Spooks and Sillies

Sometimes you are blogging and it is January, but you have to write about things that happened in October and you just hope you aren't fabricating events too much, but that's why there are pictures to prove you really lived the stories.  That's where we are today, folks.  Throwing it back a few months to my favorite season.  Brenna has Halloween listed in her top 3 holidays, while it doesn't have the same place in my list or heart, it does bring about a lot of fun! 

The kids and I ventured out to Thanksgiving Point during Fall Break to wander the gardens and the Scarecrow Festival.  

We voted on our favorite ones and I tried to keep the munchkins from destroying the displays.  

Harrison had to get a picture of every pirate Scarecrow, but the photos didn't turn out, so here is Dorothy instead!  I have told Harrison not to touch or pick at things and his reply is "I will NEVER."  So, he respectfully left all art in tact, but there was a little man handling.  

It was Red Ribbon week for the girls during October.  Crazy Hair day has now become a 'rat the little ladies' hair into huge balls of tangles' Day.  It's kind of a tradition now, I guess.  Oddly enough, it's the only day my dear daughters tell me I'm great at doing their hair!  HAHA!  It's true.  

Sure do love these wild ladies of mine.  Each of our kids, ok, mostly the 3 younger ones, love teaching our Family Home Evening lesson.  Harrison usually welcomes everyone, we sing a song with someone conducting.  Occasionally, the musical number even includes and interpretive dance, then we move on to family business before we hear a lesson and have an activity.  Katelee's lesson on the First Vision recently was especially creative as we capped it off with an activity she designed.  On a paper, she had drawn a forest and a young boy kneeling.  Then, she handed us a cut out of Heavenly Father and Jesus.  We were then blindfolded and we had to "pin" them in the sacred grove blindfolded.  Best family home evening game in a long time.  Ha! 

We had lots of fun at the Witches...

Having our annual family spooky dinner

where Harrison would not eat the worms.  I don't know what is wrong with that child.  

He was introduced to 'Captain Underpants,' the movie.  So, many a people have seen him doting a red cape and saving those in distress around our house while singing "TRA-LA -LA!"

He is a fun kid, who is completely in love with electronic devices.  Boo.  I am not a fan of parenting the screen time, but such is life.  He, does think that I need help in my choices and parenting strategies, he dishes out advice a lot to me.  He told me the other day that 'the spirit will tell you what to do.'  I appreciated this faith filled encouragement, but the declaration that came from his mouth "you can't argue with me, I'm in charge,"  was not so much my favorite.  

Harrison's little preschool class worked hard on learning some Halloween songs and presented them to parents at a Halloween party.  They were so adorable.  

We sure love Miss Amy.  She and I were cracking up because I've been worried about Harry's behavior at preschool.  There have been multiple times that I pick Harry up and as I'm buckling him into his carseat, he will let out a big sigh.  I've asked him what is wrong and then somehow it comes out that he has been on the time out chair.  Strangely, he can't remember why he spends time on the Time Out Chair, or what he has done to warrant that.  

When I picked him up last week, I asked Miss Amy, 'no time out chair for him today?'  She chuckled and said of course not.  I told her I was relieved cuz he has been on it lately. She stopped in her tracks and asked me what I said.  She started busting up laughing because apparently, Harrison has never been on the Time Out Chair, not once.  We are yet to discover why he wants to claim his delinquency when it isn't accurate, but for now, he is record is clean.  

The last day of October seems like it takes an eternity to get to, for the kids.  We fill our month, but waiting for the candy filled holiday is a stretch.  Finally the day arrived and the kids donned their costumes of a vampire, pirate, peanut butter and jelly and a baby.  So simple, so great this year.  

We filled our day with the parade, (SO glad we don't allow 10 year olds to have binkies...he slobbery talk around that device all day was driving me crazy!)

 class parties (Katelee had a mad science party, so I needed to dress the part...ok, it gave me an excuse to dress the part), 

 a neighborhood dinner and Trick or Treating.  Grant went out for a just a little bit with his friends, Katelee was with her gals and I took the two little people while Dave had a rough time having to answer the door so much while he was trying to watch the World Series.  ha!  We have had bags of candy ever since.  We actually threw it away just barely (much to the children's dismay), but Harrison keeps asking me if he can "borrow a cookie" from me.  I don't think I will like the state he will return it in, so I have declined.  That is not well received.  

Thanksgiving this year was hosted at the Petrick's this year.  We had a delish dinner and went to see Justice League.  We had a great time and had our special Grateful Gobbler up all month.  A lot of the blessings repeat year after year and how grateful we are that they do!!!  (Although, Mario was a new addition, not too thrilled about how he has entered our life!).

Fall-in Back

Fall means Back To School!!  It also means getting into a routine and extra curricular activities.  So, here are the pic of our start to 7th, 5th, 2nd grades and preschool year 1. 

Grant started a new school this year!  He was anxious and excited to be going to the same junior high as his neighborhood friends, but leaving the charter he had been at for 7 years was a big deal.  Of course, he misses the dress code (ha! yea, right).  He has adjusted so well and is doing great.  He probably roams those halls with a smooth presence, as perfectly displayed here.  

Another season of soccer was started with Grant's team.  These kids have been playing together for years, but they had some additions to the group.  Grant has decided he would rather not play goalie, so he was out there running with the other Gold Rush teammates.

Scouts keeps Grant busy as well.  His troop worked on this huge tower-built it and put it up...

Jason, the scout master, left it up all week at his house, so all of us went to climb it.  It was pretty impressive.  Grant was awarded his star ranking and is getting really close to wrapping up the required merit badges and moving towards his eagle project. 


Fall means football (viewing only, not so much playing at our house).  Dave and Grant went to Louisiana to watch a BYU game.  The game was supposed to take place in Houston, but Hurricane Harvey changed those plans.  We were just glad that Serena, while evacuated from Houston, had no damage or danger from the hurricane. 

While in New Orleans, Grant dined on beignets

walked Bourbon Street (pretty much a street of sin),

had some VIP treatment at a posh hotel,

and watched BYU get creamed.  Game aside, I think the boys had fun. 

Dave and Grant stayed in Pensacola as well and were able to visit Grandma, Grandpa and Grandpa Church.  Grant also wrapped up his fishing merit badge with a handy net on the beach... way easier than using a pole out here!  Ha!



Beautiful Katelee Lyn started 5th grade and was busy right away.  She auditioned for Seussical Jr and had rehearsals right when school started. 



She worked very hard as a BIRD GIRL and boy did she flip her hair around on that stage. 

There were 3 of them as bird girls.  It was such a fun musical.  The kids all had a blast. 

There were 11 kids from our neighborhood, I believe.  This was convenient for carpooling and extra exciting to see so many familiar faces on stage.  One of the moms made all the kids in our hood Dr Seuss pillowcases.  Katelee uses hers every night. 



We loved going to see the performances and Katelee had tons of support. 


She just loves theatre.  It is fun to see her shine up there.  Katelee has also started taking tap dancing lessons.

 She is an excellent performing, but I think she better leave the stage makeup to someone else!


We already miss her teacher from last year, but Katelee is doing so well in 5th grade.  She has been given the opportunity for an extra science class which she is enjoying.  She won the school Reflections competitions in two categories-Music Composition and Photography.  So, I'm pretty excited to use those movie coupons!

It is one of my favorite things to watch Katelee and Brenna walk out the door and go to the bus stop.  I try and implant the image in my brain because I think it is so adorable.  I am so glad they have each other to go to school with.  I took a cute and deceptive picture of them on the first day.  Someday, just someday, they may be best friends!


Brenna, the second grade firecracker is a busy little lady.  She claims that 'dance is life' and I would almost believe it because it seems like she lives at the studio.  I can only imagine how much time we will be investing in this love of hers.  

She is loving school and dance and combined the two to win her Reflections competition in Dance choreography.  I went to pick up Brenna's little dance carpool and walked into the studio to hear random dancers telling their parents that someone tried to burn down the studio.  Sounded like a dangerous and eventful evening there.  We get in the car and start driving home, when one of Brenna's little buddies exclaims, "Kara, do you know what Brenna did today?"  Oh dear...I started putting two and two together and gently coaxed Brenna to explain what her friend may be discussing.  Brenna, not so gentle little Brenna, with a voice I can only describe as demonic, yelled at her friend and said 'thanks a lot, I was never going to tell my mom.'  Again, I am persuading to be informed, again Brenna is getting angry at her friend.  Finally, it comes out that Brenna stuck bobby pins in the electrical socket and experienced a mild shocking, as well as sparks shooting up the studio wall.  Luckily everyone was ok.  Brenna's other friend tried to explain to her that 'we want to tell our parents everything.'  She told Brenna, 'that's what they are there for, to help us and teach us so we don't make those mistakes again.'  Yea, Brenna wasn't buying it and insisted I was never going to be in the loop, if she had a say.  Great.  Happy parenting to me! Love this little spark!

Then, there is Harrison.  Harry started his first year of preschool and he couldn't love it more!

He also started soccer and he could love that more, like a lot more.  I am fairly certain he kicked the ball once.  But he did get a lot of time on the field kicking the dirt, flapping his wings, and hugging every player (to which his coach would firmly respond with 'Stop hugging, there is no hugging').  He also spent a fair amount of time yelling at players from opposing teams for being rude and getting the ball or pushing him.  Lets just say we are going to hold off on soccer for awhile...or ever...with this one.  But, hey, he sure loved those after the game treats!

I couldn't be mad at him long though, the games were hilarious.  We lost every one, terribly.  Good thing we always love our family despite of near studio burnings, masculine stage makeup, inappropriate displays of affection during competitive sports, etc.  Harrison tells me all the time how I am the best ever.    In fact, he recently said, "You are the best mom in the land.  You know who is next?  Mary, Jesus' mom."  So, I would say he has me on quite a pedestal, but it's good company for sure.  

Harrison's Happy Birthday and other Heavenly Occurences

Just before the end of summer, these four decided to ascend towards the heavens and hike the Y.  As you can tell from the red faces, it was a hot day and a a great workout.  We did a bit of hiking this summer, but not enough!  We think that every year.  

August 21 was a monumental occasion around the world-a solar eclipse.  We had 90% visibility of it and the view wowed us all!  

Our glasses were a bet sketchy, so we are just glad we had an awe inspiring experience and also kept our vision!  We decided to walk to the park to view it, so if anyone was bored, they could slide or run through the water and then run over for a quick peek through the solar glasses.  I loved the shadows on the ground.  

After we had time to stare into the heavens, we had to bring it back down to the more seedy of the earth-the pirates.  Harrison had requested a pirate party for his birthday, so we had a scurvy crew come over. 

Katelee and Brenna had worked for weeks assembling a pirate ship to hold all the mates.  Their labor of love was greatly appreciated.  Each pirate guest was assigned a pirate name, 

given a tattoo, a spy glass, chocolate coins and a cupcake.  They had cardboard swords to pop the bubbles we would blow which was tricky with eye patches on!

Here ARRRGH the swashbucklers: Cash Wardle, Sam Blackham, Brenna, Austin Staples, Harry, Katelee, Charlotte Burgoyne, Maddox Allred and Paxton Mortenson.  

The treasure hunt was a big success as well as pin the eye patch on the parrot.  We were thrilled Harrison loved it.  But, I do not feel bad that it will be another year before pirates board our ship again! 

Two days later was Mr Harrison's actual birthday.  This boy.  What to say about the new four year old, who still thinks he is a baby at times?  He loves me the most (he tells me that!) but, he always wants his dad to put him to bed.  I love when he tells me how much he loves me-he does it a lot.  He says, "Mom, I just love you so much.  I'm going to keep you forever and ever." He has a special place in his heart for weapons.  

He takes one nearly everywhere we go.  So, those were a couple of his gifts.  The other day in Costco, we were standing behind a gentleman and Harrison, rather loudly, told me to touch the man's butt in front of me.  I was trying to shush him and tell him that's not a nice thing to do or say; however, the command was repeated a few times, each time getting louder.  "Touch his butt!" Harrison would say.  I was embarrassed, but so glad he didn't have a plastic sword with him to reach out and tap that man's hiney.  I'm sure that male customer ran as fast as he could out the door and away from us!

Harrison has a new-ish found love for pirates.  We draw treasure maps and go on hunts for treasure constantly.  So, a treasure chest cake was perfect for him.  

We had gone out to lunch to McDonald's on his birthday and he pretty much eats none of the typical dinner cuisine, so Shannon and grandma joined us for a pancake dinner.  The birthday boy was pleased with that arrangement.  

Harrison is so great.  He still has quite a temper and it flares up in particular when being teased by an older brother.  But, he also will be found riding around on that brother's back laughing his head off a little while later.  Harry has the best laugh and sense of humor.  He gut chuckles a lot and gets the rest of us cracking up.  He loves to say the play Mario games with his siblings and is growing up with a heavy influence of our technological age.  This is apparent in his constant use of the word 'pause.'  He tells us to 'pause the game,' 'pause the prayer,' or 'pause the talking.'  It never gets old...until he starts screaming it because we aren't listening.  Ha!  

He is a VERY important person in our family and on his VIP day at school, we took a little picture.  His poster says he is four, his favorite animal is a lion, his favorite color is green, his favorite food is toast.  He has a pic of himself, our family, the zoo (which he declares is his favorite place).  He claims his favorite thing to do is work.  I have yet to see him ever work...just helping clean his room is a huge ordeal.  He must like watching other people work for him! If he could wish for something it would be a Mario game, so we have a pic of Mario and Luigi.  

Finally, when he grows up, Harrison says he wants to be a pirate or a Muppet.  He is very ambitious and we hope to be able to support him in his career goals!  Love this little buddy!!