Computer issues

I know hardly anyone reads this blog, but those that do have asked for updates, those who do and stay anonymous (EMILY) secretly are asking the same.
We had a problem a few weeks back though when both of our lap tops (Same brand -bought the same day) crashed. We took them in ....12 weeks for repair! SERIOUS!
So we had to buy another...cheep one to get us through 12 weeks. (Funny how we are so reliant on them) My kids cant even do homework. Even my 3rd grader has computer homework.
So the piece of crap has no memory card slot. I have no USB cord for my camera.

We had a great Thanksgiving, And we went Ice Blocking, Set up our trees and tonight Seth's first band concert....

Not to mention coming up there is "Glendale Glitters" and "Temple lights"
Gosh in 12 weeks we will have been to Utah and back Dan will be home (Fun stuff surely come with that) and Christmas!
So When the 12 weeks are up (Check back around Jan 15th) There will be a major blast of new entries!
Until then!
Happy Holidays to all!
Arlena

Cub scouts of AMERICA!

Yes , when we left Monterey one of the things Seth loved most was Cub scouts and he missed it a ton in Spain. While some countries have thier own version Spain does not and it is not a big part of the church like it is here. So Seth is back on the job and at the first Pack meeting he brought home 3 medals! Go Seth GO!

BRACES!

Need I say More?

Halloween

Of all the years we have been doing "Trunk or Treat" I have always tried to come up with some elabrate creative trunk decoration and have never realy hit the mark. I started thinking maybe it didnt matter, maybe all the kids care about is the candy.

Then this year the most simple idea, in my mind lame and easy...got the most compliments, more kids said "woooo- cool" or "is that a dungeon in your trunk." I was amazed.

I took a picture which of course with the flash made it look as lame as it was, but in the dark aparently it was impresive.

I used those partialy see through plastic sheets that hang in your window. I taped it to my open trunk and places a flash light inside against it so it slightly glowed. ...thats it!

This year the kids dresses up mostly of thier own ideas without much influance from me.

Paige had picked out her outfit before we left Spain. She wanted this outfit and I told her I was only going to buy it for her if it was her halloween costume so she agreed.

Seth mostly described how he wanted to look not realy what he wanted to be. I helped him come up with the "Jungle hunter" title.

Tori was a Hillbilly? Scary beat up doll? I'm not sure, but she was cute...she always is! She went with my brother to a concert which is what she had asked for as a birthday present from him.

Logan was assigned her costume because she was invited to a murder mystery party. She went as a 1930's movie star.

They all looked great!

Angela turns 35

Yep thats right, Angela and I have been friends since she was about 11 and now she's 35!

Thats 24 years of friendship for us. So it calls for a special birthday gift. Not to mention the idea that Ive not been around for a long time and who knows how long I will be local.

So I set into action. With out any furniture

in my living room it made perfect sence to do an asian floor type party . Yet Angela isnt realy the black and red kinda girl that usualy goes along with the typical chinnese theme. So we went the way of the cheery blossoms.

It was fun having her freinds and family and enjoying chatting while we waited for her to show up and then surprising her. She's so wonderful and easy to please it was a great time. Logan and Angela's brother and a friend helped serve and Tori watched the kids upstairs.

Everyone had a great time! Happy Birthday Angela!

Pumpkin carving

WE had an adventure in Pumpkin carving...as always but this was realy fun.

We got our pumpkins from Grandmas and Grandpas Farm in Utah and in side of Paige's pumkin were all kinds of growing pumpkins. We planted one and the other we put in wet paper towel to sprout.

All of our pumpkins came out great and were very decorative for our halloween!

Guest bathroom re-model

The guest bathroom has been bothering me for a while. Im not sure why more so than the fact that I have no couches. You would think I would be more concerned that my guest have no place to comforatbly sit than to stylishly wash thier hands. However since Dan and I had picked out the way we wanted to finish the room and I have been wanting to get my hands on it.

Then I started planning a birthday party for my BFF and knowing lots of guests would be here I was obsesed! Then to top it off I visit my Mother and Father inlaw

early in October and they gave me some shelves my dear husband had made when he was a wood shop student in High School.

They didnt even know but they were going to work perfect with the plan Dan and I had for the bathroom.

So I set to the work. I was over my head a bit, a little bit of water (thats a way understatment) shooting from the pipes and some toggles behind the light fixtures gave me a good run for my money, but in the end I finished, with a little time to spare before the party and I love the way it came out!

I stood and stared at it for a long time I loved it so much! I still go over and turn the light on and stare from time to time since it looks so good!

Home coming Mt. Ridge High School 2010

Oh the fun! Aunt Katie came over and did hair and mom made pizza and

we all had a good time getting the girls ready to head off!

Both Logan and Tori went with realy nice friends Tori- Melanie Logan- Micheal

They had lots of fun and came back laughing about all the silly kids and the neat location (Glendale Civic center) It was a good night!

Tori's Birthday Party #3

Paige worked at baking and decorating cupcakes for Tori's final birthday celebration with Mema, and family and Angela and Family.

This celbration included one of Tori's other favorite meal..."Beef stroganoph" then for entertainment we all went to the High School to watch Logans Chior concert. Afterwards we went back to the house for cupcakes and ice cream.

Tori knows how to do birthdays right!

Happy 14th Tori!

Tori's 2nd Party

On Tuesday, October 12th with Uncle matt, Aunt Kara, Luci, and Uncle Mikey we had one of Tori's favorite meals "Pasta with italian sausages" Then we played a wild game of spoons where Luci and Paige were wrestling Matt and Mom was thankful we don't have much furniture! It was fun, and topped off with Brownies and ice cream! Yummy!

Tori's birthday party

Tori chose to have a few friends, a few siblings, and a few cousins to...

"As You Wish" to paint ice cream bowls and then we all walked across the street to "Cold Stone" ice cream parlor and had some yummy ice cream blends. Lots of laughs and presents.

It was lots of fun! For the guest thank you gifts, we were able to pick up the bowls they painted. A few days later and give them to the painters.

It was a fun night and great to celebrate Tori's 14th birthday!

Hail

We had a giant hail storm.

It was crazy, came like a mad tropical storm and gone again in like 15 minutes.

Palm tree branches are now littering the neighborhood, and my bushes were blown apart. Screens were flying everywhere and some bent up. Look at the picture when the house was being preasure washed a few weeks ago and the picture of the same window today.

Hail ripped through the screen and busted the first pane of the window, it The kids picked up some of the hail and stuck it in the freezer.

Look at the size of them!

NUTS!