Florida - Monday - Wednesday!

For the last several years, Lafe has tried to get his CME at home to be less expensive, but it was not a Pediatric focus and therefore not very good AT ALL!!! And, because of the osteopathic credit mess, we have to find an Osteopathic Conference. Well, we were both done with this situation, so we told ourselves we were just going this year! It just happened to be in FLORIDA!!!!!!!!! Woo-hoo! Never been to Florida! The first 3 days, Lafe had classes, so I HAD to just hang out at the Hotel :) and crossstitch, read, etc. But, we snuck in a few things.

I had an idea for Primary that involved finding a recordable button - I found one at Build-a-Bear. So, the mall nearby happened to have one, and we went to get it. BUT, did you know that they have Trick-or-Treating at the Mall there? MADHOUSE!!!!!! I don't like Halloween and I wasn't one bit sad I was missing it this year! But, they also had the M&M store!!!!! You should have heard the squeal when I saw the billboard on the way there! EEEEeeeek!!! Surrounding by M&M stuff? Too bad it was WAY EXPENSIVE. Probably better. But, we got cool pictures!

Wonderworks Museum - really cool building!!! We never went inside, but the building was just so cool. We walked past this every day.

Same building, different angle.

Tuesday, Lafe was done a little earlier, so we went to the Orlando Temple. It was so nice to go to a normal neighborhood and be able to go to the Temple. It's beautiful and it was so neat.

From behind after our session.

Halloween 2011

So, I NEVER buy costumes unless we really can't make it, or it's 90% off the next day. But, Pinching Pennies came through this year with a deal I couldn't pass up! So.......

Talin was an astronaut, and Kelcie was a ladybug.....
and, Laura was a Lego (she made this ALL BY HERSELF!!!), Jamie was a PJ girl, Ethan was a Hunter, and Erin was a Farmer girl. On their way to Trunk-or-Treat.......

Laura's Birthday - the rest of the story!

We went to the State Fair!!!!! Lafe has wanted to go for years, but it's not my favorite thing (too much money, dirty, cheap stuff, greasy food, you know.....). But, he made a great case this year and since she couldn't get her ears pierce on her birthday, we had to do something fun! It happened to be a day where if you donated canned food you could get in free! So, we raided the pantry and all got in free! Then, Lafe found out that if the kids write a little about 3 books that they read, they could get 3 free rides! THEN, when we got there, we found out that we hit a day where all the rides were 2 tickets - way cheaper than normal! So, we had a blast! Our only problem was that most of the rides Talin couldn't do, and most of the rides go in circles which makes half the family sick.

I've always wanted to do the big slide!!! It was REALLY fun!!!

Laura and Talin on the Rocket Ride

Dinner

We counted this as Laura's birthday cake - curly fries!!!

We all got to play one game, and I actually won something on Skee-ball! Which Talin promptly tried to claim (drove Erin CRAZY!). We had a fun night! I think we all really enjoyed the vendors, too! That was my favorite part.

Laura's Birthday - 10 years old!

Laura turned 10!!! Wow! We made her wait until after school to "open" her presents because the older 2 leave SO EARLY!! So, after school she found a car that said "Follow the String..."

A new Desk!!! She wanted one so bad, but we weren't sure how it would fit in their room and we couldn't find one like the other 2 girls' desks. But, we finally found the perfect one and she was VERY excited!
She also got a gift card to get her ears pierced - which would have been that day except she can't play soccer with earrings in and we wouldn't want to have to take them out. So, when the season is over....
Two books - the sequel in the series she's reading and another one that just looked fun. Talin gave her his Curious George - ah! There's more to her birthday, but I have to get those pictures off Lafe's phone....

Fall Break

For Fall Break this year, we decided to go to Lafe's parents' cabin. We went up the first night with our Teacher's Quorum from church so they could have a campout. I think they had a good time - they're good kids. The second night, Lafe's parents had offered to feed the missionaries in the ward up there, so we did Hobo Dinners over the fire with S'mores, of course! I don't think the missionaries get that much :)

Making S'mores

Grandpa, Ethan, missionaries, Erin, Aunt Cathy, and Kelcie

Lafe's Uncle's cabin is right next door, and they had put up a swing - the kids LOVED it and spent most of their time there. Erin pushing Talin

Grandma on her porch swing - once spot for cell phones to work.

We had a fun time relaxing and enjoying the mountains.

Concerts

In October, we had a few concerts that I have to catch up on......

Erin is in Choir this year! I think she's enjoying it. It was really fun to watch her sing and she said it was fun.

Jamie also had an Orchestra Concert......

and Choir Concert! They did a great job!

School Pictures 2011

We had just gotten family pictures taken, so we didn't really want to get school pictures this year, but I want them to have their class pictures, and then they all match if we do a collage or something.

Erin - Sophomore

Ethan - Freshman

Jamie - 7th

Laura - 4th

Kelcie - 2nd

Talin - preschool

Sweet Sixteen!!!!

ERIN IS SIXTEEN!!!!!!!!!

We have a daughter old enough to date.......and drive........THAT'S CRAZY!!!!!!!!! I think she had a good birthday, though. We had a great time :) One of her friends at school gave her a bouquet of balloons to carry all day - he, he. We made her open our presents after school, because we had to take the kids to pick their present out - hot wheels! She got 7 cars for her 16th birthday - spoiled kid!

Grandma and Grandpa Starr gave her beautiful flowers all the way from Wyoming! (well, sort of - they had little elves to help)

That weekend was Homecoming for her school, so we decided we'd have a little party before the big game and then head over to the game. The kids came for subs and cake and just hung out and talked. Great kids! We loved having them around. Here they found the kittens - they were a hit!

When Erin blew out her candles and we were singing to her, the kids dropped a bunch of balloons from upstairs - it was so fun!!! I couldn't get a good picture of it, though.

Best Friend, Hannah, from Mesa - so glad she would come out!

Silly girls!

It was a really fun night and I'm so glad we could celebrate Erin's birthday in a fun way! She has great friends, works hard at everything she does, is responsible, helpful, and I'm so happy to have her as a daughter! WE LOVE YOU, ERIN!

Young Womanhood Medallion

Erin finished her Personal Progress Program for Church a couple of weeks ago, so last night she received her Young Womanhood Medallion at the Young Women in Excellence Night. (wow, that's a lot of words! did you get all that?) I was so excited that she's been so motivated to work on this and able to finish it already!!! It's been so fun to work on things with her to pass things off. I'm so grateful for such an inspired program for our young women - I feel like it truly leads them through the process of gaining their own testimony.

Getting her Medallion - new YW President Dara Ratliff
Erin with Sister Earl - YW Pres. that was just released - so glad she came!

So beautiful!!!! I don't know if it's come off since she got it - maybe for bed....

CONGRATULATIONS, Erin!!!!!! We love you!

Powder Puff Derby

Our Stake had a Powder Puff Derby for our Activity Day Girls (girls 8-11)! Erin was so jealous because she's wanted to do this forever. Laura figured out her design and worked on it with her dad - I thought it was very creative!!!

Laura's Ladybug Car

The tray of all the cars in our ward - girls are so different from boys, don't ya think???

On your mark.......

Our stake has an incredible set up - electronic, computerized, organized - man, I was impressed!!! It was a really fun activity for these girls and they loved it!

If you give a dog a .......

Sunday evening we finished a jar of peanut butter and Erin and I were commenting on how much the dogs would love it. So, we decided to try it - it was hillarious!!! Toby immediately pick it up with his teeth and took it to his "spot", so I make him take it outside. He was very determined - I don't think he let Dixie near it!

Who me?

When the picked it up the next day, Lafe said it was clean all the way down except for where his tongues couldn't possibly reach. He got a lot further than I thought was possible! So.......if you give a dog a jar of peanut butter.......

Student of the Month

Kelcie was our first Student of the Month this year!!! It was fun to surprise her -she didn't know until I stayed for Flag Ceremony. I think this month's virtue was Respect, and her teacher wrote some very nice things. She's enjoying 2nd grade so far - even though she pretends every morning when we pull up to the school that she's so sad - whatever!
CONGRATULATIONS, KELCIE!!!! Thanks for being a good example!