Our Favorite Veterans

On this Veterans Day we honor, send our love and appreciation to our favorite veterans:

(Grandpa) Ray Church - US Marines - WWII


(Grandpa) Harold Gibbs - US Navy - WWII


Ashley made stars to go on a display at school honoring Veterans, the above is the one she made for Grandpa Church.


And for all veterans:
"Lord, bid war's trumpet cease; Fold the whole earth in peace." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

"But the freedom that they fought for, and the country grand they wrought for, Is their monument to-day, and for aye." -Thomas Dunn English

Children's Sacrament Meeting Program

Yesterday was the Children's Sacrament Meeting Program in our ward. The theme this year was "My Eternal Family" and our program included families singing, reciting, and giving talks along with the kids. I thought it was very sweet and am absolutely convinced that I have the best counselors on earth, Crystal is phenomenal! Not only did she write, prepare and plan an amazing program but she also had the kids design the program covers and after the program had the children make family scrapbooks to take home. Here is what the girls made:

I wish you could actually see them and flip the through the scrapbooks. If you weren't there, I also wish you could have been with us for the program. I love the kids in our Primary.

Trophy Time

This past weekend, due to two previous weeks of rainouts, was officially the end of soccer season for the girls.

Here is Paige's team picture:

This is Paige's individual picture:

Here is Paige receiving her trophy, she was very happy about finally getting her "own" trophy:

Ashley couldn't make it to her formal team picture this year , but here she is with her team and getting her trophy:

The Reader

The scene: Paige has spent all afternoon reading books to everyone in the family. We are now sitting at the dinner table.

Dave: I think Paige officially knows how to read. I can't believe she learned so fast.

Paige: (with a questioning/incredulous look on her face) Fast? Do you know how long I have been goiong to school?

In case you where wondering she then told us the answer was 45 days.

A Christmas Carol

On Monday, Dave got free tickets for the family to a pre-release screening of Disney's A Christmas Carol in 3-D at the Imax theater at Navy Pier.

So after school that day, the girls and I took the train downtown and met Dave for dinner at The Grand Lux Cafe, a favorite spot with a huge menu and delicious desserts.

After stuffing ourselves silly, we headed to Navy Pier to watch the movie. It was pretty amazing in 3-D on the Imax screen and we all really liked the movie.

I should warn however, that this is not your run-of-the-mill Disney family movie. My girls were absolutely fine with it, but the movie probably wouldn't be okay for all kids. The ghosts that visit Ebenezer Scrooge are scary and not just spooky scary, but really, really scary. Jacob Marley is terrifying.

No. 1 Customer!

It's official, I am the number one customer! This according to the sweet woman who works at the dry cleaners. And I am not even No. 1 because of the amount of business we do there. It's because I am "so nice." (How sweet is that?)

She also told me today that the way I was wearing my hair made me "look like a college student, so young."

Isn't she the best?! Everyone needs a friend like this.

Happy Halloween

I took the girls and a friend of Ashley's trick or treating on Saturday. We were out for almost two hours, got tons of candy, and were pretty cold but it was fun.