Trunk or Treat

Halloween is fun and I have so many fun memories of taking my kids Trick or Treating.  I loved getting them dressed up and taking them to my mom's where I would film them as they Trick or Treated to the houses I Trick or Treated at as a kid.  We lived in a good neighborhood in Roy and the kids were able to trick or treat there too.  I so loved watching my little "spooks" venture out for candy.

After the kids Treat or Treated around we would drive to Hooper for homemade doughnuts from Larry's friend JoAnn and then we would visited pumpkin alley and always Trick or Treat at Larry's parents.  Even when we moved to Hooper the routine was pretty much the same.  We would have to drive the kids to the neighbors because the houses are so far apart.  I was glad when they came up with the idea to Trunk or Treat.

Since we live on a dead end street it was decided to have it down our road by our house.  That has been great except the five years we were in another ward because of boundary changes.  Then I thought the ward we were in should have had this road.  Everyone on the west side of our road was in the 10th ward and only 3 houses on the east side were still in the 7th but it was the 7th ward that claimed our street.   I did not like those years of having to hurry and get out before the other wards Trunk or Treat started....it was a pain...and sore spot.

I like that my little grands come out to the Trunk or Treat so that I can see them all and still have time to make a run to my parents as well as Larry's.  The trick is you have to be on time for Trunk or Treat...unlike Church they start before the chosen time. (ticks me off that they would start before Bishop was even home...I get over it)  I think the Trunk or Treats are a great idea for country kids since the houses are so far from one another except a few neighborhoods.  The whole Trunk or Treat lasts about an hour....that is including chili  or doughnuts and a few kids visiting our treats 2 or 3 times.

I enjoy seeing everyone come around...it's fun to see how creative some people are.  Since our family has gotten older they don't enjoy dressing up and won't and so I don't either.  I would prefer to dress up but it's not fun when the others don't like to....that is why I dress up with my friends. (maybe Larry still would if he had time once he got home but since they have been starting them earlier he does good to show up with his own face)

Halloween is a fun holiday to me.  I really like the fun things about it.  I like Halloween parties and dressing up and fun dinners.  I love seeing my grands make memories.  I love sharing candy and eating a little too.  I love seeing house with carved pumpkins on their porches and other decorations. I love putting my few decorations around my house.  I love corn mazes and listening to others talk about Haunted Houses. I really don't like being scared.  It's funny and freaky at the same time...but I prefer not to be scared.  So it will never be my idea to visit a Haunted House but I won't say I never will go.....I suspect I will.

I love Halloween Traditions and my memories of all the Halloweens I have enjoyed.  Great Times....Great Memories!  ***I just remembered that when I was in primary we always had a costume parade...I remember dressing up as a ballerina.

Halloween Bowling

I really enjoy bowling because we always have so much fun.  Today is Halloween but only a few of us dressed up.  The team I am on now always dresses up and we had a great time.  We decided to come as Angel's but didn't get the memo to Lynn...actually she did get the memo and she chose to be herself...actually we planned it this way. ☺

Seriously out of about 40 people only 7 of us dressed up...I don't want to grow old. (wink)  A lot of the other ladies did wear Halloween shirts.  Oh...and my spirits were deflated today when a guy that worked at the bowling alley came over and told Shirley she had the best wings. (she did have the best wings)  A few minutes later he walked by again and told Debbie he liked her outfit best.  Seriously I don't care really but I told him he had just shot me down and he could leave now.  He looked at me and was trying to think of something to say that was best about me.....he never did.  Debbie tried helping by saying something about my lashes and sparkle but that didn't help either.  It was actually very funny....but that's not all.  He came over one more time and said: "I need to think of something for her" I told him to just leave...it was too late. ☺  He didn't mention Lynn either and she was a great lil Devil!

We had fun but only won one out of four games.  I guess maybe we should have all just worn Halloween Shirts instead and acted like old ladies. (just kidding)  Fun times!  Fun Friends!

I Love the Changing Seasons

I love when one season says good bye and another one says hello.  I love that I have always lived in a place that we get to enjoy all the seasons.  It's funny how my favorite seasons have changed over the years. When I was a kid I loved Spring and Summer.  I know I loved summer because we got to play more and stay out late and swim almost every day.  I loved Spring because everything started to bloom and baby animals were born.  Spring has always been a fresh start....a new beginning. 

As I have grown Spring also means that weeds too wake up and before the pretty flowers there is a lot of plainness.  I still enjoy seeing the tulips & daffodils pop their heads up first and I always love seeing the babies in the fields. But, my favorite season now is Fall.  I love the trees as they change colors.  I can't believe how pretty they are right now as I drive around town..the color in the mountains is gone but around here the trees are gorgeous and I am loving the colors.  I also love the temperatures.  I love the cool, crisp, chill in the air.  I love snuggling in blankets and putting on my fuzzy socks to keep warm. Fall is a cozy season.  (I read more in the fall and winter)

I have always enjoyed Winter as well.  I think everything looks so pretty covered in snow.  I love snow. I do not like snow on the roads though.  It scares me to drive when there is snow on the roads. I love the frosty trees.  I don't enjoy the winter as much when we don't have snow.  I like color and when the earth has color I enjoy it more.  However white is nice for a short time.

I think we live in a beautiful world.  This months visiting teaching message is about how the world was created just for us...we are the reason He created the universe!  President Uchtdorf said: "This is the paradox of man; compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God."  Knowing that gives me chills. (I do know it)  God does know and love each of us so much!  I know a few people that don't believe that and it makes me sad for them.  I love Heavenly Father and it is obvious how much he loves each of us....just look around!

National Chocolate Day

The Best Day ever is one where chocolate is Enjoyed!  I was craving chocolate this morning and was lucky enough to have a little in my "secret place".  I was breaking off bits of my symphony bar when I received notice from my sis in law that it was National Chocolate Day!  Well okay, I don't need to be told twice....I will celebrate! (some more)☺

I have heard that chocolate makes you happier.  I believe that is true....at least it is for me!  I'm happier when I have chocolate! ☺  I looked up a few facts about chocolate...take it or leave it....

1. Lowers cholesterol, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2003. (The white chocolate consumers, the control group in this study, experienced no health benefits.)
2. It is good for your skin; the flavonoids found in dark chocolate offer some protection from UV damage.
3. May improve your ability to see in low-contrast situations, such as poor weather according to study, from England’s University of Reading in 2011.

4. The fiber in chocolate has been shown to reduce the rate of colorectal cancer. It may even slow dementia.
5. Cocoa has anti-clotting, blood-thinning properties (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition).
6. It has been shown to repair liver cells after alcohol consumption!

7. It has been shown to help stimulate insulin, thus stopping the insulin resistance that can lead to diabetes.
8. The ingredient phenylethylamine that gives chocolate the reputation of being the ‘love food’ raises serotonin and dopamine level, which stimulates the nervous system, and even raises libido.
9. Could keep you from coughing, according to doctors at the British National Health Service.

10. Chocolate helps with Math, according study in Northumbria University in the UK.
11. Women who ate more than 45 grams of chocolate a week had a 20 percent lower risk of stroke than women who treated themselves to fewer than 9 grams of the sweet stuff, according to a 2011 Swedish study.
12. Chocolate eaters have lower stress levels.

Halloween Dinner

Tonight we had our Halloween Dinner.  I love planning what to make.  This is the first year I haven't had dinner in a pumpkin.  I didn't feel like taking the time to clean out a pumpkin and so I opted to not have our dinner in a pumpkin.  We had brains and guts in a bowl instead.  By calling it that I had a few that would not eat it.  I think it's funny that the power of suggestion is so strong.  I am careful what I make since I know how my kids have reacted in the past. (nothing to creepy or gross looking) We had mummy dogs, spider eggs, fingers and smiles.  It turned out pretty good for being such a busy week and day.

This morning I took Kimleighel to her friends (Trevor) farewell which was so good.  Another missionary was also leaving and everyone spoke on teaching with the Holy Ghost.  The Holy Ghost was present in the meeting and Kimi and I both felt it many times.  I was really glad I took her.  We came home for a little while and got a few things ready for dinner and then we went to Mt Green to listen to Lawson Toomer report on his mission.  I could have listened longer to him...he did such a great job!  He served a great mission you could tell! It was a great Sunday and I felt the spirit and Love of God a lot.

We got home and finished making the rest of dinner just in time for everyone to come.  It was fun and I love this Halloween Tradition.  Nothing too fancy but some fun memories!

BeWitching

I love Witches Night Out at Gardner Village.  It's a fun place to be.  I have only attended as Glinda..the Good Witch.  Being Glinda is fun because everyone knows your name...or at least a lot of people do. The little witches think Glinda is a princess and want their pictures taken with her.  It's just so much fun.  

Since Kathy and I were going again I decided I would change things up.  I had another costume I could wear and decided since I had bought it I might as well wear it.  I didn't want to be scary though and decided since I had a "peacock" purse (a white elephant gift) I would go with a peacock and spiderweb sorta look.  OK....my hair reminded me of a peacock and that's about all and I'm sure no one else noticed my purse.  I just know I wasn't scary and still had a good time.  I took a bunch of little suckers in my peacock purse and when I saw cute kids dressed up I asked them if I could have my picture taken with them and then I gave them a treat.  It was so much fun.  I had thought about bringing treats next year and decided since Kathy and I were going again I would try it out this year. The kids loved having us ask to have our picture with them and the treats were happily accepted as well.

Kathy had a great idea for us to go "cackle" to her grandson since it was his birthday.  They weren't far from where we were and so on our way home we detoured just a little and went and "Cackled" Happy Birthday to Isaac.  It was fun!  Not too many kids have witches come to their home on their birthday to sing to them.

Kathy's neighbors were having a Halloween Party and so we walked over to say "Hi".  A lot of them might have been "high" or maybe just drunk.  Christy throws a party every Halloween and there is always a great turn out.  Everyone dresses up and Christy goes all out in decorating.  They had lots of yummy treats inside and I think all the "bubbly" was in the garage where the main party was going on. We visited with Christy by the fire for a minute and then we left.  Halloween is a fun Holiday!

It was another Spooktacular night and a lot of fun and laughter

Book Club....we're shrinking

Our Book Club is getting smaller and that is okay. (the others will be back soon after their missions) We have grown in sisterhood and friendship and I don't think we will be getting bigger any time soon. In a few years we will be together again and hopefully we will still be meeting when it's mine and Larry's turn to serve a mission and they can wait for us to return. ☺

Today there were three of us and we went to Taggarts for lunch and to report about the books we read. At this point in my life I think if we didn't have book club I wouldn't be reading at all.  So, I am glad for my book club no matter what size it is.  I am glad that I am challenged to read so that I can report and return the books I have borrowed.

Reading is an escape for me and I learn so much from the things I read.  I really enjoy autobiographies and learning what is going on in the world around us....makes me even more thankful we live where we do and have the freedoms we do.  I prefer my "bubble".  I love reading all varieties of books.  My favorite authors are Nicholas Sparks, Kimberly Krey, Mary Higgins Clark, and authors of their own life stories.... 

This month I read Hitchhikers by Bernard Poduska.  It was a good book (true story) about a boy that was homeless through his childhood and how he survived.  His life wasn't easy or pleasant by any means but he made the best of it.  He has succeeded and was converted to the LDS faith when he was older.  Because of the experiences he had he has been able to bless others.  (isn't that true for each of us?)

The other gals hate when I pull out my camera so I had them take a pic of me at least with my huge sugar cookie.  I brought home half my pita and three fourths of my cookie (I kept breaking off pieces on my way home) and shared the left overs with Kevin and Jared.  The drive to Taggarts is worth it....their food and treats are so yummy!

I love Book Club and the gal's I read with!