Pumpkin patch

My Mom Hosts
a Fall Festival for all our Family
every October at her house,
and along with hot dog roasts and hot chocolate,
and lots of cousins to play with,
We always make a trip to a local Pumpkin Patch.

And it is a Pumpkin Patch that is stocked with all locally

grown pumpkins and squash like you wouldn't believe-

of all kinds and varieties!

Annnndd,

it looks like I only got pics of One of My Pumpkins,

at the Pumpkin Patch.

Cute, though,

real cute.

You've Had a Birthday!

Look Who's 7!

The Birthday Boy got Breakfast in Bed

with Presents,

including a new soccer ball-

so we had a game of backyard soccer

to test it out.

And who won?

The Birthday Boy of course!

On the first day of being 7,

he said he could tell that he was taller,

liked more food,

had more muscles,

could kick farther,

and was much more smarter.

Turning 7

changes a person, 

I tell ya.

Soccer Mom Stripes

Can You tell how we've been spending our Saturdays

and weeknights?

Dad Coaches the Older Boys' Team.

And I Hop from Field to Field to Root for Them all!

I LOVE watching them Play-

My Mom Heart 

just swells with Love and Pride for them! 

General Conference

Remember THIS POST from April?
Here it is, October.
Remember how I said I had some plans
for a Less-Sugary kind of Reward Plan/Conference Consessions?
What do you think?

Instead of Sugary Treats Galore,

I made more healthy options 

that the kids like

[I used my no refined Sugar recipes],

including chocolate covered strawberries,

popcorn, almonds, and fruit leather.

Also,

we made coupons the kids could use 

for extra game time,

lunch with mom,

or

a trip to get an ice cream cone

(I figured a one time outing for a treat, 

was better than a bucket of candy to munch on for weeks).

Also,

we had lots of non-food items for the kids,

that we knew they would like.

I thought I would get lots of complaints,

but there were none-

they were quite pleased with their options!

Just to restate what this is all about:

Twice a year,

our Church has General Conference,

where we can watch on TV (or attend in person),

and listen to the words of our Prophets and apostles.

In our Family we encourage our kids to watch,

and take good notes (or draw pictures for the young ones)

for at least one of the 2 hour sessions.

And we reward them (bribe them?)

by giving them points for doing well,

and they can use the points at our

Conference Concession Stand,

to purchase things to enjoy during the next session of conference

(there are 4 2-hour sessions over two days).

Also, 

a Special time in our Family-

Our Oldest Boy turned 12

and was able to attend the Priesthood Session

with his Dad, Grandpa, Uncles and Cousins.

Even though anyone can watch the meeting 

on TV or via internet, it is a Special time and tradition

that the men 12 and over attend together.

And I believe the tradition

also calls for Ice Cream after the Meeting! 

[My Heart Loves this Picture]

Chiefs Fans 4 Life

09.29.14

NFL Monday Night Football

in Arrowhead Stadium

Kansas City 

Kansas City Chiefs vs. New England Patriots

We Smoked Em'!

I think our family of 5 is the largest KC Chiefs Fan Club

in the state where we live.

So We brought them to Kansas City 

for the Monday Night Football Game.

We had Great Seats,

Great Crowd around Us,

Broke the Decimal Level for 

the "Loudest Stadium",

and Pulled out a WIN.

Could it have been any Better?!

No Way

Kansas City Here We Come

09.25.14

We surprised our Kids with a trip to Kansas City,

to see the place where their Dad grew up,

but most Excitedly-

to attend a Monday Night Football KC Chiefs Game!

A run down of things we did during our visit:

This Place was Packed! 

It was actually in a Gas Station,

and the Line was Long,

because Everyone wants their BBQ Ribs!

We went to the Kansas City Public Library-

I had wanted to see this Ginormous Facade of Books

that lines the Side of the Parking Garage for the Library-

pretty cool!

Also,

there was a life size set of chess on the roof of the KC

Library, and you can move them,

so we played a fun game of family chess!

Of course,

being KC Chiefs Fans,

Spouse was super excited to see 

Chiefs Merchandise Everywhere!

We attended the High School Homecoming game

of Husband's Alma Mater

and got to meet lots of his old friends.

We spent a day at 

Worlds of Fun

And this little ice cream shop,

 in this little town

where Husband grew up,

is always a must-stop!

Look Who's 12!

[That's My Baby turning 12]

We waited a long time to get to have this baby,

and my heart ached so much

that I thought it would smother me.

Then we finally got pregnant.

And had a baby.

And now he's 12.

Love this Guy.

Fund Raising

I'm on the PTA Board
at our Kids' School, over Fund Raising.

We Hosted a Fun Run for the Kids!

Because our Kids are in a school that is year-round,

to give ALL the kids

the opportunity to participate in things like this,

every event has to be held twice- about two weeks apart.

So two kick-off Assemblies 

and two days of doing the Actual Fun Run.

It was a lot of work,

busy and stressful,

but it was a lot of FUN,

and it went really well!

My favorite, favorite part,

was on the last day of the Fun Run- 

our last class was a 

Special Needs Class,

I just loved how they loved the Running-

even though it was difficult,

I loved how happy and content they were,

sitting on the ground, in the warm sun,

eating their post run snacks.

They sang a song for me,

and asked if I could come to class with them.

They took my heart home with them.

It was a perfect ending.

New Orleans, LA

We got to spend a week in New Orleans
at a Convention for Husband's Business-
Where He and His Partners
were awarded a National award!

{Fancy Us at Fancy Party Night}

We Also got to do lots of New Orleans Things:

Swamp Tour and Alligator-ing

Beignets at Cafe Du Monde

Yummy Eats at Cute Cafes in the French Quarter

Nights of Jazzy New Orleans Blues

Eating Alligator Tail

And Exploring the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1

on a very smoldering hot afternoon.

Lets Go to the Beach!

09.06.2014

Spent a Sunny Fall Afternoon 

at the at the Beach made at a nearby Reservoir.

Yah, 

that's about as Beachy as you get in a Landlocked State-

but, 

We'll take it!