Happy Nevada Day

It's that time of year again... fall has come and winter is on well on the way... and we are celebrating Nevada Day! It's always fun to get out of school and there are twice the celebrations because they get to celebrate our "Battle Born" state and Halloween. Kalli was the only one that didn't love celebrating Nevada day this year because in typical 4th grade fashion she had to dress up as a Nevada character rather than the glamorous witch she was hoping to be! It's fun too because I got to hang out with all of my kids except Tallin and Tanner (who went to Utah for the weekend) and Caitlyn, who had to work. We even had extra kids because Caitlyn's cousins were staying with us for the day too. Kassi was walking in the parade for Red Cross and Willie was marching in the band... as a zombie! It was a great day!!

Hyrum and Hayden climbing the big tree in front of the court house. Playing tag before the parade starts...

Jace and Gabe hanging out before the parade... he loves his uncle Jace!

Kami is SO glad Kimi is here....

Nater's loves Matt...

Honoring our vets...

GABRIEL!!!

Checking on his new tooth trying to come in...

Our other family... Buffy, and Thayne with Gabe...

Kinzee...

Miami and Kami

Wyatt...

Hey Hayden....

Checotah and Gabe...

Advertising the Spook Alley...

One of the local mine rescue teams.... we love our mine rescuers!

Never Falter, Never Fear

My sweet little vampire...

Gabe loves his sucker!

Kassi helping out the Red Cross...

Hey Beth...

Kassi... working her Red Cross vest!

The band doing their Thriller routine... it was fun to watch!

Hunter...

Willie... one wicked Zombie!

THRILLER....

Brothers...

Kalli, Jayson and Jarom...

Kalli enjoyed the parade...

Nater's showing off the candy he got from the parade...

I voted...

It was the last day of early voting

and Kimi had to come home to vote

since she didn't get all of her ducks in a row

to vote in her new town!

Any excuse to get her home works for me!

So off we went to the convention center

to stand in a long line to vote.

A lot of people end up voting early because

of the mine schedules around here.

They go to work far too early and get home

much too late to vote sometimes

so early voting is a wonderful thing.

It is such a great thing to see my kids get

involved in politics.

That they care what is going on in the country

and take the time to use their voice

and vote!

So we voted today...

all of the kids were there,

and know that we were doing something that is important.

And I hope that they all have a desire to do the same when they are

old enough.

I voted today!

And it felt great!!!

Halloween Highway

What an insane day this day was... had to get up and start running errands early. Picked Kassi up so I could get her to work, came home to drop Nate off, and pick Willie up for basketball practice, went to 4 parent teacher conferences, back to town to do the last of the errands I didn't get done earlier... home to make pumpkin bars for Hyrum's class and for Kailee to take to work the next day and sugar cookies for a couple of other classes. Then found out that Thayne was stuck at work with MSHA problems so I told the kids to jump into their costumes so we could get out the door if they still wanted to go to Halloween Highway. Which explains why Kami and Kalli didn't have their hair done. Just as we were pulling out of the drive way Thayne pulled in and we told him to jump in and he could go with us to the high school. The high school has put on Halloween Highway for years. It's a safe, fun place for the kids to do a little trick or treating. The kids decorate the doors and then hand out candy. The kids look forward to it every year! The kids went through and we got home to shower and get to bed so I could finish up the baking and clean up the kitchen. Now onto the next Halloween activity! The reaper, the miner and the Prince of Persia

Headed down the hall... this was the nice hall, there was a scary hall where you could hear lots of screaming... though Bummy and Hayden said it wasn't that scary.

Bummy... the bloody miner (his dad has decided that he HATES this costume and told them that from now on they get to be MINERS only, no blood involved. I feel the same. As a bad mother... I actually wasn't thinking he would be a bloody miner but it's just a little too 'ick'... ) and our glamorous witch...

One of the students made this sweet mask! I don't think I could have put it on my head but he didn't seem to mind!

In and out of our lives...

Many people walk in and out of our lives...but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

It's funny how these young men come into our lives, for sometimes a very short time, yet they seem to become part of our family and leave such great memories. It is such a great experience and opportunity to know these amazing young men. They give so much of themselves and it is fun to watch them grow and become such great men. I always feel a little protective of them, as if they are my own sons, and pray often that while my sons go out and serve they have families that love them the same way. It is our job to spoil them a little... because they don't get much spoiling as they are out and doing the Lord's work!

Elder Davis is on his way home... his last night here and then he is off to Vegas and then home. We are so grateful for the 6 months he served here and the time he spent in our home and for his great example! Good luck... looking forward to seeing you again!

We got to have all 4 missionaries over for dinner Sunday night. Elder Brown is being transferred so we got to send him off too....
Elder Davis and Elder Brown....
What's the look on Elder Jennings face???? Grossed out by his table manners I guess! ;)

Elder Davis and the crew... we will miss you!

Bye Bye Elder Brown...

One last goodbye!

Homecoming 2010

The girls had a blast at homecoming. Kailee went with Kenny and Kassi went with Preston, who kind of escorted her and a couple of her friends also. They looked so pretty, had a great meal at Kenny's house that his mom made and his sister served to them and had a good time at the dance also. Love these sweet girls... They are as pretty on the inside as they are on the out!

Kailee ready for the dance... she came up to model the dress for Katie and me.... the dress was perfect for her. Kailee, Beth, Kassi and Jessica.... with Kami because Kami insisted on being in the picture!

Pretty girls all dressed up and ready to go!

KAILEE.... (can I mention how jealous I am of her gorgeous eye lashes... the real thing and I like to tell her how envious I am of her not even needing mascara while I work really hard to just make them show up WITH the mascara! Love you Kailee girl!)

WHAT'S WITH THE FACE WILLIE????

Kami loves her big sister...

Sisters make the best of friends!

Kenny putting on the corsage (he cheated and bought a wrist corsage!)

So pretty....

Ready to go...

Kassi and Beth...

Ready for the dance...

What???

Hey Kassi....

No date is complete without a trip to Walmart!