Gingerbread houses

We all went and made gingerbread houses at the church for Activity Days. Here is a photo of the houses. The kids enjoyed eating the candy. The Whites were working on the perfect house and we just stood back and threw candy at our, whatever didn't stick the kids got to eat. Or something like that. The next day I found that a tornado(or hammer) hit our house and it was a pile of crumbs on the kitchen table. All of the candy had disappeared and all I can think is that it was reduced to crumbled rubble by the said tornado the kids said must have hit the kitchen table. No one would admit to knowing anything else about what happened to the house.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving morning working on Gunnar's room. I then fixed my mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables and we all went the the Connetts' for dinner. We all had a great time eating and talking. After dinner and dessert (which was a huge amount of pretty much any item you wanted), we went to Walmart to check out the sales for the next day. We were able to get a few items already on sale so it was a good trip. We also found out where the items we wanted the next day would be located. When we got back to the Connetts' David had taken two of the kids home and so Bonnie and I went to the basement and talked Shawn and Eric into letting us play Rock Band. I played the drums and Bonnie sung. We sounded great, if I say so myself. I think I would really like a real drum set now. We sounded so great that several people asked us to try to keep it down. I think it was so they could hear better without the disruption from the speakers. A great Thanksgiving, THANKS!!

School Conferences and Piano Conferences

We hit all the kids teachers yesterday and were gone at conferences from 4-8pm. A long night of listening about our kids. Most good and some not so good. We found out that JT is doing great and is Thankful for the Army, as most boys are in the class with all of their elaborate war strategies they play in free time.
Cenneidigh is tiring to grow up to fast and is worried about makeup, being thin, spending time with her friends at school. Great at math.
Ezekiel is not proofreading his items at school and needs to work on raising his hand to talk. He is also is really enjoying his new high potential teacher. He is doing great in his accelerated math.
Gunnar was next with the conferences in the gym where all the teachers were seated at desks with lines at each desk of waiting parents. We talked with each of his teachers and the common themes were; great kid, talks too much, very respectful but loud, could be doing better then he is, has great potential. Sounds like Gunnar.
Qatar's conferences were similar to the high school. All the teachers were in the gyms and we walked around and waited to see each one. David and I split up and David stood in one line and waited while I was able to see three other teachers. Common theme for Qatar were; great kid, very respectful, likes to talk, unorganized, so sweet, nothing much like Gunnar but both are great kids. Qatar's choir teacher thinks he is doing great, but was extrmely impressed by Gunnars performance in the play and his voice improvement.
Then piano conference today. Qatar was first and he needs to stop memorizing and pay more attention to the notes and rhythm. He is picking up the piano fast.
Ezekiel needs to curve his fingers. He plays with stiff fingers and needs to curve them or she does not want anyone to know she is the teacher. But, he is otherwise learning very fast and doing great.
Gunnar needs to practice not just play. He said he can play most things and yes he can, but playing a piece perfect does not make it pleasant to listen too. He needs to practice the passion and feeling of the songs. He has so many things on his plate and maybe he needs to be more selective to become really good at any of them. He needs to be more attentive at lessons.
More good then bad, but also more potential then they are all living up too.

Conferences

School conferences tonight. We start at the elementary at 4pm then to Ellis for an hour then the high school by 6pm and back to Ellis for any missed teachers. I figure we will be home around 9 or so. Remember this when you want a baby, they grow up and you have to see their teachers and explain why your beautiful child is not perfect in school.

Someone at church asked me how JT does in school, (he has a hard time sitting still in Primary) I said that last year he did great and I would find out on Monday from his new teacher. JT's teacher in kindergarten loved how JT would hum when he worked on math and things. She said she always knew he was happy. JT does not like to sit or be quiet. He is the loudest singer in Primary and I just have to keep telling him to sit down and be quiet the rest of the time. I have taken him to David at times to keep from killing him myself.

Twilight good kiss!

It was a good kiss. WOW!!! It was very sensual in the book, but very sensual and sexual in the movie. We saw the 4:20pm show. The 7pm was sold out. Very passionate kiss. It should win MTV best kiss award. "Remember who you are." The best Mormon line of the movie. My favorite line was, "Isn't it enough just to have a long life with me?" Maybe it was the look he gave her or the way he said it, but it was a good line.

Twilight tonight and Grandparents Day

Yea, I am going to see Twilight tonight. Yea. I really did like the books. I did enjoy The Host just a bit more. If you have yet to read it you really should.

Cenneidigh has Grandparents day at school today and since her Grandparents are all far away she decided to invite Bonnie. AKA Evil Grandma. The whole thing starts at 11:30 am and goes to 1pm. They have lunch together and then the class has a program for the grandparentst to see and they even get name tags the kids worked hard to make. I hope it is a good experience for both Cenneidigh and Bonnie.

I guess I am going!

Amanda was kind enough to volunteer for the job of babysitter for three days so I can go on the field trip with Qatar. We will leave Monday the 8th at 8:30am, I will be able to get the other kids off to school that day. We will return at 2:40 pm on Wednesday so I will be home when they get back from school that day. I have my neighbor Sarah dropping off and picking up the kids those days and even someones else child I already volunteered to pick up. Sarah is such a great friend and help. Qatar's teacher tells me it will be a great experience and lots of fun, even Qatar is excited I am going. It will definitely be an experience, the jury is out on what kind of experience until we return. There will be rock climbing, tree rope courses and nightly programs on the environment. Food is cafeteria style, but you are to eat what you take and they weigh the food that is thrown away and try for a zero waste trip, that will be interesting with 7th graders. We need snow gear and long underwear. I will have to buy the long underwear, I have the boots, snow pants, jacket, gloves, hats and warm socks. I think I will buy Qatar and I more warm socks and long underwear. It will be an experience!!

Eagle Bluff Web Page

Foot in mouth again! Why do I speak before I think?

I marked the being interested in chaperoning for a trip for Qatar coming up. I marked it thinking I would not have to worry about it because I have always been put on the back up list for chaperone's in the past. Well I did get on the list and then I freaked out and called to be sure I was on the "really going list". When I got the secretary I told her I needed to know if I was on the "going" list because I had just marked it as a "Joke"(why I said that I do not know I meant I marked it thinking I would not really have to go). Well I double checked the dates and realized that David is out of town those three days and so I will not be able to go and now I am sad. It really looks like fun and I wish I could go. ANYONE WANT TO BABYSIT FOR THREE DAYS? The kids will be in school from 8-2:40 everyday so it will not be that hard! Think about it, OK. Just get them off to school then be here to get them after school, then entertain and feed them, a breeze.

Sick kids

Gunnar has been fighting off a nasty cold all week and today he sounded very sick and Cenneidigh has a bad cough. I stayed home with then with a headache and knowing that if Gunnar and Cenny stayed alone someone would not survive the day. They argue worse then anyone else in the family.

I am sore from all the painting we did yesterday. Bending and reaching can do a number on your back muscles. We now need to cut and paint the trim and get the carpet in and we will almost be done. YEA!!! For a room that was to be done in July, November is not bad.(haha)

Here is a photo of Cenneidigh from last week in her pretty Christmas dress.

Gunnar as Mr. Musnick in Little Shop of Horrors.

Gunnar was in the high school play this week and he did a great job. The play was cute and fast pace. It was sad when everyone important died at the end, but the six chorus girls did a great job with the narration. Sabrina, from church played Audrey and did a great job also. JT loved the fact that the plant kept eating people. JT loved it so much that he yelled it out as the plant ate Gunnar. He said, "The plant is eating people and now Gunnar." We did point out that Gunnar climbed out of the plant and walked off stage when the lights went down. Good Job Cast!!

Qatar in Alice and Wonderland JR.

Qatar played Tweedle Dee in Alice in Wonderland JR this week. I got to make the costumes for both of the Tweedles so they would match. The play was really cute and we enjoyed it. We only got to see it once due to the fact that Gunnar's play was also the same nights. This was Qatars first play and he had lots of fun with all the kids. Charlie and Connett were both also in the play. Qatar will not be home much now either, he is now starting basketball.

Christmas Card Contest

Ezekiel, Cenneidigh and JT entered the Christmas card contest at Hormel and they did a great job. Today in the mail was a big box with thank you gifts for each of them. What a nice surprise, we did not expect anything for entering. The kids were very excited about all the fun items in the box for them.

Good deal I found. Think Christmas!

To get the most out of the Oprah free Snapfish photobook deal ($29 value), here's how to do it.
1) If you are new to Snapfish, FIRST register through this link Snapfish so you get your 50 free prints.
2) After you create your account and the 50 free prints are credited to it, then go to this link: http://www.snapfish.com/info18
3) Click "Get Started". That will put the free photo book in your account. You must create and order the book by Nov 16. The book is worth $29.95, but is free for the next few days. You'll have to pay $5.99 shipping.
4) You should now have an account with 50 free prints and the photobook credited to it, even though you haven't ordered anything yet.
5) Upload all the pictures you want to use for the photobook and your 50 free prints today and tomorrow, then create and order your book by the 16th.. Wait until Nov 18th to order your 50 free prints because on the 18th, shipping will be free on all orders.
6) The 18th would be the time to order holiday cards (15% off with code CARD15OFF), personalized calendars or mugs, stationery, flip books, prints, or more photobooks, since shipping on all will be free.

I love snapfish and the flip books are cute and really inexpensive. Great site. They will have free shipping on the 18th for any other items you want to buy besides the free book. The photo book would make a great Christmas gift and shipping for me was 7.99. I was already a customer, but I still got the free book deal.

Sub Teaching, first time in GYM class.

I was called to teach gym class at one of the elementary schools. It was really fun. I had two forth grade, two fifth grade, two second grade and two third grade classes. We played Pinball, Dr. Dodge ball, Fishes and Whales and Clean Your Yard. Lots of running around and bumping into people. Lots of head shots and lots of kids holding their heads. By the sixth class the gym was starting to smell pretty ripe. Most kids were tired by the end of the class and some were in the nurses office. Many head bumps and falls but I asked the classes at the end, when they were complaining about their bruises and bumps, if they wanted me to write a note to the teacher to tell him that the class never wanted to play those games again because they were to rough. All the classes screamed a big, "NO". I think it was a good day.

A Good Quote from my email today.

A quote from Hyrum Smiths. He said the following:

“You are to vote for good men, and if you do not do this, it is a sin. Choose the good and refuse the evil. Men of false principles preyed upon us like wolves upon helpless lambs. Let every man use his liberties according to the Constitution. Don’t fear man or devil electioneer with all people, male and female and exhort them to do the thing that is right.

We want a President of the U.S. not a party President, but a President of the whole people; for a party President disfranchises the opposing party. Have a President who will maintain every man in his rights. I wish all of you to do all the good you can. We will try to convert the nations into one solid union. I despise the principle that divides the nation into parties and factions. I want it to grow up like a green bay tree, straight and tall. Damn the system of splitting up the nation into opposite belligerent parties…….There is power and influence enough among us to vote in a good President."

I would have to agree. I do fear that a two party system will destroy are freedom to vote for who we feel will do the best job,

Post on Heathers post

I read Heathers post on getting out of debt and staying that way and I had to post my opinion. I listen to an hour podcast of Dave Ramsey everyday and I am always inspired by the words of those struggling and fighting to pay their bills and get out of debt. It is amazing to hear the lengthen some people will go to get out of debt, Extra jobs, no vacations, beans and rice, rice and beans, no new items, no new clothes and a very small Christmas. We were very blessed to be given this book to read from my in-laws. I read it and then every other book Dave Ramsey had written. I decided this was the plan for us and then David read the books. Dave Ramsey and his program has been a blessing in our lives and we are on baby step 5 and I think we will be stuck in this step for awhile. Paying for college is going to be tough, but not having student loans will be worth the cost. Keep up the good work Heather and I cannot wait to see Dave Live in Kansas City in May(if my car will make it that far).

Now its your turn! Use the Baby Steps to get your finances in order and on track. Then pass them on to someone you know and help change their life!

1.$1,000 to start an Emergency Fund

2. Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball

3. 3 to 6 months of expenses in savings

4. Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement

5. College funding for children

6. Pay off home early

7. Build wealth and give! Invest in mutual funds and real estate

Another book I love is by Peter Walsh, Its All Too Much. It is a book about clutter and how

clutter robs us of our life energy and our ability to live in the present. I just cleaned out Cenneidigh's room and we have a new rule, anything new in means something old has to go. I have at least 10 grocery bags full of things she does not use or need any more and she still has plenty in her room. Clutter just seems to build in the corner without notice until you cannot walk in the room any more. I have a genetic problem with clutter, all of my relatives have this issue, we keep everything. Not anymore I am turning over a new leaf. Clutter be gone. The garbage can is full and it does not get picked up until Thursday. OH well it is a learning experience. The back of the van is also full of items to go to the Salvation Army.

Read Dave Ramsey's Total Money Make Over and Peter Walsh's Its All Too Much. Life changing books.

Primary Program

The Primary Program was today and they did a great job on the program. The kids sung their songs, said their parts and talks. Everyone looked good and sounded great. I sat behind a few kids to help out were needed and looked at the song book while I helped sing the songs with the kids.

I do not know all the words and neither did a few kids. JT sung loud for everyone to hear and on one song he said, "No, not the second verse", as they were starting the second verse of the song. He had the first verse and chorus down and was the loudest child in the group. And to my surprise JT and Cenneidigh both choose to memorize their parts and they did pretty well with them. The kids did a great program and I am very proud of all the them.

Halloween Clearance

Target had the rest of the Halloween items at 90% off this morning. I picked up many items for next year. I only got a few costumes. Most costumes were in sizes under 8. I was able to get a lot of t-shirts for the kids and socks. The kids love to open all the Halloween totes in October and see all the items I bought at 90% off the year before. I just put it out in the Halloween totes in the garage and every year enough goes out for good that I am just replacing items used during the season. Halloween favors, candy buckets, table runners, swords, hats, toys, no candy, and many fun little trinkets for Boo bags next year. I love 90% off, it is lots of stuff with a very small bill, where everywhere else it is a very small amout of items with a huge bill.

SNOW!!!! Parker loves it.

We went ot bed with the grass and the zillions of leaves, we have yet to pick up and woke up to this.

We have taken a truck load of leaves to the leaf dump, but they keep falling and we need to get more picked up. I hope this snow just melts away as the sun comes up so we can get to the leaves tomorrow. Parker seemed to enjoy running after the snow flakes, he also snaps at the dust floating in the air on a sunny day. He just enjoys chasing things. Yes, the kids still have bikes and trikes to put away for the winter. It was hard to think of snow when I was laying on the grass in the sun on Tuesday. If you do not like the weather, wait a few minutes and it will change.

Back to Real Life

Now that the election is done it is time to get back to real life. Back to life back to reality.

1. The ward Primary program is Sunday and I hope you are getting your kids to memorize their parts.

2. The end of the quarter for school is Friday and there is only a half day.

3. Target should have all Halloween items 90% off on Friday. That is where I end up getting most of my Halloween things for the next year.

4. It is going to be cold tomorrow.

5. It is going to rain all day today.

6. Check your Flexible Spending account and make sure you are going to spend it all or you will lose it.

7. How is your Christmas shopping going?

8. I am going to start a new hobby today.

9. There is a food drive on Saturday. Stick non-perishable foods by your mail box and they will

be picked up for the Salvation Army Food Shelf.

10. Next Thursday is opening night for the High School and Ellis plays.

Real life is so much less exciting, but not as upsetting.

Reasons I am glad Obama is the New President

1. I can use the phrase, I Told You So, so many times even I will be sick of saying it.

2. The Democrats will have so much power that they will use it to shoot themselves in the foot and come two and four years from now real change can happen when we all vote them out of office.

3. People who really think Obama will change things for the better will get to know the truth, that he can only change things for the worse.

4. My Grandmother is going to freak out.

5. More people registered to vote and voted then last election, even if they were the stupid and uninformed voters we know them to be.

6. I am not in the income bracket where I will be forced to, Share the Wealth.

7. I get to say, I TOLD YOU SO. More and More and More.

8. Hillary Clinton is not the President.

9. People are as stupid as Karl predicted and now I do believe him.

I am sure I can think of more, but this is it for now.

10 Cannots Think about these and your vote today.

The 10 CannotsBy William J. H. Boetcker(wrongfully attributed to Abraham Lincoln)

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.

You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence.

You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.

You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.

You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.

You cannot establish security on borrowed money.

You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they will not do for themselves.

I found this at Dave Ramsey site and it is very true.

William J. H. Boetcker (1873 – 1962) was an American religious leader and influential public speaker. An outspoken political conservative, Rev. Boetcker is perhaps best remembered for his authorship of a pamphlet entitled The Ten Cannots. Originally published in 1916, it is often misattributed to Abraham Lincoln.

Election Day

Get out and Vote if you know who and what you are voting for. We need informed voters, not just more voters. Get out early to avoid delays and lines. Good luck America I hope you are still a free country when the votes are counted. A country where you can achieve anything you work hard enough at, a country where there are opportunities for anyone to become anything. A country that does not believe in Share the Wealth. If you earn it, you keep it and decide how to spend and give it. Work hard and achieve the America Dream. No one can give you that. “Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.” Franklin D. Roosevelt
Vote Tuesday, November 4!!

Halloween Photo

Here is the crew of Trick or Treaters at Davids office on Halloween.

Hope and Change is Bunk!!! Obama Sucks!

There is no Hope and Change if Obama is elected. We will move to Socialism. Work hard in this country and you will have the privilege of giving most of it up in taxes and new spending programs. Spread the Wealth and let everyone have more, except the people who actually work for what they have they get less. No one can solve your problems but you. No candidate can change you. Quit hoping that the government can make your life better. THE GOVERNMENT IS YOU! You are the person who can change your life. Get out and do it yourself. Obama will not solve your problems, he will just create more. More taxes, More spending, More abortions, More national debt, More BS. There is no good candidate for President this election, but Obama is not the person I want making decisions for me. Obama is not exactly POOR, he is also for the rich. Why do you think so many rich people are voting for him? It is not their or his giving nature. If you think it is you are out of touch and stupid. (This post is for my anonymous friends from my last cartoon post.)

Fall Walks and our growing puppy

We try to get out and walk Parker everyday or else he destroys something in the house. He is like a toddler, everything goes in his mouth. But unlike a toddler he has pretty big destructive teeth. One

throw pillow, several inserts for shoes(not the shoes just the inserts), a couple of knee pads, many toys and Lego's, are no more. When the kids complain I tell them to put their stuff away, we live with a chewing machine, anything that can be chewed on is chewed on. Then of course there is the non-flushed toilet issues with the dog. Please children flush the toilet. You do not want to know the details on that one, trust me!

Halloween

Halloween fun! The kids got their costumes together right after school to get to David's office to trick of treat. We then went to Walgreens for photos and the mall for trick or treating. A quick stop at McDonalds for dollar burger(we needed something healthy before all the candy) and off to trick or treat. JT filled his bucket up and got a bag from Stevens house and kept going. Cenneidigh filled hers up and dumped it into Fins stroller. We then went to the Andersons for hot drinks and fun. It was a great busy night with more candy then any 7 people need.

Funny Cartoon about Obama

I love this cartoon. I stole it from Heather's blog.

I do feel this is what is going to happen if Obama is elected. Share the wealth, Socialism at its core.

The American Way of life will disappear if we go to the Share the Wealth point of view. I am not in the income range that Obama would make my family share the wealth, but I do not believe anyone should be forced to share more then they already do with the high taxes they pay. When I do taxes I see huge refunds go to people who pay no tax, get earned income tax credit and then pay up to 300 dollars to get their refund today. Yea, I want to share my wealth with stupid people who cannot wait 7 days for a free refund. Good luck if you are voting without your brain for Obama. You will get what you deserve.