Best Day Ever!

(Can you hear Spongebob singing? It's the best daaaay evvveeerrrrrr!) Have to admit, today was pretty great! My work had a family picnic today and we had a blast! Rosie (our office manager) and her hubby hosted and they had the cutest train ever. They call it the Laveen Lightrail. The kids could ride it all day. Even I managed to fold these long legs up and took a ride. I think this is a much better use of water storage containers.

And the kids had a big soccer ball to kick around. Here is Megan kicking it out from under all the boys.
And we took the kids on quad rides. No picture of me, seeing how I was driving a quad, but the girls were happy that I took them on a ride. Here is Dr. Brooks with 3 out of his 4 kids.
And we danced...

And we ate, boy, does this office know how to eat! We always have fabulous food. And on Sunday is Rosie's birthday so we had cake. Happy Birthday Rosie!
Seriously, I had no idea that a work picnic could be this much fun. I had to pry my kids away. But it was for a good cause. We headed home, picked up Diana, and went to see New Moon. It looks like I was really excited to be there!
And not to capitalize on Diana's suffering, (two broken ankles) but we got sweet parking thanks to her handicap pass, and when we got in line outside with our tickets, an usher came up to us and said we could go right in to the theater and pick out our seats because she was in her wheelchair. Yesssss! We had to sit in the theater an hour, but our seats were the best. We all enjoyed the movie. (Now this is the point where I gripe and moan) Okay, so I am wheeling Diana out of the theater and we get to the doors and there is no button for it to automatically open. And NO ONE bothered to hold the door!!! So I flipped her around and backed my bootie through the door while everyone just crowded around us. Whatever. We got out to the car and because the movie is so popular all the handicap is full so someone is waiting for my spot. I'm trying to figure out how to quickly fold up a wheelchair and pick it up to put it in my car, and apparently it only fits in one angle because I had to pull her crutches and wheelchair out and do it again. TWO men walked right by me and didn't offer to help. Whatever. That will not bring me down off my happy high. So if you see someone struggling with a wheelchair, take 2 seconds and help them.

But the highlight of today? Spending all day with my girls, having fun, no worries.

Halloween

Another fun Halloween this year! Once again Sammy switched it up from a princess to a fairy to a ballerina. I had a lot of fun making her tutu. For a short while I was her hero.Megan was an Indian this year. Sorry. Native American. I found her costume on the internet. Ahhhh! I thought they were both very cute.
We did our trick or treating with the Danas.
I thought Diana was a great sport, trick or treating on her jazzy with her two broken ankles. Jack thought it was wonderful, honking the horn wherever we went.
Then we wound our way over to Cara's house where she invited the whole neighborhood over for chili and had a projector set up outside and the kids could watch a movie on the garage door.
And finally...had to dress up for work. HATE dressing up! But we had a fun day of playing up the Disney angle. Don't worry, Dr. Brooks took his wig off to work on the patients.

>

A Young Woman

Megan is twelve. Such a fun and important age! One of the best parts is that she can finally join us in Young Womens! Her very wonderful leader, Sister Haltom, came and decorated our house and left a treat for her to wake up too. The note talks of how of how she hopes Meggy has "dots" of fun for her birthday! And today Megan met with the bishop and was presented to the ward. I guess in her interview she mentioned that she is excited to be in YW's with her mom. Ahhhh! So happy I don't embarrass her to death yet!In the house I grew up in we have a tradition. When the boys turned 12, they got their first gun. When my sister and I turned 12, we got our very first pair of diamond earrings. Years ago I told Nate that I would love to continue this tradition. He agreed on one condition. The girls get to choose whether to get the gun or the earrings. Whaaaat?!? NOOOOO! Just kidding. Megan made her choice and you can probably imagine what she picked.

Yeah...that box is waaaay too big for earrings.

Nate had the day off and spent all day making a wonderful dinner of pulled pork sandwiches and this yummylicious cake.

The next morning we headed off to Build a Bear for a fun party.

Everyone had a great time and I hope Megan has all her wishes come true. We love you sweetie and hope your birthday was fabulous!

Dads, Ducks, and Daughters

Part of the reason we head north every October is so Nate and Jeff can do their duck hunting together. This year was extra fun because the girls just completed their Hunters Education course. They couldn't wait to go out on the boat! Jeff let them both have a turn driving the boat.

It's pretty cold that early in the morning!

Nate is in HOG HEAVEN with his girls taking an active interest in hunting.

Unkey Jeff

This was especially exciting because on this trip they were being FILMED for Roughin' It Outdoors on Channel 2! And they were on tv!

I do think the excitement got to Sam. Getting up that early and being on tv is exhausting!

Bless her heart, she fell asleep sitting up in the boat! She had so many warm clothes on that they kept her propped up and she slept through all the hunting!

It was a successful morning! Many ducks and lasting memories!