During Relief Society last week they handed around a basket full of kits to make plastic canvas blocks for humanitarian aid. I took 2 of them, thinking that it was within my scope of crazy projects and time schedule to fit it in (actually Kara took one and I took one and although I didn't think we would get them done while Kara was here, I knew they would still get done).

Monday came and went rather quickly and soon it was time for family home evening and I was unprepared. I needed a quick idea. I had just read the teachings of King Benjamin in Mosiah and service was on my brain. Couple that with the 2 kits sitting on my dresser and a family home evening lesson just seemed to present itself.

Now I just needed to convince all the boys that sewing was a great way to serve.

After going from Derek to Justin to LeRoy to Justin to LeRoy to Derek giving instructions, I had a moment to stand back and watch as they used their new found skill in simple service to others. It was an obvious camera moment watching them fumble with the needles in giving determination.

We each finished one or two squares that night and after school the next day Justin and Derek finished the rest on their own. Oh, the things these boys will volunteer to do just to get out of practicing their music! Within a couple of calm hours we had sewn together our 12 squares to create 2 colorful blocks.

Monster Madness

We began with jars, tissue paper, mod podge and a huge mess on the table.

Our little monsters came together quickly and now sit in our window sill lighting up our October evenings.

Then came the real creative chaos. With knives a blazing and guts a flying we filled our porch with a spooky pumpkin welcome for all who dare come our way.

Erika and Bri had to get back to homework so their half carved pumpkins still sit, unlit, on the kitchen counter. Nathan's is a cute star but somehow didn't make it into the picture hall of fame and if I wait until dark {scary movie!} to take a picture I will most likely forget and then never get this posted. I have yet to do a pumpkin this year as my duty rests solely in answering the numerous calls of "mom, mom, mom", therefore leaving little time to be a pumpkin perfectionist. Now the mood has passed and I need to focus on costumes . . . oh, and what to fix for dinner tonight.

Sabbath Sweetness

We can't seem to have a family activity without loads of sugar to go with it!

Last Sunday we spent 4 hours making sugar cookies. We didn't just slop on the frosting, we actually decorated them. Then, in an attempt to walk off some of the sugar high we were on, we delivered cookies to our neighbors. Sugar is sweeter when shared!

This Sunday we made carmel apples with all kinds of candy bars chunked up to decorate the sides and as if that wasn't enough we drizzled glaze around the top. Just looking at one of those apples gave me a sugar rush. Luckily, we didn't lose any fillings or permanent teeth during this project.

This week we tried even harder to burn some of those million extra calories with a few games of Twister. After being forced into a few yoga moves by our spinner LeRoy, we were laughing so hard that our faces hurt. At least that helps burn calories too, right?

For some reason we don't have head shots in any of the Twister pictures, only backsides. So, yeah, you won't see a picture of me playing Twister! You just have to believe my sore muscles that I did.

Our sugar insanity leeched into Monday as we prepared to Boo the neighbors. Everyone had a chocolate assignment: cake, pudding, crushed Oreo's, cookies, kisses. It was a madhouse of gravestones and witches hats! With frosting streaking the kitchen, crumbs scattered all over the floor, and evidence smeared on a few snitching faces, we headed out in our finest mugger attire to doorbell ditch our friends in the great spirit of Halloween.

Next Sunday there will be NO sugar. We are carving pumpkins and playing games!!

(yeah, right mom!)

You too can Boo! Go here to pick a picture . The poem that we liked best is here.

The Super Saturday Miracle

I finished ALL of my projects today!!!

I had a great time getting high on spray paint, chatting it up with friends in full yelling while sanding down our projects with loud electric sanders (my ears are still ringing), munching away on a delicious spinach salad and conquering the air gun all in one day! Not to mention the sticky fun we had with mod podge, paper trimmers, glue guns, hammer 'n nails and a whole lot of silliness. It was just the kind of day I needed.

When I got my projects home I had enough cheers, high fives, ooh's and ahh's from my kids to last a good long while. Once LeRoy finally had the two rather large objects pointed out to him by Nathan his only comment was "oh, when did you make those". Evidently, nineteen years of Super Saturdays only meant to LeRoy that I was leaving for the day to pick up projects to stick in the closet and forget about.

Don't you love my little Van(na) White? He was very excited about the temple block (it's hard to see but it is the Rexburg temple with the saying "I'm going there someday"). I think he has claimed that for his own.

The only downer to the day was the constant reminder from 2 of the members of the RS presidency that this was our last super Saturday/enrichment/activity EVER! (Their interpretation of the general broadcast a few weeks ago.) Oh, we can still have book group, quilt class, the mom and me day, and we can plan craft or baking activities on our own, no one has a calling for it, and none of them will be under the direction of RS and none of them will be announced in RS. I'm thinkin' it's time to plan a few parties. Today was way to much fun to give up! Thanks girls for a fun day!!

August Adventures

** I did these collages with the intent to post back in August. Now I know how far behind my life is . . . at least 2 months. Hmmm, does that mean we can hold off Christmas until February?

Nathan loved visiting and comforting the animals at the fair. He especially liked "Mary's little lamb" and was so excited when the goat ate out of his hand. He also loved the pigs, which I personally thought were disgusting and smelly, but my little animal lover was in hog heaven.

Once we were able to escape the dairy air of the barn yard we headed to the rides. This was by far Derek and Justin's favorite! They only went on one ride but they did it 3 times and Justin nearly lost his lunch each time. My phone wasn't the right camera for a good shot of their faces as they were flying several feet above us but the photo in my head of their faces frozen in a soundless scream with their features stretched back due to the force of the ride, well, that is a clear image that still makes me giggle just a bit. Oh, the days of seeking the adrenalin rush! If I were to try that stuff now I'd end up visiting the chiropractor, and probably peeing my pants.

We took a short tour of the Teton Flood Museum. I didn't know how the boys would do during the movie ('cause it was done in the '70's and doesn't quite meet generation X standards) but they were actually quite intrigued. Derek and Justin both expressed how "weird" it was to see a movie that took place in our hometown and to see building floating down main street. Yeah, weird! After the old stuff, the movie and a quick scavenger hunt through the museum, we went to the hands on children's room. It wasn't overly amazing (or even slightly amazing) but the boys had fun trying on a variety of hats and burning some silly energy.

We couldn't properly celebrate August without ice cream! This was a surprise treat adventure after family home evening one Monday. I don't know that we have ever just gone on a treat run for FHE but there was no school to worry about, it was hot, and I wasn't running the air conditioning because the bill was so high and the kids wouldn't leave the doors shut and well . . . DQ was cheaper than AC.

Speaking of hot, I could have quit giving baths to these two water logged monsters. They LOVED playing in the water. It was a daily (and sometimes multiple times during the day) activity to run in the sprinklers fully dressed. I started to just strip them down to their undies, toss their clothes over the porch rail and rotate through their clothes that way. They were seldom dirty, just very wet.

See you next year August!