Happy Halloween

The kids enjoyed Halloween in Utah this year. None of them complained about the cold, but had as much fun trick-or-treating as they could. We spent the evening with cousins eating candy, doughnuts, and watching Arachnophobia.
I am just grateful that the boys don't mind wearing hand-me-down costumes. I love seeing the boys in the same costumes but several years later. It makes me feel like they aren't growing up after all. Mitch borrowed the Batman costume from McKay (his cousin); Courtney was a cat lady; Spencer, Harry Potter; and Matt, the Green Bay Packer player.

Even though it was a fun Halloween, I think I will take the warm Halloween of Las Vegas any day. Viva warm weather!

Doughnut Fun

Mitch and I had tons of fun making doughnuts before Halloween. We used whole wheat flour that had just come through my grinder. You know my kids will eat any doughnut that passes in front of them, but I LOVE cake doughnuts. Regrettably, I could eat them all day. (and you can probably tell that I did) They were sooooo yummy!

I can't tell you how excited I am for New Moon! Only 23 days, 10 hours, and 30 minutes until it comes out. But who's counting?I am a little sad that we aren't having a party at the theater like for Twilight, but I'm glad that we decided to go to the midnight showing instead. That is what I really wanted to do anyway. Although I don't know what I'm thinking, I'm too old for this. It took me 3 days to recover after going to the Harry Potter 6 midnight showing. I guess at this point in my life it has to be mind over body. 23 days, 10 hours, 2o minutes, and 16 seconds.

Last week was interesting as Spencer spent a couple hours at Quick Care and the rest of the week in a splint. Trying to be a hero and rescue Matt from a pair of scissors, he sliced his thumb at the joint and had to wear a splint to keep from bending it. We should of gotten stitches but ended up with glue that didn't last two days. Of course playing wall ball at school didn't help and Spencer would come home every day sad that he had gone another day without playing it.
So we have learned a valuable lesson about when Matt is holding scissors. Tell Mom and save yourself a trip to the doctor.

We had a great time at the Court family reunion last weekend. We spent it at Shawn and Jeanette Hewlett's cabin in Utah. We got to canoe and swim, play horseshoes, swing, and play with our marshmallow guns. (The kids really liked the marshmallow guns. Thanks Uncle Bill!) We all played a lot of cards and loved the family history family home evening. Its fun to learn about our ancestors through games and stories. I took lot of pictures, but two of my favorites were these two. The top being the family in the canoe (proof that Courtney actually got in) and the second, Matt, whose new middle name is trouble. Can you see it, the trouble in his eyes? Unmistakable! We love him.

Getting back in shape is always rough the first couple of weeks and this first week is as rough as they get. Shin splints and tight hamstrings I am sure are just the beginning of the pain in using muscles that haven't been used in months (not to mention the pain from riding a bike for the first time in 3 years). But you plug along, or it doesn't get better. That much I have learned over the years. All is well, moving on and getting in shape!

In pondering upcoming events in my life, it dawned on me that my 20 year reunion is in 2010. So I immediately decided it was time to get in shape, and now. I am going to do the St. George triathlon again in November to give me something to work towards and keep me motivated. Then there is plenty of time to decide what to do after that. I told Miriam (a friend from high school) that I would love to see her next year as well as many others, but I really want to see who got fat and bald. I just don't want it to be me, and thus, the triathlon. Wish me luck, or come walking with me!

We had a great time in Utah last month and before Kyle flew home and Mitch went to EFY we got to spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa Clingo and Great Grandma Musick. We don't get to see great grandma very often so it was good to be able to have that time with her and her sweet, fun spirit. We are glad to see she is doing so much better from her stroke last year and that she still has her sense of humor. We love her dearly.

Our South Dakota Vacation

Our trip to South Dakota was filled with fun and friends. We stayed with our good friends the Policki's who were the most gracious of hosts. All nine children got along wonderfully, like we had never moved away and they all had grown up together. Even Matthew would ask,"Trenten house?"

Anyway, we did lots of cool things and the kids (even Courtney) had lots of fun. Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park were part of the cool part but boating on Pactola Lake 4-wheeling and mini-golfing were definitely part of the fun.

We stopped at Martin's Cove on our way to South Dakota last week. What a wonderful experience. Realizing that the pioneers pulled the same kind of wagons without being on a smooth trail (and having to watch out for snakes). And every day for months! Well, once we really started pulling we didn't wear our jackets for long, it was quite the workout. It was a three and a half hour trek, part of the way gratefully without the handcart. The cove was peaceful and reverent and the missionaries there told us stories of the pioneers hardships. Courtney, Spencer and Matt got to ride most of the way back in the cart (it actually made it easier to balance). As we parked the handcart we were grateful for our own challenges and then climbed back in the car for our seven hour drive to South Dakota.