Pre-Halloween

We had Trunk-or Treat on Saturday night. Carol was one of the judges for the chili cook-off so her banner says, "I'm the judge". She was so excited to be a judge. Clint was also a judge. Juliette did not want to be anything pretty and Lucy wanted lots of make-up. We didn't see much of Major as he was off playing Star Wars the whole time with his friends. We are quite sick of candy and we haven't even had Halloween yet!

Home Improvements

The last two weeks we have been living in chaos! We took the advice of many people and decided to install our own laminate flooring in the TV room because everyone said it was so easy. Bad decision! My neighbor, “Tim the Tool Man”, had pitty on us and “helped” us install it. Although we just helped him. He had all the tools and the experience. I will never try to do a home improvement that complex again.
But the room looks great! I did paint it. I can handle that. We got a new sofa and I’m going to get an entertainment center. It will be nice to have more storage. That room was such a junk pile. It’s going to take another month to organize and de-clutter.

Daily Life

We have been very busy. Carol gets up every school day at 5:30am and cleans her room, reads (listens to) her scriptures, practices the piano and cello and feeds the animals. I never have to remind her. She also is busy with school orchestra, school choir, cello and piano lessons, activity days, and East Valley Youth Symphony.

Major also gets up at 6:00am with no reminders and cleans his room, reads his scriptures and a book, practices the piano and has added the violin to his many talents. His teacher is amazed at his speed of progress, of course! He is also doing flag football, cub scouts, school orchestra, piano and violin lessons.

Lucy and Juliette need lots of reminders. We are starting a new "Miracle Music" point system that Alice loaned me to try to get them trained. I guess Carol and Major's example just isn't enough. They are sweet little girls and are involved in dance and tumbling.
Lucy also started the piano this year.
Juliette wants to do the violin and gets it out and "practices" everyday.

We have added a gray rabbit to our animal collection. Some people in our neighborhood were selling them at their garage sale. (They have lots more if anyone wants one.) It is really cute and I like it better than the cats. It's name is Lulu. We are calling it a girl. It seems to be fine around the cats. The cats are scared of it.

Teenager Shoes

I'm not much into fashion. I pretty much do my own thing. Clint, Carol and Major do their own thing too. But Lucy and now Juliette seem to know what is going on. The first day of preschool Lucy noticed all "the cute shoes" of the other people. (She has the most shoes in our family.) She also notices purses and hairstyles. She is always trying to put her hair up, twisted, in a clip. I suppose that style could have a name, but I don't know what it is, and that was last year's style anyway, I think. She is particular about what she wears and likes to mix and match, sometimes not very successfully.

Now Juliette seems to be picking up on things, although she still loves her overalls. This morning she told me that there is a boy in her kindergarten class that wears "teenager shoes". She said they were black. I was helping in her class today so she showed me that boy. He was wearing "Vans". So I guess I now have two girls to keep me up to date. But I'm still going to do my own thing. Sorry, but I like black! I probably would have been "gothic" as a teenager! ha ha!

Nancy D.

On Wednesday Nancy D. came to visit. We had such a great time with her. Wednesday night my parents came to dinner and Thursday Liz and Dave came. Every morning she would inspire the kids with their practicing and encourage them with their homework. It was great! Thursday night we got the kids to bed and went to see “Hairspray”. It was great! Friday night we visited Diane, Alice, Stephanie and Christian. Then Nancy D. treated the kids to toys from the dollar store. They loved that! Then we went out to eat at the Golden Corral. The kids had been wanting to go there for a long time. Saturday morning she had to leave. Juliette was especially sad. She told me she wished Nancy D. could stay for 25 days. We hope she comes again soon.

First Day of School!

First day of school! Everyone had a great day! We switched schools so the kids were really nervous about making friends. They all seemed to find someone to play with and liked their teachers too. I was worried about leaving Juliette, but she did great! This is the only year they will all be at the same school.

Bluewater 2007

We spent a wonderful week at the family ranch in Bluewater! It was so relaxing! I got into crocheting and made four dishcloths. It was very relaxing to me. I didn’t even crack my book! I took a nap everyday and had a great time! Clint came the whole week too, which was a blessing! I was glad to let him give the kids quad rides!
Major, Penn and Cole made up a funny skit called "The Three Blind Mice". The boys spent most of their days in the fort up on the hill. I hardly ever saw him. Clint killed a rattlesnake and Major got the rattle. We were all very proud of Clint!
Clint and David doing karaoke.
Clint at the morning yoga class.
Carol with her ant farm. Carol loved making things and playing with her cousins.
Swimming in the water tank.
Lucy always had hay in her hair from playing in the barn.
Juliette eating watermelon in the competition for the treasure hunt.
Lucy and Juliette performing "Mr. Sun" at the evening show.

Juliette and Mary with their cactus creations.
Celebrating Andrew's birthday.
My brother Stephen surprised us all by announcing his engagement to Leone. We are all very happy for them!