GETTING READY FOR HALLOWEEN WITH THE COLTONS

 Dear Ethyl...
As you already know, I LOVE HALLOWEEN!  Just clarifying!  The Colton's were here with us for a month so we got to share with them.  That was fun.  It is a tradition that I make popcorn balls to give out to the kids.  I love to do that.  But... trunk or treat is Ruining trick or treating and hardly any kids come to my house anymore. I HATE TRUNK OR TREAT!!  It has a purpose when Halloween falls on Sunday or if you are in a remote area.  Neither usually apply here.  I think it makes the kids lazy and they miss out on trekking for your treats and talking to your neighbors.  It's good memories they are missing out on.  Just sayin...
Anyway, we carved pumpkins and made popcorn balls and had dinner and trick or treated and watched Halloween movies... Fun night!

Daniel is so big this year because he can carve his pumpkin all by himself

Carving pumpkins is always fun.

Emily taking charge of the caramel

Jaci LOVES Halloween too!  Actually, she loves any kind of party of craft or get together too!!  She is so fun to have around and the little girls  ADORE  her!  Ps... So do we!!!

I remember making popcorn balls with my mom as a kid.  I loved to put the butter on my hands and especially eating them when I was done!  Good memories!  

We ended up with about 100 popcorn balls and only gave away about  25.  Next year I'm only making 50!

The end product!  Always a Halloween pencil and a tag with our name on  it so people know where it came from

THIS IS ME!  A rare beauty I know!  My fallback  costume.  I am a hillbilly!  I usually sit out on the front porch with a fire going and bluegrass music with my washboard.   I have to dress up to hand out the treats...
It's Tradition!

THIS IS MY TUFF GUY!

Dear Ethyl...
I just wanted to brag on my AMAZING guy!  In the words of a lot of people at the gym... He's and Animal!
He does crossfit 5 days a week.  He teaches 2 days a week.  He runs, he bikes.  He's a stud, what can I say?  He ran the Tuff Mudder for the first time.  I was going to go to support him but it was $40 a spectator and it was cold and rainy so I offered my support from the comfort of my living room.
He said it was pretty hard, but I know he felt good about it and it was something new he conquered.  He likes that feeling!  I get the same feeling from canning or cleaning out a closet.  Hardly olympic sports and vastly underrated!!!  If they were... I would own the gold!!  And let's not even go into "Helping".  I am a world champion!  he he
Back to the adorable subject at hand...
The Tuff Mudder was 12 miles long with 25 obstacles. Lots of water obstacles, ice water, wall climbs, barbed wire, mud and 2 live electric wire obstacles.  He said it really hurt and the electricity would slam you down into the ground.

This is Will sporting his hare earned Tuff Mudder headband.  He's pretty proud of that!

Will's fancy new workout socks.  They are the latest thing in fashion among the crossfit set!

This is what Will looks like after a race, after a workout, in the middle of  the day, whenever he sits down, when he's driving, after church, during church, after he's just eaten, in the evening....

THIS AND THAT...

Dear Ethyl...
It's been a while and I am forcing myself even as I speak to write.  Life is good.  There have been a lot of things going on and a lot of changes. We are having company for at least a month. Paul, Kate and the kids have been here between our house and mom's house and it has been fun!  I'm so glad they came because I think it's made our relationship better. I'm so glad because i worried the opposite would happen.
Spiritual Side Note...
For the first time ever in my life, I let go of the outcome of my life and my plans and am able to  let God take over and take me wherever he wants to. That's a BIG step for a control freak like me. I have been learning lots of good/hard things these past couple of months about myself and other people. I have lots of stuff to practice but I'm getting better at it.
Shaun had an interview for a really great job in...Wisconsin!?  Yah, I freaked out a couple of days ago thinking that I could possibly have no grandkids around. Tanner is going active duty after next year and who knows who Jaci will marry and where she'll end up. I didn't like that thought at all since my life plan for me centered around having the kids and grandkids close and doing things together and having a close family. I asked for help adjusting and God let me know that everything would be ok and my life would be good and I was able to let go of the outcome for the first time ever.  I wish I could pass that on to my kids so they could learn to let go too.  Maybe that comes with time?
So here are a few of the things we've been doing lately...

Daniel climbing the walls...Literally!  We also hook up Will's big crossfit bands to the  bar and it makes a big johnny jumper for Daniel to bounce on.  He loves that too!

Was having a rotten day and My Sweetheart brought me flowers and I got the cute boots I ordered in the mail, and they fit!  I got the newest Josi Kilpack mystery book too!  My day went from rotten to Great!  I love that!!

Silvi trying to catch goldfish in grandma's pond.  She sat there for a long time and tried lots of different techniques, but alas, to no avail.  Sometimes the fish just won't cooperate!

Daniel eating Halloween waffles.  I made them, he tasted them and then refused to eat them and said they were yucky. He doesn't like whipped cream.  What???  What's wrong with that kid?

The is the cutest girl from Deb, in the mall, who said I have GREAT HAIR and that she loved it!  That has never happened to me and so it is a momentous occasion in my life and thus... needed to be recorded for posterity.  Yes...
I do have great hair... Thanks for noticing!!

Making sugar cookies.... Always fun!

Making edible glitter

We used some of the edible glitter to make this TIME OUT  timer.   They say necessity is the mother of invention and Daniel REALLY NEEDED a time out ... again.  It's made of sugar and he has to watch it and think about what he did wrong until all the sand is gone. Actually... Everybody loves to play with it.

Silvi sort of helping Will put in the new wood stove.

My impression of a stove pipe.  Pretty good huh!

We were all playing our favorite game...Sorry!

Daniel helping Papa start a fire. Daniel LOVES to help!  Even without being asked.  I caught him sneaking  a knife on  the front porch and carving his own pumpkin.  He also snuck Will's motorcycle key and tried to start it. He brings wood in for the wood stove and tries to start his own fire in the fireplace.  He's very curious, ambitious and thinks he's capable of doing anything.  That combination keeps us on our toes!!

Daniel learning his ABC's on the V Smile.  He doesn't play too often, but at least he learns something when  he does.
 I love when he comes to stay at our house.  I just like having kids around.  It feels like a family and I like to play!  I love to make stuff and do projects and read to him and watch cartoons!

That's what I'm talkin about!!!

SHUTTERS IN TANGERINE

Dear Ethyl...
These are the shutters I got to put for the door of the Barracks, but I liked them on the wall next to the doorway better. Aren't they Fun?!

TWO DAYS WORTH OF WORK...

Dear Ethyl...
I've had quite a bit of energy the past 2 days. So I am making a list of what I've done...

Laundry
Sweep
Mop
Vacume
Dust
Ran errands
Typed a monthly menu
Watered outside plants
Drained and Cleaned Pond
Wiped down all baseboards and doors
Washed all inside and outside windows
Made Hot Salsa for Will & bottled 21
Exercised both days
Washed sheets
Talked to family on the phone total 2 1/2 hrs

Those are the big things.  Will pointed out that when I talk to people about some things I do,
I refer to the reason I do things certain ways is because I'm lazy.  He told me to stop because lazy
is definitely NOT a word that describes me.  I have a hard time when I don't have something to do.
I'm learning to relax more and not to call relaxing being lazy. During the day I rarely sit down at all.
I kind of like it that way.

Ps... last night I found H.R. PuffinStuff on Netflix.  I used to watch it when I was a kid. So we watched
it last night. It is so corny but you know what?  I still like it !  It feels nostalgic and familiar and I really like
WitchyPoo.  DON'T JUDGE ME !

MY YUCKY MONDAY TURNED OUT GREAT!

Dear Ethyl...
My Monday morning was frustrating and I wrote the CAN SOMEONE ELSE BE IN CHARGE post.
But... I got to finish reading TRES LECHES CUPCAKES  by Josi Kilpack. I Love Love Love that series of culinary mysteries. Then... Will brought me home some beautiful flowers. He is sooo romantic -  A Lot !
Then the boots I ordered from Amazon came and they were cute and they even fit me.  YAY !
The moral of the story...
Don't let one bad thing ruin your whole day  or  Don't judge a day by first impressions !

Mom and I went on a date while Will and Silvi went on a date.  I took her to Bajio's in Spanish Fork.
I took a picture of my nachos because if you notice there is chili beans and spanish rice on it. I never can eat that. Well, sometimes I just want to feel normal so I ordered it and ate it. IT WAS HEAVENLY !  I didn't even hurt afterwards. I don't dare eat like that very often, but it was so worth it !

FUN WEEKEND...

Dear Ethyl...
We were all together for the weekend.  Well, not Tanner and Hilary.  We seem to get some of the kids every other weekend. Anyway, karaoke is always fun when Jaci comes. We just like being together. I'm so glad about that. I always wanted to have a close family and it takes a lot of work, but it is working. I always wanted a big family, living semi-close together, with lots of grandkids and doing lots of things together. I don't know how much of that will happen... but we will do the best we can.  We do love each other though and that's the most important thing !