Skype

I guess since we now live so far away from family we will need to communicate a different way. We set up Skype the other day and enjoyed visiting with family over the computer. Apparently my kids thought it was so great that they took a picture of it. But seriously my kids loved it and keep asking to call different family members on the computer.

I am grateful for technology that makes us not seem quite so far away!

Monster Smoothies

Jill made my boys "Monster Smoothies" in May when we were on our cruise. Hayden has been asking me to make them since then. I finally did. I can't believe the boys and I have been drinking smoothies with spinach in them everyday. Sometimes they are green (if we only use light colored fruit) sometimes they are purple (when we use berries). They sure are tasty.

Thanks Jilly!

Friends

On of Joe's coworkers asked him this week what we did on Halloween. Joe told him that we took the boys trick-or-treating with friends. The coworker said, "Whoa, you have been here for like two weeks and you already have friends?" Joe told him that the people are from our church. The guy was amazed that we (LDS) make friends with people from our congregation. He asked Joe if we are in the same congregation as Gerry, Joe's boss, and Joe told him no that the wards are divided geographically. They talked a little bit more and Joe invited him to go to church with us on Sunday. He said he would think about it. I think it would be great if he came. I am proud of Joe for sharing the gospel.

One of the families we went trick-or-treating with invited us for dinner on Tuesday. It was fun to go visit with them and get to know them. I really hope we can make some good friends while we are here.

I took dessert and decided to make it like "Nothin' Bundt Cakes." I think it turned out okay.

School

Since being in Minnesota Hayden has begged to have school everyday. He likes me to be in charge for a little bit and then he wants to be in charge and tell us when it is story time and play time. He usually asks in the evening when we are going to finish school. So this night we finished school with him reading to me and then playing the game in his Tag book. He sure is a smart little stinker.

Blocks

The boys and I had a good time building towers and roads with blocks. Hayden had the orange and green blocks, Parker had red and blue, and I got the yellow and purple blocks. Dividing by colors sure help eliminate fights.

Halloween Day

My kids begged all day to wear their costumes. We didn't have anywhere fun to go and I knew they would get them dirty so I told them no and had them wear their cute Halloween shirts instead.

We aren't too fancy around here. No fun Mummy Hot dogs, witch finger bread sticks, graveyard cake etc. I didn't even keep with my mom's tradition of chili or corn chowder. I simply gave my kids left over pizza. I did do one fun think. Chris gave me fun jello molds a while ago so I made Halloween jello to go with the leftovers.

Halloween

Halloween is so fun with little kids. We have been talking about costumes for months. I wanted the boys to wear their pirate stuff I made for Hayden's birthday. I was informed that those are, "Pirate clothes, NOT a costume." Parker said he wanted to be a parrot. How does a two year old come up with the idea to be a parrot? Grandma Young was nice and bought Parker a darling parrot costume. Hayden finally said he would be a pirate if he could be a captain. That meant he wanted a captain hat, hook, patch, and a handle sword. I was fin with that compromise.

It is really difficult to get these boys to both look at me long enough to snap a picture.

There are two families (Lunds and Robisons) in our neighborhood that are in our ward. They were kind enough to invite us to go trick-or-treating with them.

Pumpkins

Sunday after church we let the kids paint their pumpkins. Hayden started with a cute face but it ended up being indistinguishable. Joe and I carved ours but I apparently never took a picture of them.

Minnesota

Joe got a new job. We are moving to Minnesota on October 16th. He has been there for one week and has one more to go. He comes home for a week then the two of us will drive the moving truck out. My parents are keeping the boys until the following Friday and then they will drive the boys out to us in our van. They will fly home after that. (Can you believe they were crazy enough to volunteer to drive that distance with my VERY LOUD boys?)

We will be living in a brand new town house that was a model home. It is furnished so everything you see in the pictures is what it looks like. We will move the desk down from the loft to the sun room and use the loft for the playroom.

We will live there for about nine months and then we will move to another state. We don't get to choose where we will go. Joe will be a branch manager and they will send us to whatever state needs a new manager at the time. I am nervous but very excited. Wish us luck on our new adventure!

Gratitude

And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.

Doctrine and Covenants 59:2

Quoting from my favorite movie, Meet Me in St. Louis,

Esther: "I hate, loathe, despise, and abominate money."

Mr. Smith "You also spend it."

Joe and I are trying really hard to live within our means. Last month we went to using only cash. We had X dollars for the entire month. By March 9th we were already out of money. Keep in mind. There was no eating out, no shopping other than groceries, no clothing, etc. I was not sure what I was going to do for the rest of the month. How was I supposed to put gas in the car? What was I supposed to feed my family?

One day I got a refund check from Rustoleum. Another day I got a reimbursement check from my school. Then we got an escrow refund. Joe had refereed a basketball game and I worked for my dad so we had that little bit of extra income. After all this extra income came in I was feeling very blessed. On the last day of the month we still had a tiny bit of money. This really is nothing short of a miracle.

The story gets even better. The last week of March I mentioned to Joe I really wanted some Cadbury Mini Eggs. He told me to go buy some and I said that I couldn't because we didn't have the money for it. The very next day we were in bed asleep. The doorbell rang at 11:00 p.m..

I jumped out of bed, I was very startled. Then I was nervous to open the door. I made sure Joe was nearby in case there was a problem . I opened the door and saw a small gift bag on the porch. The first thing that popped into my head was, "Who in their right mind doorbell ditches at 11:00 p.m.?" I looked in the packages and saw the Cadbury Mini Eggs. Some may say it was a coincidence but I know it was Heavenly Father letting me know the He knows me and loves me. I looked in the bag to see if there was a note telling me who it was from. There was not a note but a $100 gift card to Smith's. I was shocked!

I have absolutely no idea who was so generous. I wish I could thank them personally. But, since I cannot I continue thanking my Heavenly Father for directing my life and placing wonderful people around me.