Got Seeds?

We did our annual pumpkin carving FHE this week!  So exciting!  Nate has Mondays off so we decided to get an early (VERY early) start on FHE and picked the kids up from school.  We went to our favorite pumpkin patch, the Walmart parking lot, and everyone picked out their favorite one.  As we were grabbing some Halloween window stickers and spider web, a lady (I believe she works there) came and whispered in my ear that the pumpkins at Harmons were only 10 cents a pound, so WAHOO! PRICE MATCH!!!  We got our 6 pumpkins for about half the price we were planning on paying!  Kinda nice.  Sorry to all you SUCKERS out there who have to pay full price!  I'm totally kidding, I only say that because i"m usually one of them these days and I feel like a sucker everytime I go shopping without coupon scouting first.  So anyway.  Nancy told us that she saw a truck dropping off pumpkins at their favorite pumpkin patch (a real one where you pick a pumpkin that's laying on the ground in the supposed spot that it grew), and it kind of ruined the experience for her... made me feel better about buying the cheaper ones from the cheap grocery chain store.  A pumpkin is a pumpkin right?  ANYWAY!  Here I go, rambling on about nothing.  So we got home, and got started! 
Everyone did so well!  I say this every year, but this family impresses me with how well we work on our pumpkins!  Such a cool thing to me!  Even in really cramped quarters like it's been these last couple years.  I was on lid duty, anyone that didn't want to cut their own lid, I think Brad was the only one who did his own.  Then we scooped, and most of them did their own scooping!  Even Noah and Erika were on board for this part!  I helped a little though.  Then it was time to design it and this is where Nate really comes in to play (though Nate did a lot of the scooping this year as well).  We had some little templates that Bradley, Luke and Erika benefitted from, they came with our little kit.  Charity kind of sat there just enjoying watching everyone else, trying to decide what to do.  She had a brilliant idea to put the word "HALLOWEEN" on hers!  Way cute!  And totally her.  She reminded me of me being all indecisive about what design to do.  You want to do the perfect thing, but it just never comes to ya.  She got a little frustrated after a while and then changed her mood pretty quickly back to her cheerful self.  I like it when she can do that.  Nate helped her with the carving.  Kelly did a very complex decoration on four sides of her pumpkin.  She had a very ornate eye with a fancy eye brow, which she actually figured out on her own that she couldn't cut the whole thing out because it was circles within circles.  I thought it was really smart of her to figure that out.  We decided to do a "3D carving".  That is what Kelly calls it after watching hours of Halloween Wars on the Food Network.... fun show btw.  It's when you just dig out the outer layer of the pumpkin, not going all the way through to the inside of it.  Sometimes you can make it glow if the layer is thin enough.  She had a lot of help from Nate and I on the eye, but she designed it!  On another side she had a bat that she did a great job carving herself.  Then a cat, great drawing again, Nate did the 3D thing for her, and then a ghost on teh last side.  I did the 3D part and she carved out the eyes which I ruined and turned into a connected-eyes look.... I hate it when I screw up on their stuff.  Hers was very creative, I was very impressed!  Brad's was a bat, as I said before, he did the whole thing by himself.  I was so proud of him!  He really wowed us all with his pumpkin and he seemed pretty proud of himself as well.  Lukey picked out a 3 Ghost template, Nate did most of his, but he looked really cute watching him and he was very excited about it!  I think he did do some of the scooping too.  Noah's was a Noah Original!  He drew his own pumpkin face (he calls it a Ghost) on his pumpkin with the marker and had me cut it out for him.  There was some confusion during the process as to which holes were which facial features, but we got it all worked out!  He did a really long smile :)  I love his because he made it.  I love it when they get to design their own.  Gives me insight into their personalities that I love.  And last but certainly not least, Erika!  She picked out a "Kitty One" template, and stayed very close by as Nate did the poking through the paper and then as I was carving.  She LOVES her pumpkin!!  She even had a hard time (I say 'hard time' but I mean H A R D  T I M E!!!) leaving it out on the porch.  And I did a pretty good job on it if I do say so myself :) 
Everyone always seems generally happy during this FHE. I always love how they all compliment each other and talk about how good everyone's doing.  It's just sweet.  We took an intermission to enjoy the yummy chicken pot pie Linsey gave us... mmmmmmmm!!!!  And kept at it!  Took us about 3 hours altogether!  Glad we got a head start!
6 pumpkins (averaging around 20 lbs each) make a LOT of goop and, my favorite, LOTS and LOTS of SEEDS!!!!  MMMMMMMMMMMM  Took me a while, but we got them all cleaned, dried and baked!  We'll be eating them for days, I imagine.  HA!   Good stuff.

I took these last ones the next night, after the Reflections night.  When we got home from ice cream with Grandpa Hatch, the house just reaked of pumpkin, and even though I hadn't located our little candles yet, I needed to get them out of the house.  And I have a tradition of taking pictures of our pumpkins with everyone afterward and hadn't done it the night before, so this was my chance :)

Future Memories

- Tuesday night was Reflections night!  Charity had entered a poem in the Literature category, Kelly did a photo collage in the photography category and a collage of pictures she colored in the Visual Arts category, and Brad wrote a little story and drew a picture to go with it, in the Visual Arts category as well.  Unfortunately none of them took first place.  But they all got a blue ribbon and a coupon for either free ice cream or free hamburger at Arctic Circle.  We all decided we're going to work on it harder and get started on it sooner next year so that we can win!  (Course when I say "we" I mean them :) no parent help allowed :) )  I thought they did fine, but they definitely could have used a little more time.  Not really their fault this year :)  Always next year!  Grandpa Hatch came with us and then took us to Baskin Robins afterwards!  Lots of fun!  10/18/11

- Thursday was our first day off for Fall Break!  What a fun day that turned out to be!  In the morning, Stephanie surprised me with a Spa day!  She tended my kids (and subsequently cleaned my kitchen, my mountain high, pile of dishes!!), made them an amazing breakfast, played kickball, all while I was at a Spa at the Gateway to get a massage!  It was F A N T A S T I C!!!! 
After that, we all went to Discovery and met Annie and Lilly there.  Can't believe I didn't bring my camera.  We had a lot of fun.  Then we went to Arctic Circle for some ice cream after.  It's always SO good to see Annie!  And her beautiful daughter, just seems to get cuter everytime I see her!  (and older of course!)
Then we met up with the Taylors at Valley Fair Mall to swap kids.  Bradley went to their house, and Sierra came to ours.  We had the ever-waited-for Sleepover!!!  Charity, Sierra and Kelly wanted to go to the Pet Store, then they came home and made a schedule that included several hours of looking at pets online.  They did a few games, made picture frames and cookies, watched Alpha and Omega, and kept pretty busy the whole time!  It was a lot of fun.
Friday afternoon we raced off to the pet store (one more time) to see the dogs and kitties, then headed on out to West Jordan to take Sierra home in time for Enoch's birthday party.  The kids all had a great time at the party while Nate and I and the two littles went to Sherry's house to hang out.  I LOVE hanging out with Sherry!  Even though it was short and kind of spur of the moment, it was heavenly!  I just love that we are still friends and that we can still hang out and enjoy each other's company. 
After the party, we went and grabbed some pizza for dinner then drove up to DayBreak to Grandma Ruthie and Grandpa Russ's house for the Halloween party!  I think I have pictures for that party, so I'll do a post on it later.
Busy weekend, but we had a great time!

- Saturday was my big cleaning day!  I had this motivation that just came out of nowhere and I totally got SO MUCH done!!!  The kids did their jobs really well too, and we just had a very productive morning!!  That night was Kelly's date with Mom.  For her date, she chose to go to a redbox somewhere and get a movie, then buy a treat and bring it all home, pop popcorn, and watch the movie together!  Turned out really fun, we got a Chihuahua Movie, and Kelly actually let Charity join in the fun with us as we watched.  I think me and Kelly ate too many Kit Kats though because all of a sudden, they were gone!! 

- Sunday was a big day for me, Choir practice, teaching my class, practicing and then playing the Organ, and also singing in Sacrament meeting, and then another Choir Practice!!  It's all good, just lots :)

Future Memories

First let me say, this last week went by in a blur, I didn't keep track of things and I was trying to take it easy on the internet.... so very little memories to record I guess :)

- On the Sixth we celebrated (and I use the term "celebrated" but it was more like, "Happy 11th year since we met babe!"  "Yeah, you too, Sweetie!"  or something.... but anyway) our 11th anniversary from the day we met.  What a sweet day that was!  I still remember exactly where we were standing as we were exitting our pews in the Chapel at the Mission Reunion, when Brent introduced me to "Elder Maynes".  What a good memory that is.  I knew I was going to marry him! (well, the thought occurred to me, but I didn't know it :) )

- Bradley's birthday was on the 7th and I did like three other posts for his birthday, so THIS is about the little question we asked all the big kids as Bradley was dying waiting for his family party to finally start.  I had been talking to my cousin earlier that day and in her family they don't do th ewhole family party thing with grandparents and cousins and such, they just do something at home.  It made me think that maybe we were doing something that wasn't all that fun for the kids.  I mean, no offense to anyone, but we really do just sit around at most of the parties, and unfortunately that's usually at our house since we don't have a lot of warm month birthdays.  Most people play with their phones, and talk about things WAY other than the birthday star.  Which could be considered an undesirable thing I suppose.  So anyway, I told the kids that maybe we didn't need to have family parties anymore.  Maybe they would have more fun doing something else on their birthday.  We suggested a few different things, going out to dinner, a fun family place (i.e. Boondocks), being able to open their presents earlier in the day!  All of these APPEALING THINGS right?  So anyway, they totally shot it all down.  They were almost offended that we would suggest such a thing!  It was funny.  I know they love their family, and I know the family loves them, and I LOVE having family so close that they can come celebrate birthdays with us and stuff, so it has always been something I enjoyed, but it was fun to hear that the kids actually do enjoy it as well.  I'm sure they love getting all the presents too ;)  But either way, there wasn't anything else that they'd rather do.  Cool kids.

- Sunday, October 9th, Charity, Kelly, my Mom and I all sang in my Mom's Relief Society meeting.  We sang "In That Holy Place" by Sally DeFord.  It had started out being just my mom and I, but after having Charity join in when they came to pick me up, we just had to have her sing with us and of course Kelly as well.  They both have such good voices for such young unexperienced girls.  The meeting was really nice.  It's been a while since I went to Relief Society, so maybe it was just that, but the lesson was on Temples and I just loved it.  The Spirit was so strong as we were singing, and I was doing my best to focus on the words so that I could sing it with feeling and we got to the part where it mentions "those who have gone before" and I just lost it!!  I immediately thought of my Grandma Mottishaw, who actually spent most of her life in that ward's relief society.  In that very room in fact!  And I could totally picture her there, listening to us.  It was actually very special, but it kinda ruined the song because I couldn't stop crying!  I'm usually so good at holding back the tears, but this time.... not so much!  Either way, it was a neat experience.  I was grateful for the opportunity too!  It's been a while since I sang at church besides ward choir.  Not since the Ward Canyon Ward.  So anyway. 

- Tuesday I finally did my visiting teaching again... it's been a few months!  I met our newest teachee, and she just happens to be a teacher who worked with my Grandpa Mottishaw at Millcreek many years ago!  And he actually taught some of her own children when he was at Viewmont!  Small world.  Well, it's a small Bountiful is more like it :)  HAHA, just kidding.

- Saturday was so fun!  At noon we went down to West Jordan for Jarom's birthday party!  Noah was invited, but since Nate worked, all of the kids and I went too.  Star Wars never looked so cool!  It was a fun party, we're all going to have to watch Star Wars now.  Happy 4th Birthday to Jarom!
After the party we picked up Daddy on our way home and stopped off at the Centennial celebration Carnival at the Park.  It was the 100th birthday party for the school district.  They had the giant inflatables, little booths with fun little games where you won a piece of candy everytime :).  They had face painting and balloon animals also, but we didn't make it to those booths for some reason.  We went around from booth to booth and line to line.... had a great time!  And it was TOTALLY FREE!!!  Loved that part.  Fun stuff.  And then we stopped at "Barbies" (that's Arby's in Noah's world) for some yummy curly fries and stuff :)  mmmmmmmmmm.  Good times.

- Sunday, October 16th was the Primary Program!  This is my all-time favorite Sacrament meeting.  This year I got to sit out in the audience again!  Felt like it had been a while for some reason, but I think it was just last year I was playing the piano.  I was happy to be able to see my kids and give them the evil eye when they needed it :).  They all did their parts so well!  I was so impressed by Kelly that morning.  She had gotten up early to practice her part some more and much to my surprise had been able to teach Luke his part as well.  Something I had attempted MANY times over the last two weeks, but hadn't been able to pull off.  It's nice that the kids will do that for each other!  Makes me wonder what I'm even here for!  But then I rememeber that someone has to feed them, drive them places, give them birth.... that sort of things.  Then I don't wonder anymore :)  HA! just kidding.  So yeah, they all had their parts memorized, they all got up there and braved the spotlight.  Something I remember being able to do without too much trouble until just a few years ago.  Luckily they haven't adopted that trait from me.  Luke's was "I want to serve a mission.  I can get ready by going to Church."  Bradley's was "At Conference, President Monson told us that Heavenly Father is thinking about us, he loves us and will bless us as we pray and keep His commandments."  Kelly's is really long and I can't find her slip of paper, I'll have to have her quote it for me.  Charity's was "Faith is like a seed because it starts out small and grows big just like a seed.  We can help our faith grow by fasting, praying, repenting and reading our scriptures."  I was so proud of my kids during all the songs, at the risk of sounding like "one of those parents", I have to say that they were the best singers!!  They knew all the words (I say they, but I mostly meant Charity and Kelly.  Bradley and Luke know a lot too, but Charity's and Kelly's voices definitely dominated the room), they sang loud, and pretty, and they were smiling so big and just looked so happy to be up there!  It was so nice.  I love to see them having so much fun doing something like that.  And they really do love it!  It's really great.  I'll never forget our first Primary Program, when Charity was a new little sunbeam.  She was so cute, she stood up at the mic and just froze!  I had not even explored the idea of her getting too shy or nervous, so it hadn't even crossed my mind, neither had what I should say if it did happen!  She was SO nervous!  She really just stood there for about a minute and then they relieved her of the torture and told her she could sit down.  It was so cute!!!  I mean, I was sad for her, because I knew she would be disappointed, but she really was just so cute!!  That's my Charity.  I'm glad that everyone else has had an older sibling or siblingS to watch and realize that it's not that scary.  At least that's what I attribute no one else having the same problem to.  Anyway.  Fun stuff.  I loved the program!  Even the parts where Luke was turning around and putting his tie up over his face. 

Stressin'

Yesterday was one of my "big days".  When I say "big day" it usually means there is lots of stuff written on that day on my calendar.  Usually has more to do with how to fit it all in and accomplish it all than what it is.  Yesterday was going to be a race with the clock for a majority of the day.  I was feeling really stressed about it the day/night before.  I decided that I needed to evaluate how stressful the day was really going to be.  What was I doing? and how important was each thing? was there anything I could eliminate? and what could I do to make it run smoothly?  Here's how my day was going to have to go to work out just right:

5:00 wake up, work out
6:45 take Nate to work
get the big kids ready for school, and the little ones ready for the store
8:35 drive kids to school
shopping for things for Charity's class party, and Jarom's present
10:40 pick up Luke and Carter from School take Carter home
11:00 go get Brad's lunch
11:20 Brad's Birthday Table
11:55 Home
12:20 Go to the school again for Charity's Class No-Missing-Work Party
1:00 Home
This was the relaxing time until 2:00 when the kids would get home.
3:00 pick up Nate
3:30 drive up to Kaysville to judge reflections
5:00 dinner- somehow

Even as I was driving Nate to work and trying to let off a little of the pressure, talking about it, I kept thinking what a silly day it was to get stressed about.  Especially compared to Nate's day.  Nate would have hundreds of people's lives in his hands at any given moment and every word he would say would be recorded, scrutinized and critiqued.  He would only get a break when someone else decided it was time.  He would have so much pressure and stress.  WAY more than I could even imagine possible given my lifestyle.  It hit me that I needed to just relax.  Not let things bother me and treat this like any other day.  And it worked for the whole morning!  I was so proud of myself.  I didn't let the little hang ups hang me up.  We were even on time (barely of course) for school.  So really, it went well. 

But as I was scrambling to go pick up Bradley's lunch, because Luke and Carter had taken so long, I was running late, I started thinking about why I was so flustered.  Nothing I had to do was really that big by itself, nothing took much preparation.  Then the thing that hit me was that it was all stuff that mattered to my kids.  I knew Noah would want to test out every single toy in the toy section, and feel like he had browsed sufficiently and could make that life or death decision for the perfect gift.  I knew that it was important to Brad that I get to his school on time so that he wouldn't have to sit and wonder if I was coming.  I knew that if Charity's Mom was doing a party for her class it needed to be a fun one, and I needed to be cool and calm so that she wouldn't be embarrassed.  Which meant being prepared and on time as well.  It was their sweet little expectations that had me reeling. I smiled when I realized how wrapped around their little fingers I am :)  In a good way.  I've made the little things as important as they do.  I decided to cut myself a little slack.  It wasn't air traffic control, but in my little world, being on time to pick up from school, birthday presents, lunch at school, being on time for school, and class Minute-to-Win-it games.... these are BIG things!  They matter!  To important little people!!  And now, to me.
Bottom line.  I want to control the stress level, but not by belittling the things that I need to do.  And not by eliminating things that matter to my kids.  I think this helps me to keep a better perspective.  It also helps me to feel like the little things I do everyday really are important.  I am doing a great work here.  I don't have a dress code, a time card or even a paycheck, but I do have a boss.  Someone is looking over my shoulder.  Watching what I do with my day, what things I prioritize.  He is all-knowing, all-loving, and all-powerful.  So yeah, that can be a little stressful.  But there are so many opportunities to pray to him for help, to be guided by His Spirit and to be blessed by his unconditional love and care.  I will do whatever I can to please my "boss" and show Him that I am worthy of these priceless little Spirits and the responsibilities that come with them.  I want him to see that I am working my hardest.  I want him to know that I am putting forth an honest effort.  I put my kids first, before ANYTHING, and I want them to be happy.  And that must be a good thing.  I'm so grateful for the life I live.  For "my little world".  Now I just need to translate all of this into some relaxation techniques.... and just enjoy it all :). 

A Birthday Party for SUPER BRAD!!!

 Saturday was Bradley's friend party (the last friend party til 2013, kinda happy about that :) )!  We had SO MUCH FUN!!!  I couldn't believe how well-behaved everyone was, and how smoothly it all went.  I think there were some time-management issues, as far as my original plans, but I don't think anyone else noticed.

We were in the Super Hero Room at Classic Skating.  Nate got there with the boys about 20 minutes before me, he must have speeded because all I got was candles :), (I'm kidding) but he was there and the boys were all playing on the magnetic wall and the wii when I got there.  So that was fun :).  They played in that little tiny dark room for quite a while!  They were obsessed with having me take their pictures as they played on the magnetic wall.... that was a lot of fun.

After the wall, they all got to go into the BLAST ZONE!!!  Bradley's been raving about this place ever since the last time we went, and was SO excited to show it to his friends.  That was the whole reason we went to Classic in the first place.  They all seemed to have a good time.  That lasted about a half hour, and then they came back to the room for some cake and ice cream and presents!!!

Present opening was nuts.  I'm usually so organized and make the kids all sit down, but maybe it was the lack of other small children (did I mention we left everyone but Bradley and Luke home?  Charity and Kelly were in charge, we got a text about every 2 minutes from her wondering how things were going, telling us what was going on at home, and questions about how much longer we would be, but she and Kelly did a great job!), I felt pretty laid back, and relaxed about the whole party, so I just let them have at it!  Bradley opened all six of his presents in a matter of seconds!!  He had been wanting a nerf gun and apparently told more than just his Uncle and Grandpa that that was what he wanted.  Luckily Steve and Grandpa found other gifts, because he got a nerf gun from all but two guests at his party :)  It was so funny!!!  And fun of course!!  He seemed more than happy with that!  He did get a few other things as well, that he loved.  Aunt Heidi came to this party since it was closer and a better day.  It was fun for me to have her there :)  That way I wasn't the only girl!

Brad is just so fun with his friends!  He blew out all the candles on his Super Hero cake.

After cake and ice cream, the boys all played on the bouncy slides and bounce houses for a few minutes (we really lost track of time in the beginning and they really didn't get enough time in the bouncy area.... but they really didn't seem to care.  We passed out the tokens for the arcade games and they all ran around playing games for the last 15 minutes of the party.  They each had a few tickets from that and were able to get a little prize with them. 

Here is his cake.  It wasn't quite what I had hoped for.  I was aiming a little high though.  He was happy with it and that's all that matters.  Nate did the hard part, all the superhero logos, I did the crappy spider webs (thought I'd better take "credit" since they look horrible) oddly enough though, the boys all had a lot to say about the webs for some reason..... It was definitely a fun cake to make, but if I get the chance to make it again, I'm making sure i have time to make the rice krispie treat fist, so that I can have it coming out of the top of the cake rather than the lame white frosting (all I had left) with the crummy writing..... there. I said it.  We were just TOO rushed on this thing!  It tasted really good though... the white frosting was from Dicks, and it was DELICIOUS!!!  Nobody ate the red.... it took a lot of food coloring :) 

We hurried out and got the boys home about a half hour later than promised on the invitation.  It was embarrassing, but most of the parents were understanding.  I think they had fun at least :).  I really can't get over how well-behaved, polite, and just FUN these 8 boys were together!  I never would have guessed it would be so fun and go so well. 

Cute, cute boys.