Jordy's new 'do

Yes, this is what happens when your sweet nephew grows up and plays on the high school football team. He lost a coin toss prior to the first round playoffs and this is the hairstyle he got. If you can call it a style. He sort of looks like Ron Howard, I think.

Maybe he'll have enough hair for a comb-over soon.

Jack-o-Lanterns on the porch

This week's happenings...

It is Tuesday, October 28 --happy birthday a day late, Dean! My youngest big brother turned 44 yesterday. I think we should still be in our 20's and 30's (well, I still am in the 30's decade, but I can't say that for the brothers). I don't know where the time is going.

Last Thursday evening, we went to the Jazz vs. Trailblazers game. The kids had a blast cheering the players on and Morgan got to meet some of the Jazz dancers.

Last evening, we carved our pumpkins! As usual, it was a process. I always do the free-hand - hope it turns out pumpkin that takes about 5 minutes. Then, I got to carve Morgan's for her, as she wanted to "do one like Dad's this year". Hers is the ghost/boo one, Cole's is Dr. Jekyl, and Rich's is the witch/cauldron. You can tell which one is mine. My witch's hat with the "S" on it. I have played the part before... imagine that...it is truly scary.

Abby and Bert were there for the carving festivities-- eating pumpkin seeds off the floor. I didn't know what Morgan was doing when she went into the living room and was saying, "Abby, say, bock, bock, bock...". I guess you can see what she was doing. Abby was not amused.

Today it is 75 degrees here and gorgeous. It may actually be warm on Halloween. I remember bundling up for Halloween in Montana with snowsuits under our cheesy plastic costumes with the plastic half-mask that had an elastic string on the back. The eye holes were rarely where they needed to be. But, boy was it fun. The kids are counting the days until they can wear their costumes and load up on treats!

Apolo Anton Ohno and my 13-year-old moment

We spent Sunday afternoon at the Utah Olympic Ice Oval watching World Cup short track speed skating. It was pretty cool to see in person (literally- it was freezing in there). I don't know how they don't crash more often, as fast as they are going and trying to position themselves for the win.

Apolo Anton Ohno, a 5-time medalist in the winter Olympics and former "Dancing with the Stars" hottie, was there... skating, not dancing. He drew the largest cheers from the crowd and was amazing on the ice. As we were leaving, he was signing autographs... I couldn't resist getting my picture taken with him. Yes, I was giddy like a teenage girl.

Too Old for Daycare and the Sweaty Whizzer

You know, I just can't help but post these things, even when they may not be appropriate...
I was at a 1 hour flu clinic today close to home, so I left the kids alone knowing that my neighbor, Marcia, was at home and would check on them. I told them that they could call me during the flu clinic, if they needed anything important. My cell phone rang, and Cole said, "hi, Mom, I just called to tell you I just woke up from a nap (he had a sleepover last night and stayed up quite late) and my armpits and whizzer were both totally sweaty!". Number one, I think that's a new word in our house to describe the male anatomy and number two, I don't know if that qualifies a need to call me during a clinic. However, there will come a day that he may not want to share those details, so I should feel grateful, I suppose.

In other news, I went to the gym this morning. Since Cole was at a sleepover, I had to put Morgan in the gym daycare for an hour since she's out of school. She was so irritated before we left the house. I tried to make it sound cool, and told her that she could 'help out with the little kids'. That seemed to appease her a little. As I was gathering my things and heading to the car, she comes out with a lot of pink lipstick on... she hadn't exactly colored inside the lines. I think it was her way of distinguishing her seven-year-old self from the little kids at daycare. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

More of Cole's photography

Here are more of the pictures that Cole took on our hike. The one is at Solitude (I took this one) on the ski lift for the bunny hill. The kids thought it was cool to see the ski resort with very little snow. It is Wednesday, I did a flu shot clinic (I do these clinics in the fall for holiday cash!) at a retirement center and the kids had early out day. I had an amazing time at the retirement center... loved to see the spirit of the folks at the retirement center, the guys and ladies still flirtatious at 80, and their humor. It was wonderful to spend time there. Morgan is a little sick with a cold, but milking it for all it's worth. Cole has a friend over and they were just outside throwing the football in the cool, crisp afternoon temperatures. They are out of school until next Tuesday for Fall recess. I am so happy to have them home. My best days are when everyone is at home, just relaxing, sitting by the fireplace, reading books, and hopefully, sleeping in!

Fall Fun

I did look outside this morning while working at the U, and it was snowing so hard I couldn't see across the valley, but the snow stopped shortly thereafter. So, we'll see what Mother Nature does the rest of the weekend.

Last week we did a few family activities... the kids made frozen "ghost" bananas. We picked some of our many grapes and made grape juice (the kids couldn't believe how many grapes it took to make a quart of juice!). It was a good lesson for them. And, we went hiking in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Cole was doing a school project and needed to take some photos. The aspen/mountain photos are his. It is beautiful here this time of year!

Snow this weekend?

Yep, that is what the weatherman is saying. I am actually hopeful that he is right. I have all the yard work done, Rich has winterized all the things that could freeze and flood, and I can't wait to put the mower away and rev up the snowblower! Last year, I snuck home from the neighbors' house during the Superbowl, just so I could run the thing. Weird, I know.

In other news, Cole and Morgan have been in swimming lessons the past 2 weeks and are loving it. They are both really good swimmers, but we wanted them to build up their stamina before the trip in December, so they can snorkel with us. It is just under two months until we leave. Since we told them about the trip in April, it has been a long wait for them. They are so anxious.

The Halloween costumes are taken care of. No more princesses or cutesy things for Morgan... those days are gone I guess. She will be a pirate. Cole chose a very cool Star Wars costume. You will get to see pictures soon. I thought it was a nice compliment (?) when the kids thought I should get a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader costume "because Dad would love you in that". I just couldn't justify $60.00 for the outfit. However, Rich did confirm that it would be a good outfit for vacuuming.

Pumpkins, yes... we have those, too. A reminder of how much we miss Greenbluff. Greenbluff is an area in north Spokane that is all farmland, filled with orchards, pumpkin fields, corn fields, and fun. We also used to go get our Christmas trees there. So, instead, we drove down to Ream's-- the grocery store with the best price on pumpkins and picked out our favorites. They are decorating our home, awaiting the carving to be done the week of Halloween.

For your viewing enjoyment, the picture above is of Cole and Morgan in 2002 (Cole was 4 and Morgan was 1) at Greenbluff. Cole obviously did not want his picture taken with his sister.

Armpit Hair

I know you're just dying to read this entry after seeing the title. The subject of growing armpit hair has been fascinating Cole for a couple of years now. He simply cannot wait to have hair in his pits. So, we were discussing the fact that we would be going to get the kids' passports in preparation for our cruise in December. What does that have to do with armpit hair you say?

During this discussion, we told Cole and Morgan that their passports would only be good for 6 years, since they are minors. They wanted to know why and we explained that their looks would change a lot in the next few years. Cole piped up, "yes, I might even have a mustache by then". We all chuckled. Then he said, "I'm sure I'll have armpit hair by then, but I guess that probably wouldn't show in the passport picture". That brought to mind a passport photo with Cole in a tank top and his arm in the air next to his head, grinning ear to ear... with armpit hair in abundance.

I hope he loves the armpit hair once it actually arrives.