I'm posting this so I'll remember the fun idea...we have a Ward Fireside monthly at our house. I had the idea of doing a Pop Up Concert or Mormon Jam night. Everyone who wanted to brought their instruments (we have a lot of musicians in our youth group.) Lots of them played their instruments and we sang a bunch of songs together. It was super fun!
Shorewood hasn't historically had a winning football team. Like really ever. But they had a good solid season this year. They qualified for the playoffs, beating a really good team in an awesome game. Then they won their pigtail game (into the playoffs) against an undefeated team. They lots their first round game, but they played a really good team. Derek learned a lot and had a good time coaching. He just loves working with athletes, coaching them up, helping them improve. And...it may have worked for recruiting for wrestling too. He had 40 kids at the first unofficial open mat. Wow. He gets just 2 weeks in between wrestling and football. But I think he's ready to go. It was fun to watch Libby and the drill team dance during the 1/2 time performances. And the best part of the season was the awesome weather. We only had two cold games (one wet), and neither was awful. That's perfect for a fair weather fan like me.
Libby had a NASTY cold/cough/fever that hung on for 2 weeks before they final gave her some antibiotics. She managed to make enough drill practices to be able to perform at all the games (for better or for worse--we kept thinking she'd be better.)
Thankfully she's much better because the first drill comp is next Saturday!
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| We got to the game against Cascade just as the 1/2 time show was ending (since we were practicing face painting at the YW activity.) So I got this quick pic as the girls finished their dance. |
This weekend marks 1 year of having Buddy. Can't believe it. It's been--well--fun. Really. And also he's so annoyingly playful. But also super chill (when Derek isn't home.)
We just really do love him. Ben gets up early to have Buddy snuggles every day (except weekends these days he likes to sleep in.) Libby puts Buddy to bed most nights. Derek plays catch and tug of war with him all day when he's home (Buddy won't let Derek just sit around.) And Sarah actually talks to and likes him now too. She's taken him on some walks now that seminary means I can't take him on long walks. I guess we are dog people!
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| We didn't have our annual Spiros dinner--THEY WERE CLOSED! But luckily we knew far enough in advance that we moved to Maren's. |
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| Neither girl wore their costume on actual Halloween. Libby was Kid something. Sarah was...I'm not sure. She got drenched on the way home from the bus. Both girls still went trick-or-treating with friends (and Ben went with Libby and her friends). |
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| This is what Ben wore to school on Halloween (because at Elementary we are no longer allowed to do Halloween parties, but in HS and Middle School they have a dress up day--don't get me started.) So when he got soaked on the walk from the bus, he could still wear his actual costume for trick-or-treating. |
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| Ben testing out costumes for school. This one is still too big. |
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| So summery. |
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| I loved my sash--made with my cricut. |
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| Maren sponsored a pumpkin carving day. I'm so glad she does this so we don't have the mess at our house. |
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| Another costume test. |
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| For the ward Harvest Festival, we did face painting. We figured out what to buy to get good face painting from a girl who used to be a professional face painter. Snazaroo is the brand. Awesome. We practiced for our activity. Super fun. |
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| My art on Sarah's hands. |
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| The green stuff was there already... Also, if you're looking up ideas for face painting, add the word "doodles" to get simple images. Like "Halloween doodles." Pro tip that I learned during this process. |
So that I don't forget an amazing idea again, I have already started a Note that the whole family shares where we can put in Halloween ideas. I'll always write it down right away! Even if I'm in the dentist chair!
Last night we got to spend a couple of hours with some of my FAV cousins :)
Shelley & Cindy and their husbands, in town to celebrate someone's 50th!
So fun to have them here!
Homecoming festivities were really fun this year. I took Friday off for labs, Sarah's birthday, and the HOCO assembly. (It was almost 2 hours of skits and dancing. Pretty fun stuff.)
Libby danced in the assembly with drill, and was one of the narrators in the sophomore class skit. Since I was a total nobody in HS, I love how involved she is. Some of Derek's wrestlers were in the Homecoming Court. Really fun.
Then, we went to the game planning to get trashed by the #2 team in the division. AND WE WON! including a pick six for a 100 yard touchdown. It was AMAZING.
On Saturday, I had offered to make dinner for Libby's friends. Ben was the waiter. Sarah hung out with Buddy at Maren's so we could have peace. (And it was so peaceful.). The number of people who would be coming wavered until literally dinner was 2/3 over when the last guest showed up. These kids have a hard time making up their minds. But I enjoyed playing chef and photographer. Ben ended up being invited to the table and to play games with them until it was time to leave (also, we kept stopping to check in on the Mariners who were in the 18th inning as we finished dinner--and then they lost.)
Libby said the dance was pretty fun. Overall a fun night. It was tricky because most other people had dates, but she ended up eating with one guy who's date went to eat with other people. So who can keep track.
Okay: Photo dump. I pulled a few of these from FB from Kristi Lin and Chloe, the drill advisor.
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| Assembly |
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| Derek & Trish at the assembly |
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| More cricut fun! And we ran one through the dishwasher and it stayed! Permanent adhesive + dollar store glasses for the win. I gave all the kids one as a souvenir. |
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| My fav pic. |
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| 1/2 Time Show! |
Sarah went to the game with friends. Maren and I watched (and Ben joined us for the end--after his friends left.) Such a fun weekend. I'm pretty beat!
Sarah's birthday festivities aren't over--this week she'll have her friend sleepover and Norton family party. But for her Golden Birthday we did a little celebrating! I let her take the whole day off of school (we did lab work in the morning). Then we hit up the dollar store and went to lunch. She got to open her gifts in the afternoon before the homecoming game. She got another shelf for her bedroom (this girl needs book shelving space!) She got her photobook, and some hotwheels so she can do photo shoots (what she asked for.) Uncle Davey got her the water color paper she asked for plus a bonus S light for her room. And Mimi gave her $ toward her writer's workshops. I made her the Stay Golden sweatshirt and the sign for her gifts. I'm just cricuting like crazy whenever I can think of a reason.
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| The first time we were all together was Sunday evening, so she helped me make pumpkin cupcakes. They were super yummy! |
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| The light from Uncle Davey (and the new shelf--added to the shelf she already had). |
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| A Sarah photoshoot. |
