Kitchen Creations

What do you get when you mix a gallon of vinegar and a whole lot of lemon pepper? One stinky mess.






Alex found his way into the lazy susan and dumped out the vinegar and mixed it up right nice with lemon pepper. Needless to say, it was a rather interesting smell I found as I came down the stairs.
Note to Self (really just to Mark): We aren't that ready to get rid of all our baby locks on the cupboards.

Halloween Spooks

These are for our missionaries so far away. I didn't get to them till this morning and now I hear they are off on a African Safari for the weekend. They went 6 more hours north to visit a small group of Saints and take them some things. I can't wait to hear about their adventures and see the pictures they take. I know a few boys who will think their grandparents are the best after this safari.



This boy loved all things Halloween. He wasn't a bit scared by creepy masks or skeletons in the stores; he thought they were great. He isn't one of those scarey skeletons - I think he's one of the cutest skeletons around.

Aaron wanted to be a zombie. I wasn't really onboard with this idea, but it sounded easier than last year's Lego guy costume I had to make, so I went with it. Gone are the days of cute costumes for Aaron. He got dressed up on three different occasions, and yes, I had to put makeup on him all three times. Unfortuately for him, I think it got progressively worse and on Halloween night, it was a train wreck. I know zombies are dead guys, but really he was looking pretty sad. Glad he just went with it.



I talked Ethan into being Indiana Jones. He loved the whip he got at Cub Scout camp and after a few finds at the local thrift shop, he was good to go.






At our ward's first ever Trunk-or-Treat. Alex wasn't having a good time, but the other boys loved it. After Alex got into it, he was thinking it was a fun time to get candy. I can't remember the last time it was so nice on Halloween. No need to cover up those costumes with coats and gloves. Even Ethan was warm walking around in short sleeves. It was a fun night.

It was a bit of a rush to get out the door and over to the church, no Halloween porch picture for us this year. Sad. That's right up there with a Christmas morning picture on the stairs.


Wax Museum
Last night Ethan's school particiapated in what they call the wax museum. All the 5th graders choose a famous American to dress up as. The research the individual and make posters for the event. It was a big deal that the teachers have been talking about since the first day of school. Ethan got to be Babe Ruth. Thanks to a kind neighbor, he had a Yankee hat and a real wooden bat. I couldn't come up with a jersey, so I did the next best thing. I made one.



I had no idea how easy it would be to cut fabric using a cricut, but it worked liked a charm and with some heat and bond, Ethan had him a jersey. I even made him iron it on himself.



Not sure why he thought he needed to put his hand in his back pocket, but these kids did a terrific job holding still for so long. I really didn't think Ethan had it in him. He cracked me up in the video I took when they sang their song. He's holding really still and knows I'm taping him and he wants to look good. Then he finds Mark and Alex walking around and he breaks character and tries to get Alex to recognize him.

Dear Skype,

I knew it was fun to speak to my sister in the next time zone; it's even better to talk to someone halfway around the world! I love you, Skype!!!
Love, mg



Just got off of skype and had a chance to talk really quickly with my parents. They are serving in Francistown, Botswana, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sounds like they won't be sleeping for the next 18 months. There is lots of work there to do. They have one branch and two units. They said it is HOT and they have a little car. Random little facts, I know, but when you only get a few minutes, the conversation and questions are rather scattered.

Happy Birthday to my dear dad! It's his birthday today. Mom said they even had a little party for him there. Here's to a big adventure for you and Mom!

Departures

Today was the day. I finally had to say goodbye for the last time for real. I met the missionaries and their adorable chauffeur (Tony) at the airport this morning bright and early. Three of dad's sister were there too, Muzette, Sherry, and Marvalee. (Aaron told me tonight that Sherry is Muzette's side kick - where does he come up with these things?)



It is strange how much the airlines have changed since I went on a mission. After they checked in we really didn't have anywhere to go to say goodbye or even wait with them. Sister Grandma (my newly coined name for her - Elder Grandpa for dad) took Alex on a walk on the moving sidewalks. He really thought they were the bomb - those and the escalators.



We took a few pictures and really had to say goodbye quite quickly. The lines to the security were getting longer and I think they were a bit anxious to get through them on time.





I was proud of myself - I didn't cry too much at all. I think Mark was a bit worried about me after all my crying late last night, but I was a big girl. I just feel a little like an orphan now.

Dad said that while he was at the MTC he realized he had a pretty good companion and that he was glad Mom was going to be with him this time around. Mom joked the first time they had to teach there Dad did all the talking. They were pretty excited, and it seemed a little strange to see my mom wearing her Sister Woolf tag. I am so excited for them!



I really don't have a super great camera, so I am sorry to my siblings that these aren't the best pics - they'll just have to do. Mom was cute and got the grandkids a little something to remember them by. It has already been carried all around the house tonight. I am hoping he makes it the whole 18 months. Alex seems to really like the little guy.


Love me some Tony.


And so does Alex.


A special thanks to the guy who "isn't a part of the LDS community" who took our group picture. He's almost as great of a photographer as I am. I had include it even though it's a blur.



Mom wanted to do a "Call to Serve" wave. I ran over to try and get the pic while she was trying to explain to dad what he was suppose to do. I am not sure he really got it. Didn't he ever watch that video? Remember when mom got that video for Christmas, just after Brandon went on his mission. It must have been Tony that had her name. What I can remember is him being so excited about giving it to her, and when he did, he had to tell her how much it cost and that dad helped him buy it. Maybe that was one of my crazy dreams? But I'm pretty sure we all had a good laugh about that Christmas.

Conversations in the kitchen

I have no idea what he was doing, but after dessert tonight Aaron grabbed the garbage can and hugging it said, "Hey sexy, lady." He then pretended to kiss it.

Me: "Ah, Aaron, what does that word mean? Sexy?"
Aaron: "You know, Mom!"
Me: "But I want to know what you think it means."
Aaron: "Tell her, Ethan!"
Ethan: After a short pause. "It means you're really beautiful. Like you, Mom."
Me: (Trying not to laugh and wondering why their dad always misses conversations like these) "But you wouldn't tell me I was really sexy would you?
Aaron: "No, you're just really pretty, Mom."

At least that one is settled!

Missionaries

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly...

Last night as I was trying to get the kids in bed the phone rang. As I picked up my phone, to my surprise it was my mom calling. Wait? Isn't she suppose to be at the MTC? I hurried and picked up.
"Mom? What are you doing? Is it okay that you are calling?" I joked.

Fortunately as senior couples you have several perks that younger missionaries don't. I knew my parents didn't want to be getting a call from me when I was at the MTC. That would only mean trouble. She sounded so happy and said that she and dad were having a great time. The MTC normally gets 30-40 senior couples. That particular week they had 102 couples. Needless to say, there wasn't enough room for everyone there. Can you guess where she was calling me from? The Marriott!

"So, do you get to eat your breakfast there too?" I joked some more.

She didn't talk long. She had homework to do. They were getting ready to present the first discussion. I loved how excited she was and how happy she sounded. It certainly made it fun to talk to her and not feel sad at all.

Now on to my other missionary story. I only tell this portion because it really just makes me laugh.

As a missionary we hated when people would dog us and our teaching appointments. I remember the one time it was almost okay. This sweet lady wrote us an apology for not being able to keep the appointment and left us a bag of cookies because she felt so badly about it. Well tonight I was dogged once again. This time it was by the missionaries themselves.

I just keep hoping that these two are okay and that nothing bad happened to them. I signed up at church to feed the missionaries. Mark made arrangements to come home early so we could accommodate their schedule. The appointed time came and no missionaries. We waited. And then we waited some more. The boys really were excited about having the missionaries over to our home so I felt badly that it didn't work out. Finally, after 45 minutes we sat down to the table. I kept waiting for the doorbell to ring, but it never did.

As you can imagine, we had plenty of food for dinner. I may not have to cook tomorrow! It really wasn't a fancy dinner or anything. I was just a little frustrated that they never called to cancel or tell me what was going on. I even stressed out that the cake I made didn't look so great and made frosting to jazz it up a bit. I confessed to Mark that the only reason I made the frosting was because of the missionaries. He didn't seem to mind that they elders never showed up. He was just happy to have chocolate frosting on his zucchini cake.

Next time I talk to my mom, I'll remind her not to flake out on their dinner appointments.

The final countdown

Today is Friday. (Don't worry, I'm not going to break out in song or anything, nor do I want you to break out in song!)
Tomorrow is Saturday, then Sunday, and finally it's Monday, October 3, 2011.
I knew this day would be coming, but now it's here, right around the corner. I'm trying not to tear up as I type this.

We are sending our two great parents out into the world to be missionaries. I still think South Africa is too far away!



I know they are so excited to go, so I will be too! I just want to be a little selfish and keep them close by. I've decided this is all in preparation for when I send out my three little guys. That day will come all too quickly, and Ethan has already informed us that he is going to China! Now that sounds really far!