Life Happens, Part Two...

Everyone I know would have put money on this happening to the truck while daughter #2 was driving it (JK Beth).

But alas, safely tucked away in China, she had no part in the demise of this iconic teenage vehicle... 

To be fair, Michaela was not at fault.

Nonetheless, it happened.

Adieu...

A new chapter begins...

Life Happens...

...sometimes at the speed of light and sometimes sooo slowly.

At what ever rate it happened, here is a documentation of

some events in our lives in the past week or so...

 At the urging of my sister (she has a way),

 a very tired me attended a Nashville Tribute Band event 

at Deseret Book...what can I say?

I am a such a sucker for good music. 

Their new CD Redeemer is good music.

 Among the thousands of home videos I have watched lately,

 I found this gem:

Alicia and Matt's wedding reception video in which I am just 

2 months pregnant with Michaela 

and yet I can't zip up my bridesmaid dress.

Thus I wore a cardigan and only took it off for pictures. 

Yowza.

 Hannah and I went to a  Primary Program that was all in Spanish.

It still felt the same.

I taught every one of those songs once upon a time in Primary.

Except in English :)

Bethany discovered that China has Oreos,

and that she likes sticking her face in random cardboard cut outs.

Awesome.

And finally, Will conducted a Court of Honor 

in which he earned the rank of Star.

He is determined to get his Eagle when he is 14.

One can dream....

And there it is. 

The happenings.

Can you believe we are half way through November????

China: A Note For Benferny.

Someone's desk needs a Clorox wipe...

Too Soon?

I did it.
I put up just a tiny little bit of Christmas this weekend.
I couldn't help myself.
My Christmas music rule is: Anything goes the day after Halloween.
Usually that's enough.
A little Archuleta and Buble' make everything right in the world.
But this time, I needed more.
I needed to hear it and see it.
And so, my Christmas decorating has begun.
And I have no regrets.

Have Merry Thanksgiving :)

Bethany says: "You never update your blog!"

The sad truth is, blogging is a reminder that two of my 
children are missing.
Even though I am happy about the new experiences they are having, 
it's left a big empty space in my heart.
A space that is a constant reminder that our family dynamic is changing. 

I've spent this last week watching home videos that my husband has made   
super accessible on my computer.
Lot's of babies and toddlers and kindergartners etc.
It's not necessarily helping that empty space.
The sweet, sweet chaos of those years are priceless.
 
I remember so clearly, being at college years ago, and suddenly realizing that my family was never going to be the same again. 
The feeling just hit me out of the blue-
It was a little gut-wrenching.
And now, I'm having little waves of that wash over me every day.
I don't like it.
But just like years ago- I'll have to learn to accept it.
Ugh.
So here's a shout out to the absentee kiddo's.
Love ya tons! 

A Halloween Synopsis For Bethany.

Halloween really began on Tuesday...

at the ward Halloween Carnival.

It's safe to say that I would be done attending that activity

if it weren't for these cuties.

It's kind of fun to borrow little ones

when your own are just too darn old!

Speaking of old, when did my hands turn in to those?

Ugh.

So here's the costume run down this year:

Only Hannah's older sister in China knew immediately 

that she was Harry Styles...

And speaking of the sister in China....
she also celebrated.
Yowza!

For school, Will resurrected Elijah's 7th grade costume...

a leaf blower.

For actual trick-or-treating, he transformed into a super hero.

For work, Michaela rocked the Katniss Everdeen look...

For a Halloween party, she was someone else...

can't remember who.

This was pre-Zombie makeup...

This year we had just one child trick or treat,

 and therefore one candy haul.

I could live with that.

Especially when that candy was divided amongst 

all of us non-trick or treaters...

I also rotated the candy from last Halloween in our 72 hour kits with fresh stuff from this year.

I'm such a fun mom.

And unlike old Buddha,

 who managed to sneak and devour tootsie pops,

this Buddha was completely uninterested in Halloween candy.

Wish the same could be said for me. :)

On to Thanksgiving.

Pre-Halloween Festivities.

Two children.
That's how many were present for the annual Carving of the Pumpkins/Caramel Apple Extravaganza.
Hannah and Will, bless their hearts, did their best to carry the weight of that responsibility...

I think they managed quite nicely.