Random November

Watching the Royals win the World Series was a perfect way to spend a Sunday night with the family!

Our bishop wanted to improve reverence in the 10 minutes before our sacrament started and having a quiet child stand at the front was his idea, which I kindly said I didn't think would work.  But since I'm the primary president I was supportive of trying it and Miles got to be the guinea pig the first and only time we attempted this.  He looks very enthusiastic doesn't he?

Taylor has been coaching water polo and he had the brilliant idea to host the end of season banquet.  He promised me it wouldn't be much work, that he would get all the food catered and all the chairs, etc. set up himself and all I needed to do to help was clean before and after.  So I said okay, assuming there's be 20-30 teenagers.  Oh no, I totally misunderstood that this wasn't just an end of season party for the kids but in fact a dinner for all the kids and anyone in their family they wanted to bring including younger siblings, grandparents, etc.  So 140 people later the front of my house looked like this.

And the inside looked like this.

And this.  Don't even get me started.  Taylor still will swear to anyone that it was a great event and so fantastic to have in our home instead of a random church gym.  I disagree.

Aria came to stay with us for the weekend.  She's about the easiest house guest ever.  She went to sleep- in the kids room without a peep, slept all night, got up with the kids, ate when they ate, followed them around the whole time and didn't fuss once.  She can come anytime she wants!

With the 7th Star Wars movie coming out and our kids of course wanting to watch it, I decided they needed to first watch all the previous 6.  No problem there.  And since it was going to be Sunday afternoon family movies, we added a few star wars themed treats.  Red, green, and blue light saber pretzel sticks anyone?

Storm troopers marshmallows (with edible markers of course)

Sometimes you feel crummy and the only place you want to be is in mom's bed.  I get that.

The magic of the car wash.

In the fall, when a find a quiet moment to sneak away and read for a second, this is my favorite place in the whole house.  That tree is just perfection, and the fact that it takes up 1/3 of my back windows is just bonus.

Always more cub scouts.

Isla's favorite thing at Carl's Jr (now that Miles is in Kindergarten and doesn't get to come play with her on the playground) is to take Grandma-greats walker and ride/slide around the restaurant.  She's pretty good at not running into other people but of course she can't resist stopping to say hi to each and every stranger in the place.

Making grandpa-great wear your coat is pretty fun too.

Ahh, the leaf clean-up.  Ethan is very happy to blow them all into a pile even though this particular chore takes him more than an hour.  He's less excited to help me scoop them into bag.

When dad's cousin Sofia comes it's a party for sure.

And Russ is about the best horsey ever.

Dad's a sucker for holding babies- especially cute ones like Stella.

All of Sonia's family came in for grandpa Bill's memorial service.

We're sad, but luckily this giant bear can fix just about anything.

First snow of the year- even if it's not going to stick very long.

Everyone seems to love this bear.

Waffle making.

And when the boys are all watching a "boy" show on the TV, at least miss Isla can watch Netflix on the computer.