Thank You! Happy Halloween!

So tonight was so fun. Emma's school put on a carnival and it was fabulous! They had a great dinner and then tons of activities and games. Emma's favorite was the blow up toy that you could jumpin and go down the slide on the other side. Emma had so much fun finally wearing her bride dress that has been long awaited (although I let her wear it a few times before). Jackson was the same bumblebee that Emma was when she was his age...and so the hand me downs begin. I have a hard time putting together these great outfits when he doesn't really care and thought he was so great in this outfit anyway. They were both so cute. When we finished at the carnival I took Emma around the block and she got to practice the appropriate "trick or treat." She was so shy at first then caught on and thought it was so fabulous. Between everyone house she would say "this is so much fun!" Then when we got to the last house she said "Mom, will you say trick or treat and get the candy for me cause I'm so tired." I thought that was great. And it was fun to spread the candy out in the end and see what was going to be thrown away in a couple of days when we're so sick of candy we want to puke! Hope everyone had as fun a day as we did!

The beginning of the night.
Racing to that oh-so-fabulous blow up toy.

Had to take a bridal picture.

My cute little bumblebee.

Isn't he so cute?

So pretty!

Reaping her rewards.

Beginning of the night.

The past month....very random.

Emma and Emma at Disneyland. It was so fun seeing those two play together. Emma was so excited to see a familiar face. We haven't really made any best friends for her yet.

Picture day at school

My little man. He's so sweet!

It's pretty normal for him to stick whatever is within a ten foot radius directly into his mouth. A few days ago, he learned his lesson with the aerosol hairspray when he chomped down on the nozzle.

(I love to dress her up for school and take pictures when I think she is so cute!)

I cannot believe the month of october is already pretty much gone. The first few months I was here and reading everyone else's blogs talking about how busy they were and how they justdidn't have time to blog and I've finally joined the ranks of run around like a chicken with my head cut off group of women. The past few weeks have been absolutely crazy. So the first of the month wasn't that bad except for I was preparing to do the gospel abc books for our super saturday. It was miserable cutting out 26 letters seperately for 15 people...all in the naming of saving a few pennies. And of course, Michaels made it really easy for me to get all of the stuff I needed by never having it and telling me to check back for 6 weeks on Friday shipments and then telling me the Friday before they don't carry that necessary item anymore. Really sweet. And it is hard collecting money from all the people who sign up and hoping that you don't get taken in the end because you charged to little in the beginning. There's got to be a better way, I tell ya! But they still turned out so cute! And I did a dang good job of getting cute stuff and getting it all together! Then it just seems like there is meeting after meeting nowadays for me. It is nice to get out of the house a night or two and get charged up from having a break, but I haven't had a break from meetings lately. I was honestly gone every night last week (although one of those nights was a hot date night...had persian food which I had never had before and it was soooooo goood!!!) I actually stayed up late last night talking with our YW President in her car about it and she was so fabulous! She was so understanding and kept telling me that she wants me to be honest and that the presidency has an understanding that you say "I can't be there tonight" and there are no questions asked. She is such a fabulous woman. I'm way excited to get to know her. I had my first MODBE party here last Friday, too. It went very well, which I was so grateful for. Everyone was excited about it and looked so cute in everything they put on so it was fun to watch that happen. Modbe has been really fun for me, but kind of hurts the pocketbook...I spend way more than I make. This Saturday is the temple commemoration so I get to go to the temple for the first time since I've been here. I'm very excited about that! I'm being nudged that it's time for bed so I'll blab some more a little later....just wanted to update this at least a little.

Zuppa Toscana

So this is a new recipe from my aunt that I tried out today. It was SOOOO Fabulous! At least enough to share. No really, it was! I have no idea if this is the name of it, but my aunt called it the Olive Garden soup, so I looked it up and this was the closest one. So if any of you want a great meal (that was easy and fast, too), here ya go!

1/2 lbs italian sausage (spicy)
1/2 lbs regular mild sausage
3/4 c onion, chopped (or more)
6 slices bacon (or handful from a precooked bag...helps with that "fast" part)
1 1/4 tsp garlic (or more if you know my cooking)
4 c water
1 quart chicken broth
6 potatoes diced
6 c shredded kale
2/3 c heavy whipping cream
1/4 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1 Tbl Parsley
1 tsp salt
At same time...start boiling potatoes in water, seasonings, and broth and
begin cooking sausage and throw in onion towards the end...when onions cooked...throw in garlic and bacon. When potatoes are done, add cream, kale, and meat mixture and simmer until the kale is limp and you're done! Ohhhhh! This is so good! Jani, I know you would love it!

Sea World, Movie Stars, and The Beach

I have never been to the San Diego temple. It was so absolutely beautiful. We couldn't go onto the grounds because they were closed for some reason, but were able to get a picture from behind.

The Clydesdale for the beer company that I can never remember. Poor horse has to stand there all day and let people pet him. He was getting pretty frustrated by the time we got to him.

The tunnel with the sharks. It's pretty awesome being up so close!

So we spent last weekend in San Diego taking the kids to Sea World for the first time. I haven't been there since I was a kid and I must say I was in awe all day long. I enjoyed that place SO MUCH!!! It is absolutely incredible watching those trainers work with Shamu and the dolphins. I loved all the shows. I worried that the kids would be a little bored because it was just show after show. Emma loved it and wasn't bored at all! She was apprehensive to sit in the soak zone, at first, but then decided it was cool getting wet in spite of the fact that we were chilly for a few minutes after until we dried. At one point before watching the dolphin show, she got the attention of the audience by falling down some stairs. She was pretty embarrassed and tried not to cry. I felt so bad for her cause she was trying to be brave. She finally buried her head into me and lost it. The guy with the mic turned to us and asked if she was okay. Fortunately the show started and some other chick biffed it as part of the show and we enjoyed the dolphins who can jump so high! The next morning we went to a swap meet. I've alway a enjoyed a good swap meet, but this was not one of those. The only funny part was at some point this woman walked up to me and introduced herself as some talent scout. She said she had been watching Emma and wanted to invite her to an audition the next morning for extras on Hannah Montana and gave me directions and all that. I, of course, was totally flattered and totally agreed that Emma is absolutely beautiful, but we choose not to ruin our daughter's life by throwing her into television! I was thinking about the girls night out we had at the Homemade pie and Ice Cream shop over Jani's birthday and our closest link to stardom. Well, mine at the time was that I dated Taj Melson from the Utah Grizzly hockey team, which, I admit, isn't too close to stardom...especially compared to Rachel. But this is my new closest. We then spent the day on the beach where Jack learned how to skim board and biffed it by hitting a rock and going down. His leg and knee have been swollen and sore ever since! Poor little guy! It wasn't incredibly warm, but I got to see some of my family there at a reunion and that is always fun! Oh! I also forgot to tell...on November 3rd we are celebrating Los Angeles Temple being 50 years old. So there's going to be a Solemn Assembly in their 60,000 sq ft room and i'm in the choir that is going to sing! I can't wait to sing in the temple! What an awesome opportunity! So that has been my good news of the week!

I Am Emma!

I found this random quiz on someone's blog and since I would love to be buried next to Jane Austin (Jack can be on the other side), I thought it appropriate to see which of her characters I am most like!

:: E M M A ::
You are Emma Woodhouse of Emma! You like being the queen of your social circle (small and provincial as it may be), and feel it's your duty to help those less influential than you. You often meddle in the affairs of others, though you do it with a pure heart. You are often deluded in your flights of fancy, but your good intentions and creative spirit make you someone anyone could like.

What do you think? Does it fit me?

http://www.strangegirl.com/austenquiz/

The Last 10 Days

Disneyland, actually this one is at California adventure. This was Emma seeing what Disney Character she was most like by taking a personality questionnaire. First time it was Dot fom A Bugs' Life and second time she was Mulan.

Waiting with Uncle Brandt for the parade to start. The family next to us was from Utah and the girls had a nice princess standoff.

This isn't one of my more proud moments in pictures of my self, I just thought it was funny that I had no clue he was picking his nose!

This is Emma's Halloween costume. I've never let her do the princess thing for Halloween so we got this wedding dress complete with veil. It's actually quite beautiful! She's pretty pumped to get married in a few weeks. The swing thing behind her was her birthday present and one of the better purchases I've made. That thing is so fun to play in! I got it from IKEA for $30.

This was in my aunt's backyard in St George. They've got a fun set up back there. Emma was so mad coming out of this slide, though. She swore she would never do it again!

Uncle Brandt's new sunglasses. She looks studly!

Once again taste-testing lemons!

I have gotten these CUTE pictures of Jackson lately and thought everyone should be privileged to see them. This boy is HILARIOUS! He just makes me smile to look at him. And he's such a kissy little thing! This is a wig, for those of you wondering if he had implants. We were in my aunts basement and found this and I had to get pictures.

I love new callings!

I got a new calling in church yesterday and I'm pretty dang excited about it. I am a young women advisor. I've never worked in young woman, but always thought going to camp again would be a blast. I don't know if I mentioned I got called to the stake primary board last month. So I'm so glad to be getting more busy with these callings. Isn't it weird how the more busy you are the better you manage your time and accomplish more? I'm VERY excited to get to work in primary and young women! I so need and want to serve and I think it will provide so many opportunities for me to grow which I tend to not be very good at on my own! I'm so impressed with the quality of people here in California. I thought it would be like New York because of the number of people, but it's NOTHING like it. I don't like New York. But people are wonderful here and they wave when you drive down the street and let you in quickly when you signal. I love that! Does anyone elseget way excited for new callings?