The Week of All Hallows Eve

This was going to be a busy, crazy, week. Monday was FHE and as a family we finished the Book of Mormon. It was a very emotional, wonderful time for me. I am so glad that we read it as a family and the Spirit confirmed to me that what we did was right and that it is true. Awesome!

Tuesday we went out to dinner with some friends and that is when we realized Andrew was getting sick. NO! It's the week of Halloween. You are not allowed to be sick for Halloween. What about all the festivities?

Wednesday was the school's skate night/costume party. We thought if he was sick like Emma was last week he would still be able to go, but he was more sick than Emma. He was running a fever. Emma got dressed up and went to the party. Paul was so kind to take her. They were there for a long time! I'm not sure I would have been so nice.

Thursday he still wasn't better. We were suppose to go to the Halloween Party at Grandma Fern's home that night but we decided that taking a child that had been feverish to an assisted living facility was a very bad idea. It's too bad because the Summerfield's Halloween parties have become a tradition over the last few years. That night Andrew was up and about. He ate dinner, did homework and teased his sister! He was recovered and just in the nick of time!

Friday was the school parties and costume parade. Here is my little pirate.
I took some pictures of other costumes I thought were cute. It's the stinger on this one that I loved.
I'm wondering how he did this and how he held it for the whole parade.
This sweet little jelly-fish is one of my favorites. It's Emily from our ward and I had been wanting a picture. It isn't a great one but you get the idea.
Emma being a total ham.
Check out Kyle in his fireman's costume.
I did a cookie decorating station. Can you believe the majority of the kids didn't like cookies? What is this world coming to?
Here is Janna our faithful room-mom. She is the mouse that goes with the cheese in the picture of Emma above. They were adorable!
Beth made root-beer for the class.
Emma decorating her cookie
All the moms that helped. (Yes I am missing an "eyebrow." The headpiece rubbed it off.)
Friday night Emma had a party at her friend Kelsey's. Paul and I had been invited to a couples party but didn't think we would be able to go. Emma wouldn't be home to watch Andrew and we didn't know if he would be feeling well so we pretty much thought we were out of luck. When he started feeling better I started to have hope that we would be able to attend. I asked my mom, who was coming for the parade, if she would stay late and she said yes. She also agreed to get Emma picked up from her party. Score!

We showed up and found out the party was being hosted by Martha herself!
We had swine flu, a flower, Maleficent, a flapper and an 80's rocker as the first to arrive.
For the guys we had another 80's rocker, Captain Jack, Abraham Lincoln, a surgeon, Ryan and a germaphobe.
I couldn't get over how great Brad looked.
The food was really good and it' s a good thing because this was the night of the split pea soup disaster.
Paul and I
Brad and Jill
Danny and Kameo
Jeff and Jen
Jason and Jennifer
Mark and Stephanie
Ryan and Joslyn
The party was crashed by KISS
Brad won best costume.
We had several other couples show up after pictures so I missed getting them. It was a lot of fun playing games and hanging out. I am glad we were able to go.

Happy Halloween

From our family to yours,
Happy Halloween.
We hope it was safe and fun.
I assure you, there's more pictures to come!

An Experiment Gone Awry

Andrew has been sick. He missed two days of school. Not a lot happens when you have a sick child.

Friday he was able to go back to school just in time for all the Halloween festivities. My morning was spent getting last minute things together for Emma's class party, getting a costume for Paul and doing everything else I hadn't been able to do since I was playing nursemaid.

I knew that when I was done with my errands it would be time to eat (lunch was going to be my first meal of the day so it wasn't optional) and then I would have to get myself transformed into Maleficent. There wasn't going to be a minute to spare. I needed something easy and yummy for dinner.

I had come across this super cute idea in one of the blogs I follow. Click Here Let's see. I could throw everything into a crockpot and have dinner preparing while I was at the school. I had almost all the ingredients plus it was healthy and it was festive. Score!

While picking up my cookie kits at Macey's I got some split peas, barley and pumpkin bowls.

I also got some ground pork because my mom's split pea soup always had pork balls in it. (That sounds wrong doesn't it?)

I got it all put together and told the kids we were eating witches brew for dinner. I also told them I added green dye to make it spooky ookey looking.

They were willing participants in this experiment. No surprise here, Andrew didn't like it. Neither did Paul. There was a spice he didn't enjoy, which is weird because there are all normal spices I use all the time. Now are you sitting down? Guess who didn't mind it? Emma! She didn't love the barley but otherwise enjoyed it. Just when I think I know my kids. I thought it was okay but then again I have never been a fan of split pea soup.

It was cute but it was a total waste. I am sad that Witches Brew served in pumpkin bowls will not be a family tradition.

Here is the recipe if anyone wants to try it.

Witches’ Brew (Split Pea and Barley Soup)

INGREDIENTS
1 onion, chopped
1 bay leaf
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups dried split peas
1/2 cup barley
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
9 cups water or chicken broth
3 carrots, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
3 potatoes, diced (I don’t peel them!)
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley or 2 T. dried
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS
Place all ingredients in a large slow cooker and stir until well combined. Cook for 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. Add more water if soup is too thick. Serve in bread bowls.

The Dunbar Wedding

Yesterday my cousin Chris was sealed for time and all eternity to Melanie in the Salt Lake Temple.

I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to make it to the ceremony. It was later in the afternoon and I wouldn’t be home when the kids got out of school. Emma was having celebrations for not missing any homework assignments so there was no way I could check them out early. Paul was worried about getting them ready for the reception on his own. It didn’t leave me too many options.

It wasn’t until 12:30 that I decided I was going to make it work. My thoughts were this. I would never regret going, but I might regret not going. I got dressed and ready and hit the road for Salt Lake at 1:30. Yes I cut it really close.

I had gotten everything laid out for the kids. New shoes, socks, suit, dress, knee-highs. I had everything ready. My house was a disaster. I had even made an appointment with our neighbor to get Emma’s hair done. I knew Paul could handle it. Well he couldn’t get home in time so he sent his parents over to watch the kids for a while after school. Imagine my horror when I found out they were going to see my messy messy house. Oh well. It was still worth it. I am so happy that I went.

It was so fun to see my cousins. I still tend to think of my cousins as little kids but they aren’t. They are all grown up and so beautiful and talented. Joanie’s kids are adorable. It was fun to hear stories of them doing the same things I did when I was growing up. (Can anyone tell me why none of us would just wear shoes on the way to grandma’s house?)

I want to quote Emma. She said, “Wow they all made me feel so special. I hate to leave.” This was at the end of the reception after spending time with so many family members that we don’t get to see often enough. I agreed with her 100%. They did all make us feel special. It gave me a taste of what the eternities might be like.

There were cousins, second cousins, great aunts and uncles, great grandma and so many other special people. It was truly wonderful.

I am so happy for Chris and Melanie. They are adorable together. They sang a song together, (Paul leaned over and asked, “Why didn’t we sing together?” Ha Ha Ha. I said, “because everyone would have run out screaming.”) they danced together, they shared how they met, it was all adorable.

The sealing ceremony was wonderful too. They received some great advice. It is always nice to listen to the council that is given in the temple. Once again, I am so glad I went.

Grandma and I waiting for the bride and groom

Me, grandma and my mom

Landon wanted to get married in the temple. He agreed to marry me so we walked up the steps and knocked on the door to see if they would let us in to get married. He was so cute!

Grandma Louise and Aunt Ruth

Mom, Grandma and Ruth

Brother and Sister Rollins are serving a mission in Salt Lake. It was so fun to see her. She was one of my young women leaders.

The bride and groom!

Parent's of the groom (Ruth and John)

Joanie putting the corsage on Ruthie at the reception

At the reception they were putting all the cupcakes on the stands. Landon watched the cupcakes very carefully. We were sure he would dive into the box at any minute. LOL!

The sunset was amazing. This is the best shot I could get.

Finally my family arrived

Emma and Landon got along so well. They were adorable together.

He told her how he wanted to get married in the temple. They sat and looked out the window for a long time.

They danced together.

Andrew and I got to dance together too.

He cut in on the bride. He was borderline stalker creepy with Melanie.

Aren't the adorable!?!

My cousins Ben and Joanie

Grandma and her younger brother Harold

Me and the handsome groom. I remember when he was born. How can he be married?

Emma and daddy sharing a dance

Four generations