Living a Staggering Life

March 5, 2013 By

I have been really pensive lately. Being sick and surrounded by a lot of tough situations will do that to you. Last year, when my childhood friend Nalene passed away unexpectedly, it opened my eyes to just how precious and fleeting life really is.

Last month, I sat by the bedside of an elderly widow in our ward who has become a beloved part of our family. The end was near–I could feel it and though she couldn’t voice it, she knew it. The next day, she passed away and at her funeral, I marveled at this thing called mortality that we too-often take for granted.

Magical= 12 nests in one cluster of trees

Last week, I stumbled upon this quote:

“I think life is staggering and we’re just getting used to it. We are all like spoiled children no longer impressed with the gifts we’re given–it’s just another sunset, just another rainstorm moving in over the mountain, just another child being born, just another funeral.” -Donald Miller, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years

Mother-son adventures last weekend in Evergreen. Everest or Bust.

When I was 21, I served an 18-month mission for the LDS Church in Switzerland and France. I felt like I was Belle from Beauty in the Beast and was absolutely captivated with each person I taught (and who taught me) and every Swiss village or mountain I climbed in the Alps. I was living a dream and I knew it.

My first area was Bienne, a small city in the Three-Lakes region in Switzerland that had a half-French, half-German population. I was a couple of months into my mission when my trainer was transferred and I received another companion–one who’d be going home in four short weeks. I couldn’t wait to show her our favorite haunts. As I pointed out the town patisserie oozing with the fragrance of pain au chocolat, we wound around the ville’s cobblestone streets with bursting fountains, vine-covered stone walls and statues tucked into nooks in the walls.

“Isn’t this amazing?” I raved.
“Not really. I’ve been in Europe for 17 months and if you’ve seen one French village, you’ve seen them all,” she said, boredom in her voice.

Even today, I’m still blown away by her statement but she never let herself just be happy and live in the moment. And I can’t help but wonder if she has lived a mediocre life because she felt like she was surrounded by mediocrity.

Taking flight in Evergreen. #Joy

I’m flying home to Canada today to help with my mom. As some of you know, she took a turn for the worse before Christmas and has been regularly hospitalized. She was released last week but her battle is not over–in fact, it’s heating up as she wages this 25-year war with a body that is ravaged and broken by MS.

A Colorado woman whom I admire for her joie de vivre recently sold her bike shop with the intention of becoming digital nomads and working remotely around the world with their young family. Their journey had only recently begun in Mexico but then she posted on Facebook last weekend that her 2-year-old son drowned while under a babysitter’s care. This one hit home because it is a secret dream of mine to take my family, work remotely and just travel. Not only was this the death of their dream but the loss of a child is exponentially worse.

Another friend posted that an ill young boy who captivated the hearts of his native Utah and the world lost his battle. While reading Mitchell’s Journey, I was so inspired by this family who can see beyond their current pain and suffering.

…….. Somewhere on the other side of this hell is the Heavenly promise of peace and reunion – but that’s a lifetime away and [learning to cope with] death and separation from our young boy who [wanted] so much to live, cuts us deeply. It’s easy to talk of God and life after death in Sunday school, but to come face to face with it is breathtaking.

But alas, we are grateful to know there is life after life … and we have seen tender mercies in our family, even in the midst of our pain. While there are many today who have abandoned belief in God, we stand resolute … with an absolute knowledge of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We have seen Him work in our lives; warning us, preparing us, and lifting us when we hardly have the strength to stand. We remain grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and its healing, transcendent power. As C.S. Lewis once said of suffering, “Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even [agony] into [glory].” This we know.

As we process all that is happening and the tender pains of losing our precious child, we have felt a quiet whisper that Mitchell was never really ours in the first place, but he is on loan to us from the Father of us all. He, like each of us, will return to Heavenly Father with a perfectly executed life experience filled with hardship and happiness; all designed to refine our souls for greater purposes.

Our chilly Sunday bike ride at dusk.

“Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even [agony] into [glory].”

Life is a miracle. And I’m so grateful for the one I’ve been given.

Filed Under: LDS

10 Years Ago Today

February 15, 2013 By

Ten Years Ago Today, I married the perfect man for me–one who knows and loves me better than anyone. Who is wise beyond his years, patient, fun, romantic, kind and hilarious. Our wedding day was perfect. That word isn’t usually in my vocabulary but that is exactly what it was because of the man I was to marry and the beloved people who surrounded us with their love.

The night before, my in-laws graciously arranged a delicious Valentine’s Day dinner for our out-of-town guests, catered by Jamie’s good friend, Chef Mike. I stayed up late giggling with dear friends in our condo, wondering if I could ever fall asleep before the most important day of my life.

February 15, 2003 dawned bright, beautiful and SNOWY! Denver was having a severe drought and this was certainly not in the forecast but was a dream come true for this Canuck bride!  Jamie came to pick me up and after only one minor stress-related freakout (quite miraculous for me), we drove to the Denver LDS Temple. The grounds were spectacular and the snowy-frosting on all the trees was good enough to eat.

For me, one of the most beloved facets of the LDS faith is the knowledge that marriages and families are forever, bestowed through the process of being sealed in the temple. To be in that sealing room surrounded by those we love, kneeling across the alter from this amazing man and literally feeling the concourses of angels–to date it was one of the most powerful experiences of my life and I couldn’t help but blubber all the way through it.

And we’re talking “the big, ugly cry” as Oprah calls it.

When we left the temple, the party began.  Here are some snapshots I took of our wedding photo albums. Scanners are for wussies…or rather, people who have way more time than I but you get the idea.

I literally get weepy when I see these pictures of all our loved ones. See my niece Emily in that red coat? Haddie wears it now

My family

Jamie’s family

The Parents

My Maid of Honor Stacey whom I’ve literally known since birth


Jamie and I were both at BYU at the same time, graduated in the same department, had likely played volleyball together at Carriage Cove every night one summer and yet never met until eight years later. It was during our lovely wedding reception at the Marriott that the craziest thing happened. I had many wonderful friends from my BYU days come to Colorado for the wedding, as did Jamie. And many of these friends knew each other from BYU. Just another meant-to-be moment.

That evening, we had our reception at a charming cabin in the mountains. Before I even moved to Denver, my mother-in-law Linda had searched out reception venues for me and patiently toured me around until we found the perfect one. Just 15 minutes from Denver in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Chief Hosa Lodge was my dream come true. Cozy with multiple fireplaces, white lights and a harpist, it was oh-so quaint.  The snow that evening made it magical. The reception was a blur with memories of the many people who would become my Denver family. We kept things simple–No wedding party, no painful line.  We greeted our guests, chased bubbles, dined on the delicious food that included croquembouche (a traditional French dessert I fell in love with on my mission) and danced the night away. It was the favorite wedding I’ve ever attended.

It’s a good thing, too, because it was all mine.

Last night we gathered the kids together to share our love story with them for the first time–the full one that very few know. They were captivated and mesmerized and my heart was full as I marveled at the family life we have been blessed to create in such a short amount of time.

Happy 10 Years to my beloved Pumpkin Man. I feel infinitely blessed to be yours.

Filed Under: Jamie, LDS, Marriage

Four TGIF Happy Thoughts

January 18, 2013 By

It has been a pretty stressful week. Between some looming deadlines to juggling household stuff to mom’s persisting health problems (they finally did a stomach scope and discovered ulcers) to blowing up at H’s teacher to having a meeting with the principal to discuss strategies with an interventionist in math (can you spell r-e-l-i-e-f?) I am so, so, so glad it is Friday.

Why didn’t someone tell me this whole mom/wife/human thing would be so tough sometimes?

But here are four things that make me happy.

1) One of my only solaces about Denver’s lack of snow is I was able to mountain bike Table Mountain today. In January. I’d still rather be snowshoeing in winter.

2) A friend posted this picture on Facebook by Anna Beck Designs:

Life is a balance of holding on & letting go.

My friend wrote:

Growing up, I spent many an afternoon in a little municipal swimming pool, surrounded by every other kid in the county. I remember that the best part was finding enough space to just back float. The screeches, squeals and shouts of Marco Polo were muffled and I was weightless, bobbing in an ocean alone. I’d forgotten how very awesome that was until I saw this picture. I need to spend more time back floating.

3) My sister-in-law Tammy brightened my day by sending this hilarious blog post. If you’re not LDS, you won’t get it. But if you are LDS, I guarantee the idiosyncrasies will make you laugh. Out. Loud. And if you’re neither, you’ll think we’re all a bit crazy.

4) It is so nice to see positive stories trending on Yahoo. A Reddit user posted a photo of a poignant message that she found taped to the stall in a women’s restroom at her university. The user, chellylauren, wrote: “In a girls’ bathroom stall at my university, girls have written about some of their most horrifying life experiences. This week, somebody replied.”

The reply, written on notebook paper, is anonymous.

The reply in full:

To the girl who was raped: You are so strong. I cannot fathom the pain you must have gone through. The fact that you have the bravery to write it (even on a bathroom wall) gives me hope.

To the girl with eating disorders: I promise you, although I don’t know you, you are beautiful, you deserve your health. You deserve freedom from that hell.

To the girl with the alcoholic father: I am so sorry for the agony it must cause. Again, such courage is remarkable you must be such a strong person to see such pain.

To the girl whose father died: Missing them never goes away. The ache of their absence never goes away. But the love they had, the memories you share surely must last. I am sure, out of the bottom of my heart, the people who have left you in this world are exceptionally proud of the person you are.

Everytime (sic) I see these walls, these confessions, I feel so blessed to know I have the priviledge (sic) of seeing them. Your moments, these secrets, are all precious even though they are sad. To all of you (including those I did not mention, and those who have not yet written)

-You are worthy.

-You are strong.

-You are brave.

-You are loved.

-Somebody cares.

Written below that, somebody penned a quick response: “To the person who wrote this, thank you.” And I echo that sentiment.

Filed Under: biking, LDS

A Message of Hope

January 4, 2013 By

Uncle Fred

Jamie’s dear Uncle Fred passed away after a 23-year battle with cancer this week and my mom continues to wage her own war in the hospital. Both have been weighing heavily on my heart.

I usually love watching the end-of-the-year news reels summarizing the biggest events. But 2012 seemed more devastating than ever.  Sandy Hook. The Aurora theater shooting. Colorado’s destructive wildfire. Little Jessica Ridgeway’s murder just a few miles from my house.

The other night as my little family snuggled up in bed we opened the children’s Friend, a monthly publication published by the LDS church. Full of inspiring stories, crafts and games for kids we look forward to reading it every month.  But there was a true story there that resonated with us about a little girl whose classmate had died and and she couldn’t help feeling scared as she questioned why are these bad things happening in the world?

I hope you’ll take a moment to read it and remember to have hope in this new year.

=====

The Light of the World

By Kimberly Reid

(Based on a true story)

Erin stood on Temple Square in Salt Lake City looking at life-sized statues of the nativity scene and waiting for the music and story to begin. Christmas lights twinkled all around her. But it didn’t feel like Christmastime.

“Are you all right?” Mom asked her.

Erin nodded, but she wasn’t so sure.

Only a few days ago, a boy from Erin’s class at school had died in a car accident. She had seen a lot of people crying at the funeral, and she had cried a lot herself. She hadn’t known the boy that well, but Erin knew his family loved him as much as her family loved her. She felt scared to know that something like that could happen to someone her age.

Now she didn’t feel excited for Christmas. She felt worried all the time—scared to get in a car, scared to be apart from her parents, scared to leave her house in case something bad happened to her while she was away. All the Christmas lights on Temple Square couldn’t erase the worried feeling inside her. How could she be happy in a world where she wasn’t always safe?

“It’s about to start,” Dad said. He pointed to the nativity scene.

The loudspeakers crackled to life, and a voice began speaking. Music played, and spotlights shone down on statues of shepherds, Wise Men, Mary, and Joseph. Erin listened to the familiar story. The baby Jesus was born and lay in a manger. Angels sang. Shepherds worshipped. Wise Men rejoiced.

Erin looked at the faces of her parents and the crowd gathered around the nativity scene. They all seemed happy. But why was everyone so happy about the baby Jesus if His birth didn’t stop bad things from happening? Erin didn’t like the question circling through her head. All she wanted was to stop feeling afraid.

The story ended, and a recording of the prophet’s voice came over the loudspeaker. He bore his testimony and read a scripture from the Bible: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22).

Erin’s heart beat faster. She said the words again in her mind, trying to remember them. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

The scripture said that everyone would die—young people, old people—everyone. Erin knew that, of course, but she hadn’t thought about it much before. She thought she was too young to think about such things. But she wasn’t too young to have a testimony of the truth: because of Jesus Christ, everyone would live again. That’s why the shepherds and Wise Men rejoiced. They understood what Jesus had come to earth to do.

Erin looked from the little stable to a window in the visitors’ center behind the nativity scene. Inside the building a light shone on a large statue of Jesus stretching out His scarred hands. Erin thought about the little baby in the manger and how He grew into someone who had all power. And yet He chose to sacrifice His life for her. He had been born so she could live again. No matter what happened, Erin could feel safe in Jesus’s love.

Peace washed over her. She couldn’t quite explain how, but her worry disappeared. When she looked at the statue of Jesus Christ, shining brighter than twinkling Christmas lights, she barely noticed the dark night sky. She was too busy feeling the warmth of hope flickering inside her.

 

Filed Under: LDS

So long, farewell (2012) and hello to 2013!

January 1, 2013 By

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs

I’m not into resolutions, primarily because I rarely stick to them. I am, however into goals and always have big ambitious for my family and myself. 2012 was not amazing like 2010. It was not horrible like 2011. But it was just pretty darn good. We had great travels, great professional opportunities and great times.

We are sitting down as a family to discuss our goals for fostering our relationships but here are a few personal areas I would like to improve.

Travel less, save more. I know, I know–people usually resolve to travel more but between Disney World and Disneyland (in addition to all our other trips), it’s time to button down the hatches and start saving. We’re not materialistic people who care about fancy clothes, houses or cars (just ask my 10-year-old Honda Pilot) but travel is definitely my weakness. We need to put a sound financial plan in place and do better at balancing it all.

Spiritual well-being. 2012 was pretty good but could be better. Though we’re dedicated to daily family scripture study and prayer, I’ve resolved to delve into my own studies and reconnect with my passion: Middle Eastern study. First item of business–pour through all my old journals and notes from my study abroad at BYU Jerusalem.

Jamie’s health. Though we didn’t have any hospital visits (praise, hallelujah!), he continues to have debilitating rheumatism attacks and, of course, his heart issues are omnipresent. Top priority will be to research alternative treatments and nutrition plans and do something about it.

Make more money. That sounds kind of greedy but at a recent conference I realized I have built a great brand, have a lot of great connections and now it is time to start asking for what I am worth. A friend helped me realize how much I have been undervaluing myself. This will go hand-in-hand with savings. If I make more, we can save more.

Get in kick-butt shape. I say it ever year. And every year I mean it. This summer, Jamie and I need to get back on the climbing 14ers bandwagon.

Remember: It’s Not About Me. I’ve lacked patience dealing with some tough people in my life. When I recently had a conversation with The Man Upstairs about a situation I have been placed in for years to help certain frustrating people, I resolved I was done. Tired. And over it. And I received a very powerful, distinct answer: “It’s Not About You.”

Note taken: I need to remember those most difficult to love are the ones who need it the most. If I can remember that, 2013 is already off to a great start.

Happy New Year! And thank you for being part of my family’s life!

Filed Under: holidays, LDS

Rewriting the Nativity on Christmas Eve (Extortion, Anyone?)

December 26, 2012 By

Confession: I went a wee bit overboard with Christmas Eve. It’s just that the night before Christmas is traditionally my family’s big celebration and I was bummed to not be surrounded by family. And so I invited ward members and neighbors who didn’t have nearby relatives. And kept inviting. My final count was between 25-30 people.

Oh, and I kinda forgot to tell my husband about it. On our way to Loveland Ski Area on Christmas Eve morning:

“We have to hurry back so I can get everything ready.”

“Get what ready?”

“Christmas Eve. We have [listed off families] coming tonight.”

“WHAT?”

“I told you about it, didn’t I?”

“I think I’d remember something like that.”

I’d like to call it Jamie’s Christmas Eve Surprise Party.

But it all turned out splendidly and was a reminder that we have so many beloved friends who are like family. We had so much delicious food we were literally busting at the seams and ran out of table and counter space.And we played my favorite games that included the Christmas bells and the Left-Right Game (which always brings down the house). And for the first time ever, we reenacted the Nativity. In Young Women’s the previous Sunday, our wonderful president pulled together a very spiritual program with carols and scriptures. I grabbed a copy of the script and vowed we’d do the same on Christmas Eve, with assuredly the same result.

Yeah, right. With young kids, that ain’t possible. A couple of the young ones had meltdowns and our darling who was to hold the star got freaked out and refused to do it. (“Star light, star fright?”)

Hadley was thrilled when her peers selected her to be Mary but I couldn’t convince anyone to be her Joseph. I finally had to bribe Bryan, one of the boys with whom I carpool, to do it.

Though chaotic, the entire night was a shining reminder that the Christmas season is about celebrating Jesus’ birth surrounded by those we love.

And my greatest takeaway: The Lord’s wise methodology of having an angel appear to Joseph in a dream to tell him to take Mary as his wife was far more effective than bribery.

Filed Under: Family, holidays, Humor, LDS

When (and How) Our Christmas Came Alive

December 24, 2012 By

Many years ago, my mom gave me what I like to call a Book of Love. She compiled a collection of Christmas stories, songs and scriptures–one for every day in December leading up to Christmas. She sewed a beautiful Christmas cover for the binder and fastened it with an elaborate bow.

Our little family has made it a Christmas tradition to snuggle up at bedtime to read from this wonderful treasure every night.  Last night, our story was as follows:

The Gift of Love

On a cold winter’s night in 1951 there was a knock at the door of Bishop Thomas S. Monson. A German man from Ogden, Utah, said, “Are you Bishop Monson?”

“He began to weep and said, ‘My brother and his wife and family are coming here from Germany. They are going to live in your ward. Will you come with us to see the apartment we have rented for them?”‘ recalled President Monson in a 1980 general conference address. “On the way to the apartment, he told me … through the holocaust of World War II, his brother had been faithful to the Church, serving as a branch president before the war took him to the Russian front.”

Bishop Monson looked at the apartment. It was cold and dreary. The paint was peeling, the wallpaper soiled, the lighting and floor covering inadequate, the cupboards empty.

The man replied, “It isn’t much, but it’s better than they have in Germany.” With that, he gave the key to Bishop Monson and told him the family would arrive in three weeks, just two days before Christmas.

The next morning at a ward welfare committee meeting, Bishop Monson spoke of the details of the uninviting apartment. After a moment of silence members of the ward welfare committee spoke up. A man in the electrical business pledged to fix the lighting. Another offered to paint. A third determined to have donated carpet installed in the apartment, and yet another to get donated appliances. The women in the ward would see that the cupboards were filled with food.

“The next three weeks are ever to be remembered. It seemed that the entire ward joined in the project.”

When the family arrived, they were welcomed by a beautiful apartment with fresh paint, new carpet, adequate lighting, donated furniture and appliances and kitchen cupboards filled with food. A Christmas tree stood in the dining room with gifts beneath it. We spontaneously began singing, “Silent night! Holy night! All is calm: all is bright.” We sang in English; they sang in German. At the conclusion of the hymn, Hans Guertler threw his arms around my neck,  buried his head in my shoulder and repeated the words, ‘Mein Bruder, mein Bruder, mein Bruder.”‘

===

I was almost finished reading our story when the doorbell rang. It was dark and late and I joked, “That had better be food at door.”

It was that and so much more. When we swung open the door, a beloved, talented family from our ward broke into the most beautiful rendition of “Silent Night.” Hadley watched the carolers, awestruck at the timing. “Mommy, do you hear what they are singing? We just read about that!”

The spirit of the season resonated so strongly as we listened to their pitch-perfect, beautiful melodies. After saying our good-byes, we ran back upstairs to finish our story:

“As we walked down the stairs that night, all of us who had participated in making Christmas come alive in the lives of this German family, we reflected upon the words of the Master:

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:40.

How thankful I am for dear friends who served as a reminder of this that night.

Merry Christmas!

Filed Under: holidays, LDS Tagged With:

Thanksgiving Gratitude: My Favorite Time of the Day

November 22, 2012 By

I have so much for which to be grateful but this Thanksgiving, it’s about my little family.

I feel like we’ve hit the golden age with both of our kids. A few things I appreciate:

  • They are becoming independent (Haddie made me apple-cinnamon pancakes with caramel sea salt butter completely by herself and Bode is rocking the shoe-tying).
  • They are coming into their own spiritually (sweet Bode gives the most insightful prayers and Hadley sometimes brings her scriptures to school for her reading block).
  • They love to travel and are learning that exploring our world is not something we do, it is the essence of who we are. I love snuggling up to them on Sunday nights as we watch the Amazing Race. We bring out Haddie’s globe, chart their worldwide course and dream of our own adventures together.
  • They would rather spend time with Jamie and me than any of their friends (believe me, I know that gift is fleeting).

    Razor racing over Thanksgiving break

My favorite time of the day with them is bedtime. After they have showered, changed into their PJs and brushed their teeth, we snuggle up into our king-sized bed to talk about our day, read the scriptures and a book. Last month, we finished off the Wizard of Oz, 100th Anniversary Edition that I bought in Coronado. This month, we’re tackling the Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm.

After we read, we kneel in prayer and immediately following the “amen,” the kids wrestle with Jamie. Giggling and screaming, he scoops them up and gives them both a piggy-back ride to their bedrooms where they say their own prayers before we tuck them in. On Monday night, I sentimentally snapped a picture.

This is my favorite moment because despite what kind of a day we had–whether there were arguments or stress or frustrations or chaos–life’s imperfections are finally made perfect as we come together. Jamie won’t be able to carry them to bed forever and figuratively, someday they will be carrying us.

But it’s my little reminder that there is magic in ordinary days and life sure is golden.

Filed Under: Bode, Hadley, holidays, Jamie, LDS

Thanksgiving Service and the Woman’s Shelter Take-down

November 21, 2012 By

Happy Thanksgiving!

If there is one cause I feel passionate about, it is fighting child hunger. One out of every four children in Colorado goes hungry…a very daunting statistic and I commend those who are working so closely to fight this battle. A couple of weeks ago, I met with the Food Bank of the Rockies to brainstorm a new initiative they hope to launch for educating kids about it. I’m so excited to be a part of the new program!

A couple of weeks ago, I had a chance to join our Young Women at our local food bank to sort food for Thanksgiving.

Though she’s a few years too young for YW, Haddie begged me to come. No complaints here if she wants to help!

Then, last weekend our family signed up through Volunteers of America to serve Thanksgiving dinner at a local woman’s shelter. This is the second year we’ve done it and I’m grateful for the learning experience it is for my kids. I hope to make it an annual tradition.
All the volunteers sign up to bring various items of a Thanksgiving meal. We then dined with the residents, made cards for VOA’s annual Basket of Joy fundraiser where they deliver baskets to seniors and then the apex of the event: BINGO. We’re highly competitive but only Jamie got the win, which he will never let me forget.

For the kids, the highlight is being The Caller. They patiently waited and when it was their turn, I accompanied them. “Why do you always have to come with us?” Miss Independence whined.

The reason is evidenced in what unfolded next.

I told the kids they needed to take turns pulling the numbers from the BINGO cage, call out the number and place it on the tally board.

At least that’s how it would happen in a Perfect BINGO World.

But alas, both kids fought as they jockeyed for position and I seethed threats at both of them. As they furiously spun the cage, BINGO balls were flying everywhere off the table and I subtly tried to retrieve them as I smiled sweetly at the residents. “Look at us! Just one big, happy, BINGO-calling family!”

Lies. All lies. I breathed a sigh of relief when our turn was over, though I had serious doubts I had recovered all the wayward balls.

Next year’s gift for the shelter: a new BINGO set.

And a better BINGO-calling attitude. :-)

Filed Under: Bode, Hadley, holidays, Humor, LDS

Apple Dunking and Halloween Bashing!

October 31, 2012 By

Saturday was our ward’s annual Halloween party. The youth were in charge, which means as a youth leader I was a part of the planning and implementation.
Pretty much, I have the best calling ever working with these beautiful young women.

Jamie and I wore our annual costumes. I was the pumpkin widow dressed in black (see my shirt) and Jamie was (what else?) a pumpkin.
It’s like art imitating real life. Every. Single. Day.

We just finished reading the 100th Anniversary edition of Wizard of Oz that I bought as a souvenir in Coronado Island. Much to my delight, Hadley shunned the pop culture costumes of many of her peers and opted to be Dorothy.

Bode, on the other hand? He spotted a Mario costume at the thrift store and the begging began. “Bode, you were Mario two years ago. Don’t you want to be _______” and I listed off a number of costumes. Obviously, I lost.

Blurry action shot eating doughnuts on a string

We had a spookiest appetizer/dessert contest so I whipped up a graveyard 7-Layer Dip. I got a ton of compliments on it but it was a result of improvisation. We didn’t have any refried beans so I used Madras Lentils (my fave wintertime lunch) and layered sour cream, cheese, green onions, salsa and guacamole. For the graveyard, I cut and baked some red chile tortillas into tombstones, a cat and a ghost.
I thought I did a pretty good job until I saw my friend Wendy’s entry.
Overachiever.

The young men were in charge of a haunted grove in the forest behind the church.

Teenagers with a real chainsaw = terrifying.

The young women stayed inside and oversaw all the carnival games.

Best. Bean bag toss. Ever.

And then there was the most unsanitary game of them all: bobbing for apples. In sixth grade, I had a Halloween party that will go down in infamy as The Best Party Ever and I still wear my Queen Apple Bobber Badge proudly. When the young women taunted me to do it, I rose to the challenge.

Or rather, bent way, way over for it. Haddie and Bode joined me and I dove in preparing to leave them in my salivated-apple-bobbing wake. When all of a sudden, I was being submerged way way way under. I flew up sputtering, only to realize my own husband dunked me.

It’s a good thing we drove separately; otherwise dude would have walked home.

Haddie ended up being the winningest apple bobber of the night. As it turns out, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Literally.

Filed Under: Bode, Foodie, Hadley, holidays, Humor, Jamie, LDS, pumpkins Tagged With: ,
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »