Finishing out October

For years and years I've wanted to get professional family pictures done. I decided since I am working I wanted to indulge and get them done. So last week we went over to Shoshone Falls Park for pictures. Natalie Searle took the pictures. The kids were so good and we got some wonderful photos!  

The staff at Stricker had a pumpkin decorating contest. I made a bulldog pumpkin! It turned out cute, and even though it didn't win top three with the students I was proud of my creation.

Friday the 22nd, Casey was put over concessions at the football game. Unfortunately, he got called a bit before the game saying they were desperate and needed him to run the score board for the game, so I got pulled in to help at the concessions stand. I cooked burgers for over three hours that evening - such a long night.

The kids have been itching to carve our pumpkins since they got them, so we took the time last Saturday to carve pumpkins. Alice chose a unicorn. Peter wanted a spider since he's Spiderman for Halloween - he also added a P on one side and Spiderman's eyes on the other side. Kendal drew a flower, sun and moon on her pumpkin. Peter carved the majority of his own pumpkin and Casey heavily helped the girls with theirs. (first picture, the pumpkins had been in the garage - Alice was warming hers up. )

Casey and I were invited to participate in a Wanda Witch adventure race. A couple in our ward put together teams and we got to run around Twin Falls doing challenges and puzzles. We were on the white team with the Morgan's and the Dansie's. Our first clue threw us off so instead of Target we went to an ax throwing place, the mall parking lot token was hard to find and we couldn't find the third token at CSI. Luckily our second round went better and we solved clues and found tokens the Orpheum Theater, the city park (which was hard and a couple of hobos asked us for candy), then the cemetery. Our last trio of clues lead us on a walking path, Sips cookies, and a dark under construction house, as well as backtracking to get a missed clue at the mall. Casey and I ran a lot that night. He was solving and finding clues and I dumpster dived for a a packet, and helped with some puzzles. We ended up with 8 out of the 9 tokens found because our "Wanda Witch" contact (our friend's teen daughter) got confused at our help requests and told us to come to the final place. We ended up back at the host couple's home and got to enjoy some treats and hear everyone else's adventures. It was so well done and put together, we had such a great night! 

Kendal had her piano recital this past Monday. It was a duet recital where each pianist was accompanied by another person. Kendal was assisted by her teacher did fantastic on her piece! She's doing so well and we're proud of her hard work. 

Thursday Alice had her Halloween party at preschool. She got to take her costume and for the last half hour of preschool she got to dress up, play games, and have a special treat! That evening we had a ward trunk or treat at the church. Kendal and Casey were off doing basketball practices that evening, so I took Alice and Peter. I wasn't able to decorate the trunk this year with work and life filling my days. The kids didn't mind. They happily went around the parking lot gathering treats from ward friends. 

Friday was busy. I had to help set up the book fair at school, which was chaotic. Alice had a Halloween party at day care, played games, and had so much fun! I grabbed her after lunch and we went to help out with Peter's class party. I was in charge of a "human pretzel" activity with a clingy Alice. Afterwards, I was back at the book fair for awhile. The kids went home and watched shows until I got off. We ended our day with a pizza night. 

Kendal had her first basketball game yesterday morning. Her coach likes her drive and spunk so he put her as post. She did her part! Even though she's on the shorter end she was right there with the girls defending and blocking shots! She had a great game and scored as well! Her team won 31 to 18! 

After the game Casey's parents came up to bring around Halloween treats to the grandkids. We decided to go out with them to lunch at McAlister's Deli since the kids ate free in their costumes! It was nice to spend some time with them and catch up! Saturday afternoon the kids played with friends. Kendal went over to the city trunk or treat with a friend for a bit, and we decided to go trick or treating after dinner.  (Growing up Casey and I always had Sunday Halloween celebrations on Saturday's but I guess it's different here. There's been a lot of strong opinions about Sat. vs Sun. trick or treating on local Facebook chats with the majority of people around her very opposed to Saturday.) So we chose to be choosy about where we went and mostly just hit up member's and friend's houses with a few other homes that seemed willing to have kids come. We ended our night watching a Mickey Mouse Halloween cartoon, sorting their "treasure", and eating some treats. 

Kendal has been put on a Sources of Strength committee. Her teachers in charge are very impressed with her positive attitude and kindness at school. Kendal's letting school stress her out now and then, but we're doing our best to build her skills and help her through these ("amazing") years. Kendal started her new quarter at school. She is done with AG and Art and added Choir and P.E. as her electives. She likes the change and, besides the mile in P.E., is looking forward to her classes! (Pic from Kendal's Stem class in school with her friends Becca and Tayven)

Peter has nothing but good feedback from staff and his teacher at school. They love his personality and how kind and helpful he is. (Just wish that would rub off at home). He's happy to not have a load of homework this year and is antsy to get to basketball season himself. (always silly Pete)

Alice is loving preschool. She's doing great with online preschool and is gaining skills every day! She's reading very simple sight words! If Alice could have her wish she'd go to in person preschool everyday. She loves her buddies and adores her teacher Miss Ellie! She's also doing great with Sadie at day care. Her imagination is soaring through play and in life. She went on for quite a few minutes to Grandpa and Grandma with a never ending story. (always finding selfies and blurry photos on my phone thanks to this little lady).

Oct update

 Little did I know that last time I wrote this I would find out two days later that I had Covid. Because my symptoms came on as a stuffy nose and soar throat with headaches I didn't put myself in a covid category (It was in the back of my mind though). Casey urged me to get a test. When I tried to get a same day test most places didn't have an appointment so I had to go in on Sat the 2nd and my results didn't come in till the following Tuesday morning. I felt so bad because I had been to work the previous week, I had done Volleyball, and even a primary activity. Needless to say my morning was full of calls, messages, and lots of apologies. Casey went and got a rapid test that morning from our PA friend - which came back negative, so with a mask he was good to work and do things normally. Because the kids are unvaccinated I had to keep them home according to the "guidelines" set by the district. The kids were so upset. None of them were sick or had symptoms. Peter missed out on school for two days, and his soccer game. Kendal missed school - which she fretted over constantly, as well as Young Women's and piano. Alice missed preschool and her field trip to Tubb's farm. Heaven was looking out for us because thankfully no one else in the house got Covid. Because I unknowingly had it my 10 day quarantine was up the day after I got my positive results back. I was still weary about the kids possibly getting it, but thankfully we started fall break on Thursday so I could monitor them without taking away school and such. My poor boss/ librarian Camille freaked out a bit and had the Library sanitized top to bottom since I had been working on a big project of moving lots of books around to different shelves. She had to deal without me for a couple of days and I felt so behind when I was back to work the following Monday. Tis life, but man it sucked. I felt horrible for unknowingly being around others with covid and all that my actions caused others to miss / do. 

The kids were stir crazy during our two day's at home. They wouldn't even go in the back yard to get energy out (Thank you neighbors that have scared Peter and intimidated Kendal into not wanting to play in the yard : / . Since fall break followed our little quarantine the kids were still stuck at home. We did a brief outing to pick pumpkins and get some fall apples from a local farmers market stand. It started to rain that night so Peter's last game was cancelled. He missed Tuesday because of quarantine (Casey went though because he's the coach, and they had their only tie of the season). So because I expected another game we never got a group pick or a good individual picture of peter : (. It also rained so much on Friday our cul-de-sac flooded and they had to bring in the city to pump out the water. 

(Peter was determined to get a huge pumpkin we told him he had to be able to carry it. He had a blast trying to pick up all of the big pumpkins.)

Saturday (9th) Kendal had her volleyball tournament. Coach Dani and I were hopeful but realistic about how things would go. The girls had a great first round and won their games - but only by a little. The second round they seemed to loose steam and confidence and we lost by a lot. It was heartbreaking to see the girls falter and loose their confidence / heart to play. They tallied up everyone's points and we ended up in last, so the girls weren't able to play in the final championship rounds. To celebrate our team / season Dani and I took the girls over to Arctic Circle for ice cream. It was an honor and a Joy to be a coach for Kendal and these girls! 

After the Volleyball tournament we jetted off to Pocatello to go to the Open house with Nicole, Jordan, and their kids. We showed up just in time to board our bus and head up to the Temple. It was a chilly and drizzly evening; thankfully our wait was minimal heading into the Temple. It was so special to be able to take the kids to the Temple. We walked through the Temple feeling peaceful and in awe of it's beauty. Alice was in awe of everything and loved the stain glass windows with flowers, the pictures, and the celestial room. I quietly explained a few of the rooms to the kids as we went along since we moved to quickly for the kids to read the signs in the rooms. Kendal loved the celestial room ("It was more peaceful than anywhere I've ever felt"). Peter liked the windows and told us that the flowers in them were the state flower the syringa. He also liked the impressive doors and chandelier in the celestial room. He liked the sealing room as well. (For fhe a couple of days later we showed the temple videos on the church website explaining some of the rooms and ordinances that take place in the Temple. It was a great way for the kids to connect more of what they saw to what happens there.)

Afterwards we headed out to Nicole and Jordan's lot to see the progress on their house build. It was so muddy, but we managed not to get to messy. They've got a big lot with a beautiful view. It'll be a great house when it's done! When we were done with the house tour we went back to their house for some soup. The kids played for just a bit then we headed to Casey's parents house for the night. Since we had family dinner on Sunday we figured we'd stay over. We went to church with Casey's parents on Sunday and got to spend the afternoon with family as siblings / cousins trickled in. 

This week has just been getting back into the grove of things. Kendal had basketball tryouts on Monday evening. Peter got to have an activity day's activity on Wednesday. They built buddy burners out of Tuna cans, cardboard, and wax. Peter was so excited for his activity, it's been delayed for over a month and he loves spending time with all of his buddies and church mates. Casey and Kendal got to go to a Straw maze that evening as well for combined YM/YW. Kendal made it through and got all her punches to get free popcorn. Casey found all but one punch so he wasn't so lucky. 

Thursday night I took Kendal to the high school volleyball games. The KYA girls were being recognized and it was senior night. It's cool to watch the older girls play and feel the school spirit and fun atmosphere! 

Friday Casey and I had to work but the kids were off of school. So Kendal watched the other two for a few hours till I got home. When I did get home the kids and I headed off to Tubb's berry farm to join some friends there. Kendal and Peter ran off to go through the maze with friends while I stayed with Alice and some friends in the other areas. We went down slides, did duck races, rode on a hay ride, a little cow ride and enjoyed playing around. The big kids came out of the maze got their popcorn and enjoyed the slides and play areas till we headed home. That evening Casey and Peter went off to the football game while the girls and I had a movie night. 

We had an easy going Saturday; our first in a while and one of our last before basketball starts. We got some shopping in before lunch since the kids seemed to be outgrowing things. After lunch the kids played the wii for a bit while I cleaned the car and Casey baked. We went and played at the school playground for a bit. Kendal practiced shooting hoops and Peter played around a bit with the basketball. It was windy so not great to play ball in. Casey and I got in a date night last night. We headed out to Texas Road house and enjoyed a yummy dinner and time with each other. I love getting time with just Casey; he's my favorite ; ).