oRaNgE and BLaCk PaRtY!!!

We love Halloween, and we LOVE to party.

I wish I had remembered to charge my camera battery, because this was a time worth taking pictures.

So, you will just have to imagine our annual adults only party:

* decked out with orange and black decorations, witched brew, black lights and the smell of hot spiced cider.

*The "battle of the sexes" game, written by Jon and I, answers read aloud (hilarious).

*everyone's unique orange and black outfits, accompanied by them strutting their stuff down the RUNWAY to music (yes, it got a little crazy)

*more yummy food and treats than any other party of the year! (heck, we even invite our chef friends ;)

Get the picture?

Pumpkin 5K

On Hallow's Eve morning, our church held a free 5k (almost 3.2 miles) for the community in Hayden. It was a food drive and everyone who completed it got a pumpkin! I saw lots of my high school friends and friends from growing up there. Tons of people, dogs, kids...most of whom dressed up (I didn't get the memo...)!

Finished in 26 mins and ran with a friend. Fun times!!

Halloweenie

Jon was on his way back from AK for our ward party, so here we are the

STAR WARS trio:

Cade lookin' tough as Darth Vader, myself as Princess Leia (if you couldn't tell by the buns) and Little JJ as YODA!
We had a chili cook-off, so I made crock pot white chicken chili (YUM) and cornbread. There was a trunk-or-treat that lasted about 5 mins before the candy was all in the hands of the tweens. It was fun, though.

Sister's Lunch

Cassie started this {once-a-month get together with all of the sisters and sis-in-laws and cousins that aren't in school} get together.

The kids all wore costumes and strutted them....

LtoR and BtoF: Me, Ella, Gunner, Gage, Angie, Mikin, Asa, Jay, Brady, Lizzy, Jersey, Sally

Brooklyn(angie's twin sister Amy's daughter), Cade, Beckett

There was tons of yummy Halloween themed treats (Angie and I)...
LtR: Brady, Asa, JayJay, Beckett

and we finished with a cute kids' craft!

Yay for sisters and kids!

SHOUT OUT to the MAN of the YEAR!!!!

May we present, our super-salesman.

Jon recently returned from his Annual Sales Meeting for ZOLL medical in Florida. (tough spot...I know, right?)

He is amazing!!! He returned with two awards out of about 500 employees:

-total suprise...ROOKIE OF THE YEAR!!!! (trophy+bonus)

-highest percent over quota in his region for the 4th quarter (trophy+ipad)

Not to mention he has one of the harder zones to cover with such remote areas (He covers AK, WA and northern ID) and so much competition here.

WAY TO GO, BABES!!!

Greenbluff Farms

Brynne and the boys hit Greenbluff with Andrew, Cassie and family while Jon was out of town. :) We picked apples, ate pumpkin donuts with fresh apple cider (tradition), listened to live music, went to a petting zoo, and played in a "pea box". Cold, rainy and tons of fun!

LtoR: Gunner, Cooper, Beckett, Cade and Jay

Jay Jay
Cader
Brynne with Zoey and Bear

Serious PUMPKIN Pickin'

CARVER'S FARM

We had so much fun taking a tractor hay-ride and picking out our pumpkins!

Cade and Jay just kept picking and picking until we had a whole pile of cute pumpkins...

But THEY are the cutest pumpkins of ALL!!

We feel so blessed to live in such a beautiful setting.

I love my kids.

A tragic, tragic incident happened this week.

It makes me sick every time I think about eveyone involved,

but mostly, it has reminded me, once again...

how blessed Jon and I are to have these two:

We can NEVER be too loving, too calm, or too understanding with children.

Anything the other way is too much, and lets Satan creep in.

In extreme scenarios, it can ruin lives...even those of good people.

Both of these families are in my prayers.

I am so, so, so blessed.

Two things I am grateful for this week...

#1. These two wonderful women.

First, the amazing woman who raised me...along with my equally amazing Father. They showed me how to live, and what it means to be a good parent. Also, my just-as-amazing mother-in-law who raised my gentle, loving, soft hearted husband, and father of my children. We were both so lucky.

#2. The temple.

This picture was right after the first time I went through to receive my own endowment almost 6 years ago.

I am especially grateful I made the choice to be sealed to this man, and my children forever.

This gives me such comfort every day.

My New Calling(s)

I think I'm gonna need this book.

Yep, that's right...choir director.

And I'm gonna need a wand....since I am the new chorister for sacrament meeting as well. I always thought that calling was for "older" ladies...

but hey, I guess they proved me wrong.

So, the least I can do is make it cool, and get myself a retractable wand like my grandma had.

Right?

What a WEEK!

Just thought I'd tell about my crazy/not so fun turned into fun week!

First of all, Jon was gone Monday through Saturday for work in Alaksa...

Monday: I get stomach flu. My sister, Cassie, takes my boys for the day while I want to die.
Tues: teach my cycle class half dead
Wed: Babysit my sister's 3 boys, watch back-up plan, eat half a bag of chocolate PB bugles, then Cade pukes in my lap.
Thurs: Cade has stomach flu
Friday: Girl's night out!! Me, Sarah Ross, Danna Nelson and Cassie. Shopping, dinner @ Twiggs (yum) then a SLUMBER PARTY at my house with Cassie and kids. Stay up 'til 1am.
Sat: up @ 6 am, teach my class @ the club, watch conference, watch kids while Cassie runs to and from soccer games. That night, ANOTHER girl's night out (with kids) at Amy Holding's house. Hot tub, Letters to Juliet and yummy salads! Jon gets home.
Sunday: big breakfast party@ 7:30am @ Bastedos, watch conference, go home, sleep 3 hours, watch conference again, go back to Bastedos for dinner, orange rolls, and cookies.


WHAT A WEEK!!

Not to mention.....
when Jon was in Alaska he got a few more purchase orders and was one of the few to meet his quota for the year (his first year) at ZOLL and sold 1/2 million dollars just this quarter!!! He won an ipad and almost got rookie of the year (I think he should have bc the other guy has been in almost a year longer). Good job, babe!!