I want Candy!!

This was a great October and it feels like it is going to be a great November because the weather is starting to get cool. This is my October wrap up:

A big old box of Halloween costumes was all we needed for an evening of fun! Kai had a carnival at his school and we needed to find Bubba a costume (because this years costume was waiting for him at Grammy and Papa's house in California!) So I dragged in a box of Halloween costumes from the past - and the girls picked out all the things they thought they could have fun with. Notice the glare that automatically come with this ensemble.

My girls usually like to be pretty princesses and magical creatures, but this time they had a blast being the "evilest!"

A glare comes with the devi lhorns as well.

I did not teach her to pose like that . . .

This picture is not related to anything that has to do with costumes, but I think it's really cute!

Fabulous photo before we leave to Daddy's school carnival. Giselle, Spider- man and Hanna Montana

The itsty -bitsy spider went up the water spout!

Love this shot!

PUMPKIN RUN! In lieu of wearing costumes at Cambria's school, all the children were instructed to wear orange and black. They also had a school wide race. Cambria placed in the top ten out of 120 kindergartner's to win a pumpkin!

Cambria and her favorite neighbor friends, Cassidy, are pictures below.

Her purple ribbon from the race.

Her winning stride!

Cambria and Daddy. They actually awarde pumpkins to the tope 25 finishers from every grade. i thought that was so nice to reward more than the top three kids. It sure made it more fun for the kids.

Bubba holding Cambria's winnings. He'll be happy as long as we don't make him sit in it again!

The best part about Halloween this year was that we got to go to California, mostly to celebrate my birthday, but of course to trick or treat as well. The sad part was that I forgot my phone book and couldn't call all the friends I wanted to see. I tried to email them, but I still haven't recovered every one's email addresses from when the hacker erased them from our account. Sorry California friends. I hope to see you next time!

Halloween day started off with a party at Grammy's preschool. She works with chirldren who have disabilities. We played in the school yard, participated in a parade, sang songs, did a craft and ate some yummy food. Thanks for taking us to your school Grammy!

Kiera getting into the car . . . all you can see is fluff!!

Little Bubba in the giraffe costume Grammy bought him - so cute!

Scarecrow Grammy and her pet giraffe!

( This is so out of order - more info on this in a minute! Gigi came over to visit us right before we went trick or treating. She brought us some cute little cups full of goodies! Thank you Gigi!)

Scary hand making at Grammy's school. Rubber glove with candy corn finger nails and pop corn filling.

Bubba thought he was so coo because he got to sit on a chair at song time! WE changed him out of his costume becaus eit was so HOT! Look at his rosy cheeks!

Hanna Montanna and Gisele (from Enchanted) were so excited to trick or treat around Grammy's house!

Here is Kiera eating the cookie on a stick that Gigi brought over! Or maybe she is singing into it like a microphone . . .

We love Gigi so much and we are so glad that we got to see her!

I didn't know which picture I liked better so I used both!

I was a witch and my favorite part of my costume was my black and purple tights!

We had to check out our haul when we got home. we were so impressed with the good candy we got. Last year we just got smarties and dum-dums- this year it was all kinds of chocolate candy bars. We really didn't go to that many houses, but our buckets were packed full and quite heavy when we got home. The girls even got whole candy bars, not just the mini sizes. Someone forgot to tell my mom's neighborhood that the economy is not doing well.

Kiera trying on her ugly fake gummy treat. (This candy truly looked distgusting.)

Cambria was so tired from all the fun!

Cambria with her fake, disgusting gummy teeth.

Lastly, my birthday party! We just had the Grandma's over for a little food and some ice cream cake.

It was so yummy! Thanks Gigi!

I got this pink robe for my birthday. It is super duper soft and cuddley and I don't know if I will ever get it back. It started a three way tug-of-war between Cambria, Kiera ad Uncle Sean.

Cambria got really tall!

Here is my Kiera monster!

Uncle Sean sure is great at making fun memories with the kids!

One little, two little, three little pumpkins!

This was a fun night even though Kiera's favorite word to say every 10 seconds was "disgusting!" The good news is that she is finally feeling better and acting like herself. We went for her first check up today for her tonsils and her ear and everything is healing as it should be. The doctor even removed the stitches from Kiera's ear without causing a riot - phew!

Bubba really got into the pumpkin thing!

Cambria had to try it too, but there was no way Kiera was going near the pumpkin seat!

We had so much fun and I was surprised by the creativity that my girls expressed in their pumpkin design.

Meet Cambria's new friend Kelly.

Meet Kiera's new friend Eve-ah

Happy Halloween!

My birthday and a Plea fo help:)

Visit with the missionaries: the one on the right is My cousin's brother-in-law. Funny that he would serve in our area!
Below: Cambria was laying on the floor and Malachi decided that he needed to sit on top of her and then lay on top of her. Cambria thought it was so funny.

Cambria planted these marigolds from little tiny seeds!

This is how I spent my birthday! Thank you for your birthday wishes! I am still not thrilled about being thirty but you all made me feel better!

I saw learned this from my cousin Sunnie- it's a cute little tutu made out of tulle! It is part of Kiera's Halloween costume!

We also spent the morning making ghosts out of trash sacks and old grocery bags. It's a great art project that involves recycling materials!

Spooky ghost blowing in the wind!

These were some of my birthday treats: From my sweet visiting teacher I got (these are all things that her daughter-in-law makes) Some scented lotion: sweet pea and pink sugar, a candle melting pot and scented bricks: pumpkin spice, pomegranate and mulled cider! It was so sweet of her and totally unexpected! Check out all of these cool products at fromtheheartboutique.com

Two of my girlfriends brought me another wonderful gift: CHOCOLATE! Brownies from Becky and Ben and Jerry's Phish Food- my favorite! Thank you to my sweet friends!

My mom sent me a very cute fall floral arrangement and way cute balloons. I also got a birthday card from my missionary brother and phone calls from around the globe (and lots of sweet comment son my blog. Thank you for making my day of crisis much more pleasant!

Now, on to my next subject

I am aware that some people don't want to read the Twilight series because they don't want to "jump on the band wagon" This is what my sister-in-law thought (so did I at first) and she just finished reading it and really enjoyed it. If you haven't read it for whatever reason. It is time to put Twilight to the test start. It is well written and if nothing else, it's entertaining. I am also sure it will be way better than the movie. Some things just can't be translated onto the silver screen

This next section is where I am hoping to get your input and lots of it. I know some of you have read Twilight and know that I love the series- well for the last month now I have been trying to figure out how to design t-shirts and get them printed. I have been working with my Lasting Impressions partner and we have compiled a collection of saying and graphics. We have been researching prices and techniques and collecting all kinds of info - now if I could just figure out how to put the pictures on my blog. This is a rough preview:

As you can see I still have a little work to do on this "TEAM JACOB: my favorite color is black" Tee. Get it? Jacob Black? There really is an "l" in the word black but my spacing got mixed up most likely due to the fact that Bubba was on my lap no doubt trying to be a good helper.

The T-shirts will be figure flattering and form fitting, much like SHADE shirts or shirts by Down East Outfitters. They will be nice and feminine.

I am really excited about making these. How fun would it be to have a girl's night out and where these t-shirts to the movie premiere?

So there are just a few of the other saying I have- I post them when I have them put together with the graphics! They will look much more appealing once you see them with the graphics - i promise! (Kinda cheesey- but fun!)

Team Edward Lines:

1. Bella and Edward: Forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest

2. Team Edward est 1901

3. Vampire Girl

4. Team Edward: Sleep is overrated

Team Jacob Lines:

1. Picture of a paw print with Alpha written on it

2.Yeah, Whatever, I miss you too. Love, Jacob

3. Wolf Girl

4. You can be my personal sun

Non- specific:

1. My favorite time of day is TWILIGHT

2. My next vacation destination, FORKS

3. Take me to La Push or lose me forever!

I have a lot more sayings that I will add when I can show you with all of the graphics.

So here comes the questions for you!:

1. Should I do T-shirt colors other than black and white? If so, what colors?

2. Would you be willing to help me advertise on your blog/my space/face book/etc?

3. What is your favorite phrase so far?

Thank you for all your help - I know I will really appreciate the feed back!

Little tid bits of info

Before I get into my own personal crisis may I please announce that my husband was awarded Teacher of the Year! Isn't that cool?!! He is in the newspaper and he got a plaque and a little money for him and a lot of money for his school. He thinks this is good publicity so that someday he can be the Mayor.:) I am very proud of him. Good job, Honey! I guess when you are doing something you love, it shows.

Now on to my personal crisis. Tonight is my very last night in my 20's. I am incredibly depressed. Now, I know what some of you are thinking. Some of you, who are thirty or older are thinking, "Yeah, thirty was a hard one." Those of you who are still in your twenties tonight (like me) are thinking, "Holy crap, I didn't know you were that old. You're old." Let me assure you my twenty-something friends, someday you will be thirty too. And you will wonder how you got there and you will blog about it and I will read it and I will think to myself, "Yeah, thirty was a hard one."

So, I have been tagged and I find it appropriate to answer questions about myself, since it is very close to my special day.

6 random facts about me: I think I have done something similar to this recently, so bear with me.

1. Along with my fear of chickens, I have a fear of large geese. As a child we would take outing to La mirada regional park to feed the ducks. They would often chase me. This had not changed in my adult life. I often take my kids thinking it will be fun and I usually end up running in terror. Those suckers are big. They even chased me when I was pregnant with Kiera. Have you ever seen a hugely pregnant woman dash frantically across the sprawling lawns of a park?

2. I am currently addicted to If Walls could talk an the HG network. I love physical evidence of the past. I should have been an archaeologist.

3. If I could live right next door to my mom, I probably would.

4. I am currently writing two books: one children's book and one adult novel.

5. I have no feeling in my right elbow.

6. I have never lived in one city for more than 7 years. Right now my longest residence is tied between La Habra, CA and Laie, HI

I don't know who I tag yet. I'll think of that later:) I've got to go to bed while I am still 29.

Prop 8 gets scary in CA

I got this forward from a friend and I hope she doesn't mind me sharing it. Prop 8 may only be on the California ballot, but it's outcome will effect all of us no matter what state we live in. If you know people in California, please, please spread the word. Remember that this prop is not about granting rights it is about a title. Gay couples in California already enjoy the same rights that married spouses do. Rights and benefits are not the issue, this is not what prop 8 is about. It is about a title. The title of marriage. Vote "yes" on prop 8 to make a constitutional amendment that marriage is defined as a union between a man and a woman.
A "no" vote will dictate that school curriculum teach students as young as kindergarten that a marriage between a man and a man is the exact same thing as a marriage between a man and a woman. We do not believe in prejudice or mistreatment of those who decide to live an alternative lifestyle. We do believe that gender plays a crucial part in our society and that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God. Prop 8 is about religious freedom - the freedom to believe that some things are still sacred.

Protest at the LDS Oakland temple
Dear family and friends,
I had a very disturbing experience yesterday that I would like to share with those of you that live outside of California (or outside of the San Francisco Bay Area). This weekend we have stake conference. Our stake conference always begins with a stake temple session on Friday or Thursday night. Early Friday morning I received a call from the second counselor in our bishopric to let me know that there would be numerous protesters outside the temple, and to remind everyone to stay calm and to drive carefully. The beautiful Oakland Temple is located right across the bay from San Francisco , very close to the city of Berkeley . Apparently the opposition to proposition 8, the amendment that seeks to make marriage in CA between a man and a woman again, has realized the involvement of the church and begun to protest right outside of the temple and harass temple patrons. The fastest way to get to the temple from our house is to take the 680 freeway, but the exit is a bit tricky. The off ramp is extremely short and straight uphill. You then make an almost blind left turn, an immediate right and another left into the parking lot. As we! approached the off ramp, I realized there would be trouble. There was a backup onto the freeway from cars stalled on the off ramp. As we moved forward inches at a time, we realized this was due to a large group of loud protesters who were standing on both sides of the street, yelling, screaming and waving signs. When we got to the top of the off ramp, ready to make our turn, one protester jumped out right in front of our car. It took my husband all his self control to carefully maneuver around him to the left and proceed to the temple. I tried not to listen to all they were shouting at us, but I was shaking as I got to the temple front door. Several of the sisters, especially the ones driving on their own, were crying (which made me snap out of it and go into RS President mode to comfort them). Later, as I was sitting in the perfect quiet of the chapel, I couldn't help but think of Lehi's dream, and the people who mocked the Saints from the big spacious building but "we heeded them not." It was a truly surreal experience, I'd never thought that I would have to go through an angry crowd to get to the temple. As we left late at night, the protesters had dispersed, temple security (who all looked very large and Tongan) stood by the gates. I never saw a single police man. Please pray for those of us in California fighting for prop 8--it's getting kind of scary out here!

Love, Susanne

I am so glad it's over!

(by: mom i love you mom I love you too Cambria) - I didn't want to delete this conversation with Cambria.


This is before Kiera knew any better:

Still happy as a clam even though she is wearing a clown gown - she hates clowns.
The trigger thumb- it's the bent one.
Let the nightmare begin:
Our expectations for a smooth procedure were high. Cambria had her tonsils out and it really went well. Kiera had already had surgery once (tubes in her ears) and that went well also. I never considered the fact that three different surgeries would be a little more demanding on my little three year's old body. I should of known this. I usually do think about these kinds of things. But this time I didn't.
While the surgeries performed simultaneously by the two skillful doctors went well, I cannot say the care by the nurses was ideal. This is my new mantra: Just say no to student nurses. I know they have to learn and practice their chosen profession, but they no longer will get to practice on the people in my family.

Kiera did not come gently out of her deep anesthesia induced sleep. She kicked, she screamed, she tried to pull her IV out. She did this for quite along time. The nurses tried to comfort us by explaining that it wasn't really her just a reaction from the anaesthesia. It did, however, closely resemble her new three year old tantrum times 10. The ER nurse (who was not a student, but who nonetheless won my disapproval) was rightly worried that her screaming would ruin the work that the doctor had just done in her throat. Concerned about bleeding the ER nurse gave her Tylenol with codeine. The she gave her 1 and a half Mal's of morphine. The starting dose for adults in 2ml's. Kiera continued her screaming and wailing until she suddenly appeared to wilt. The Tylenol and morphine kicked in at the same time causing her body to pass out, for lack of a better term. The nurse bean to frantically check her vital, administer oxygen and sit her straight up on her bed. She called to me and the student nurse to keep her awake - "don't let her close her eyes." It was scary. I held back tear and pretended to stay calm as I slapped her face and pinched her arms and called her name. She looked like a strung out druggie. It is not a picture that I care to carry around in my head. I felt like a duck upon a pond- one who looks calm above surface, but just underneath the water my legs were frantically treading water. The nurse said there were medications that would counteract the morphine, but she didn't want to give it to her if she could avoid it. This lasted for about 20 minutes when her status improved . . .slightly. She could open her eyes a bit more and she kept trying to talk to me. She kept saying something about my face and them reached for me hair and began coming through it with her fingers. Later i found out when she was a bit more coherent, that she saw bugs crawling on me. We were finally able to move her to the recovery room after and hour. She was disturbed that there were two clocks on the wall in her room. There was only one. She was however excited when Tigger and Pooh walked passed her room. I didn't see them, but she sure did. After an hour more of oxygen and vital being checked, they finally let her succumb to the sleep that had been begging and audience with her. They let her sleep because she was finally breathing more than 12 breaths a minute. It was scary.

I snuggled next to her in the bed while she slept "under my wing". That is what she calls in when she sleeps under my arm. Her IV started beeping and the student nurses examined it but didn't understand why it was beeping. They pushed a few buttons and them left the room, I assumed to seek greater light and knowledge from their attending RN. You know what happened when one assumes. A half hour later, the machine beeped again, calling for attention however inadequate.
A different student nurse checked the complaining machine, pushed some buttons and left them room. An hour later, the real RN came in, checked the IV, left the room, then came quickly back rushing to rip the well wrapped IV out of Kiera's arm. They had promised us that it would be in a lot longer to deliver much needed fluids to my little Kiera as well as anti nausea medication. I didn't learn until later, That the IV had to be removed promptly because air bubbles had been allowed to seep into the IV tube because of improper handling of the machine by the student nurses. The head nurse told me this with a shake of her head and a look of disgust.

Kiera would not drink and when we finally convinced her too, she vomited. We were all concerned since the IV could no longer come to our aid. The head nurse considered option of how to give her anti nausea medication - put a new IV in, a shot, a suppository . . .ahh, man - it was awful. She said after much discussion with the pharmacist, the decide on a chewable tablet that was placed in Kiera's mouth with an ice chip while sleeping.

We finally got to go home at 4:15. It was a long day and a long night. We had wonderful friends and family who came bearing gifts and dinners and we felt very loved and cared for. Thank you to all of you who kept us in your prayers I shutter to think what our fate would have been without the Lord's help.
The doctor wrote a yes on the arm that was to be operated arm. I thought that was a very scientific way to ensure the correct operating site.

Doesn't the picture below break your heart?
Kiera's sweet nursery teachers brought Kiera and Cambria a get well gift. We'll have to help Cambria practice sitting more like a lady.
Kiera taking a well deserved rest with her new Belle doll.

Flowers, balloons and a new soft and cuddly stuffed bear from Grammy, Papa and Gigi. Thank you!

Bubba "talking" on the phone. Totally unrelated to the above story, nevertheless a very common sight in our house.

three isn't always a lucky number

Kiera is having three surgeries on Tuesday. She will be having her ear tube removed, her tonsils out and her trigger thumb fixed. Poor little girl. If you don't mind, add her to your prayers please!

Fabulous Fall

My heart used to yearn for the days of summer. The thought of sun and surf would would bring me cheer all year long. Well, move over summer - your are too dang hot, without the surf near by you are meaningless to me. My new love is the Fall, cooler weather and the beginning of the holiday season.

My mom got these three Halloween characters for my birthday last year. Most mornings I wake up to find them in a different pose. Today they were in a huddle. Thank you, Cambria.
This is the yummy project that kept us busy this afternoon. Cambria had a cookie dough fund raiser and we bought the one that looks like playdoh.

And FINALLY . . . I got Bubba's one year old pictures. He was so smiley! It was great we did five different poses in less than ten minutes. I was so worried that he would cry and not sit still for the photographer, but my worries went unvalidated. Hooray!
Our photographer fell in love with him and this is what she wrote on the receipt:
Things I've heard:

Cambria:

You know how sometimes were naked and we get our clothes on to cover our nakedness? That's kind of like this band-aid, it covers my ouchies nakedness.

Me: Do you think we will live in Mesquite forever?

Kiera: Yes!

Cambria: Yes!

Me: You do?

Cambria: Yes, for years and I hate it!

Me: Why? Because you wished we lived closer to Grammy's?

Cambria: No because it's a small town!

( I guess I have said that once or twice:()

Background: We get strep and ear infections a lot and we take Keflex and Omnicef a lot. These need to be taken with acidophilus (found in yogurt) because they are so strong. My kids are sick of yogurt, so I got a new brand and called it acidophilus.

Kiera: More acidophilus please!

Kiera: I miss Uncle Caca (he's on his mission) he's been gone for 5 years.