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).