The Wheels on the Bus go round and round....

As you know we've been in school for almost half the year now. However we've been on a waiting list to ride the bus. WHAT????? Yeah...for charter schools if you are a new student (which we were this year) you have to wait and let returning students choose to ride or not. So we were put on a waiting list and proceeded to wait. Yesterday we got a call from the bus driver that there was room on the bus for Seth if he was interested. Well yeah, we are interested. Seth has been begging to ride the bus since the beginning of the year. So today was the first day he rode it. It doesn't stop close enough for me to walk from the house, but it's closer than driving to school. It's just down the street, so it's only a couple of minutes away.
He had a great time on the bus. I'm so glad he was able to get this chance. It felt weird this morning after I took him (he gets on the bus at 658am). It was quiet in the house. No one shuffling trying to get ready. But he's excited and as long as he enjoys it I see no reason to keep him from riding it. Just means next year he and Keegan will be able to ride it. The thought right now of Keegan is kindergarten is intimidating so I'll try not to think about it just yet......

Here comes the bus.

This is his bus. That's him in the 2nd window behind the driver.

Ready to come home.

Homemade Facepaint

I was checking out recipes on ALLRECIPES.COM and stumbled across this. Since Halloween is upon us I thought I would share. Don't know if it will help, but it looks like fun to try to make your own makeup! Enjoy and Happy Halloween!!!

Edible Makeup

Basic Foundation

• 10 teaspoons (3 Tablespoons + 1 tsp.) cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons white flour
• 5 teaspoons vegetable shortening
• 1/8 teaspoon food coloring or fresh juices
• 1/4 teaspoon glycerin (available at cake decorating and craft stores)

1. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and flour. Stir in vegetable shortening. Add any food coloring you would like. Stir in the glycerin; mixing until well combined.

2. Use your fingers or a makeup sponge to apply face paint. Use small brushes or your fingertips for detailed designs.

Warts, Scabs and Road Rash

Basic Goop Recipe:

• 1 ounce gelatin (plain or flavored, depending on desired color)
• 2 tablespoons boiling water
• Mix-ins as needed: couscous, paprika, colored sugar
• 4 tablespoons corn syrup

In a small bowl or cup combine gelatin and water. Mix and let set 3 minutes. It's now time to begin experimenting with the gelatin. There are a variety of techniques that can be used to create special makeup effects:

• Warts, blisters, and general skin growths:
  Before the gelatin sets completely, make moles or blisters by dripping the liquid gelatin onto a ceramic plate and letting it set completely. When set, carefully peel the formations off of the plate. Stick them onto your child's body and face by using a drop of corn syrup as adhesive.
  
• Apply color to growths, make additional growths and make convincing-looking blood: Use a spoon, popsicle stick, or other makeup applicators (including your hands) to apply the partially-set gelatin to your child's body and face. The gelatin will drip or clot depending on the degree of set it has reached. If the gelatin sets before you're ready, reheat it briefly in the top of a double-boiler or in a microwave for approximately 10 seconds on high until it thins out and the process begins again. Use a spoon to drip semi-liquid red gelatin over scars, scabs or out of wounds. After 3 to 5 minutes, the gelatin will set in very realistic-looking drips. If the gelatin doesn't set, let it sit another minute and try again.
• Other gooey, slimy, stretchy effects: Let the gelatin set about 5 minutes. Stretch or grab gobs of the almost-set gelatin and string it or glop it as you desire. Attach to skin with corn syrup.
• Add texture to the makeup. Stirring in mix-ins adds texture to the effects. Sprinkling colored sugar into the unset gelatin will make grainy textured effects, while sprinkling couscous or paprika on top of the globs once they've begun to set will make some wounds look scabbed over.

Halloween Pack Mtg.

Tonight was our pack meeting. Of course it was a Halloween party so all the boys got to come in costume. So I guess you get a sneak peak of Seth's costume. (and yes I made it, well not the hat, but I did make the coat.)
It was a lot of fun and by the pictures you'll be able to tell what some of the more popular costumes are this year. I was really surprised by the lack of creativity. Now don't get me wrong, these guys and gals were cute, but I was hoping for a little more variety. I guess I really can't talk though, Paige is going to be a fairy....really how many fairies will we see on Halloween night.
Anyway...it was a fun night and Seth even got a trophy for best costume. He is really enjoying scouts. I'm really glad we were able to get him involved.

while we were waiting to go inside.

the scouts and some siblings in their costumes.
Gee I wonder what the hot costumes are this year???

Cub Master Washington aka Flava Flav

Seth was asked to lead the Cub Scout Pledge.

Seth winning for best costume.

One of the parents dressed up as a rock god....

yeah boyzzz.....

School pictures

We finally got Seth's school pictures back. I wish he would have been able to wear something other than his uniform, but oh well. It's still a good picture. Can't believe he's in 1st grade and will be 7 in a couple of months. Where has the time gone??????


I don't have a scanner so I had to take a picture of the picture, that's why it's a little funky looking.

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Because the Muppets are cool and can always make you smile!

Carving

Tonight for FHE we carved our pumpkin. We went with a standard face this year. Nothing too fancy. The kids all had a good time helping out. If you are wondering where Keegan is in these pictures.....well he didn't want to help so he was in his room. Poor guy keeps missing out on all the fun stuff.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

This picture is looking at our front porch. It's kind of blurry.

Stake Fall Family Fun Fair

Today we had the fall fair at church. Unfortunately Keegan was sick and didn't stay. So he, Dan, and Paige missed out on all the fun. Seth and I had a good time though. Lots of games to play, a bounce house and yummy chili, pies, nachos, icees, spudnuts (doughnuts made out of mashed potatoes), and of course water water everywhere.

It was an unseasonable hot day and I think most people that were on the field got sunburned. I did. My neck is nice and toasty warm. I don't think the planners were expecting it to be this warm. But it was fun and I think Seth had a good time. I'm sad that the rest of the family missed out on everything.

Oh yeah....I entered the pie contest with an apple pie cheesecake (not thinking I would win since it's not a traditional pie) and oh yeah....I got first place!!!! WOOT!!!! I also entered the chili cookoff at the last minute with an apple and white bean chili. I got 2nd place in that category. Not too shabby. I guess those were my 5 minutes of fame! :O)

Enjoy the pictures!

Columbus Day Activities

Today since everyone had the day off today we decided to go pumpkin picking at Apple Annies in Wilcox, AZ. Only about 1.5 hour drive. And believe me when I say there was NOTHING to see on the drive.
It was enjoyable and since I took so many pictures I've put them into slides. We decided against the corn maze this year as it was about $50 for all of us to do it. Yeah.....not worth it. And bummer, the hayride only goes on the weekends. No fair. But we had fun. We went to the apple orchard and then headed over to the pumpkin patch and picked some peppers and got a nifty pumpkin to set on our porch. Hoorah.

We also stopped by a place on the way home where you could view THE THING. Yeah....can we say tourist trap..... It was interesting. Just a bunch of random things put into a little museum. It was worth the $2 we spent for all of us to see it. Besides it was yet another chance to get out of the van and walk around.

Then it was homeward bound and one final stop for large, ice cold and tasty beverages. Everyone had a good time and by the time we got home, were all pretty tuckered out from the day.

Seth Rides Again

Yesterday we wanted to go and do something together. We were planning on going up to Tucson but the weather made us decide against it. So we went to the park and Seth and Keegan brought their bikes. Seth is still trying to learn to ride it without training wheels. So we hit the basketball court and played until the weather got too crazy! It was a fun day!

The wind was making it difficult to stay steady on the bike.

This is what we got most of the day.....50 mph wind gusts....good times!

Keegan had a good time on his trike. I think he's a bit too big for it.....

More help from dad.

That storm was not pleasant.
I love that it's was actually acting like fall though, nice and chilly most of the day.

Happy Birthday!

October 10, we celebrated Dan's birthday. He had the day off and that made it perfect. We spent the day together as a family (Seth had a half day of school) . We went to dinner and came home to homemade cheesecake (Dan's favorite). HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! If you want the recipe for the cheesecake you can click on my other blog here.

PLay-doh fun

We usually have to get creative to keep Paige and Keegan entertained during the day. So we played with play-doh. I think they enjoyed it. More of it went on the floor than actually stayed on the table, but that's ok.