Happy Halloween

Halloween was fun. Sam was Luigi and I was supposed to be Princess Peach but I couldn't find a princess costume that was peach or even pink. So I was a blue Princess Peach. We had so much fun.

Here is Sam with a few of his buddies from C Street. It was fun to see old friends.

The cutest Luigi EVER!

The stash!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween.

NaNoWriMo 2009

Well it is just about that time again. I was very seriously considering not doing it, considering the fact that the last two novels I have written during NaNo are not finished. And just as I was about to scrap the whole month and just work on the stuff I need to finish I got this idea. This little glimmer of an idea that I really want to explore. So here goes nothin' (yes my grammar is immaculate). This is the least prepared I have ever been for the National Novel Writing Month. But I do have two weeks to try and do some world building, character development, a few sub-plots and a twist or two.

My last year NaNo which was a high fantasy (elves and all) is still yet to be named and is in the final draft phase. My co-worker has read the first eight chapters and has been bugging me to finish. She wants to know what happens. I am guessing that is a good thing.

I reworked my two years ago NaNo The Forbidden Art a techno fantasy. I changed the beginning almost completely. I am very happy with it. The same co-worker as above says the first chapter is creepy. I hope in the this-is-a-great-hook-and-I-would-read-the-rest kind of way not boy-this-is-really-creepy kind of way.

This year I am using a working title of Time Escape. Should be interesting to see if I can pull it off.

Lost Tooth

Sam has been working on this tooth for a couple of weeks. Then Wednesday night I let him get a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. He loves those. I don't know what makes them any better than a regular size pizza from the same place or anywhere else for that matter but he LOVES them. I actually like it too because I don't like pepperoni and he loves it. Yet another food we disagree on. Anway, I digress. So he is sitting in the back seat chopping into his pizza (even though I suggested he wait until we get home) and BLAM out pops his tooth. He was so excited! His face was a bit bloody. First I thought it was pizza sauce but it wasn't. We cleaned the tooth (and his face.) He put it in this little silver container that says First Tooth on the outside. He said he was not ready to part with it so I gave him until this weekend to put it under his pillow for the Tooth Fairy to visit him. He is such a funny kid. I love watching him grow up.

Summer Fun

What a wonderful summer we have had so far (and it is almost over NO!!!!!). Sam and Cambridge had a wonderful time at the Cowboy Dance that we all went to. They learned several things but got the dosey doe down pat. We had such a good time when we went down to Cedar City to visit. We hope that we can come visit again soon.

The 4th of July was a blast down in Cedar. The parade was really fun and the kids all looked really festive. Sam was bummed that he didn't have anything red to wear but never fear Grandma Cathy to the rescue. She got him a red bandanna and that great cowboy hat to wear for the day. All the kids had a great time - the parents did too!

For our family reunion we went up to Heber Valley Family Camp. Sam was really excited to sleep on his top bunk bed until it actually came time to sleep then he slept with me. Tight quarters let me tell you but he slept great. We shared with my Uncle Walt's family it was great thanks for letting us crash the Walt Wood party.

Heber Valley camp is really beautiful and what an escape from the heat of Salt Lake. Here is Sam and Papa walking to our camp.

Sam was really brave and went on the 'swing' first. He showed us all how it was done. He did a great job. He will tell you that I was a baby and it was true. I don't like heights so what possessed me to go on the thing I will never know but I screamed ... like a girl ... which is ok because I am girl!

Sam and Papa out on the lake. Sam was really excited about being in the canoe and they didn't even capsize.

What would summer be without a few trees to climb?

Sam and Papa! My dad had just finished telling Sam the story of the Ghost of the White Eyes. Have Sam tell it to you, it is pretty funny. He tries to do all the voices like my dad does. Sam's Russian voice is pretty funny.

Well summer is almost over and it is a good thing we are all getting tuckered out...

Let's Get Economical

I need to do some serious picture catch up, we have been very busy this summer.But in the mean time I am going to update some funny things Sam has said recently. We were driving in the car and Sam told me that "in the cowboy days when they burped they did not say excuse me which is why it is called the wild west." I really tried not to laugh because he was very serious about it.


While my parents were here Sam took a day off from summer camp and played with the grandparents while I was at work. On the drive there Sam had some chocolate milk which he spilled on his yellow shirt. My dad pointed at the stain and said looks like you have a problem (joking) and Sam looked down at his shirt pulled his arms in switched the shirt around and said, "happy?"


Later that day Sam was at the grocery store and picked up a giant size Hersey candy bar. He asked if he could have it which my dad said no. Sam put it back without a fight or a tear. Then when they were in the check out line he picked up another Hersey bar (the regular size) and said, "how about this one Papa, it is more economical." How could he resist that? Sam got his candy bar. I swear that kid is way too smart for his own good sometimes :)

School Water Day

Yes that is my son buried in tire chips in a bucket. It was actually a bit chilly that day but they got all wet and dirty anyway. I had so much fun playing hooky from work and playing with the kindergartners.

We had a rule not to get Sam's mom wet and it worked for the most part. Sam and his friends played and had so much fun until it stared raining. They did not mind getting wet but it was cold!

Here they are getting water buckets full of water to throw at Maggie's dad. They had so much fun getting him and he had no problem drenching the kids. All but one thought it was great. The one that thought it was not cool sat by me since I was off limits to water.

Here is Sam with his good buddy Auden. They had matching towels and they were both freezing but a good time was had by all especially me, I did not get wet at all. Then I went inside ate lunch with the kiddos went into the baby room and cuddled a few babies and went home early. I love visiting Sam's school.

The Car Show

Saturday morning we wake up and head to swimming lessons. I had seen a sign about a car show the week previous but knew that I would forget but as we drove to swimming lessons I saw all the cars and so did Sam. After swimming lessons we walked over to the show. It was so fun. Sam got his face painted. He is a knight in shining armor or shiny knight as he likes to call it. You should have seen the look on the painters face when he said that mostly 'ok, I can do that!?!' I think she did a great job. Sam LOVED it. He played at the bouncy house and slide, ate some popcorn and a shaved ice and looked at a few cars. It was pretty fun.

Three Hot Dogs and a Cemetery

Ok random. So Kacy, Andrea and I decided that it would be fun to go to the cemetery. There is a HUGE cemetery in the avenues. So after work last week while Sam was at his dad's house we grabbed some hot dogs a Slurpee and walked to the cemetery.

I must say that we had a pretty good time. We were cracking each other up taking pictures with our cell phones. Then we noticed this creepy girl was across the street taking pictures of us eating hot dogs underneath the cemetery sign. We asked her if she wanted us to move and she said, "no, just taking pictures." Of what exactly? Us? Eating hot dogs? It was creepy. Or maybe it was because we were at a cemetery. I don't know. Then we walked around. It is a beautiful place. We saw several headstones of president's of the LDS Church and pioneers.

I took Sam back a couple of days later. He loved looking at all the headstones. Some of the really old ones are very pale in color and he asked me "why did they make the headstone out of soap?" Sam also said it felt very peaceful and quiet. I thought so too.

Help, Help I am Being Oppressed and For the Love of Animals

Help, Help I am Being Oppressed:

Ok so he wasn't oppressed he actually begged, pleaded, whined until I buried him in the sand. But we had a lot of fun getting all dirty. It was actually pretty cool outside still but once he was inside the sand he said he was toasty.

For the Love of Animals:

Sam loves animals. And he is great with them. He is so gentle and kind. I think animals just know that he loves them and feel comfortable around him. He takes really good care of his guinea pigs and loves to help with family and friends pets as well.

More graduation pics and fun field trip!

I just got the pics from friends took at the graduation. Also Sam went on a fun field trip to the Tracy Aviary he had a great time...


I love this picture of Sam with Maggie. I wish his eyes were open all the way
Sam and Auden such good friends
The Three Muskateers: Hunter, Jack and Sam
Sam and his awesome teacher Miss Jeddah










Looks like they are having fun huh! :)