Belief Box

This Sunday for Young Women, I had to complete a belief box to show as an example to the Young Women who will each be completing one for Young Women in Excellence. Everyone starts out with a big white box and can make the box into anything or decorate the box to illustrate something they believe in. I did the temple and that I believe in eternal families. Rob and I spent some of Friday night and Saturday afternoon turning my box into a temple. It turned out pretty good. Then, at church, I got released as Young Women secretary and called into the Primary Presidency. It came as a big surprise. Rob's first comment was "Why couldn't they have done this last week? Then we wouldn't have had to do the box." I am disappointed that I will not be part of Young Women in Excellence to see all girls' boxes. I have never been in the Primary in any calling so this will be totally new and a lot of work since I am in the Presidency and I will miss Young Women.

Also, an update on Callie in nursery. It has been a month now and Callie still hates nursery. I left her for the first time today and she cried the whole first hour. I kept going by the door and listening and she was always crying. They finally brought her to us very distraught.

Date Night

Rob and I had a date night last night while Rob's parents watched the kids. We went out to dinner at another Darden retaurant-their more upscale concept-Seasons 52. The restaurant was very good and we got everthing-appetizer, salad, entree, and dessert. The retaurant is centered on healthy dining where everything on the menu is under 472 calories. It is surprising how good everything is. Their dessert was the best part. The dessert comes out on a tray of nine large shot glass type bowls each containing a different dessert. You can any buy one dessert in the small bowl or all nine. Of course we bought all nine so we could sample all the desserts which were all some of the best desserts I have ever tasted. Even the carrot cake and pecan pie, which usually Rob and I don't like, were delicious. The desserts are pictured above. The different desserts were Boston Cream Pie, Rocky Road Chocolate Mousse, Old Fashioned Carrot Cake, Strawberry Mango Cheesecake, Strawberry Shortcake, Pecan Pie with Vanilla Bean Mousse, Red Velvet Cake, Fresh Autumn Fruit, and Key Lime Pie. The restaurant is on the more expensive side so I am glad we had Rob's discount. I can't wait to go back!

We love Halloween!

Jack loves Halloween and has really renewed our family's interest in the holiday. He loves monsters, ghosts, spiders, and dressing up all year long so it is no surprise that this is his favorite holiday. We had our first Halloween celebration on Tuesday. Rob's parents are in town so we all went to Mickey's Not So Spooky Halloween Party on Tuesday night. They have a special Halloween parade and fireworks show which were both entertaining and fun and many trick or treat trails throughout the park besides all the regular rides. The party went till midnight and so did we. We were exhausted by the end but had fun and the kids really enjoyed dressing up and trick or treating. The kids didn't get to wear their real Halloween costumes since we were outside the whole time it would have been too hot and we didn't want big costumes getting in the way of us rushing around the Magic Kingdom. Both the kids this year have big bulky costumes which will be fine for the 3 indoor parties we have around Halloween and also for just trick or treating around the neighborhood. So for Tuesday we dressed Jack as a pirate from his dress up clothes and Callie as Little Red Riding Hood. Both looked cute in their "practice" costumes and they worked great for around the park even though I know we are crazy because our kids have 2 Halloween costumes. We also had good weather which made the night enjoyable but I think I am still trying to catch up on my sleep. We did not get home that night till after 1am and the kids, who didn't go to bed till then either, woke up early Wednesday morning as usual.

Little Red Riding Hood

Jack, the pirate
Waiting for the parade to start
The Headless horseman
Jack sparrow on the pirate float
There was also free face painting

Trick or Treating from a playing card on the Alice in Wonderland trail

Finally falling asleep on the ride home

Happy Day

Today is a great day! Jack received his first happy face at preschool! Ever since we started this report system with his teacher Jack has been getting average faces(Jack calls them squiggly faces) and has had one sad face. Today, Jack got in the car and told me excitedly that he got a happy face and now he gets anything he wants. Jack has a great memory and remembered that I promised him after I had the meeting with his teacher a few weeks ago that when he got a happy face, he could get anything he wants. Well, now I have to follow through with my promise. On the way home, we stopped at Mcdonalds for happy meals and milkshakes at Jack's request and he is still deciding between a big dinosaur and Diego's backpack for his treat. Hopefully, all this hoopla and rewards will make him want to get more happy faces and of course his rewards will have to start being smaller and smaller but we are enjoying celebrating his first happy face!!!!!
The "squiggle" average day faces that Jack has been getting
The HAPPY FACE!!!!!