MAYLIN2007

Alex turned 16 on October 29. This means he can start dating. There was a school dance, with a Paris theme, the second weekend in November. He was so excited to get to go with a date. He asked Madison, his good friend with french bread and French Cheese. She answered back with soda pop and a note that said, "I would be Soda-lighted to go with you." They went with 5 other couples. Here, Alex is with his friend Harrison before they picked up their dates and then met their group for bowling. After, lunch at the bowling alley and bowling, they went to get ready for the dance. Me and Harrison's mom provided them with sandwiches, salad, drinks and desserts. Alex was brave enough to ask the bowling alley if they could eat inside, even though their was a big sign that said, NO OUTSIDE FOOD. But, the guy took pity on them since it was snowing outside and let them. As Alex says, it always pays to ask.   A mom with a 15 seater van picked up the kids and took them to Olive...

Here is a picture of the pumpkin Alex did. He caught in on fire by rubbing gas around the edges and then hooking it up to a battery. It sparked before it blew into flames. It was really pretty cool.

Yes, yes, yes.... I am still trying to catch up! Right before Halloween I took 3 of my kids to a hay maze, pumpkin patch. It was much to Alex's chagrin. He said he was too old for that kind of stuff. But, being the kind boy he is, he played along. A couple of days later we went to Cornbelly's, a big kid place. Just for him. We had a good time and he had so much fun he suggested we go to a really big pumpkin patch and then carve pumpkins TOGETHER. AS A FAMILY. Lesson learned: If your kids will give a little, you should give a little and then they give back. We had a fun time carving pumpkins. Then Alex actually lit his on fire with gas and a battery. It was pretty dang cool. He probably had the fire thing in mind the whole, but I say I will take what I can get. I also chaperoned a high school party at the kids' school. They had a bonfire, played games, roasted marshmallows and just hung out. It was a good time. I also was in charge of Maylin's class Harvest Party...

You all know that my dad has been ill. He was hospitalized about a month ago because his urinary track infection came back with a vengeance and his shoulder/arm that he broke got infected. He was terrible. The infection was horrible. After being on IV antibiotics for several days, he was finally moved to a rehabilitation center where he is currently. Here he has had more rounds of antibiotics and has been having much more therapy on his arm and on his balance and leg work. His birthday was the same day as Alex's. We went up a few days after their birthdays to have a big family party. It was good to be with the family that could come and wonderful to see my dad. I was sad to see him in the rehabilitation. He hates being away from my mom at nights. They love being together. I love that my mom and dad read scriptures together everyday and that they have prayer together every night. Even if my dad is asleep, my mom whispers a prayer in his ear. She won't let them miss a day. Th...