Fall Break!!!

We started and ended fall break with a puzzle.  1000 pieces of fun.  It was a pretty hard one.  The kids didn't think it was very fun after working on it for an hour or so and not having much done, but they kept working on it here and there throughout the week.  Laney was the most dedicated to it, but Daniel and Susanna loved it too.  We finally finished it Monday evening, a week later. We are missing one piece. Hopefully it will show up before we put it away.  I LOVE PUZZLES!

Most of the week was spent with friends at our house or the kids going to friends' homes.  We really are blessed with a great group of kids in our area.  I love having my home filled with so many awesome young people!

Friday, Richard and I went to the temple with my parents, siblings and Nan (the only other in-law who could get away during a week day).  We were able to seal my mom to her parents and do other family work.  I love that we know families are eternal.  I have the best family, my kids, parents, siblings (including their spouses), nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, grandparents, cousins, etc. and I am so grateful that we can be family for forever and ever.

What a goofball!

SISTERS!

After the temple Richard and I went to his sister Joanna's house to see the progress that she and Grant are making on their new place by the temple.  They are living in a little casita that they will use as his architecture office once the house it done. It is about 1/2 mile from the Phoenix Temple.  It is going to be an amazing little house, just one bedroom, but and awesome living space for gatherings and socializing. We talked with them for several hours.  They are delightful!

When we got home, I had to get busy and finish the girls Halloween costumes for a party the were attending the next day.  Laney chose to be The Lorax and Zanna an "epic" mummy, not a cute or girly mummy.  She was very clear with me about it.  I think that both costumes came out great!  The Lorax was fun to make and the eyebrows and mustache have been hilarious to play with.  Everyone has tried them on.  

Laney chose well, she is perfect as The Lorax!

Zanna's mummy was great too! Sara did her make-up and she felt epic!

We played lots of games over break. The kids played a ton of Settlers of Catan.  Zanna, Laney and I played, Blink, Spot It, Taboo and Bounce Off. This picture is of us playing Bounce Off.  She wanted an action shot.  It is a fun game.  You have to bounce the balls and get them to land in between the pegs forming what ever shape the card shows. She is really good at it.

Yesterday, I got to be Sara's first appointment ever for a hair cut!  She did a great job.  I just needed things freshened up.  She cut about 2 1/2 inches off  to get rid of dead and splitting ends.  It was fun to be with her and see her do her stuff!

It feels soft and healthy again.  I love it! I can't wait for my next appointment.  Hmmm... maybe a mani/pedi.  

Busy Busy Busy!

We've been watching The Voice this season to see our sweet friend, Belle Lyon, compete.  She has made it through the auditions and the battle round, next week she competes in the knock out round.  It has been a lot of fun to watch, especially when you know someone on the show!

She is so cute!

This is pretty much what it looks like every episode as everyone snuggles in to watch.

It was parent teacher conferences this last week and the they all did great!  We got some ice cream to celebrate and Susanna was so excited that she needed a picture.

I tried to get a picture of a sweet hug shared by Dad and Tim, but as soon as they saw the camera this is what happened.  Ha!

Laney was more obliging.

Richard and I went to the Tanner's Halloween Scavenger Hunt Party.  It was pretty hilarious.  This was our team creating a "professional looking" family portrait at Goodwill. It was a lot of fun!

April and Robert Harris, Us and Kelley Smith

Sara sang a solo in church on Sunday and Debra Gardner accompanied her.  She sang Unanswered Yet by Rob Gardner.  It was beautiful!  She sang like and angel. 

Monday morning Freddy and I checked out the new Goodwill store by Gram and Papa's house.  It is always fun with Freddy!

While we were at Goodwill, Gram taught Daniel how to play Ark of the Covenant.  He loved learning and spending time with Grammy!

Sam spent the weekend in Kentucky for a Life Leadership convention. 

One of the awesome quotes from the weekend:

"The JOURNEY to success is more important than the DESTINATION."--Orrin Woodward

Some of his Life Leadership team!

Farewell Micheala

Michaela Bloom, one of Josh's best friends from high school, had her farewell on Sunday.  She gave an amazing talk on the enabling power of the Atonement.  She is going to be and incredible missionary as she serves in Kennewick, Washington. See you in 18 months!

It was fun to see a bunch of the kids from Shadow Ridge High School there to support her.

Andrew, Anthony, Johnny, Padraic, Sara, Rich, Freddy, Susanna, Michaela, Laney, Tim, Daniel, Tommy, Makaila and Ben

I don't know why I like sleeping pictures so much, but here are a few I snapped this last week. Maybe it's because I am such a huge fan of sleeping. Or there is just something sweet about family members dozing together.

Richard and Daniel enjoying a Sunday nap.

Sara and Laney fell asleep snuggling while we watched The Voice last night.

Oh, and last Friday, Richard and I went on a double date with our friends Drex and Laura Davis.  They live in East Mesa so we met in Scottsdale for dinner at Cha Da Thai.  It was super yummy and very reasonable in price. We stayed there several hours talking and talking.  I met Laura at Cinematic Pop rehearsals and we became friends. It was a great date night and I am looking forward to next time!

We learned that Cha Da means golden crown.  The restaurant is decorated with them.

We ordered the coconut shrimp for our appetizer, It was dynamite! Then, I had the pumpkin curry and Rich had the Massaman Curry for our entrees. They were delicious as well.

It's Honeycrisp Apple Season!!

Honeycrisp apples are one of my favorite of God's edible creations. We look forward to filling out fridge with them every year. This year found the largest apples ever. They really were as big as Susanna's face. And so exquisitely delicious!!!!

It looks like an apple sitting on a little plate, but I assure you, it is a full sized dinner plate. Humongously beautiful!

Sliced up on the same plate, one apple.

We frequently have the most splendid sunsets. This one was as we were drive to a surprise birthday party for Lloyd Price's 70th.

At the party we were able to catch up with dear friends that we rarely see, The Klippels (who have moved to Texas), the Pottles and the Jensens.

The four of us served as the young women's presidency at church many years ago.

Miranda, Ammanda, Nelly and Stephanie

These guys served in the bishopric together.

Rich, Chop and Jim

When we came home we found Daniel and Laney asleep like this. I love crazy sleeping pictures!

This is Sam giving Freddy some love. I'm not sure if it was what Freddy was expecting. Lol

Here he is giving Sara some love after general conference on Sunday. I love seeing Sammy and the others so happy together!

Victor was here for conference. Afterwards, they played a couple rounds of Settlers of Catan. It was hard to get a picture of them all smiling, they were being so silly. At least you can see all their faces in this one. They were laughing and having a blast together for hours!

There is a lot of love going around over here!

I love this one of Sara and her Daddy. 💗

Tim and KenaDee are just friends, but really good friends, well everyone in our family is really good friends with her. She is just so loveable!

This one is a beauty, Tim wearing KenaDee's hair!

I love how happy and fun it is to be home with all these crazy people. It makes being a mom even more wonderful!