Lemme See You Smile: November 2009

October was a crazy month in our house. Here is a look at what we've been up to...

As mentioned in a previous post, we took our youth to General Conference. It was an awesome experience that I know left lasting impressions on all of us who attended. We drove all day Friday, saw all 4 (5 for the boys) sessions of general conference, and drove home all day Monday. One of my favorite talks was by Elder Bednar. I loved this analogy...

"In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field. The painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes—none of which in isolation is very interesting or impressive. In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint. However, as you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brushstrokes combine together and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field. Many ordinary, individual brushstrokes work together to create a captivating and beautiful painting.

Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results."

During our trip, some of the kids may have not appreciated the hours in the car, or the fact that I confiscated all cell phones, Ipods, DS' upon arrival in Utah, or sitting through hours of conference, but I'm pretty positive they returned home with a few more "brushstrokes!"

All 29 of us! Notice how much energy the kids still seem to have on Sunday afternoon, and how exhausted the adults look :)

My girls, while the boys were off at the Priesthood Session

While the boys we getting all tucked in the first night, Mike came out of the bathroom and told them he didn't see any floss in the garbage can! He provided them each with a piece of floss and a little flossing lesson to boot. It was pretty hilarious. A few of the boys are patients at our office, and jokingly told Mike their dentist told them they didn't have to floss. They are funny boys!

We left early, early Monday before it started to SNOW! Mike is standing by his new wheels, the "big black truck" as Asher likes to call it. He's moved on up (literally) from our stylin' black tracer.

Insert a short hospital stay and a couple weeks of recovery from the flu here.

The kids enjoying the annual tradition of decorating pumpkin cookies with lots of candy and sprinkles.

Then fun with real pumpkins

Halle loved the pumpkin "guts" while the other two wanted to wash their hands every two seconds.

Mike, carefully planning his creation.

The last week of October was "Red Ribbon Week," an anti-drug campaign, at school. The girls loved the mixed up clothes day, which was a reminder to not get mixed up with drugs.