Trunk and Treat 2009

Halloween Tradition

It is true. In the past 25 years we have become know as the Halloween house. I love Halloween and it is the one time of the year where I can have 300 of my closest and dearest friends over for dinner. It is a neighborhood tradition for us to open the garage doors, play thriller all night long and bring out every table and chairs we own to accomidate the guests. When the kids were younger it was all their friends, now we have children of the kids who came here. Yes , they all grew up and now bring their kids back here for Halloween. And although I have taken a verbal beating through the years for the all the "different" things I do , it has been worth it. With our home for sale , we are thinking this might be our last time. So I have decided to take a trip down memory lane and tell everyone once and for all how it started and why and then try to list our 25 years of treats.

Year ago when Matt and Brent were little we took them to my mom and dad's to trick and treat with Jamie my litttle sister. One year while they were out they went to a home where a gentleman was givnig out chauk or a ball of string. Two great choises and to my boys-- both were treats. They came home so excited and talked it about it for day. Every time we went by the house, they would remember the Halloween treat. I wanted my house to be that way. I did not want to give into the old give candy out routine. So when we moved to West Jordan, it began.
we were a little soft the first year and I had the boys dress as Santa and give out candy canes. The rest is a blurr but it kindof goes like this:

tooth brushes and tooth paste-- went over okay- I think the parents like it more
socks-- was not popular at all
color books and crayons- okay
fireworks-- the boys love dit
avon products- the girls love it
dog bones- no one liked it-- it was a bad year for me
genie bottles- okay
nickles-- kids could nto get enough
peanut butter sandwiches --got too soggy and squished
carrots -- not too popular and I even left the green leaves on to be festive
helium balloons-- kids loved they but too many got away
play dough-- good one
cans of soda-- good one -- but mighty heavy if you kept coming back
bags of chips- k
cotton candy-- love it and it smelled good for blocks away
snow cones-- parent hated it
hot dogs- ate them all gone
hambergers- ate them all gone
pizza -- the cheese was a mess-- stuck every where
scones-- the kids love sthem but had no idea what a scone was--what is the world coming to?
chili-- a halloween favorite-- reguested again and again
cookies- too crumbly
donuts-- can't get enough
hot chocolate- yummy
popcorn to messy
peanuts- too may kids can't have them
milk- nope
cupcakes-- wow what a mess
jello-- luckily it was still in the box
koolaid-- in the box too
pancakes not too excited about it--never again with the syrup
caramel apples-- too messy
nacho-- too messy
jewelry-- fair
apples-- not too exciting
bananas-- take a beating
chicken noddle soup-- too much broth

That just about does it. As you can see, some years there are more than one treat
what are we doing thisyear?
you'll have to stop by and see!

The pumpkin patch

Spending Conference at the Zermott

Family tradition is to get away for conference. We shopped, swam, made necklaces, watched movies and ATE - ATE - ATE. Here is Hunter with his favorite eating Utensil-- crab claw

Certified Fork lift driver--- that's me

Iin an effect to continue my education ,I have just completed the Utah certification to become a fork lift driver..It certainly was not my bucket list but I hate to be dependant on others and with festival coming up, I did not want to just be standing there while others moved pallets, so I learned how. It was a great course and like always I focused on being teachers pet. it paid off as I scored big on the test and he actually took me over to the warehouse to give me private lesson. His exact wording" I was a natural"
Sweet!
Watch out-- a 9,000 lbs forklift traveling at 3 mph is like being hit with a 3,000 lbs car going 41-- it is not a tap
Now I just need one of spiffy yellow vests to wear

Happy 4th birthday Lily

Finally she made it, no more excuses of being only three
she is a big girl now

Family Party 2009

it was so fun-- I took no pictures
but what a beautiful day
and a beautiful park
and a beautiful family

Festival of tree sub for santa family

Festival sub for Santa tree
We get our tree delivery info late Saturday night and our list included a tree that needed to be delivered in SLC at 8:00 am. Sadly, I did not read the notes said “do not call”, family does not know you are coming; it is a surprise, sub for Santa family.
The address was first on our list by accident and we head to SLC to deliver. The address was a little interesting but we did not think about it much as we drove up to a very old, small house on 9th west and North temple. With our huge delivery truck parked out front we happily knocked on the door. The occupants looked out the window but did not open the door. After a little encouragement they opened the door but we quickly found out they did not speak English and we did not speak Spanish. We are at a stand still as they would not allow us to enter. We came up with the idea to go to the 7-11 and see if there was anyone there that spoke Spanish. There was one clerk and she did speak Spanish. She locked up the 7-11 and went down to explain that we were there with a gift for them. By now we had read the notes and contacted the buyer so we were armed with new info. The family let us in and the three children sat on the couch watching us with wide eyes and open mouths. The home was so old there was no electrical plug in the front rooms so we had to use 3 extension cords to get the tree to light up. The kids gasped in joy. We all left with tears in our eyes as the children gazed at the floor full of toys and food for them. What a wonderful Christmas this little family had and what a joy it was to be included.

You had to be there

Festival is collecting stories so I am writting a few down and thought I would share:Delivering the ski tree
Tree delivery was going smooth and we were on our last tree. It was a tree made by the Brighton ski patrol and was made out of skis. It was on wheels and had no attachments so we were thinking “sweet”. The tree was being delivered to an apartment above the zoo. We pulled into parking garage and wanted to unload. The manager had us move to down the street. No problem, the tree was on wheels so we parked up hill and just wheeled it down. The apartment was on one of the top floors so we planned to use the elevator. The tree would not fit. So then we decided we would use the stairs. The tree would not fit. The apartment has sliding glass doors so we stood on the balcony and hoisted the tree up. The tree would not fit.
We call the creator and asked about dismantling the tree. They said it could not be done. We had to take the tree back to festival and then I had my son take it home until we could contact the purchaser. She understood completely about the delivery issue and offered for me to keep the tree. But even in my house, the tree would not fit. She asked if I could find some one who would like the tree. After calling around I found the children’s museum needed a tree and it would fit so we delivered it there

Break my heart

We do have a very interested buyer for our home and they said they were going to get us an offer this week. They came over for the third time last night. The mother brought me over some of her sons work from school. It seems he was asked to pretend it was his birthday and to drawer a picture of the thing he wanted the most if he was able to give himself a gift. Well, he drew our house! It just broke my heart, it was so cute

Lesson Learned

Since putting out the for sale sign we have had several people want to go through the house. Thanks to the Diehl family for helping us get it sparking clean. But every time someone comes we still have to do the rush through to get it ready. Rob had to do it the other day and he did such a great job , I was really impressed. But then , i was missing stuff. I have finally found my favorite blanket-- in with the material closet, my red book -- in the sock drawer, my neck pillow in the other sock drawer, my gym bag in the closet with the cleaning supplies. The paint under the sink, the mail in the toy closet, and the vacuum in the garage
I still have not found the back scratch er and sadly the bag of clothes to go to the cleaners went out with trash.
but lucky we keep our sites on the goal-- get to Herriman

Selling our house

We have officially putout house on the market
we got a couple who are extremely interested
and hopefully they can sell their house so they can buy ours

but here is my house for sale blog in case you know any one who is looking
http://debbi-sellingthehouse.blogspot.com/

Lava Hot Springs

I bought a water camera to take with me to lava hot springs so I could have pictures to blog with. After getting them developed on a cd and finally loaded to my computer, I cannot find them to post. Not that they are all that great. It is hard to take a great picture when you have dumped yourself in the river and are trying to survive but I want to show that they have done an excellent job of not making any improvements to the location since 1940. Yes, Lava hots springs is a dump and certainly the idea has been replaced by hot tubs and spas in your home.
Still we had a great time with Cam, Shae, Kyler and Kinley. Kinley had a rough Sunday night and kept her parent up all night. With them tired and Kinley tired, it made Monday for Cam a bit overwhelming . Rob and I just watch and laughed. It is a great time to see your children understand something about what they parents went through. I still use the old 4 boys times 30 years and as the grand kids get older I think the kids have a greater appreciation of what we as parents have been saying all the time, it is hard to be a parent.
Any way-- thanks Kyler for riding up and back with us and for riding down the river with grandma and for forgiving her for dumping you into the lake. You are very brave.

Tending Hunter

I love spending time with Hunter because he is such a sweet child. While tending on Monday, I noticed how Hunter kept a close eye on me.
I went into the kitchen--- Hunter says grandma, grandma , grandma and runs after me
I went to the restroom-- Hunter says grandma, grandma, grandma and runs after me
I went upstairs--- Hunter says grandma, grandma, grandma and runs after me
I went to the other side of the playground- Hunter says grandma, grandma, grandma and runs after me
I thought mercy
then I noticed what I was doing
Hunter ran ahead of me to the park-- grandma says Hunter, Hunter Hunter and runs after him
Hunter runs to the other park-- grandma says Hunter, Hunter Hunter and runs after him
Hunter runs to the car --grandma says Hunter, Hunter Hunter and runs after him

yes, it is all learned behavior and children learn it very fast

BATMAN returns

First there was Matt, then Brent, followed by Cam and Colby. Kyler was a true second generation Batman and now Hunter is following in thier footsteps and he looks awesome.

Brooklyn's Charlie and the Chocolate factory Party

we made willy wonka candy houses
we made candy necklaces
we tossed gobstopper

we licked edible wall paper
climbed through a TV box
chewed gum

broke the pinata
had soda pop, chocolate fountain

and brought home a bag of goodies

thanks Brooklyn for inviting us to come

we had a great time

Keep them in your prayers

Our dear friends daughter had her twins and sadly the little girl passed away 2 hours after she was born. Her brother weights is just over 2 pounds. This family needs all the help they can get. Please remmeber them in your prayers.

I never said it would be easy

But it would be worth yet. Rob and I know we are suppose to move, we know where and have seriously been putting in over time to get there but it is so hard. Just when we get a point of the house to the finish line something happens. in the last 30 days we have had a family trade, the bathroom flooded that ruined the ceiling, then yesterday Rob was pulling the trailer out front and took out not only the fence but the side of our house. We both wanted to cry. The work never seems to end . Regardless we have set September 1st as our due date. The sign goes up . I can only hope we survive. We were pretty low yesterday when the kids came over and so they all wanted to go and look at the house so we did and Herriman still feels so right. I guess when we knew we were to move and we started down the path, I thought the Lord would light the way and we would be cruising but looks like this is a lesson we need to learn. We are extremely slow learners.

One or two more school stories

This was third grade and Cameron had Mr Checketts. We were at back to school night, which were always interesting with Cameron. Mr Checketts like Cam and seemed to be entertained by his classroom behavior. At least, we had not gotten any calls from the teacher about improper behavior-- yet.
As we discussing Cameron's participation, Mr Checkett's told us that Cameron was doing okay as a student but his potential only measured up to qualify to grow up and be a sales person. Mr Checketts meant this as an extremely bad position to be in and we need to get him going so he did not become such a degraded person. Well unknown to Mr Checkett's, the two people he was talking to were both in sales. Being the quiet shy person I am, I immediately began to tell him I made more in two months in sales that he made all year and that if Cameron aspired to make six figures a year like his parents then we would be extremely happy--lucky Rob stopped me about then and the conference was over. I never quite felt comfortable around him again. These conference sure could bring out the the worst in a person.
We also had an interesting back to school night one year with Matt's teacher. Matt's handwriting was barely readable and the teacher was bring it up. My immediate response was Matt was going to be a doctor, the teacher quick on her feet responded, well then there are an awful lot of doctors in the class.

School starting

We went to see Ambree's school clothes tonight..She starts Kindergarten in two Days. Kyler is going to kindergarten. Max is going to Kindergarten. So I am reminded of my favorite 1st grade story of Colby.
Colby was 1st grade and his teacher had them all make special desk walls because they were going to take a test and she wanted to know what each kid knew ,so no one could help anyone else. Colby had gone to a preschool where there were disabled children and he was taught to help so this was different for him. They took the test which Colby said was easy but he was upset because his friend had struggled with reading and the answers. He was telling me about it and then he said, well you know he goes to a farter at school every day. "a farter" I said. Yes, said Colby a farter, you know the guy that helps him with his school work. Oh I said, you mean a tutor. Oh yeah, Colby said a tutor not a farter.

Oh YES, we love Snaps

Grandma, mom and me retreat

This was our weekend getaway
we had a tea party

We got to see Belle

There was a parade--

we did each others hair and nails. We cooked and had a picnic

we swam

we danced

we partied all night long-- especially kin kin

Next year we just need to invite more friends and family

Ambree and Kyler sitting in the tree

So Kyler and I are sitting at Moose Hollow laying on the grass. all wrapped up in a blanket trying to keep warm and looking at the clouds.
Kyler says" grandma someday I am going to get married"
"that good Kyler, who are you going to marry?"
"I am going to marry Ambree"
"oh she is a pretty one"
"yeah she is"
"I want to marry someone in my family and I love her and she loves me"
not much to say after that

You just do not know how bless you are

Again I am caught realizing how ungrateful I have be come. We take so many of our blessing for granted.
It is my cousins husband who was involved in the road rage incident in Murray and then shot. Please do not believe everything you hear as many important -- not news worthy facts are always left out. Eric has been married to my cousin for 10 years. He is a return missionary who married in the temple. They have two beautiful children that he loves and adores. There have been struggles in their life's and maybe even some bad decisions but I love him and his family dearly and can only pray angels will attend them in their time of need.
Our dear and closest friends Val and Wendy have just found out that their daughter who is expecting twins nest year has problems. The twins are a boy and a girl. The boy s fine. The girl has only two valves in her heart. There are three possibilities. It will either die and abort, it will be still born or will make it through child birth and has a life expectancy of 5 years and will need a transplant.
Here i am worried that there are too many weeds in the yard and not all the garbage got out on time.
all of these thing and many more seem so minor when I think of the trials these kids face.
Please keep them in your prayers as we are keeping them in ours.

Red Canyon resort for the 24th

what a great time we had Red Canyon. The weather was perfect and there was nothing to do. I read three books and took a nap every day, it was great. As you can see the view from the front porch was beautiful. The kids had a great time.