Halloween Mysterty Meal

A girlfriend on mine during high school is one of the most creative people ever.  She posted her fun Halloween dinner plans on a popular blog called, "Or so she says"  We are going to have it for dinner tomorrow and it is actually a pretty affordable, healthy meal before they get stuffed on candy!

National Honor Society and Meli's report card!

Last week Kara was abducted into the National Junior Honor Society.  I was a very nice program, but mainly because it was short and sweet.  It was Sunday dress and it is always fun to celebrate Kara's accomplishments.  

 None of our pictures turned out really well.   Matt actually took pictures with his camera that actually turned out.   But for the time being I wanted to document it.

Kara went home with a nice certificate, a pin and they had some yummy cookies and punch for dessert.  We are proud of Kara.


Meli's report card also came in the mail today.  She did an amazing job!   She is such a good student and studies so hard.  The different requirements in school in Germany and the tests that need to be taken are very daunting.  

Halloween Fun

 I love to do festive things during the holidays.  One of my favorite holiday traditions is making sugar cookies.  This year we had Meli to help us make the cookies and she was a big help.  Everyone helped roll out the cookie dough, frost the cookies and decorate.

 We also had fun for FHE when Kara and Meli were carving their pumpkins.  Meli hadn't carved a pumpkin since when she was 8, so it was fun to watch her.   Kara made her pumpkin into  something related to Hungry Games and she was so happy because  she put a picture of her pumpkin on Twitter and one of the actors in the movie liked it.  She was on Cloud 9.    Meli carefully cleaned out her pumpkin and then made a fun face for her pumpkin.  

Oops, I forgot the finished result, but when I do I will put them on here!

This and that

It has been so fun to get to know Meli more and to make her part of our family.   She is a very kind hearted, sweet girl.  She is very easy going and adapts so well to the many changes in her life. I have been blown away at how well she has managed all the changes.  She has to leave for school at 6:30 each morning as her school isn't very close.   Incidentally, I also leave at that time and I think it is way too early to have to get up.  It takes her an hour and a half to get to school if you include the time she has to walk home from the trax station.  Here are just some random pictures of things going on.

                                 Kara and Meli at Garnder Village

                                            Kara and Tianna, (Meli is taking the picture) at Gardner Village

 

Meli is an excellent artist. 

                                                          Meli taking Fozzie on the walk.  He adores her.

            Meli made us a cake on her two month anniversary of living at our home.   It was a German pound cake and it was so yummy and colorful!

                I took Meli to the pumpkin patch.    We picked out our favorite pumpkins.  While there we saw farm animals and lots of pumpkins.  

                            Later that night Matt and I took Meli to the pumpkin patch.  Kara was actually there with a date that night.  We tried to not run into her, but we did, luckily she didn't see us.  My parents once followed me on a date I went and it was one of the most embarrassing things that has ever happened to me.

                      Kara and Meli went to Lagoon for my niece Mikayla's birthday.   They had a fun day and they even rode home the front runner. 

 Kara and her cousin Mikayla!  Happy 16th Birthday Mikayla.  I love and adore you!

Kara and Meli kidnapped Tianna early in the morning for her 17th birthday.   They dressed up in sheets and put a mask over her and she didn't find out who they were until they were at IHOP.  Kara had already talked to Tianna's mom, but the girl does have courage.  They had fun!

                           Kara and her cousin Mikayla!  Happy 16th Birthday Mikayla.  I love and adore you!

                                   Matt and I went to a couples Halloween party last week.  It was so much fun.   I borrowed both costumes from my friend at work.   We didn't really go with the couple costumes, like I would have liked, but it was fun.

                                         Spencer and his girlfriend Anne went to a Halloween party.   Spencer was a pirate for the party.   He looks so ruggedly handsome.

                  Spencer, his girlfriend Anne, and Matt.


Coby went to Kiev, Ukraine this last week.   He was an escort for some of the people in his branch through the temple.   It looks like a beautiful place from the pictures. 

Kara just let me know that she wants to follow in her brothers foot steps and major in International Business.  She has been applying for several scholarships so she can do a study abroad this summer and many other programs to follow.  I am excited for her to explore the world and I believe she has  a lot to offer.  I adore her.  But, honestly, I am not thrilled about it.  I always imagined my children living in the United States,  never in my wildest dreams did I think that some of my children would like to live outside the country and want to change the world.  

                               Kieve, Ukraine temple

Colton went to convention for Cosplay over this last weekend.   He attends these events all dressed up.

We also attended Kara's choir concert, attending the Dave Ramsey classes.  I highly recommend them, I only wish I had started when I was much younger,  and I have been to the doctor several times.   I got a sinus infection, mid summer and I have had it ever since.  I have been on a few doses of antibiotics,  and it doesn't seem to go away.  I got bronchitis from it,  an ear infection and I still feel miserable and don't seem to be getting better.   I finally went to an ear nose and throat doctor and he said I have blockage again and I need to have sinus surgery again.  I told him I had already had THREE sinus infections and I didn't want to have any more.   I am very frustrated about it and don't want to have surgery again.  I am looking for other options.

                      Kara and those she went to the Young Ambassador camp with.

On the Fly

Kara had her first improv show.  It was such an animated program.  I knew Kara was funny, but I realized she was even funnier than I realized.  I had never been to an improv team so I wasn't sure what to expect.  I was pleasantly surprised, that it was even better than I could imagine. Matt, I and Meli went to see her show.  I don't think I have laughed that hard in a long time.  It was so much fun!  Below is a picture of Kara and her dad after the show.  I keep forgetting to bring my camera,  and I don't take too good of pictures with my phone.   Meli was standing right next to Kara, but I didn't get her in the pictures. 

BYU cheerleaders and Mascot coming to work