General Conference
General Conference Weekend. K and G came for the Sunday Sessions. They were able to take Ava out to the fields in between sessions and hunt for bugs for her school class. 
 |
| They got in a round of Chutes and Ladders before leaving Sunday night. |
In addition to our usual tradition of making monkey bread, I added a game. It was one we had played at our last combined YM/YW Activity. 
They had to match the Apostles to what each one spoke about. I feel like each of the First Presidency and Apostles have such familiar faces, so I was surprised how much everyone struggled.
C wanted me to document the grand opening of the new playground at University Mall. It had already closed so I have yet to see it. The outside area is pretty though. I think even more noteworthy, is that our beloved DAYS Market was sold and is now LEE'S Market. They have done quite a bit of remodeling inside. I miss the old Days of course. The fluorescents that Lee's put up make it almost unbearable to shop there. The Days sign out front has been covered by a Lee's sign. However, at night when the sign lights up, the Days sign shines through. We drove ourselves batty wondering why they kept putting up the Lee's sign and then taking it down again :/
Dinner Party
It's been a little bit since I have hosted a dinner party. Matt invited his Young Men's Presidency over in October and it was fun to fuss things up for company (my sisters know this means new throw pillows and rugs splashed here and there and getting the lighting just right ;)
Matt's presidency and wives are absolutely delightful people. I wasn't worried at all about uncomfortable conversation or awkward silences. I am genuinle friends with all the wives and the hubs are great too! It was a very enjoyable evening indeed. Even when one couple showed up a half an hour early by mistake, they were gracious to let me run around like a crazy woman for a bit.
I am always surprised at how Poe just makes herself right at home with new faces. If she hadn't complimented the decor so I well I would have told her, "SCAT...Halloween Cat."
The snakes hanging up are a little craft I did with the kiddos.
Crafty Me
I also saw a demo on Facebook for a cheesecloth ghost. It seems like I remember my mom having a cheesecloth ghost. I have always wanted to try it and I had all the stuff on hand so I gave it a go.
(If I do it again I will put the hands more off to the sides. This picture doesn't capture it well, but that ghost was a little awkward to look at...)
I thought this was going to be a new addition to our Halloween decor but each day the ghost slumped lower and lower till it looked like a melted snowman.
Personal Progress
For Young Women's I wanted to do a Personal Progress Activity and I came up with "Meet the Master through Personal Progress." The idea coming from the years I have taught Meet the Masters at the Elementary school. When I was at the public library in the fall there was an art display by Karen Kurka Jensen that I was mesmerized by.
I came home and looked up her work to try her technique on my own. I found that the best effect was to mix paint with corn syrup. At our activity the girls painted the values by reading each value statement then painting what it felt like to them. Each one was unique in its own way. I really wanted them to focus on the feeling of painting the value rather than the end result. I think they got it.
When I taught my Laurels about CHARITY they each worked on their own sampler of Moroni 7:47. I have this one from when I was a kid that now hangs in Callie's room. A couple of the girls who never get into anything else really enjoyed this and even finished at home that very Sunday. It's all about offering variety I think.
Face to Face Even with STUDIO C!!! 10/19/16
The Young Women gathered in our basement for a pizza party. I was really impressed with the way the cast answered the questions. We laughed AND cried.
One of the Young Women, Maddie, shares a birthday with Ava: September 11, 2001. Yes, the very day.
UEA BREAK
The REAL crafty pants me though came through in Graham's Ghost Busters costume. But I think Halloween deserves a post all of its own. Good thing October had UEA Break to help pass the time.
We also watched Mal run the Haunted Half!
Hee Haw Farms - Pleasant Grove Utah
It was so stinking enjoyable taking Graham and Callie on a little outing. They took advantage of all the kid things at the Farm, and yeah it was a little stinky.
The weather was a-MAZE-ing heehee. Hee-haw!
This is the Place! Utah Heritage Park, SLC 10/19/16
A non-working momma gets to attend all the field trips!
This day in October was FREEZING. When I met up with the class to get on the bus that morning I noticed that Graham had left his coat in the classroom waaaaay in the back of the school. There wasn't time to go get it and I knew he would be so uncomfortable in short sleeves. I ran in to the lost and found and grabbed a fleece. On the bus ride there he claimed that he would not be wearing it. He said that kids use the sleeves to wipe their noses so he was ot going to wear someone else's boogie jacket. However, as soon as we got off the bus he said, "Well maybe I'll wear it..." and ran back to get it. The air was bone chilling that day.
 |
| Graham as a pioneer school boy, making sure he doesn't speak out of turn so he doesn't have to wear the dunce cap. |
I love how they incorporated the still blooming red and pink flowers with the Halloween decor. I'm going to have to remember this (though by stopping to take a picture I nearly missed the train).
Dutch Hollow, Midway Utah
I took Graham and Callie to the top of Dutch Hollow. These fall days. I wish they could last forever.
This valley. I wish it would stay like this forever.
Brandon and Anela's Wedding October 14, 2016 Provo Utah
It is fun to have kids to take adventures on. Good thing they clean up nice though. On October 14th we attended Brandon and Anela's wedding in Provo. Callie was honored to be the Flower Girl (you'll remember that she had some practice by throwing petals while Katrina and Giuseppe walked to their cake).
Anela is Grandma Donna's FOURTH grandchild to be married this year: Katrina January 2nd, Justin May 27th (in Hawaii), Rachel September 2nd, and Anela October 14th. Uncle Mark married Anela and Brandon. The other special thing was that Brandon didn't know that his mom had flown in from New Zealand until he walked down the isle and saw her.
Gray: new glasses and a new suit. But the thing that is most noticeable couldn't be photographed, a new...
VOICE.
