Fun with Aunt Chan and Uncle Keniken's (Kennedy) and Chewy

Making Halloween cupcakes takes... a lot of concentration


Some taste testing...

and a lot of silliness...

to get to the end result...

Thank You...

...for the talk about patients today...(although I just lost it while typing this!)
Here is my newly swept and mopped floor...

all from ONE cupcake!
As I looked at Anika speechless she looked back at me with this big grin And Wink...
like, it's all good mom and this cupcake is so good too!

morning greeting

Anika-
"Good morning mommy! Time to get up, the sunshine is awake!"
Today, I am guessing because the morninngs are dark, it was a little bit different!
"Good morning mommy! Time to get up, but the sun is still in the shower!"

babysitter poll

My next entry is a question for all of you! My thoughts come because of a blog I just read regarding babysitting. In a-round-about way she talked about bad babysitter experiences and babysitters earning their money...First, we have been fortunate enough not to have to get babysitters too often because of the kindness of Jared's family and a few friend trading, but when we have on different occasions we have come home to a basement torn apart, popcorn everywhere, the dinner dishes on the table, nothing wiped off, etc...you get the point. Last time the babysitter promised the kids (Alex told me this the next day)a fruit roll-up if they were good and then never let them have it!(he said they were good!) Like my friend's entry said, I don't expect them to be a maid, but just the basics done, with the kids help; dishes at least in the sink, extra food wrapped and put in the fridge, the house kept at least what it was when she came. When I babysat, I always had the house cleaner then when they left, especially if I put the kids to bed and there was time! I would feel guilty/rude if I didn't! Anyways, there is my, "in my days"!! Ha!Ha!
>#1. what is the base rate you should pay a babysitter? (4 kids- ages 3-1/2-8 no babies/diapers)
#2. should that rate change if your house is destroyed?
#3 how much if she leaves your house as it was? eg. the kids eat dinner and she leaves everything out, so pretty much sit and watch t.v. with the kids (would that be the same rate as question #1?)
#4.How much do you give if they leave your house cleaner then when you left? eg. beyond the dishes if you leave during dinner time, maybe she sweeps, or vacuums, washes your pots and pans, something beyond the example of question #3
#5. is it the same rate if all your kids are in bed asleep and your house is perfectly clean? so, sit and watch t.v. or do homework, etc.With permission, here is her idea and she said it worked great! (click on for a larger view!)

Again, with permission, an exert from her blog entry! "...writing down my expectations beforehand.. I printed this and put it in a plastic slipcover, where I can write in the necessary information as it changes. I did this for the first time the other night with a brand-new babysitter, and we came home very pleased. We pay sitters generously, and for the first time in a long time, it was worth it. Hope this helps someone else out there who actually believes, like I do, that babysitters should earn their paycheck!"

Is a fruit roll-up a fruit?

Yesterday, I asked Aubrey what she would like to take as a recess snack and she asked for a fruit roll-up. With that, I said it should be something healthy as a fruit roll-up wouldn't fill her up if she was hungry. She then informed me that a fruit roll-up Is a fruit as it says Fruit-she may have a point-or not!

Lifetime Fitness

I have just joined! So, if you have a membership and want to go together it would be so much fun!! My friend and I are meeting for a class tomorrow if you want to join us. We are going to try "No Limits Cardio" (circuit training). Someone told me of a few ladies from the ward who have memberships, but I can't remember who she told me or who I was talking too, to ask again....so if you know anyone tell me so I can call all those who are nonbloggers! ;)

Just for you who are thinking about it... (www.lifetimefitness.com)
JOIN FOR $0 ENROLLMENT FEE*
Plus, $0 family add-ons.
One-time administrative fee applies to all memberships.

Plus, start smart thanks to our Life Time Get Connected package featuring:
FREE Polar® BodyAge™ assessment
FREE One hour Personal Training session

p.s. the kids play center is amazing!!

Can you believe Jared is going to BYU?!

Jared left right after Conference to go to BYU for a few hours to translate for their annual, Law and Religion Seminar. It is sponsored by BYU. The First Presidency and the Twelve represent The Church, and then Dignitaries and Presidents and other Country Leaders from around the world are invited for the three day seminar. Tonight the translators meet who they will translate for and are invited to the Open Social to mingle with all the guests. The guests from around the world were given a tour of The Salt Lake Temple grounds and other monuments yesterday and were invited go to Conference this morning at the Conference Center. (I wonder what they thought?!) We have been told, that this seminar is a great missionary tool in not only sharing the gospel with the guests, but also in allowing/keeping missionaries in other Countries. I am excited for him and this neat experience he gets to be involved in. I can't wait to hear from him on his way home tonight!

The missing finger

My brother lost one of his fingers in a soccer accident (can read in a past post!)and while visiting this weekend, Anika suddenly noticed it was not there. She stops, looks at his hand and with concern says, "Oh no! Your finger broke off! Where did it go?" Then she touches his 'finger' and says, "You take this off!" It was so funny and Mike was rolling in laughter about the whole thing and maybe it was one of those things you had to be there for!

funny

Last night on the way home, Jared was asking Anika what sound different animals make. After, exhausting his mind with animals she kept wanting to play, so I asked ,"What does a dad say?" She didn't say anything, so I asked her, "What does a mom say?" Without hesitation she says, "talk, talk." We just started laughing, and so I asked her again, "What does a dad say?" and this time she says, "talk." Jared replies, "That's right, only half as much!"

cast your vote

so, no one has commented on my side 'family' figurines! Every time I look at my blog and see 'Jared' it makes me smile and laugh because it really looks like him!!! Am I loosing it or am I right?! Cast your vote!

On to the next...

The kids ended swim lessons and have now started Jiu-jitsu! The girls are in a 3-4 age class-so cute and the boys are in a more intense class. What a great teacher they have. They were all really happy, and excited after, so that is a good thing. After the classes were over, the next class was a woman's class...the instructor looked at me and said, "You're leaving?" I told him, I didn't know there was another class or perhaps I would have signed up! (Jared was there with me and the kids) So, the instructor said, "Well, show up next week and don't worry about signing up!" So, next week, I too will be in Jiu-jitsu/self defence class! So, watch out- (karate chop) I-ya! (short 'a')

Whaa! I have a sore throat!

sore throat or not, the base boards got painted today, and hopefully will be nailed in tomorrow!