kids video---they are soo goofy! Ashlynn, Adrien, Aubree, and Vanessa

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=154684698410&ref=mf

Love this one--reminds me of an album cover....

Halloween....autobots and flip flops!!!!!!

Halloween. It's scary. It's spooky. It's dark. and It's fun! We all agree that this is one for the history books! The day started off mild with a few costume malfunctions. Unlike Janet Jackson and Britney we have everything "covered" :)  I mosied on over to the church's "Trunk or Treat" This is where church members open up decorated car trunks full of treats! The kids then walk around the building to each car for a yummy treat! What a turn out! Brett had his bucket packed by the time we were finished. That is our new church in the background of the picture with Todd and Brett. Todd also managed to wiggle out of his pants back in to his old stand-by shorts, sweater and flip-flops...and HE says he never wants to live in Florida! whatever :) Brett went disguised as his beloved transformer, Bumblebee. Vanessa went as a nerd. Adrien and I think she was more of a "preppy nerd". That is Josh her date for a party...I swear I can';t keep all of these boys names straight! Either I am getting senile or she has too many dates.!! Adrien was getting over being sick, so he decided to pass out candy. As usual Adrien has a brilliant creative idea for fun! He passed out (to middle schoolers so you Nazi Moms chill out! :) socks, cans of veggies he hates (aka my food storage), raw egg, rocks, plastic knives and spoons, and he ground black pepper into their treat bags as well as had out single tissues with the phrase "For the Mexican Swine Flu~God Bless!" exclaimed to all. ..It got many laughs and customer returns! He did hand out candy along with these fun items! It was a really fun night! 

Undefeated Football Season for Adrien!

Adrien kicking butts and taking names! As a Mom I worried a bit when my son announced that he decided to join a sport where potential hurt is everywhere...but he loves the game..so I am now a huge fan of Eagle High Football! Adrien got to play more this year that he did last year in Florida on the Pop Warner team. Adrien was recognized for his swiftness and boyish charm so obviously the position for him is wide receiver. I really began to enjoy this game that keeps men glued to their seats and the cause of many an argument or two at my house when I was child. I still don't fully understand the game. I just yell a lot when everyone else yells and make sure our family is warm. I do enjoy when Todd makes a huge thermos full of creamy, hot chocolate. I love being bundled up under old comforters on ice cold steel bleachers. I love Brett's rosy nose and cheeks and watching his face light up when the cheerleaders start a cheer. I also enjoy having others come out and watch my baby play!

The Wheels are turning! I am not talking 'bout the ones in my head either!

Yes.....it is a tradition....their grandpa owned a Ford Galaxie 500 as his 1st car///Mom was fortunate to land a Ford Maverick as her first car..and now (wiping away a tear) the babies..uhh teenagers have a ford Mustang! These kids are so freaking lucky! My brother..Dustin and his wife..Wendy were telling me about the car when we visited there in July. We wanted it, so we had it shipped out from Kentucky to Idaho. Dusty and Wendy also wanted the kids to have it. It is in pristine condition! The big truck came about 30 minutes before Vanessa was due home. Todd decorated the garage, and wrote her a note telling her to coming in thru the garage...she did and started screaming and ran off to tell her friends...video pending... she drove it around the block with Todd..and we set everything up for Adrien too. He was not as thrilled because he does not have his permit quite yet!

A most precious thing...

Many people have wondered over the years about my conversion to Mormonism. Two missionaries called by the Lord to serve a mission came upon my childhood home in Floyds Knobs, Indiana. As I look back I wonder if they were wanting a more exotic mission call..Japan, Australia, or Africa..rather than Louisville, Kentucky Mission.My memories of those few months of praying, fasting, reading, and finally choosing are tender. I am grateful to a Heavenly Father that loves ME. That knew I was waiting in that little town, and he sent these two precious young boys to me to be taught. The responsibility of what the missionaries do weighs heavily on me. Elder Joe Nay had just a few weeks left on his mission when he and his companion, Chris McDannel,sat in their car and prayed for guidance on where to go to offer words of Christ, and for me a change of heart and life. Elder Nay did not have the privilege of baptizing me or confirming me a member of the church, but he taught me and it resonated with me. Before he left he asked me to write in his journal. I complied never knowing that 19 years later I would read my message to him again and feel those tender feelings of the Spirit...again in all its confirming and sustaining power. God loves me.

Eagle High Homecoming Sep 2009

She did not really want to go to Homecoming..Vanessa is not really into that sorta thing...so she says :) Her friend Ashlynn basically talked her into it when we went to Kohl's to return some items and saw THE DRESS....60% off! Naturally, Ashlynn had shoes that matched the dress perfectly! Brett also liked the shoes...a little too much. He wondered how Vanessa managed to walk in "them things"...Todd wondered which date he needed to watch closely, and Adrien wondered when the heck dinner was going to be served..he did not have to wonder long because he got invited to eat dinner at Ashlynn's with the Homecomers..they were having Hawaiian Haystacks..I am getting used to the camera...I still need to buy the video ..I am more a visual learner than kinectic:)

Brett's new Trike and guy things

I know there are some folks that don't like video games...I am not one of them! I think they help kids a lot with motor skills, multi-tasking, and fine details...Here we have a sweet picture..Adrien teaching the next generation of video gamers. Yesterday I went to the Goodwill store as I usually do once a week ..and my best find is a RadioFlyer trike...with a "ringyy bell" for $7.00...Brett was thrilled!

It's the most wonderful time of the year.......BACK TO SCHOOL!

When we announced that we were thinking of moving to Idaho in a family meeting..we were boo'ed and hissed..felt like Kanye West at an awards show...threats of  "I am being homeschooled" ..to "I ain't going nowhere" were in the air..negotiations became the only way to go. Experts from all areas were consulted on tactics to persuade and derail. Summer pulled out all stops to prepare the teens as Idaho public relations liasion..Todd took over as logistics expert (loved his charts)... Barbara was just plain happy. So with this background knowledge time to sign up for school was coming quickly ..and the rumors about Eagle high too...but the rental we got is a perfect little house, so tough! Well, the kids are flourishing! Vanessa made the 10 member dance team with only about 1/2 hour worth of practice! Adrien is playing football as wide receiver, and Brett is ditching the bus for social reasons. Here they are in their glory..and no bias here...these kids are gorgeous! Yes, I know "they look like their Momma"..I know..I know ;)

HAWAII AND MY NEW CAMERA...

Aloha! So many of you have asked about my trip to Hawai'i and my experiences there that I figured instead of repeating myself over and over --I will blog about it...The plane trip was not bad at all. $400 roundtrip. I went on this excursion due a landmarks grant I received. The topic was Pearl Harbor..I ate, slept and drank Pearl Harbor...Just ask me something....I dare ya:)

Well I noticed that Hawai'i is very fragrant..dusky tropical flowers everywhere..it rained in short bursts too. No one seemed to care because it was misty rain..made my hair super curly! I stayed on the University of Hawai'i campus-East-West center  in Oahu. My room cost $38 a night --no air conditioning, but who wants that when at night the breeze just billows in and flows the curtains..I rested so well. I loved the deep blue of the ocean water right around Diamond Head. I know this sounds so very silly, but I felt connected to that island. I love the Polynesian people..always have. I think they are some of the most beautiful people on Earth. Maybe this because of the love I have received from the Fuimaono's, but I don't think it is just that...as a child the Pacific always seemed so unreachable to me, a little skinny kid from Southern Indiana. I remember as a child that my cousins would play Miss America (we forced my brothers to play --they got stuck being from "ugly states" like New Jersey or Michigan) ha ha! I would fight tooth and nail to get either Hawai'i or Florida...never imagining I would live in one state and visit the other..always wanted to be one of those hula girls you see on the dashboard:) Anyway...I got to try to use my camera I got at a steal on EBAY..so some of the pictures are not that great, but I am learning:) Pictures below are of the Punchbowl Cemetary and the USS Missouri and one of the survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack...these gentlemen all seemed to like me..kept wanting to kiss me! LOL..One even pinched my rear..I was so funny all I could do is laugh!

Utah...just passing through!

Well this is nearing the end of a very long trip..yes..I heard a lot of "Are we there yet??"... and I told Todd to be patient! ha ha! Brett was really great on the trip--no whining (I detest whining children)...the funniest thing I remember him saying is when Todd showed him an old Mountain Dew (start praying Mormons..they drink the DEW!! the sinners!)bottle and explained that he and Brett were to use this as their "pee jug" because we did not want to make too many stops. Brett looking a bit pensive then asked "but where is my poop jug?"

Wyoming to Utah...phase 3 or is it 4?

HOWWWWWWWWWWDEE! What a simply beautiful state. Loved the different landformations!! Notice the bug splatters on the windshield in the first picture....appetizing! Brett is here begging for a treat..again! to this day I cannot look at a Subway, Wendy's or McDonalds without having a "gag" reflex.

Trip interrupted--Oakley Kansas..not a place to visit or stay!

well..we got up early and were on our way..just relaxing enjoying the scenery and the 70's music on the radio when Todd thought we ran out of gas. I found this peculiar, but the BMW slowed down as he veered off the exit. Thank goodness we coasted down the hill and made the first turn before we came to a complete stop. Todd, suffering from gout, pushed the car just a few feet when a good Samaritian came to help push it into the gas station just a few feet away. We filled up the tank, got some snacks, and I started the car. It started just fine.Except for one problem--it would not go into gear. We pushed in into the nearest parking spot and prayed. We started calling around for rental cars, etc. We were 80 miles from the nearest--anything!I noticed a lot of pink fluid on the ground where we pushed and parked the car. I realized it was transmission fluid and figured that the tranny went out. $3500 was the quote we got from the nearest dealer...and the local guy "was out in the fields till Wednesday" his Daddy said. We priced rental cars and uhauls..renta car=$535 a day (no joke)and the Uhaul was over $1,200. We knew we would have to spend the night. We were relieved that two hotels were right across the street! God blessed us!! I called the new looking one only to find out it did not open for 24-48 more hours!! So we had to stay at the fleabag.We pushed the car across the street into the motel lot, and then we had to empty the car ..which was packed to the gills! We also had to pretend that our cat was a baby to smuggle her in the room. It was a sleepless night!We were grateful to have a place to stay and shower.The Lord watched over us..and darn it..He has a great sense of humor! My awesome brother-in-law drove from Idaho through the night to get us, and we dropped him off at the Denver airport, so he get home to do a surgery! We will never forget his generosity. He even put up with our cat! We drove in luxury the rest of the way in Summers car!!!