Bat Wings

Today begins another attempt at turning my son into a vampire bat. Last Halloween, I gave up when I couldn't get the wings to work. He was so disappointed. I felt awful letting him down that way. So, I promised him he could be a bat next year. (I would have an ENTIRE year to figure out how to make bat wings...) Next year's here. It's 1:00 Wednesday morning. He needs his costume Friday morning. No need to panic yet --- I have it all pinned together. He'll get to try it on in the morning (I hope all the pins are poking outward enough that those don't draw blood. And, I'm hoping for only minor adjustments.)

My mom is the seamstress. Not me. She made my daughter and me matching witch costumes 3 years ago. This will be our 3rd year wearing them together. However, Alyssa says she's not doing Halloween this year. Of corse I said OK --- I told her she could stay home with Daddy (he would LOVE that). I'm betting she'll change her mind. She's already decided to wear her costume to her ballet Halloween party, after all.

My 6-Year Old Daughter

Alyssa, she’s a sweetheart. Find a lonely girl and she’ll be first to be her friend. She feels sad when she sees others making poor choices. She always wants to know when we can do more service. And she's smart. One time when she was barely 3 we called her “Little Miss Smarty Pants” and she said, “No! I’m not Smartly Pants, I’m Smarty Skirt,” because, she was, after all, wearing a skirt!

At 4 years old, she could not learn how to read fast enough and it frustrated her so deeply she’d scream. Now she’s the top reader in her first grade class. She brings home extra books every night and can’t wait to read those to us. She sneaks books into bed and reads until the last sliver of light fades from her room.

However, one of her favorite ways to spend time with me is getting ready for church Sunday mornings. She picks out her prettiest dress and I polish her dainty fingernails. She carefully places those into her very own pink nail dryer. She tells me just how her hair should be and really likes it braided. For a finishing touch we add sparkly stickers to her ears. She feels like a princess as she admires her reflection with a satisfied smile.

Goo Goo Ga Ga

Payton's 1st grade teacher played "Goo Goo Ga Ga" for his first grade class. He tried telling me about the baby and the troll in the song. So, because he was so excited about it, I looked it up online. It was easy to find because, apparently, Joe Scruggs is a favorite with some other bloggers. It's very cute --- at least it was the first 1/2 a dozen times we listened to it. Now I can't get out of my head! Needless to say, the kids don't have a problem humming and singing it all day loooooooooooooooong!

Pumpkins

My son (6), so creative...

He started drawing pumpkins during sacrament meeting last Sunday and kept on drawing until the meeting was over.

I thought we'd tape those to the front window with the other Halloween decorations, but, then thought his birthmother would enjoy them, too. So, we're sending them in the mail tomorrow --- and I'm hanging these scanned drawings in my blog instead.

Pepper Water

Sitting around the dinner table eating a bedtime snack --- celery (because it's suppose to work like an antacid).

Alyssa: Mommy, I wish we could get paid money to go to church.

Me: Some things are better than money (...thinking about treasures in heaven). Going to church helps us to become more like Jesus --- and becoming like Him will make it so you can receive many of His blessings.

Payton: Jesus has very important work for me to do. Like going on a mission! (He gives a HUGE smile. He's really excited to do this.)

Eli: If you could go anywhere in the world on your mission, where would you want to go?

Payton: Salt Lake City!

Me: That would be a great place to go.

Eli: Do you know why they call it "Salt Lake"?

Alyssa: Because it's a lake and it has salt in it.

Eli: (surprised) That's right!

Alyssa: (blushing because she's so smart)

Payton: (very matter-of-factly) Did you know sharks don't like salt water? They only like pepper water.

Me: ???? (hu?)