweb dip. My mom came to visit for the weekend, so it was an extra fun night.

Dejay

Hazel and I gave Dejay a bath this week, he didn't mind the water. He really loved being wrapped up and rubbed dry.

We are doing our best to love the puppy to death. The kids play with him every free moment. Last night we were playing with him, he got up walked into his kennel and went to bed for the night!

Where has my baby gone?

I decided that one of my projects (now that the house is done) should be to make Hazel a baby book. The rest of my kids all have something in theirs. Nate's is pretty sparse. But poor Hazey had nothing. So I have begun at last, and what I found was lots of memories that seem more than 3 years old. Hazel has been head strong from the moment she was supposed to be born and then refused. Then she jumped while being delivered C-section and made the mortified Doctor nick her little head with the knife. Then she hated women. When faced with the choice between my good friend who she knew well and spent many hours visiting and a gruff man (a stranger) wearing a big cowboy hat, dark glasses, and a big handlebar mustache. Yep she went to the man. She is still really opinionated and stuborn but we are really enjoying her spunk!

Meet Dejay

Here we are at our first meeting of our new pup, Dejay (pronounced DJ). He is a black lab and is only 8 weeks old. The kids and I are loving it and Kenneth is getting used to it. We will be raising him (the dog not Kenneth) for the next year and a half.

Braid Beard is Back

Kenneth has been growing his beard thing and it is unfortunately long enough to braid. So I am once again married to a pirate. Many people have commented that they can't believe that I put up with the braids. I have developed a theory: He is a really great father and husband and if this is the worst that ever happens... Bring it on. He is anxious to shave his head to complete the look. Could be worse.

Finished Product

After 2 long years of work on the kitchen, it is really finished. All the doors are on and the cutting boards are in. (and I did the dishes today) It is so beautiful!

Alma Astros Friday Flag Raising

Friday Kenneth, Hazel and I got to got to the elementary school to see the "Students of the Quarter" be honored. (Kenneth usually misses these things, but we were lucky to have him home Friday.) All our kids got the award this quarter except Nate. Luckily, he is a little oblivious and doesn't seem to have noticed.

Abby in the pink shirt.

Rebekah in blue on the right end.

Sydney in the bright blue band blouse.

Truman is just to the left for the principal. Hiding behind Jazlyn.

Astro Band for the flag raising is by audition only. Sydney was very excited for her first Saxophone performance. Truman also played well. Here is the band playing the school song.

Monkey Van Wash

Kenneth and the Monkeys washed the van yesterday!

More Doors

Kenneth finished installing doors Friday! Aren't they beautiful. Now that the kitchen is actually finished Kenneth has been looking for other things to occupy his time so he: washed the outsides of my upstairs windows, touched up the paint on the outside of the house, trimmed the dead wood out of my eucalyptus tree, washed the van with the kids and went swimming.

Soccer Stars

Christian and Truman had their first Saturday game of the season. All the other games have been on Thursday nights and taking pictures in the dark just doesn't work. It was a fun game to watch. Truman (blue jersey number 2) scored 2 goals, and ran really hard the whole game. Christian plays Keeper (in the yellow blotchy long sleeve jersey). Christian did a great job and didn't let the other team score once. It was fun to see the team working together so well.