It's A Wrap

So October is over.

It brought new friends and joint family home evenings.

Kids Congo Line

 Neighborhood Night Out

A national event, that I have never before celebrated.

I love that they do it here.

We got a bounce house, food, and everyone came out!

 Activity Days is one of my callings.

It has been so fun.

These girls are amazing!

 A new first...

While out with my daughter, a guy hit on us.

Yes, he thought we were friends not mother/daughter.

 Homecoming.

Sadly different than PA.

The dance is "lame" and no one "cool" goes.

But they have this awesome Mum tradition.

Notes From a Leadership Meeting - Things That Have To Do With Youth (and Our Families)

• Provide anchors for the Youth
• Focus on the For Strength of Youth
• Arm ourselves with truth not fun
• Purposeful and intentional activities
• Be brilliant in the basics
• Bear testimony for our children and our youth
• Women are lionesses at the gate - if it matters to us, it matters to our families
• Model unapologetically the standards of the Lord
• Service builds unity
• Priesthood is the power to save souls
• Faith first will magnify everything else
• One to one spiritual priorities
• Be patient with other's speed toward the destination
• Everyone has influence in the lives of others, where is our influence
• Lack of unity gives Satan power
• Check our spirituality with the Lord vs. Our Way
• Family counsels - adjustments to be made
• Obedience brings the blessings of heaven but exact obedience brings miracles

Halloween...

My kids are too old for this.

Or at least that is what I think.

They disagree.

I told them I will no longer buy costumes.

They decided to make their own.

 

They went to the ward trunk or treat.

As well as trick or treating in our neighborhood.

There were plenty of kids their age that went around.

I guess it is harmless fun.

Lumberjack

Pop Art Figure

Alfalfa

Rubik's Cube



What's In A Name?

Wyatt and Kody are tame in the cowboy themed pool of names here in Texas.  Names like Sterling, Ranger and Magnum are everywhere around us and not one person has asked me how you spell Wyatt!

Likewise girl names are boy names and I am ever befuddled and amused as Isabella introduces me to friends like Reese, Hunter, Kody, Layne, Frankie, etc...

Just another day in the culture shock that is Texas!

Yes, Please

Super cost affordable, season passes to Fiesta Texas, Six Flags.

Check!

For years, we have debated on season passes.

Hershey Park was just too expensive.

I couldn't be more thrilled with this investment.

We started using them immediately and have used them every month since.

The gift that keeps giving.

Fiesta Texas!

Family: It's Always the Time

Enchanted Rock

Yeah, it's a giant rock in the middle of not so many rocks.

It boasts a great view of everything below,

some rock formations/caves to hike in and around,

an easy to moderate hike up to the top,

and the best Sunday afternoon ever!

 

National Honor's Society...

In Texas here,

you can be inducted into

National Honor's Society

in 10th grade.

 

At first Isabella was told,

 she couldn't be because,

we had just moved here.

 

This was not the first time,

we felt penalized in this area

because of moving.

 

They changed their minds.

She applied.

She was accepted and inducted.

Nana and Grandpa came.

 

They took us for Dairy Queen after.

Way to go Isabella Whitney,

we are so proud.

Even if they spelled your name wrong!

 



All Tiggered Out

If I were to summarize the summer of 2017 and include in that until probably October of 2017,

the adjective I would use is tiring.

A cross country move with four kids, a dog, and no job is exhausting.

 And in all the packing and preparation, I would find the kids passed out.

 Every time we got in the car, it was lights out.

 I found the kids in other beds besides their own, because they were too tired to move.

 By the time we moved, they slept pretty much all three days of the journey there.

  But even in Texas and mostly unpacked, I kept finding them asleep.

 Every near flat surface became a bed, as we all tried to recover.

And after several months of recovery and rest, I guess we got out of the funk.

And I'm sure some day, I may forget how much work moving is,

but I can't imagine that day is anytime soon.