"Trunk or Treat"

SPT - Halloween

THIS WEEKS SPT QUESTION: Do you celebrate Halloween? Do you go all out with costumes, or do you prefer to lay low with the porch light turned off? Did you enjoy Halloween as a child? What was your favorite costume? Will you dress up this year, or leave it for the little ones?

Halloween is one of my FAVORITE holidays! I love to see all of the different costumes that the kids wear. And of course... I'm a sucker for raiding the kids candy!!! Hehehe! I LOVED Halloween as a child as well. I remember going to the skating rink, "Squeals on Wheels", with our school and having our costume party there. They judged the costumes and one year I won 2nd place for my homemade strawberry costume! I won a popcorn party for my first grade class and money for my teacher to spend on the classroom! I remember that it was usually raining on Halloween, but we didn't care! CANDY... HERE WE COME!!!

Ed's Favorite Things

*MEDIA*

Movie - "Superman Returns"

T.V. Shows - "The Office", "24"
Cartoon - "The Simpsons"
Comic - "Dilbert"
Actor - Christian Bale
Actress - N/A
Book - "The Assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford"
Magazine - Runners World

*GAMES*
Board Game - Life
Card Game - Phase 10
Dice Game - Pig Out

Computer Game - Solitaire
Video Game - Pacman
Childhood Game - Street Football

*MUSIC*
Song - It's hard to pick a favorite.
Singer - Leonard Cohen, Johnny Cash
Band - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Genre - Folk
Concert I've Attended - Bob Dylan, the ONLY concert I've attended.
Instruments - guitar, piano

*ACTIVITIES*
Sports - Football and Basketball
Sports Team - New England Patriots, Oregon Trailblazers
Hobby - Watching movies
Thing to do outside - walk
Subject in school - English

*FOOD*
Restaurant - Las Margaritas, Texas Roadhouse
Food - Chimichangas, Taco Salad, Burritos
Dessert - cheesecake and ice cream
Candy - Starburst, Mike & Ikes, Chocolate has been growing on me lately.
Drink - Hot Cocoa, Grapejuice
Soda - Diet Mountain Dew
Ice Cream Flavor - Mint Chocolate Chip
Cereal - Marshmallow Mateys

*MISCELLANEOUS*
Color - Black
Smell - Lilacs
Season - Spring
Holiday - Christmas
Animal - Dogs that don't bark! Large Game
Vacation Spot - I'd like to go to the Florida Keys, oceanside
Country - I'd like to visit France maybe
Shoes - Skate shoes
Clothing - Pajama Pants, anything comfortable
Tradition - Our Valentine's Day Family Dinner

More About Me Monday - My Favorite Things

As I am composing this blog, I have the tune from "The Sound of Music" in my head... "These are a few of my favorite things..."

*MEDIA*

Movie - "Pride and Prejudice"

T.V. Shows - "The Office", "24"

Cartoon - "Spongebob Squarepants"

Comic - "Crabby Road"

Actor - Morgan Freeman

Actress - Drew Barrymore

Book - Standing for Something

Magazine - Family Fun

*GAMES*

Board Games - Cranium, Trivial Pursuit, Scattergories, Pictionary

Card Games - Phase 10, Uno Attack

Dice Game - Yahtzee

Computer Game - Who Wants to be a Millionaire

Video Game - Wheel of Fortune

Childhood Game - Ghosts in the Graveyard

*MUSIC*

Song - "From This Moment On" - Shania Twain & Bryan White

Singer - Bryan White

Band - Rascal Flatts

Genre - Country

Concert I've Attended - Bryan White concert in Davenport... we were soooo close to the stage!

Instruments - Violin, piano, mandolin

*ACTIVITIES*

Sports - Softball, Volleyball, Ice Hockey

Sports Team - Anything that Oliver or Ed are in!

Hobby - scrapbooking

Thing to do outside - camping, BBQ's

Subject in school - Art

I also love to do sudoku, word finds and crossword puzzles!

*FOOD*

Restaurant - Las Margaritas, Texas Roadhouse

Food - Fettucine Alfredo, Chimichangas, Pizza

Dessert - Cheesecake, Strawberry Shortcake

Candy - Peanut M&M's, Good & Plenty, pretty much any chocolate!

Drink - Hot Cocoa

Soda - Cherry Coke

Ice Cream Flavor - Mint Chocolate Chip, Jamocha Almond Fudge

Cereal - Strawberry Yogurt Cheerios, Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds

*MISCELLANEOUS*

Color - Green

Smell - Lilacs
Season - Fall & Summer if it's not too hot & humid!
Holiday - Halloween
Animal - Chimpanzee
Vacation Spot - On a beach, blue skies, not too hot, light breeze
Country - I'd like to visit Norway
Shoes - Anything comfy... Adidas or Nike
Clothing - "Stretchy Pants!"
Tradition - Our Valentine's Day Family Candlelight Dinner. We always have fettucine alfredo (spaghetti for Ollie), salad, breadsticks from Fazoli's, chocolate covered strawberries and sparkling cider. We drink from wine glasses and have dinner by candlelight with some soft music in the background. The kids LOVE it!

PUMPKINTOWN

Yesterday we met up with the Heinz Family and went "Trunk or Treating" at Cedar Valley Community Church. The line was as far as the eye could see! We probably waited in line for an hour, but it was good to talk to Brenda and Jason and get to know them a little bit more.

Now these people are not messing around when it comes to "Trunk or Treating"! There were some really cute ideas; "A Sleepover Party", with sleeping bags, bowls of popcorn and music playing, "Noah's Ark", "Green Bay Packers Fans", "Firefighters", "The Crocodile Hunter", "Sister Act", "A Hawkeye Fan" sitting in a recliner watching TV and eating popcorn! There were sooooo many awesome trunks. I wish I had gotten more pictures of them!

It was so funny to hear all of the people commenting on how funny Oliver's costume was! The firefighters said, "Let me guess... Pee Wee Herman!" Later on I overheard them talking about how cool his costume was again. One girl told her mom, "Mom, where's Dad? He has got to see this costume!" We were about 15 cars up when some guy (probably her dad) came up to him and said, "Now that's a great costume!". I told Ollie, "How are we going to outdo Pee Wee Herman next year!!!" He even did the Pee Wee laugh for people!!!

After that was done, we stood in line for a hay ride, which was just around the church's parking lot. The wagon was pretty full and I was sitting on a wobbly piece of hay that tilted every time the wagon made a turn. I was flexing my cheeks, trying to stay on top of the bale of hay. (Like THAT'S gonna keep me from rolling off of it!!!) We laughed when the ride was over because it kind of jerked us forward. Brenda said, "I guess that's how they make you get off!"

After that we ventured into PUMPKINTOWN where there were pumpkins for sale, games to play, crafts to make and some goats to check out. We got some fun pictures of the kids and a funny one of the goats standing erect against the fence! For the most part it was a beautiful sunny day. As the day went on, it got windier and alot more chilly!!! It was a really fun afternoon!

Our First RODA!!!

Our good friend, Garran, told us about an upcoming weekend long capoeira event. He said there would be about 30 or so people coming from all over the United States and the world to participate. They had a Roda (pronounced Hoda in Portugese) on Saturday night in Davis Hall in the Gallagher-Bluedorn building. It was free to all who attended and was evident by the number of people who came! It was overflowing with people! I told Oliver about it and he was SOOOO excited! He's been watching Capoeira videos on YOU TUBE for a week straight! He'll watch the videos and then go into the living room to try and recreate what he just saw! It's so funny! He's actually really good at it!

Oliver LOVED it! It was like he was in a trance the whole time he was watching them! First they played the instruments, one of which was the berimbau, which was cool to see and hear. "Music is integral to capoeira. It sets the tempo and style of a game that is to be played within the roda." (Wikipedia) Then the capoeira class that studies at Little Brazil, did the Puxada de Rede, which is a dance based on a traditional Brazilian legend. Then they started sparring one with another. It was awesome to see them in such control of their movements and to see the different things they did! Oliver loved the flips of course! Then the class performed another dance called Maculele.

"CAPOEIRA is an Afro -Brazilian martial art, game, and culture created by enslaved Africans in Brazil during the 17th Century. Participants form a roda (circle) and take turns playing instruments, singing, and sparring in pairs in the center of the circle. The game is marked by fluid acrobatic play, feints, subterfuge, and extensive use of groundwork, as well as sweeps, kicks, and headbutts. Throughout the game, a player must avoid a sweep, trip, kick, or head butt that may knock him or her on the floor. Less frequently-used techniques include elbow-strikes, slaps, punches, and body-throws." (Wikipedia)

The different colored shirts represented the different levels in Capoeira.

The Green shirts are worn by the Instructors.

The Yellow shirts were worn by the Professors.

The Light Blue shirts were worn by the Contra Masters.

The Dark Blue shirts were worn by the Masters.

Oliver, Master Espirro Mirim (from Brazil), Eden

He is the man from the capoeira video on my blog.

EDEN'S FAVORITE THINGS

Color - Red, Pink & Purple
Restaurant - McDonald's & Las Margaritas... "The rice and beans place."
Food - Macaroni and cheese

Dessert - ice cream in a cone
Candy - chocolate

Vegetable - mixed veggies
Fruit - apples
Drink - chocolate milk
Sport - "Ballerina"



Movie - Cinderella II





Song - "Going on a Bear Hunt"
Hymn - "I am a Child of God"
Activity - crafts
Holiday - Valentine's Day




Halloween Costume - Sleeping Beauty
Animal - puppy
Thing to do outside - play on the swings
Thing to do inside - play with my toys
Thing to wear - dress up clothes
Thing to do with mom and dad - go to McDonald's
Thing to do with Oliver - play outside together
Thing to do with Jaren - Sing him songs
Place to be - Swimming at Byrnes Park, Disneyworld... we've never been.
Toy - Baby Ariel that I can take in the bathtub

Book - Princess books
Season - "I don't like summer because bugs come out and hurt me." "I like cold. I like to build snowmen and throw snow at my brother (Oliver) not at my bubba (Jaren)."

Cartoon - Super Why

TV Show - cartoons
Game - Duck, Duck, Goose
Card Game - Princess Uno

OLIVER'S FAVORITE THINGS

I took Oliver aside and asked him about some of his favorite things. Here's what he had to say!

Color - Green
Restaurant - McDonald's & Las Margaritas
Food - Pizza




Dessert - Italian Ice (Lemon Flavor)
Candy - Skittles




Vegetable - Broccoli
Fruit - bananas
Drink - Soy milk & water
Sport - Baseball, Basketball, Football




Movie - "Superman" with Christopher Reeve





Song - "Mary had a Little Lamb"
Hymn - "I am a Child of God"
Activity - doing Halloween crafts
Holiday - Halloween




Halloween Costume - Pee Wee Herman
Animal - panthers... the UNI panthers.
Thing to do outside - play baseball
Thing to do inside - play pass with my (plush) football
Thing to wear - clothes with Superheroes on them
Thing to do with mom and dad - Family Home Evening
Thing to do with Eden - Leapfrog
Thing to do with Jaren - make him smile
Place to be - playing at my friend's houses
Toy - "That's really hard Mom..." - Superhero Action Figures
Book - "Parts" by Tedd Arnold, Scooby Doo books





Season - winter, "I can make snowmen, snowballs and go sledding! Best of all... snow angels!"
Cartoon - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles





TV Show - Funniest Home Videos
Game - Yahtzee
Card Game - Spiderman

JUST FOR FUN!

FOR MORMON WOMEN EVERYWHERE!!!

The Girl in a Whirl

by ‘Dr. Sue’(a.k.a. Vickie Gunther)

Look at me, look at me, look at me now!
You could do what I do, if you only knew how.

I study the scriptures one hour each day;

I bake,I upholster,I scrub,and I pray.

I always keep all the commandments completely;

I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.
I help in their classrooms! I sew all they wear!

I drive them to practice! I cut all their hair!

I memorize names of the General Authorities;

I focus on things to be done by priorities.
I play the piano! I bless with my talents!

My toilets all sparkle! My checkbooks all balance!

Each week every child gets a one-on-one date;

I attend all my meetings (on time! Never late!)
I’m taking a class on the teachings of Paul,

But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all …

I track my bad habits ‘til each is abolished;

Our t-shirts are ironed! My toenails are polished!
Our family home evenings are always delightful;

The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.

I do genealogy faithfully, too.

It’s easy to do all the things that I do!
I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;

I know all the names of each youth in my stake!

I read to my children! I help all my neighbors!

I bless the community, too, with my labors.

I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;

My visiting teaching is done the first day!
(I also go do it for someone who missed hers.

It’s the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.)

I chart resolutions and check off each goal;

I seek each “lost lamb” on my Primary roll.
I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.

But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all …

I write in my journal! I sing in the choir!

Each day, I write “thank you’s” to those I admire.
My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!

My kids get straight A’s! And their bedrooms are clean!

I have a home business to help make some money;

I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.
I go to the temple at least once a week;

I change the car’s tires! I fix the sink’s leak!

I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;

I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.
I make sure I rotate our two-years’ supply;

My shopping for Christmas is done by July!

These things are not hard; It’s good if you do them;

You can if you try! Just set goals and pursue them!

It’s easy to do all the things that I do!

If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!

It’s easy!” she said …
… and then she dropped dead.

Hangin' with the Homeboys

Jaren and Uncle Chad. I think this is the first picture that I have with Chad and Jaren! AND... Jaren is actually looking at the camera!

The boys! Ollie - Chad - Jaren

"Tell me about Uncle Chad," I ask.

"He plays 'guys' (action figures) with me. He likes Elvis. He does good light sabers. I like dancing to Bad Brains," replies Oliver.

Rudy's Tacos

I love the atmosphere at Rudy's Tacos with the marionettes hanging from the ceiling, the masks on the wall and the bright colors that they chose for the place!

Corn Balls... oh... so... goooooood! A little bit of corny goodness!

I love the angle of this picture of Ollie. You can see the hot pepper lights and marionettes in the background. Of course, Ollie is always making silly faces!

Eden hugging Grandma. What is with the look on Eden's face?!

Jaren, me and my yummy Chicken Taco Salad.

I found a grill for Ed! It's a pink pig grill! How funny!

The kids only had school until noon and mom and I were out running errands with Jaren, so we picked them up and went to eat at Rudy's! Thanks Mom!

Breathing Buddies

It's that time of year again... when Ollie's asthma and allergies start flaring up! I kept him home from school the other day because his breathing was HORRIBLE! I wanted to get it under control before sending him back. I knew I could keep an eye on him better while he was home. The previous night he woke up about 2:30 am and said he couldn't breath! I jumped out of bed and gave him a breathing treatment. He's been using his Albuterol (Inhaler) several times a day. We now need to up his meds during this time of year. Pulmicort (inhaled) TWICE a day - Preventative, Xopenex (inhaled) every 4-6 hours as needed and his children's allergy meds (liquid) 1 tsp. each day. I hate to hear the raspyness in his breathing! My poor little man! We called our doctor and he told us to up his meds and keep an eye on him. He said that he sounded fine. In a couple days, he'd be like new again! That's a relief! He's been on his nebulizer since he was about 18 months old, so he's used to it by now! He knows what he's doing.


Jaren has been fighting a cold for over 10 weeks now. It started as a cold and turned into sinus infection. Don't worry... we've taked him to the doctor like 5 times already... it just has to run it's course. Our doctor prescribed him a lower dose of Xopenex... the same thing that Oliver is on. It has helped his coughing and gagging alot. Ollie has been such a good helper and helps me give him breathing treatments. What a sweet brother!

I LOVE this picture of the boys.

Arts & Crafts... FRIDAY...

Eden and Ollie enjoying craft time!

Putting their foam characters together.

"I'm an artist! I can paint 'til tomorrow!"

Ollie making a pattern on a card with pumpkins and thumb print spiders.

Toilet paper roll ghost

Thumb print spider and pumpkin card

ALL OF OUR CREATIVE GOODIES!!!