Aristocats!

Our elementary school did a school play for grades 1-3. Maranda and Andria were so happy that they could be in the play. Maranda got the part of Mad, one of the alley cat narrators. Andria got a part that was both an alley cat as well as a mouse. They were both on stage a lot and they did a great job. They learned all their parts so well and their director said they were always right where they needed to be. We are so proud of each of them! Their cousin, Connor was also in the play as Roquefortte the mouse. They did three performances, two at a Junior high in the evening and one on Friday morning at their own school. I was helping backstage with the Friday performance so all those pictures are from the side (backstage).

Zan came with me on Friday so she was backstage as well. (She insisted on the Minnie mouse ears)

This is after the performance on Thursday night.

Here are the cousins: Connor, Maranda, Paul (Saydie's cousin), Saydie, Andria and Janee. Maranda, Andria and Connor were so happy that Janee and Saydie could come to see them in the play.

Aristocats consumed our lives for several weeks but it was so much fun, Maranda and Andria already want to do another play! Samantha and Zanya know all the words to all the songs and most of the actions as well. They are so funny.

Daniel Has Been Found

Daniel has been found. Thanks for your support.

Missing Child: Daniel Tueller

My sister-in-law has a missing brother in Utah. If you have any information or are willing to put up posters near Provo, Utah, visit her blog at http://clargaret.blogspot.com/ to find out how you can help.

NOTE: Daniel was found this weekend to the great relief of his family!

A visit from Joanne

During the weekend of Halloween, Joanne (aka Grandma) came to visit us. There are many traditional things that we love to do while she is here. One thing we like to do is play zilch and other games around the table.

Here is Maranda and Grandma Chandler and Grandma (I took 4 pictures here and none were better than this one, teenagers!)

Another thing we like to do is go to Fuddruckers. We love to go there while Joanne is in town because there isn't any Fuddruckers in Las Vegas. They have great hamburgers, onion rings and milk shakes.

Here is Dan, Chandler and Joanne

Hanna and Sam

Hanna, Sam, Danica, Andria, Zanya, and Jan

Ten on Tuesday

1. Ok so it's not really Tuesday but the kids were home from school yesterday which means it was too crazy to do anything.

2. I love love love winter in Mesa!

3. The filing still isn't done yet.

4. Maranda made this cute turkey in her activity day group.

5. Chandler had the job of dumping our water barrels and refilling them. I think they are supposed to be refilled every 6 months to one year. Chandler couldn't remember ever refilling them, and we couldn't find the special wrench used to unscrew the stoppers. So I ran to the emergency supply store for the wrench and was able to buy two new stoppers since two of ours were very eroded. (by the way, those things are not inexpensive, don't lose your wrench!)

6. While refilling the water barrels, I couldn't find how much bleach is needed for 55 gallons of water to purify it. I had to search my food storage/emergency information file. It was actually just a jumble of papers including my information as well as my Mom's. So I decided today is the day to sort the whole stack and put it back in the binder under different tabs so that now I can find what I need. Yea!

7. While I was sorting stuff I came across a Latter-Day Sentinel from 1985. One of the ads in there listed houses with an interest rate of 10 3/4%!

8. Maranda saw the orthodontist (I should say Greg Garn, orthodontist extraordinaire) yesterday and found out that her teeth have responded so quickly that she gets her braces off just before Christmas. She is one happy camper, not just to get her braces off but now to have those top teeth straight and without gaps.

9. A good friend of mine is almost done Christmas shopping. Yikes! Is it time for that already?

10. Clean sheets are one of life's simple pleasures.

Ten on Tuesday

1- Where is it?!? I can't find Zanya's pacifier and she can't seem to fall asleep without it. She has been in her room, awake, for over an hour and a half. I hope we find it before tonight.

2- Today is Election Day! Go prop 102 and John McCain.

3- Zanya has been completely dry for two days, even during naptime and going places.

4- Chandler despises pineapple, who knew?

5- During institute class today we talked about acquiring the attributes of Christ. I gained some personal insight into why I do not have the attribute of patience.

6- Laundry smells really good when it hangs up outside to dry.

7- Samantha is so excited it is almost cool enough to go to the park without being burned by the equipment.

8- My 'to file' pile has reached maximum capacity, I must file soon.

9- Christmas music is extra fun when played by my personal musicians (Hanna, Danica, Maranda). But it should not be allowed in stores or on the radio until after Thanksgiving.

10- If your family isn't being very helpful around the house, consider going on strike. It worked for me. (Just the threat worked for me, apparently some of my children are afraid of starving if they have to fend for themselves.)

PS Disaster averted, pacifier found just prior to bed time.

Tagged

I have recently been tagged by my sister and my niece (thanks Callie and Rachael). Anyway, the tags are sort of similar so I am going to combine and simplify the two.

4 Joys:

1- My Family
2-The Gospel of Jesus Christ
3- reading good books
4- baking delicious foods


4 Things I Did Yesterday

1- canned 7 quarts of chicken
2- washed and folded 4 loads of laundry
3- paid 2 bills
4- made something new for dinner

4 Fears

1- public speaking
2- Obama and his friends
3- the ocean
4- forgetting my locker combination

4 Things on my wish list

1- peace on earth
2- happy children
3- a weekly house cleaner
4- a personal chef

5 Lists that I skipped from the original tags

1- things I look forward to
2- surprising facts
3- restaurants
4- obsessions
5- tv shows