Scout O Rama 11/1

Okay I decided to take all the kids to Scout O Rama this year.  I also took my nephew Kolten and my Cousin Ray (known as Uncle Ray to the kids) came and met us there.  My kids loved it. We arrived at eleven and left at three thirty.  All of the kids had a great time.  Hayley really liked walking across this high rope bridge.  No fear for her, she crossed without hesitation.  She also wanted to climb the wall and repel down, but the line was always too long.  I told her we would take a rain check.   
Seth had alot of fun as well.  He was also able to pass off an achievement and earn a belt loop. He is working on his Whittling Chip Achievement here.  He carved an awesome car, and obviously gets his creativity from his Dad.
Jared also had fun crossing the high rope bridge.  Toward the middle of the bridge it gets very shaky and it is hard to keep your balance.  He became a little fearful, but with some encouragement to just take a step at a time he made it.  He was so proud of himself.  You can't buy that for your child - it has to be earned, and he really earned it.
I let the youngest three cross the smaller rope bridge.  It was very sturdy and did not sway or shake.  They did a great job and when they crossed all the way they knew they had done something extraordinary.  I love seeing that on my kid's faces and hope that I will see it often. My kids loved panning for gold, mini golfing, obstacle courses, learning about first aid, making marshmallow shooters etc.  I could go on but I won't.  It was great.
Sammie loved the go carts and the scouts took great care of her.  She would finish the course and jump back in line.  We finally had to grab her and show her something else.  She loved golfing just as much and played at least four rounds.  Scout O Rama was a big hit and my kids are wanting to know when we will go again.

Happy Halloween 10/31

We had quite the menagerie of characters this Halloween.  We had Hayley - Candy Corn Witch, Seth - Master Chief from Halo, Jared - Bazooka Trooper (Star Wars for those who are clueless), Emilee - Pirate Princess, Tank - Spiderman, and Samantha - Cheer Bear (Carebears).  We had a great time at our ward's Trunk or Treat.  Mom even dressed up this year as the Statue of Liberty.  Sorry no pictures - can't take pictures and be in them at the same time.  Halloween is always so fun and magical, and is definately one of our family's favorite holidays.

Emilee Loses 1st Tooth!

A week earlier Emilee said that there was something wrong with her tooth.  I looked at it and told her that she has a loose tooth.  She started to cry and said that she did not want her tooth to fall out.  I then explained that the tooth fairy would come and give her money for the lost tooth and that a new and stronger tooth would come take its place.  She stopped crying and starting wiggling, hoping she could expedite the loss.
Her cousin Kylie comes over everyday to help me out with the housework since we began home schooling.  Everyday Emilee would let Kylie wiggle and try to pull the tooth out.  Finally after a week and a promise of a special dance if  Emilee would pull out the extremely loose tooth, it happened.  Kylie did her dance and I wish I had a video camera for that, and Emilee had her tooth.  The next day, the tooth fairy was a little late, and in the afternoon I reminded Emilee to look under her pillow.  She carefully tiptoed down to her room and looked in.  She ran back and said that she saw a little light above her pillow and didn't want to scare the tooth fairy away.  She went back later and found money.  She was so excited, and now she has another loose tooth.

Corn Maze 10/17

We went out to the Fear Farm - not for the fear part but for the Corn Maze.  Every year they make a design in 8 acres of corn.  You enter one side and hope to exit the other side.  We gave each of our kids the opportunity to attempt to lead us out of the maze.  In the end we had to have their Dad's help.
We went into the maze with alot of people, but we never saw them again.  I wonder if they are still there trying to find their way out.  We had alot of fun weaving through the maze.  There were even spots were people lost their patience and bolted through the corn stalks.  It was alot of fun and a great experience for us all.
At the end they had the "Cow Train".  The axles are bent and so when the tractor pulled the train it would jerk the kids up and down like a roller coaster.  They smiled from ear to ear. Even Samantha wanted to ride again.