[scary preparations]

yes, the witch is in!
so, the ironing has not yet been completed.
. surprise . surprise .
i believe my goal will be washed down the drain like our stringy pumpkin remains.

i have concluded preparing for our quickly approaching halloween festivities is way more luminous than steam & wrinkles!
now if only we can keep everyone healthy for trick-or-treating...

don't freeze your tail off & let the thrills begin! happy halloween friends!

[pressed for time]

i've decided ironing is a lot more fun with a new cover!
it's amazing what a five dollar investment can do!

i don't iron my clothing near as often as i should...
it requires time - and i would rather use my hours differently.
i used to actually enjoy it.
thankfully sam's shirts are cleaned and pressed by the happy red hanger employees, a marriage saver i believe!
it's all those little dresses fluttering around here that has made it daunting.
my goal for this week is to tackle my pile!


happy pressing!
have you seen this?

[inhaled]

.it ended up being a can of soup kind of night.

there was just not enough time in the day to cook.
i figured a little progresso never hurt anyone!
our little bird eater wouldn't have it, but the rest of us inhaled it!

so for family home evening, i thought it would be appropriate to expound on red ribbon week and have our own little lesson about drugs & alcohol. sam and i sent the kids to the basement while we planned our short lesson. i constructed this fine cigarette with paper and tape while sam used apple juice and made his own little whiskey on the rocks!

sam suggested i light the end of this copy cat cancer causer and let it burn for great effect...
.and so i did.
once i blew it out, i didn't think it would keep smoking, so i held it up to my mouth to practice the part.
"COUGH COUGH COUGH!!!"
i inhaled! sam and i were laughing so hard! the kids quickly pranced upstairs to see what all the commotion was about and by then i was out on the back patio holding this, thing.

skewed faces and worried chuckles, lulu yells "that's bad!"

we had a great role-playing lesson and the best was watching sam masquerade around the family room playing drunk!

later after the kids were fast asleep sam pipes up buzzing,
"i wonder if any of the neighbors noticed you out holding that cigarette tonight?"
oh boy!

what are some of your favorite family home evenings? i'd love your ideas!

speaking of families, here is a gorgeous one!

[i pledge to always be]

drug free!

.for me, for my family, for our future.

.this week is red ribbon week at our elementary school.
just after we finished up green ribbon week, i geared up to put on the red! seriously, what did i sign up for?

this weekend was spent copying pledges, cutting red ribbons, and counting out bracelets for all the students. man are we pooped!
sam stayed up until 3 a.m. to finish stapling for me! he knew i was dying, so he stepped in to save the day! what can i say? he's the BEST!
as much work as it has been, i'm happy to do it.. at least one kid better be saved in the war against drugs! it better be mine :)

in all seriousness though, i am just so thankful for all the amazing examples and "shelter" i've lived within, making it easy to never start using or drinking. it surely does take a village, or in my case a ward.

have you talked to your kids about this yet? it really is SO important! i truly believe communication is the key, and to talk about it frequently.
i like this resource here for help!

[baby love]

this sweetest little thing ever is my newest nephew .brett whitman christensen. all snuggled close and cozy the day after he was born.
i couldn't wait to see him and capture his new littleness! his special little newborn scent was so magical... there's nothing better! there has just got to be a way to bottle that up!

my mom and i think he looks like a mini harrison ford in this picture...
which is so fitting when his three older brothers can't get enough of indiana jones!
we actually really wanted them to name him indy, but it didn't fly. the other boys would be too jealous!

i've been waiting to post his picture because i've been meaning to take more, but i couldn't wait any longer [huge grin] i'll just post more!
my dear sister kate and her family are in pure bliss bringing this new precious spirit into their home!
congratulations!