Got Spider?

Here's hopin' that your costume is ready to go and that it can easily have the spidie-insidie wiped off easily. Me? Oh heaven sake - Grandma just wants to eat those toes. What a good sport Drew was on his First Halloween pictures. Auntie Ashley and Mommy Bethany were great "Ready Set Go" ers. As for the future..... FYI ..... Kiddie Kandid require appointments on Saturday and Sundays..... which left our cute tigger exhausted from bouncing and 'gerrrring' until about 4:00 pm. Never the less - I believe that Pre-Trick or Treating is called for? Dust off Hocus Pocus!

The Best 2 years.....

....begins December 31st, 2008!
You are going to be a great Missionary Ryan!

Please put mission call here....

Matt: Did it come?
Mandy: Are we having pizza?
Ryan: Is it there?
Bethany: What time are we opening it?
Ashley: We don't mind eating at 8:00....
Grandma: Is this a good news call?
Del: Am I coming home early?
Mike: I have a spine....
Ryan M.: Wait - do you even know my phone number? (I dare you to call it!)
Andrew: Mamamamamamam
Mom: OK, you're killin' me here....
Postal Chick: I almost didn't dare deliver mail here today after what I delivered yesterday....see previous post.
Heavenly Father: In my own time..... but not today...... (but yes, you have grown a foot or two, just be patient... and know I love you)

What time does the mail come on Fridays?

Flowers in the Mail

I love my mom. She is so creative and so thoughtful in every way (preempt to a really funny story of which she'll kill me for telling) And she's beautiful and kind and generous. Ok - here's the story. Today we are waiting for 'The Mission Call" and the Postal woman (I love her) brought me not a package from the Church of Jesus Christ - but a Box from my Mom. Now I just spent the weekend with her and I'm thinking - hum - what did I leave there? I brought the box in - after telling the Postal woman that TOMORROW I would really like to know where Ryan will be spending the next 2 years of his life ..... tomorrow perhaps. Back to the box. It was squishy. I opened it as careful as I could because the box was starting to fall apart. It smelled musty. Inside wrapped carefully, gently and packaged perfectly were the 3 potted plants she wanted me to have. Fall Mums - my favorite - were desperate for air, sun and well, not water - because it looked like they had enough of that. After laughing for about 2 hours - and sharing the story with my kids - and having them laugh for hours - I stopped and thought about it for a moment. First - can you only see the look on the guy's face that might have had to scan that? Second - how lucky am I that I have a mother that loves me so much that she wanted me to have the last 3 fall mums from Home Depo (she didn't think we had one where I live)(The Salt Lake Valley?)(heck I can go steal them from people's yards if I need to!)(I think Elaine has some...). Lucky me to receive flowers in the mail from my mom. I think that the world is a better place because she is in it. I promise mom, that when you die - I will do you hair, your make up, and I will plant fall mums on your grave. (please note that we joke about this all of the time...)(purple lipstick)(hair ratted)(big earrings)(fall mums) I love you mom! Remember the cute kitty I saw while I was visiting? PLEASE DON'T SEND IT IN THE MAIL!!!! (I can just steal the neighbors)

It would be less painful if you just ran over my foot....

CAUTION: THIS ENTRY IS NOT FOR THE OVERLY SPIRITUAL

God is angry with me. He had me called to be the achievement day person. So I thought if I at least waited for a day I wouldn't use ALL of the swear words I wish I could. I really don't like children - well - maybe my own, and their spouses (because they have good ones), my Perfect Grandson, my immediate family (Betsy, Brandon, Heidi (sometimes) Kate (if she doesn't have purple hair) and Erin - ok - and David, and Charlie -but that's it) (after they became adults) and Mason (right Elaine?) (Ok and Erin, and Kale, and Marc). Those children I love. (you all know I'm kidding about this, sort of) So if you are in my ward and you are reading this - don't be hatin'. 8 girls, 2 show up. 8 girls, 3 show up. 8 girls one shows up at 4:35 (when it started at 4:00 and we were going hiking), and was angry that we didn't wait. I can't compete with ballet, soccer, piano lessons, and day care. The Daddy Daughter Date is coming up - since when did we encourage premature dating? Can't call it the DD Date because one doesn't have one - and we can't make her feel bad.... (Might I call it a Harvest Medley of Disfunction?) One said that her dad didn't get home until 11:00 PM and could we have it after that? They told me they wanted to go to Moab and camp? They also said that they would probably come more if I planned some fun things to do now and then. (At this point I am considering a shot of whiskey) (I wish) (not really) (ok sorta) (don't worry I won't) (because I just don't have any) They called me to this job because they said "you'll be so fun!" FUN??? I don't want to be fun! I, myself need adult supervision!!! Remember these girls are from ages 8 - 12, and I'm suppose to find activities to entertain and enrich? Whatever happened to freaking Girl Scouts?! I actually pulled up the description of this job - that's some funny reading! I know that the first talk for General Conference will be about Achievement Days. I'm a bettin' kind of gal - I say the odds are good. Now I must go an repent for the whiskey comment, plan a party for dads to date their daughters (Radio from Hell would have a hay day with that one- hmmmm.... there's a theme!) and gather any slight hint of a testimony that this isn't just a conspiracy theory against people that DON'T have children in Primary any more - or Young Women, or Scouts.... Please don't write me any comments on the blessings of Achievement days...... I (seriously beyond words) would hurt you for that. I'm a true believer that parents should teach their children the gospel and stop panning it off to people during the week! (and respect, if they could just muster up a FHE on respect...) (and gratitude - please give me a few chapters on gratitude) (I don't want to fix what they broke first!) (these ( ) are me thinking evil thoughts outloud on my blog) Wait - caller ID says.... It's the Bishop on the line.... gotta go.... (like seriously change my number)

You know at the airport when....

....they ask you, "Has anyone tampered with your luggage?" Well at our house we need to always keep an extra eye on our cameras. I have CD after CD of Mandy's adventures with my camera. Now I come upon one where she had corrupted our precious Ryan. He has fallen to the dark side. No - these are not special needs children. (But one might consider DNA testing) Enjoy my children as I exploit them on the internet. (PS yer mom luvs ya jest the same)

These children will be on sale to the highest bidder on sellyoursillychildren.com just after I create that website. Where's YOUR camera?

Just have a Ball!

Military Ball - a chance for us all to see the delicious Michael Doxstader in full dress uniform. (Yum) Not to overshadow the power of the military - might I just mention the beautiful date he had that night, all 5'11" (ok - 6'2" in heels) of his sweetheart Ashley! Last year they enjoyed the night and it was - fun and all - but this year they knew so many more people there and they dominated in the hot and gorgeous, and also the most fun bunch to be with categories. It was fun to see Ashley dress up for the dance - Mike bought her beautiful pearls to wear and there was significant amounts of time devoted to 'high maintenance'. My heart just stops when I see them like this. It's wonderful to see the relationships that my children have and the beauty of the love they all have for their spouses. So I thought I would just share some 'hottta' pics of them before they left. Just a side note - a dozen or so of them stopped in at Maggie Moos for ice cream afterwards and the (you know how I love) teenage girls at the counter said, "Like, um like um, are you guys going to Prom er somethin?" Mike keep the concealed weapon, concealed...