School projects

I genuinely hate school projects I honestly think they are useless and if someone could tell me how they benefit a child I would love to hear it. This is Marshals project for history he had to make some kind of object that had something to do with the USA or Canada. Marshal chose to build the pentagon out of popsicle sticks.

After several nights of building Marshal and Chuck received a A 291 point out of 300.

Good job Honey!

Halloween Party

So tonight was our ward Halloween Carnival. It was a huge success and the kids had a fabulous time. I enjoy hanging out with my neighbors. We live in a great area with so many good people.

I took a couple other pictures but I promised Noelle I would not post them yet because she was not able to attend all of tonight's activities and her and Charly's costumes are kinda a pair deal. And I would not want to spoil the surprise.

Marshal has several costumes this year. He decided to go dressed like a guy in our ward for the party. What you think pretty close right? The best was Marshal would stand like him and even answered questions the same way. I thought it was pretty funny.

I know how much work it is to put on a event like this and I am very grateful for everyone who gave so much of there time and efforts to put it on. Thank You my kids love it and look forward to it every year.

Football

This last week we had Marshal's football banquet. It is always sad when the season ends especially when you lose in the playoffs. He had a pretty good season, he had a slow start because we played down a year and played older but lighter and it took a bit to get the new coaches to see what he could do and to convince them to take a chance on him.

It is hard to believe that next year we play high school ball.

Instead of trophies or medals they received posters

This is Marshal's I think it turned out pretty cool.

Red ribbon week

My kids love Red Ribbon week with all the fun activities they come up with. We had inside out day, boot day, PJ day, school pride day and of course their favorite crazy hair day.

We had big plans for Charly's hair but half way into it we forgot she needed to leave for violin so plans had to change and all the pony tails got ratted instead of the wire we were going to put in them to make crazy spikes every which way.

Kendall looked like she belonged in hooville

and I think Noelle looked a little like a peacock

I laugh at what makes a kid excited for school. They are already planning next years do's.

Operation Happy Birthday!!

Monday morning I presented to my children operation Happy Birthday. I guess I should explain a little bit here. Next Monday is my Birthday and well I think Birthdays are awesome it is the one day a year that is all mine. I don't care how old you are I think you want to be remembered and know that you are loved and of course who does not love presents.

Well this year my hubby is extremely busy his business which was slow almost all year has finally picked up and he is crazy busy. If you know him you already know what a hard worker he is but we are talking he gets home every night at 10 - 10:30ish then spends a couple hours doing paper work and then off to work before the sun the next day.

With this being the case I know that he has no time to take the kids shopping or to plan much of anything so I decided to come up with operation Happy Birthday. Every year I tell my kids the best thing they could get me is a clean house, of course this does not appeal to them, but truly would that not be fabulous present. So I made a list of everything I would like done before my Birthday. The list is for them and me we have about thirty-five things on it.

As of this morning we are over half way done and the kids are really getting into it. I don't think they really want to do most of the tasks but they are so excited to help get everything done so my Birthday as Marshal explained to them can be worry free. I am thinking this could be a new tradition.

I love to cook and all summer I have tried to cook most things from scratch and with fresh produce. I have finally perfected this flavorful sauce for pasta. I think it is funny that one I took pictures of it and two that I am blogging about it but come on does this not look so good.

Ingredients- little olive oil, fresh mushrooms, onions, green peppers, garlic, tomatoes, basil, and a little pampered chef southwest seasoning. I was out of zucchini or I would of added that also.

We ate it on whole wheat pasta, with chicken and banana squash. I love that my kids eat almost everything I fix, not sure if it is always because they like it or just because they know I mean business. he he

I should of taken a picture of Charly helping me she is becoming quite the little chef herself.

She has really taken a interest in how you cook and asks all kinds of questions. All of my children have a night where they either make the diner or help and I am very please that they are able to do more than the basics. And I really enjoy the time I get with them, I have found it makes fixing dinner not quite as tedious as it could be. So I guess I better go decide what is on the menu for tonight.

Cell Phone

My cell has been broken for about a week so if you have been texting or leaving me messages I really am not ignoring you. Call my house or leave me an e-mail. Just found out a couple people have left messages about tickets if you have you will need to call me before morning so I can add you to the list.

Thanks, ANDREA

Tickets?

Anyone out there that might be interested in getting Nutcracker tickets Charly is in cast D. She performs Dec 26th to the 31st I know it is after Christmas but just think the rush of everything is over and you can just sit and enjoy. Also her last two performances are the nutty nutcracker performances. Tickets to the public go on sale on Oct 17th but I can get tickets this Saturday. Anyone who is interested please let me know ASAP!

Thanks!

Andrea

Time to Catch up

I have finally completed all my canning. I have decided canning is one of those things in life that when you are done and sit back and see all that you have accomplished you realize all the work was worth it. I try to do my canning so I am not always doing all of it every year, some how my system failed because this year I had a lot to do. Here is my list of what I completed.

65 quarts of Grape Juice

45 half pints of mustard pickle

32 pints of Chili Sauce

20 Quarts of Lasagna Sauce

30 pints of Salsa

8 Quarts Peach Pie Filling

40 half pints peach raspberry jam

30 half pints peach strawberry jam

12 Quarts of Peach Cocktail

Freezer Corn

and Last but not least 20 whole frozen peaches (something new I am trying)

Now on to more exciting news Charly got a call a week and half ago from Ballet West. Although she tried out for party scene and is not quite tall enough for soldier they called to see if she would be willing to be a soldier in D Cast. I ran over to her school at lunch to tell her they called and that they are waiting for her decision, she started jumping up and down and told me to call them right back she has been on cloud nine ever since. She does have a little bit of catch up to do because she has missed several practices but she is willing to do the work.

She will perform the week after Christmas for anyone who would like to go see her. Also I can get tickets next week if anyone is interested let me know.

Charly has also taken up the violin it is so neat to see her take each talent and build on it. She is truly a happy girl who loves to learn knew things. She is also become quite the little baby sitter she loves being with kids and has really enjoyed every opportunity she gets to babysit. I am very proud of her she is turning into quite a beautiful young lady with so much to offer.

Marshal had his last season game on saturday they lost in overtime but he will be going to the playoffs and it looks like he will be playing Brock whose team is undefeated. Finally we will be able to see the two play together, kinda.

I take my camera every game but end up watching the game and forget all about it, so I told the girls that they need to try and take some pictures for me. I seem to get a lot of photos of the team standing around.

Marshal tried out for the school play a couple of weeks ago. I have never seen him so nervous and even a little upset when he did not get the part that they keep having him be called back for. The play will be in the spring but I am very proud of him. I did not know he had any interest in doing something like this and am so proud of him for trying.

Marshal also has completed his Eagle project (big sigh of relief from me) He restored about 25 tables at the bowery near the church. I could not believe how many adults showed up to help and was in ah of all the support his leaders gave. I am also so grateful for the families that helped donate funds to pay for all the supplies. He announced it only once in priesthood and that sunday was able to come up with half the funds which really helped because I was shocked how much it cost to get everything.

This is our Before and After

Marshal, Charly and Noelle are all doing very well with piano, they have each been learning to play the hymns and although some of them are learning easier levels it is amazing to me how playing songs they know has made such a huge difference.

Some weeks seem to go by much faster than others I am hoping I can stay on top of things better this week. I am hoping to start some Halloween costumes this week keep up on laundry and finish a few craft projects. I say this hoping this will keep me on track.