THE SCHOOL FALL FESTIVAL

This is our 7th year at our elementary school. In all those years I have gone to the fall festival. It's our biggest fundraiser of the year and I not only like to support our school, but the kids have a great time! I've even done my turn as a fall festival parent. I've set up booths, taken down booths, sent millions of letters home asking for help, put together our classroom silent auction basket, attended meetings, and worked with lots of parents. But this year....I'm just tired! It was the first year I didn't want to even go to the fall festival. So....I decided to not give myself a hard time and ask Tony if he would take the kids alone. He didn't have a problem taking them or volunteering at the booths I was going to work at.....SCORE! (thanks, tony) This year Colton also decided to stay home....yes, he IS too cool for this school!

When Tony, Asher and Kyler came home we were greeted by this!

Kyler had his face painted.....as what you might ask?!?

A zombie, of course!

(apparently this zombie plays soccer)

The scariest part about that night.....no, not these glasses...

(although I did freak out my mom and Tony with them....heehee)

The scariest part was hearing all about Asher's night.....the hanging out with his friends and GIRLS!!!!!!! He was too cool for the games and decided to spend his tickets on food/drinks and just hang out with his friends. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THIS KILLS ME?!?!?? I've accepted (for the most part) that Colton is a teen and growing up.....but NOT my Asher!!! My Asher that used to snuggle with me ALL THE TIME!!!!! The boy that loved being by my side! Well....THE BOY!!!!! He's not a boy anymore and I'm having a very hard time with it!!!!!!!!

(side note: I watched Toy Story 3 for the 1st time last night. I heard from all my friends that they got emotional with this one. I was totally prepared and made it through the movie great. I was even wondering what they were talking about until the very end of the movie. I could feel my emotions running away and then.........well, if you thought Tempe Town Lake bursting down the Salt River was dramatic.....that was nothing compared to my water works!!! I was only consoled by the fact that Colton is just a freshman in high school. On the bright side...I got a great cry in!)

HALLOWEEN

I was so proud of the boys for making their own jack-o-lanterns this year. Tony helped clean them out, but they all made their own designs. Here's Colton's...

Asher's.....

Kyler's.....those orange things sticking out are his "ears"

That's what Kyler says.....and if Kyler says it....it must be true!!!

Inspired by my neighbor....I decided to roast the pumpkin seeds of all three pumpkins.

After taking them out of the orange innards, I washed them...

Aren't they looking clean?!

Then I spread them out on a cookie sheet, sprayed them with a little vegalene, sprinkled some herbamare on it, and baked them. They turned out so good.....we couldn't stop eating them! Thankfully I still have some left. I'll be sprinkling them on top of some butternut squash soup in the next couple of weeks. YUM! Now if the weather would get out of the mid-90's I could really get into fall!

Do you roast pumpkin seeds? What fall traditions are your favorite?

ASHER'S DIRTY LITTLE SECRET!

Asher launders money!!!!

This kid is loaded after his birthday!!!

ASHER'S THE MAN!!!

Asher's had a big month! He turned 12, became a deacon, started passing the sacrament, became a Deputy Black Black (2 more tests and he's a 1st Dan Black Belt!!!!!). I missed Asher's first Sunday passing, but Tony assured me he looked calm and in control! I was able to see him yesterday. He does know what he's doing.....now if I can just keep Kyler quiet during the sacrament, we'd be set!!!

Now, on to the Tae Kwon Do testing! Kyler was our photographer for the evening. (this kept Kyler occupied during the 3 hours.....YES, 3 HOURS!) I just put the camera on the museum setting (no noise or flash) and let him shoot.

This was Asher during his testing. Grand Master Won Ki Hong is at the table.

This is how Kyler took the photo.....this is how it will be posted!

There are maybe more shots of the spectators that night then of those testing!

Here's Kyler and Tony.

It would be lovely to say that this is how the night ended.....NOPE! This was how it began......it must have been that 5-7 min. catnap that gave him all the energy he had for photography that night! He wasn't ready for bed when we arrived home either.....that boy has LOTS of energy!

ASHER IS 12!!!

I can't believe it's been 12 years since Asher came into the world! (and 12 years since he was on the news!!! What a beautiful baby!) I tried to get him to plan his birthday.....but he's a boy and had no intention of doing that. I tried to plan a party for him and a group of friends.....no such luck. Finally, he did sit down with me and planned out a very detailed day. It started with his free Krispy Kreme. (a dozen doughnuts.....a dozen years!)

After he picked up the doughnuts with his dad, they went to pick up Simon.....the lone guest to his birthday fun. They ate and drank hot cocoa (part of the plan) and.....

PLAYED VIDEO GAMES!!!!

(I know....big shock!)

Then it was time for the first present......

$15 to go to Sweetie's Candy Shop!

(yes....Colton does hold the dog like a baby....and our dog thinks he's a baby!)

Now.....I don't have pictures for the middle of the day, but here's the schedule: Go to Sweetie's, then off to Liberty Market (huge cheeseburger and chips) and Joe's BBQ (meat plate, mac & cheese and more chips) to get free birthday food, come home and Simon and Ash shared the burger before rushing off to.....the movies (Legend of the Guardian-the Owls of Ga'hoole to be exact), then back home to eat the meat plate and more video games, late in the afternoon the boys went to Joe's Farm Grill for more free birthday food (CHOCOLATE SHAKES!!!), back home again for.....yes, you guessed it......MORE VIDEO GAMES!!!!

Then the dinner...

Mashed potatoes

Veggies with Ranch and

STEAK!!!!!!

Asher is a carnivore....and proud of it!!!!!!

I'm not sure how he ate all the food that he did!!!!!

I didn't have time to bake his cake and thought I'd get to it on Saturday....no such luck.

Then Sunday was VERY busy. Asher had an interview before church, then church, after church we went to the bishops office for Asher to receive the priesthood, then home for a minute to grab a snack before we went out to Queen Creek for a baptism. It was a great day....but no cake.

Monday Jacquelen came over and made awesome french bread pizzas for lunch. Tony even came home and we were all able to finally sing Happy Birthday to Asher! (get my 1 - 2 candles for 12.....lame, I know!)

His birthday wish!

I love this picture!!!!

(I think I'll have to blow it up really big

and look at it every time I'm frustrated with this pre-teen....

it just might save us both!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ASHER!!!!!!

Dad and I are so proud of you and we can't wait to see you pass the sacrament on Sunday!!!!

MY BABY'S GROWING UP!!!

I'm not talking about Kyler today.....it's my first baby! Colton up and out of the house by 9 am on a Saturday!!!! Shocking! But why? What's he doing? Where's he going?

Off to his first job!!!!!

See him there.....holding the sign!
Here's a drink break!
(Yes, I went to visit with my camera!!!!!
I was so excited to have something to scrapbook about him!!!!)


Back to work!

This shot was taken as I was in the double yellow lane waiting to merge into traffic.

The best shot of the day!

(they have free hotdogs and they have lots of other ones they sell. They are awesome! Tony and I had the 1/4 lb. hot dog.)

And here's one of the awesome hot dogs we got!

Thanks Josh for giving our boy a chance!

I hear he was a hard worker AND survived his embarrassing mom!

WHAT?!?

Just as I was about to leave my friend's house, we heard a strange noise........wind, rain and then HAIL! It was so LOUD....pounding on her home and windows. I called the boys (since they're home for fall break) to see how they were doing.....they (of course) were LOVING the storm!

Before I could leave Deanna's I had to snap a photo of all the hail on the trampoline and roof.

And here's the hail from her front walkway!

And I thought I lived in the desert!