November through Maddie's eyes -

Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving early, the Saturday before, by going out to eat and a movie.  We thought Bert was scheduled to be on call.

Wednesday night we were pleasantly surprised to find that we got to celebrate twice this year.
But, we'd already used our celebration budget.
So we went to play in our ward's annual Turkey Bowl for a few hours.

Then went for hot chocolate afterwards, and stopped to plank on our city's peanut.

 We came home for a round of Foosball, ping pong, Werewolf, and Resistance.

And then, per Hy's request, we picked pecans.  It happened this way:

"Hy what are you most excited for for Christmas this year?"

"Hmmm................" (Long pause - 3 mile long driving pause)

"Hy? You still there?"

"Yes, dust tink'n.  ....I tink I'm most excited for -THE NUTS!"

Snort.  "The nuts?!  What nuts?"

"Da ones we go'n to pick n crack!  Dose nuts."

"Well, Hy... you're in luck.  I think I can DO nuts.  Maybe even for Thanksgiving."

 And we finished the day by finding a Christmas tree for the Elders, and more football.

I suggest every holiday be as low stress.
I nominate Bert from here on out for all  fake, on call duties.

She's a freak'n WIZARD!

At least, I wouldn't want to be the one to discount the possibility. 

 I would never discount her, period.

When she sets her mind to something...

Poof!

Get out of the way.

She decided to cook, so she cooks WELL.

She decided to be well read, so go ahead, visit with her about any number of subjects.

Would you like to be more organized?  She could teach both you and Steve Covey a thing or two.

She hates to run, but decided to do it until she could run an actual race.

And, when the YW Personal Progress book told her to "find a talent",

and she didn't feel as if there was one to find?

She decided to MAKE ONE.

If you've watched her videos,

 or seen her photography, you know she succeeded there as well.

Like all true wizards, her true talent lies in 

MAKING THINGS HAPPEN!

 (But the most conclusive evidence that Gandalf may be a distant relative?  

She can speak and write Elvish - kid you not.

It seems to come in very handy when dealing with Easel, as seen below)

 (By the way, she took ALL of the photos above - with a timer.)

Compare them to the ones I took below
and it's apparent she's a mudblood of sorts.

Hey Maddie?

Dad and I think you are A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

Maddie's video - October 2013

October - so I can move on to November and December

  Dear Cache, Justin, and Jesse,

  Speaking of Dad... Yesterday he turned and asked me, "Did you buy another bundt cake for Hy's birthday?"

  I said, "Actually, yes!  I am already on top of it this time!" 

He stared at me.  He was joking.  "Seriously?  You seriously bought a BUNDT cake for a six year old's birthday?!"

I finally heard the small barb in his language and felt a tiny prick of doubt.  "...yes... is something wrong with that??" 

"Rachel, you are the Jim and Dwight of party planning.  You are FIRED from the party planning committee.  Do you know bundt cakes have a hole in the middle and that it stands for zero?  6 year olds do not appreciate bundt cakes."

".....even if they are the really good 'sock it to me' flavor, with a cinnamon glaze??...." 

So Dad began his own cake making.  He made a Sponge bob shaped cake, and I wish I could send a picture without crashing your email.  It was pretty funny.  ...and it only took him TWO WHOLE DAYS!  Maybe Dad needs to read the book, "Zero - Biography of a Dangerous Idea" so he knows just exactly how AMAZING holes are - that a Bundt with a hole makes it possible for a person not to fall into a BLACK HOLE in trying to make something that a six year old ....

Well, back up there.  I guess that's not true.  Because one particular six year old thought that Sponge bob cake was pretty spectacular ... BUT HE (Hy) ASSURED ME MINE TASTED BETTER!

  Hmm.  Okay so what else?  Actually it seems all my news this week is about Hy's birthday.  And some quotes from him.  Ready for more Hy this week?

#1.  "Hey Hy?  I can't figure out what to get you for your birthday.  Any ideas?"

"Maybe a Blue Chicken??"

#2.  Two days later Hydn asks, "What will my present be?  A Blue Chicken??" 

"Um, no.  It's not going to be a blue chicken. I can't find one."

"Did you check ALL the stores?"

"Yes."

"Well then, is it a red chicken?"

"No.  No chickens."

"A book about chickens?"

"NO. NO CHICKENS!"

"Hmm... well then.... is it a ...heart??"

BWAHAHAHAHA - Oh... if only.

 

 

#3.  I took Hydn to the park one day while Maddie and Pal went to their English class at the college.  When we pulled up there was NOBODY there.  Nobody.  I felt bad.

I said, "I'm sorry bud... it looks like it's just you and me today."  

He grinned really big and said, "THAT'S AWESOME!"  

We tried to be stunt men and go down the slide in brave ways.  I think I outscreamed him at least twice.  I tried to coax him into going down head first and backwards.  It took 20 minutes but he finally did it.  I could hear him whispering at the top, to himself... "You can DO it!  You are OLD now!  You are brave too!"  It was pretty cute.  And he didn't even mind walking me to the bathroom 3+ times - because we learned how to skip together.And he's better than all of you put together. :)

 

#4.  "Hydn, will you be good for Pal while I go pick up Calder?"

"Hmmm... well, I THINK so."

An hour and a half later I got a call from Pal that Hydn was screaming.  So I got him on the phone,

"Hy, you told me you were going to be good for Pal!"

"(blubber, blubber) No Mom, I only told you I THOUGHT I would!"

  But, now we are done with Birthday's and with quotes.  Can you believe it was 6 whole years ago when we so traumatized you with his birth? :)

Much love,

Mom

P.S. Here's my one and only Halloween shot to end your October with a bang.  Pal is Fred, or George, you can choose.  He says he'll be the other one next year.