A WEEK IN NOVEMBER

While my mom was looking at several stores for a table, she stumbled across this child sized leather club chair with ottoman.  She bought the chair and was supposed to take it to her home....guess who is in possession of the chair now?!?  It is a gross understatement that he loves this chair.  I told him if he doesn't treat it right that it will go to Mamita's home.  He's not only careful with it, but he makes sure that everyone is careful.  He couldn't even move from the chair once it was in our family room, so he slept in it.  He also loves watching tv with the remote firmly in his grasp.  I'm sure we'll see more photos of him in this chair.

 Last week was Kyler's 2nd grade field trip to the Pioneer Village Living History Museum.  I had never heard of this museum, but it definitely interested me.  I grew up watching and reading about Laura Ingalls and her Little House on the Prairie.  I would have loved to see this place as a kid. Imagine my surprise to find out that the museum has been around since the mid-1960's AND both of my parents knew about it.  One would think that one's parents would take them to such a place if one were crazy about Little House on the Prairie.....wouldn't one?!?   Instead, one must wait until they are 41, have a 2nd grader, be willing to ride on a bus with two classes of kids and chaperone five of those children around the museum.  I had a great time despite needed lots of extra strength meds to drive out my headache that night.  Here are my 5 in front of the Victorian Home.  As soon as they walked through the home, they noticed that the woman volunteering there had put her cell phone and thirstbuster in the kitchen.  All of my kids started making comments "I didn't know their cell phones looked like that back then"  "Wow, they had Circle K's back then"  The volunteer was completely embarrassed and moved her belongings out of sight.  

 This has got to be my most favorite picture of the day.  The kids visited the school house and another volunteer gave a brief lesson on Arizona.  I started taking pictures, but it's when Kyler looked back and gave me that look that I knew I had captured it!  The embarrassment of your mom being on your field trip.  

You're welcome!

 Here's their church, which was getting all gussied up for a wedding the next day.  In fact, since the next day was 11-11-11, they had five weddings scheduled.  Doesn't this church remind you of a church on a tv show?  Maybe something from the 70's?  With a cute little girl and her family, living on a prairie perhaps?  It was a great day and I enjoyed being there with Kyler and his class.  Before we had lunch, the kids were able to watch a gun fight.  They were so excited and it was cute to hear the boys talk while they were eating about the tweeks they would like to make to the show.  They all had to do with adding ketchup, so when people were shot they could have "blood" splatter.  Appetizing lunch talk!  Now to something more appetizing...

 Introducing.....The B.E.A.S.T.

(Bacon, Egg-Salad, Avocado, Spinach and Tomato)

I had found a recipe for Egg-Salad BLT's but instead of lettuce I used spinach.  We loved them and Colton renamed the sandwich B.E.S.T.  While that was delicious, we decided to add some avocado to it and behold.....The B.E.A.S.T. was born!

You're welcome!

HALLOWEEN 2011

Another Halloween, here and gone and I'm down to my last trick or treater.

 IT'S BATMAN!

(with the most gorgeous blue eyes!)

 He's supposed to be the only trick or treater out of the Stock boys.  Colton and Asher both were at friends houses and went trick or treating!  Oh well!  Here's another shot of my batman.  We had costumes for Kyler to chose from since I told him we wouldn't be buying a new costume this year.  He was excited about mixing costumes together and coming up with his own creation.  He settled on Super Dino Iron Man and was going to wear his Superman costume with his Iron Man mask and his Dinosaur hat.  I loved it and he was proud of his creativity.  Then the Party City ad came to the house.  He NEEDED a new costume.  I said he was welcome to buy his own costume if he wanted.  He did some extra chores for his brothers to earn a little bit more money and off to Party City he went with his dad.  They finally came home with a Batman muscle costume that had been clearanced.  I'm proud of the little boy for earning his money and being a bargain shopper!  He was proud for a few seconds and now loves to tell everyone his sob story about his mean mom that wouldn't buy him a costume!  

Boo hoo, little boy!

Colton with his skull mask....getting a lot of Halloween's out of this one!

 Asher's last minute future missionary costume.

That's what he said it was.....he's 13!

Hope you all had a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

OCTOBER RANDOMNESS

I just unloaded the photos from the camera and found lots of randomness....here goes!

Kyler only likes to eat the peel off of the apples.  He says he doesn't like to eat the white part by itself....so he gave it to the dog.  Kyler asked that I photograph the apple after Roscoe ate the bottom portion.  So glad our family history is now complete with the addition of this story!

 First, we have beautiful winter grass (most of america has this grass in the summer!) this year.  Tony was on top of things in getting it planted for us.  Too bad his mowing took out our glass door!

 Something hit the door near the top and it was so loud when it cracked into a big spider web.  Then it kept cracking and popping for about 20 minutes until we were left with this masterpiece.  Tony and the boys actually like the look of it.  Even so, Tony is ordering new glass and will repair it himself. (I'm sure whatever happens when he does, it will make a great blog post!)

 I thought the leg knots were bad.....Kyler's moved on to tying his shoes together.  

 Here's the latest creation....not sure what this is called.  I'm also not sure where he got these socks from!

 This was last Saturday at Costco.  Tony and the boys were up in Groom Creek helping Uncle Glen with the cabin and Kyler and I stayed behind.  We had a busy day!  First, was a Breakfast/Car Wash fundraiser at Colton and Asher's school.  Kyler and I ate breakfast while our van was getting washed.  We found out Monday that we had even won a raffle.  The prize: Vans bag, Vans folder, Van's keychain, Van's wallet, Van's sunglasses (Spicoli!) and case and a $25 gift card for a pizza restaurant!  Second, Kyler's football skills class.  He LOVES this class!!!!!  He normally doesn't have any mishaps, but Saturday he did - a football to the crotch and a very long pass hit his forehead and flew into the sky! (that second one looked pretty awesome....and he shook it off!)

 Here's my monkey at the school breakfast.  

Doesn't everyone eat bacon with whipped cream on it?!?

 Third, one of his best friends was getting baptized.  I can't believe in 5 1/2 months it will be Kyler's turn for a baptism!  Hopefully I can get him to smile!

But I won't hold my breath!

ASHER'S BIRTHDAY FINALE

We continued to celebrate Asher's birthday throughout the week. (actually, the celebration isn't complete since Tony and I still need to clean Asher's room for him)  I love that Krispy Kreme always has a decorated box for Asher's birthday doughnuts.

 Would a birthday celebration be complete without IBC Rootbeer.....I think not!!!

 The Cake.

Finally.

I couldn't decide on a recipe and Tony just brought a box mix and can of frosting home for me to "get it over with!"  Asher chose himself as the cake design.  (He's only been called Harry Potter since he got his first pair of glasses......8 years ago!!!)  I let him know I was happy to make this cake, but it wouldn't be decorated.  He was fine with that and I was fine with taking the detailed photo before I frosted it and it turned into a blob. (by the way: I did find a basic chocolate cake recipe that I made the next day and it was delicious.  You can find it here)

 Asher with the blob birthday cake!

 Yes.....those tall candles are sparkler candles that relight.  It's been a few years since we've used anything like that.  He wasn't expecting it at all and the relighting candles got huge laughs.  BONUS!

Now hopefully I'll clean his room today and we'll be officially done celebrating Asher's Thirteenth Birthday!!!!!  Happy Birthday, Teenager!