1/2 of November

The month is 1/2 over and we've been plenty busy but I don't have much to show for it. I haven't been taking a lot of pictures and have been too busy to document ;)   Sometimes thats good but slowing down isn't bad either.

 

Last week Ashley was sick a couple of days so it was a great excuse to just slow down and hang out at home.

 

 

Jacob and his partner Mark have been over working on their science project trying to find out what will happen to balloons holding different gasses when you heat them up or freeze them.

 

 

 

 

 

Mark and Jacob blew up at lot of balloons!

 

 

 

 

 

They had more fun popping them when they were done with the airsoft gun.

 

 

 

 

They did some balloons with helium and carbon dioxide.

 

For the carbon dioxide they put 15 teaspoons of vinegar in a bottle and then 15 teaspoons of baking soda in the balloon. They stretched the balloon over the top of the bottle and then shook in the baking soda.

 

 

 

Soon they had a balloon full of carbon dioxide.

 

 

 

They put some in the freezer and heated some in the microwave. Jacob found out quickly that the stove didn't work.

 

 

 

 

 

The balloon lasted about 1 second

 

 

 

 

 

And in pet news...Ashley took this picture of our dog. She's not allowed on the couches so she just lays next to us. As long as we pet her I don't think she cares.

 

 

 

 

 

We finally had a female chinchilla this litter. She's bigger than her brother and a little more aggressive. Can you believe we already have a buyer.

 

We've found she escapes the cage pretty much every night. She'll squirm into the cage above or go under the bookcase and we'll put her back in, but we know when we're gone she probably just gets back out again. Every morning she's back in her cage peacefully sleeping...who knows what adventures she does on at night.

 

 

 

I got a new calling 3 weeks ago. Stake Relief Society secretary. We've already had 3 presidency meetings, done 4 visits to wards and have all the rest of the wards scheduled for a visit in the next month. We have our first leadership meeting training tomorrow night so I've been working on things for that. Lots of computer work, sending out invites, emails, planning and visiting. I'm happy with the sisters I get to work with and the new challenges this calling will bring.

 

 

 

 

 

This last friday was the Fall Festival at Ashley's school. Being room mom, on PTA and a vendor...I wore 3 hats that day. While Ashley was home sick I worked on making jewelry to sell.

 

The Festival went great and there was a good turn out and a lot of kids had fun...the vendors weren't as successful I don't think. Once it was dark shopping was over...it was dark an hour into it. I didn't even make my booth fee but I did barter for a few things. One of the other vendors had the idea to start trading stuff because nothing was selling. Ha ha. It reminded me of my craft fair days...some of the craft fairs were just like that. I had to just count it as a donation to the PTA.

 

 

 

Vetran's Day and Jeff worked part of it, Taylor was finishing his last driving class and out with friends and Jacob was working on his science project.

 

Ashley had her friend Maia over and I took them to Sycamore Canyon with the dog. She hiked to the top of this rock and miracles of miracles she allowed me to take a picture.

 

 

 

Maia loved the hiking and especially the rock climbing. The girls ended up finding a fishing hook attached to a string. They tied it to a stick and tried fishing. It didn't work but they had fun hiking anyway.

 

 

I've had a couple of subbing jobs, the boys got to go with Jeff to the temple for mutual to do baptisms, I helped at a 100 mile club run at king...even though Ashley was sick and couldn't go and we did all the normal day to day stuff.

 

We are all looking forward to Thanksgiving Week, if only to sleep in.

Halloween 2012

Our Halloween festivities started off with what has become our annual Halloween party at the Elsworths. 

As long as we are willing to have us we will come up with creative costumes to show up in. 

This year for the first time ever...Jeff dressed up scary. 

He made quite the impression as chucky...I went as Chucky's bride...since what else could I be?

The Williamsons were Romney and big bird...

The Kreps were a Double Dare duo. (I totally remember that game show) I laughed that they were wearing their son's sports equipment which they said barely fit. 

Princess Lea and ....I'm not sure what Kevin was...but he had Darth Vader on his shirt. 

The Lauritzens even came for a visit from their new home in L.A.

It was great to see them. 

Jeff couldn't scare Miles, he was too interested in checking out Jeff and isn't old enough to be scared of him. Ha ha. Such a cutie. 

We played games of skill....

The Davis's cracked us up as the Spartans.

And the Thompsons as Mr. and Mrs. Romney. 

 (They were trying to get a ping pong ball into a glass using a tape measure)

Here is our Host playing the paper bag game. You had to try and pick it up with your mouth and then they ripped off some of the bag and made it smaller and smaller.  

It's not as easy at it looks!

By the way Erin and Romney were the perfect Wayne's world couple. 

Thanks for the great party!

The next night was trunk or treat at our church. 

Taylor and Jacob made a last decision costume idea to dress up like ...

DR. EVIL AND MINI ME.

Those who knew who they were love it. Those who didn't know just thought "Huh?"

They were hilarious.

Ashley had her friend Jenna come down to do the trunk or treat with us. 

Ashley don't bite you're friend!

(Ashley wanted to be a glam vampire this year)

Jeff was sporting the Chucky costume again...and had a little bit too much fun scaring the kids. 

If they were little he would say "I'm not scary I'm a nice dolly"

Some of them still wouldn't even come close to him or take any candy from him!

I pulled out my witch costume.  We invited LPA families to come too and we got a few enjoying the trunk or treat with us. 

Ashley was thrilled that Jenna got to stay over and come to church with us the next day before we brought her back home. 

On Halloween Day Jacob decided to wear Jeff's Chucky costume. I was surprised that he wanted to dress up. I asked him the night before if he wanted the makeup and everything. 

Yep. 

So I was up doing makeup on him at 5:30 before seminary and school. 

He said his costume was a big hit and he got tons of attention. 

He said he was stopped over and over at lunch so people could get pictures with him and someone told him he was all over instagram. Ha ha...I think he didn't mind the attention. 

Halloween Day Ashley's school had a Halloween party followed by a parade. 

Ashley decided not to dress up but lots of people in her class did. 

She also decided that I wasn't allowed to take any pictures of her. So I got some pictures of her friends instead. 

The parade was cute....pretty much the older the grade the less kids were wearing costumes :)  

Some of the costumes were very cute and creative. 

When we got home from school our neighbors the Merrills brought over Halloween goodies. Ana is crafty and her baked good put mine to shame. 

So cute! I did find out she took a class down at Michaels.    

She is obviously a great student!

That night Taylor pulled out an old costume and him, Jacob and Gabe went to go and trick-or-treat/hang out with friends.   They hit about 5 houses they said and ate the candy right after then spent the rest of the evening waiting for their friend to get off of work at Carls Jr.  They waited until 9:00 so trick or treating was over by then, but I think they still had fun. 

Jacob ditched the wig and just went with the messy hair look. 

Caden and family came over to trick or treat in our neighborhood. 

I think you get more candy when you're with a cute 2 year old. 

Too cute to resist. His pumpkin got heavy enough that grandma and grandpa had to help him out. 

And this is what the morning after Halloween looks like ;)

Before we put the costumes away....Jeff dressed up one more time for our Stake mystery dinner night. 

Who stole the Liahona??? Was it Jeff who was playing the wicked king??

He played the part...

and I helped paint the backdrops. 

It was a fun night and now all the costumes are finally put away. 

And on the heels of putting Halloween away...the stores and mailers are filled with Christmas stuff! I guess because there is no commercial gain in a holiday where you are just thankful.

My favorite pin of the week says  "Black Friday: Because only in America, people trample others for sales exactly one day after being thankful for what they already have."