"I Knew it Was Going to Be Me"

Abby was chosen by her teacher as the Student of the Month for November.  I asked Abby if she was surprised that it was her.  She casually said, "No, I knew it was going to be me."  I was trying not to laugh at her confidence. Then she added, "Because I've been trying really hard not to talk and my teacher always says, 'Everyone look at how Abby is doing it.' "
Abby has been trying really hard at school and I love when she recites all of her classroom rules in a chant just like they do at school.
Rule 1!
Follow Instructions Quickly
Rule 2!
Raise your hand for permission to speak
 Rule 3!
Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat
Rule 4!
Make Smart Choices
Rule 5!
Keep your teacher happy

Working off that Turkey Dinner

On Friday, we went and ventured to do a little shopping.  We first stopped at the Oakland Temple grounds.  It could not have been a prettier day.  It was just perfect and a welcome pick me up to see the temple and feel peace.  Then off to Walnut Creek to go to the bookstore and get some yummy gelato.  We mostly just looked at things and enjoyed being out and about with the shoppers.

Thankful

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Joey's parents.  We drove up on Wednesday and stayed until Sunday morning.  The girls enjoyed seeing Grandma's house and the weather was beautiful.  I love Joey's parents house.  It always so comfortable and full of happy little things; candy jars and treats and word art.  Jackie made such a tasty feast for us. 

I am so blessed and grateful.  I have much to be grateful for.  For love, family, the Gospel, motherhood, friends, a body.  I am grateful that I get to be here and present.  That I can be with my family, and see beautiful places and things.  That I get to see my kids smiling and laughing, and that I get to see them grow.  Life changes so fast from one season to the next and I am enjoying the one I am in. 

 

The girls drew on Jackie's chalkboard door before we left in the morning.  Some Grandmas are just so fun.

Yee-Haw!

Today is Cowboy day.  Another fun Kindergarten dress-up day. 

Trunk-OR-Treat

This year, the trunk-or-treat was not on Halloween.  We are quite happy about that because our kids have missed trick-or-treating in the neighborhood for the past two years.  So, tonight, they are extremely excited.  They've been talking about if for days.  I took pictures from last night when they were all looking so cute.  We love to get dressed up around here.  Each of their costumes represent them so well.  We have Olivia as the 20s flapper.  Samantha as Little Red Riding Hood.  Abby as Elsa.

 

 

 

 

And Me?  Well, I dressed up as a cat.  Joey came right from work with a tie on and one kid asked if he was a Hogwarts student.  He proudly replied, "Yes."

 

 

 

 

Halloween Traditions

I kind of wished that I didn't put up anything Halloween until this week.  It seems like by the end of October I'm a little tired of Halloween and it would actually be fun to just celebrate it at the very end of the month.  Oh well.  Next year. 
The girls and I made our jack-o'-lantern cookies that we like to make each year.  They love to come up with different faces and of course gobble them up.  This was the best they have turned out yet as my girls are becoming much more proficient at rolling out cookie dough.
We even carved pumpkins this week.  We don't do it every year, but I was determined to get it done.  I'm not a very patient pumpkin carver.  Lots of fun going on this week, especially since they have been getting out early from school all week because of parent/teacher conferences.  (They are all doing so well in school.) 

Fall Festival

I will be happy when we have a Saturday that only has 2 soccer games in it and no other plans.  The weekend before was so busy with 2 soccer games and 3 play performances in one day.  Coaching has been very busy but also fulfilling.  We squeezed in some time at the school Fall Festival in between soccer games last Saturday.  Joey took Olivia with him on a field trip with the high school History Club. (Also squeezed in between soccer games.)  He got back just in time to coach Abby's game.

I told Abby and Sammie when we got there that they could each get 10 tickets and we had 45 minutes.  Abby really wanted to do the potato sack race.  She even planned ahead and made sure that she wore tennis shoes for optimal jumping abilities.   

 

Pippi Longstocking

After the Wizard of OZ play, Olivia found that she really likes to be a part of these productions.  Even in just a small roll, she has a lot of fun dressing up and being on stage.  Pippi Longstocking was a neat opportunity because the cast was small and the age range was only 4-12.  She played Mrs. Granberg and also a school child.  Because it was a small cast, many kids had multiple rolls.  It made for some busy fun with kids quickly changing backstage and Olivia started to feel a little more comfortable on stage.  They had 4 performances and she even had lines.  It was a very cute production and Olivia is learning a lot.  I wouldn't say that being on stage is her comfort zone, but she is starting to come out of her shell and have fun with it.

Is it really starting to feel like fall?

I'm afraid to say that it is starting to feel like fall because I know another 90 degree day is surely just around the corner.  At least the lighting is changing and the days are getting shorter and it isn't 90 degrees at 9am.  That is a big relief.  Today was just beautiful.  We had such a relaxing afternoon and we needed it.  Things have seemed so busy and crazy lately.  It was a nice break.
The girls spent the afternoon outside roller skating and bike riding and scooter riding and even riding scooters on roller skates.  That was interesting. 

It felt good to just be outside and my pumpkins are starting to not look out of place when it is a little bit cooler.  My girls are so excited for Halloween this year.  We bought our costumes early when they first started talking about it.  I think we may actually do some "fall-ish" things this weekend.