October

General Conference is considered a holiday around here.  Everyone has their favorite part (food, apostle treat bags, skipping chores on Saturday, hanging out all day in pajamas, skipping church on Sunday . . . ) and though the actual talks don't always run at the top of the list, it does give us time together as a family and there are peaceful, inspirational moments among the celebration of it all.

Carrying on the tradition that I grew up with, we have projects that keep our hands busy while we listen.  For some of my children (Erika and Nathan in particular) this actually helps them to focus.  For others (Levi and Hyrum) it's just a way to endure.  

Nathan captured a few rather quirky moments until Bret turned the camera on him.  Bret and Erika brought their neighbors over to hang out with us.  They fit right in.  Derek came home from the Priesthood Session and promptly finished his hat.

Bret thought the mess was picture worthy.

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 I was putting off carving pumpkins with the family because our schedule was a little hectic but when we got a call

 from Levi and Daymia the party was a go in a matter of an hour.

Those who know Levi well understand his fettish about having his hands dirty.  Every single year he would grumble about 

gutting his pumpkin.  This year he dug right in like a big boy but his face still gave away his discomfort.

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I needed a legitimate excuse to try a new caramel recipe so for an afternoon activity we made mummy apple gifts for the boys' primary teachers.  My little trio of missionaries shared a yummy happy message as they went to their combined four teachers and even became 

a little addicted to spreading the love.

  

Instead of keeping their own yummy mummy they begged to deliver them.  They thought carefully about who they 

could share with and I watched humbly as they felt first hand the joy of serving. 

They wanted to "surprise more people and make them happy" so within the next couple of days I created labels, picked up some M&M's and after filling the jars they were off once again sharing sugary love and happy hugs with the music leaders in our primary.  Hyrum leaned over to me during sacrament meeting the following Sunday and suggested we give "marvelous M&M's to the lady leading the songs".  Atta Boy!  He's catching on.

I changed up the label so they could each give a bag of M&M's to their bus driver, thanking her for driving "Miles and Miles" to get them to school.  After school I asked how it went.  "She gave us huuuge hugs and smiled all the way to the school AND she said "thank you, that was so nice" before we got off at our house too!!!"  

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The highlight of Halloween was visiting Erika at work.  

Each team at Melaleuca decorated in a movie theme and was ready for trick-or-treaters.  

Erika spent hours working on that Toothless dragon!  It ended up being fifteen feet long, took two black plastic table clothes to cover it, and is framed with scrap wire, electrical tape and cardboard.  We hardly recognized her when she came out as a sheep (like the ones that are used in the dragon game in the movie) and honestly, it was kind of creepy when she closed her eyes and there were animal eyes looking at us.  She is so creative and clever!