HAPPY HALLOWEEN--Early

 I know it's not Halloween yet, but we got in our dress up night at the church Trunk-or-Treat, and we likely won't do it again (all together at least.) 

Each year I feel like our costumes have a story.  This year I bought the lion costume for myself for my Galactic Travel Day at school (culmination of our fantasy genre reading project.) I am a lion because I am reading my class the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.  My partner teacher (who will be leaving after this week--so sad!) is going to be the White Witch.  I originally thought I could be the white witch and Derek could be Aslan.  Then Derek said if we went with the Narnia theme, he wanted to be the wardrobe.  What an annoying costume.  So Ben and I decided to be Despicable Me villians.  He started planning several months ago. I ordered a track suit so I could be the 80s dance villain Bart.  Ben ordered a Vector suit.  Or thought I ordered it.  Then I realized he hadn't ordered so I ordered.  Then it wasn't going to come in time.  Ugh.

So, change of plans.  I realized I could fit into the Wizard of Oz costume that Libby had when she was Wendy (I think 6th grade?--but it was pretty big on her then).  So with the Lion costume that would fit Ben, Dorothy for me, we got to work on Scarecrow for Derek (he's wearing his dad's overalls.) And then Geneva jumped on board as the witch!   It was fun.  

I loved Maren's Steve Erwin Crocodile Hunter costume.  Rory is inside the minion costume (would have been great with the Despicable Me first plan.)  Jed was a banana.  We also got these two other random girls from the ward because the younger one was so excited that I was also Dorothy.  

Anyway--There's No Place Like Home! 

Senior Night For SW Swim & Dive

 Thursday was the last swim meet of the regular season.  We have one meet left, JV champs.  And LIBBY QUALIFIED FOR DISTRICT DIVING!  That's so exciting.  The Senior Night was sweet--and I was so proud of myself for not tearing up...until LIBBY DID!  Up on the blocks while holding her poster I could tell she was holding back tears.  I'm so stinking proud of her and how far she's come in the last two years.

Sarah also did some awesome diving!  Overall I was so proud of them this season.  Somehow I didn't get pics of Sarah at all during the event.  I got a video of a great dive though.  I'll try to post. 

Libby did more dives since she is Varsity this year and Sarah is JV.  

Sarah handed off Libby's poster to her--very sweet.  I was glad Keela brought Libby flowers, as I didn't realize parents were the ones who brought flowers for Seniors...oops.  

This is the Dive Coach, Keela.  Libby and Sarah LOVE her.  She's hiring Sarah to work for her at HM pool near here.  Very excited for Sarah's first job!  

Thanks to Kristi Lin & Coach Keela for some of these great pics.  

More Fall Sports!

We are loving fall sports.  The weather has been so cooperative!  I got to see a few minutes of Ben's game this week (I was busy choosing a vanity topper so we can get our kid bathroom done during most of the game.  Thankfully Grammy was there the whole game and Derek was there for the first bit.)  Ben wishes he got more playing time, but he got more this game than in his first game. So we'll take it! 

Sarah and Libby are enjoying swim/dive. Sarah had a big drop this week!  She was really happy with her 100 m freestyle.  I was super bummed because I found a way to sneak out early on Thursday to go to their swim meet, but for some reason they did the diving first.  So I missed the dives and saw only the swims.  Thankfully they both swam 3 times so it felt worth the drive. We have 2 weeks left of swim and dive.  Libby's still hoping to qualify for districts in dive.  She has one meet left to do that, next Saturday.  (She didn't try yesterday, because the last dive is eluding her still...you need all 11 dives to qualify.) 

Ben also started the fall/winter Rhinos season this week.  He was kind of grumpy about having to go, but he came home happy after the 2 hour practice. (Yeah, it's a long practice on Thursdays--and that's right after football.)  Libby's been lifting a lot in prep for wrestling (usually in lieu of going to swim practice--she's been focusing on dive.)  I've been doing lots of wrestling planning.  It takes a lot to get the season going.  I'm at the same time SO excited for wrestling, and SO nervous about how much energy it's going to take.  We've got this, right?  

Ben's out there somewhere, I promise. He's 10--get it, Ben 10? 

 

An Unforgettable Wedding

 When Maren and Cara got engaged, I knew it was going to be a wedding for the books.  And it was an unforgettable night!  It was also the first weekend of October.  So it was pretty insane getting ready for it.  The hardest part was getting Ben the right suit.  Poor guy was in tears at the first suit fitting when he tried it on and it was so big they said they couldn't make it work.  Anyway, many trips to different Men's Warehouses later, and we had it working.

A "REAL" haircut! 

Will we get a suit that works? 

Not this one....

Dave also came to town for the wedding.  It was really fun to have him here! 

He got to experience swim & dive! 

We got to meet his girlfriend Maika--who I really liked. She helped me work on my home improvement project (bathroom remodel started the Tuesday after the wedding, and carpet selection--again.) 

Going straight from Hoco assembly to wedding. 

One thing I loved (they really thought of everything) was the photo guest book.  Super fun idea. 

The siblings

The I DO Converse.  Super fun detail. 

Libby and Sarah sang with Cara's BFFs kids.  They sang a song called "Crowded Table."  Can't imagine a more Maren song. 

Derek and Clark made an over under bet on the length of the ceremony.  It was very close, but I think Derek won with under 25 minutes.  It was really sweet and look how despite the crazy rain earlier--the sun shone on the ceremony. 

Flower girl Margo

So pretty Sarah! 

Me & my girls!

A quick peek of the brides while they were getting their pics done. 

Derek and Clark nailed their toast.  

Killing it on the dance floor.  I definitely don't have the stamina to dance all night, but I did get some good dancing in! 

It was so fun.  I guess in the next few years we'll be entering into wedding era again as our kids and their friends get married.  Documenting all the ideas :). (Also encouraging elopement--based on all the blood, sweat, tears and money that went into this one, haha.) 

HOCO 2024

 We had two big crazy fun events that crashed into each other the first weekend of October (well actually 3 if you count General Conference!). We had Maren & Cara's Wedding and Homecoming in the same weekend.  I was out of town for Hoco last year, so I was excited to be here this year.  I went to the assembly (so long, but so fun--2.5 hours!). I helped Sarah and friends with nails and hair and photography.  I tried to also get there for Libby's friends photos, but I just missed them.  Luckily they got some great photos.  (Also, they got ready at our house too--so it was a full house.  I LOVE that.) 

Libby and Izzy and a couple of other girls that I don't know who ended up in their group of 8. 

Libby with Logan, a guy she's been seeing a bit lately.  

Sarah's dress was so amazing on her!  She looked so grown up! 

The twins on either end are in our AP World Study Group.  Love them so much. 

The Senior Section at the HOCO assembly.  Their class color was pink (I don't get why they don't use school colors, but oh well.) 

Lots of Hoco prep--nails for Libby. 

The Dress...

And the absolutely adorable ask poster.  (He's really into cars, so it was a perfect fit.)