Halloween 2013

Most of you probably already saw these on Facebook, but my friend Shauna isn't on Facebook so, this is for you Shauna. 

And anyone else who hasn't seen them. ;-)

Our firs festivities began exactly one week before Halloween. 

Marley's school had a party/carnival/trunk or treat.

This is Marley all ready for her school party!

 The hat wouldn't stay on so we just took some pictures with it on and then she didn't wear it again. 

 We got the dress from a second hand store for $3.00! 

See Nathan and Isi photo bombing?

Nathan & Isi were sick, so Marley and I went together. 

 She got to pick her pirate accessories at the dollar store, which included earings, a compass, an eye patch (which she never wore cuz it was too tight) and a gun. I'm not a fan of weapons and I knew she wouldn't be able to take it anywhere so she picked out a glowing rose to put in the "holster" on her dress. Her favorite accessory is what I like to call the hairy head band. I don't know that I got a good picture of it but it was a strip of long black plastic hair glued to a head band and then a black braid was glued on top. 

 Isiboo.

 At the party they had face painters!

 I thought they did a great job.

 Marley loved it so much she wanted to sleep carefully and wear it to school the next day to show her teacher. I told her we'd see what it looks like in the morning. 

 Thankfully it has smudged so much she didn't argue about taking a shower and washing the rest off. 

Our next party was the downtown trick or treating. 

All the businesses down town give out loads of candy on the Friday before Halloween. 

They have to have loads because thousands of people come. 

It is crazy busy but fun too. 

We love seeing ALL the costumes!

 Isi was a cute little froggie!

Her chest says, "Kiss Me!"

 Since I have an aversion to the kitchen and its myriad of smells and temperatures so Nathan has been cooking and cleaning. And if he doesn't feel like cooking we eat out. We hardly ever eat out normally so, it's kinda fun! 

 We trick or treated as much as we felt because Nathan was still sick  and then we ate at Subway. 

Marley and Isi always share a pizza. Something about managing and eating a hoagie is hard for them but they love their cheese pizza. 

 Isi's a good blower but not too helpful because she likes to watch whomever is helping her blow. 

 I love this one below and how she is looking at me through the cup! 

 This was our family home evening on the Monday of Halloween. 

I am SO tired by 6:00 that by 7:00 I need to be in my bed. 

 Isi is using a deck of cards to call her peeps during FHE. 

 Our Soo Grandma, which is the Relief Society President in our Branch periodically gives Marley and Isi clothes and they usually match. 

Here they are in their matchie-matchie Halloween outfits. 

 On Facebook I said that Marley hasn't ever written on anything, but then I remembered she did write on a little shelf that Nathan made. Those were scribbles. 

So, she had been naughty before this. 

She just couldn't resist drawing a thank you picture on the bunkbed her dad is making for her. 

 Busted! We took a picture of it and then she had to try to sand it off. 

 Won't come off....we're gonna need to use the power sander. 

It maybe the first time that bunk bed is drawn on...but it won't be the last, I'm sure!

On Halloween, Marley had a half day at school and it was all fun and games so Isi and I joined the fun!

 Marley's teacher, Mr. McBride was Bob the Builder.

 And Ms. McGahey was a cowboy!

 

 Getting ready for the parade through the school.

Marley's class was the front of the parade.

Each class joined behind them. 

When we returned to her class we sat in the hall and watched the parade go by.

 Had to walk outside in the rain real quick to complete the circle through/around the school.

 Waiting for the rest of the parade to come by.

 The middle school kids did a little carnival for the kindergartners. 

This was the funniest and the most popular. 

Throw the ball at their heads! 

They would would try to duck but if they didn't see a ball coming they got nailed. 

They all loved it, even the middle schoolers!

 Then the fire alarm went off! 

It was chaos in that gym but everyone stopped and calmly walked out of the school. 

They all did it so fast and calmly and went right to where they were supposed to be, by their teacher. 

They did such a great job I was totally tearing up.

Pregnancy.

 They lined up, the teacher quickly took roll and then held up a green sheet to let others know we were all there. 

For some reason Isi wanted her hood off in the coldy rain. 

And right next to Marley's line our friend was with her class. 

Isi saw her and ran to her dear friend. 

 Robin is Simon the chipmunk.

Cute! Right!

 The kids were all wet and cold but once we got back inside the quickly warmed up and got back to partying!

 The only normal thing they did that day was Calendar.

Isi wandered to the front of the room and backed into the teacher and insisted his lap. 

Isi is a big flirt and loves men to hold her. 

 He seemed happy to hold her.

And just kept right on with instructing. 

 Then it was time for the FOOD!!!!

 Then part of a Scooby-Doo Movie.

 Since we trick or treated at Marley's school and downtown we told Marley we weren't going to trick or treat on Halloween. She was ok with that. 

We decided to go to Applebees since mom sent me a gift card for my birthday and Marley keeps getting free kid's meals for there, because of all the books we read. 

 It was fun!

Then we went home to pass out candy. 

Nobody came. 

It was raining pretty bad. 

But this is our first Halloween in this house so we don't know if we are just in a bad location and nobody ever comes or if it was the rain. 

I guess we'll see next year! 

Ya live in da U.P. eh?

There are a lot of reasons the U.P. and maybe particularly Sault Ste. Marie (the Soo) is an interesting place to live. And before we moved here, we knew NOTHING about this place. Let me tell you a little bit about it. 

First, it is really close to Canada. I would say it borders Canada but it is separated from its twin city Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario by the Saint Mary's River. This river connects Lake Superior on the west and Lake Huron on the east and flows west to east. There used to be major rapids in the Saint Mary's River, thus the french name meaning, of Sault Ste. Marie, "the Rapids of Saint Mary" but because the fur trade saw how great the water is for trading Locks were built.  

Before we moved here, I wasn't even sure what a Lock was, uneducated?  Maybe. But, mostly just confused. Now I know! 

lock /läk/ noun

a short confined section of a canal or other waterway in which the water level can be changed by the use of gates and sluices, used for raising and lowering vessels between two gates.

Pretty cool right? We live by the Soo Locks.

And since there is water separating Canada from the U.S. and the Canadians definitely need to get over here and buy cheaper gas and shop at all our stores because when they return home they get all their taxes back, there is the International Bridge. It is 14,784 feet long, that's 4,506 meters OR 2.8 miles that's about 4.5 kilometers. 

I converted that all for you because everything on the radio says both. The weather: Today it will be partly cloudy with a high 52 or 11. They just say 52 or 11 but it's 52 Fahrenheit or 11 Celsius. Car commercials: Comes with Ford's Powertrain Warranty up to 250,000 miles or 400,000 kilometers. Something like that anyway. 

Speaking of the radio there are several French radio stations. I should listen and learn...right? I tried for like 45 seconds one day, I couldn't do it.  Plus, Marley said, "Mom! They are speaking Spanish!" She thinks every foreign language is Spanish....thanks to Dora, probably. But, if I had ever taken French it might actually be fun.  Also, our NPR is actually called CBC Radio, that's Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Cool right?

That's the northern border but, the U.P.'s south border has more water! The Mackinac Straits which connect Lake Michigan on the west and Lake Huron on the east and flows from west to east. The bridge down there is the Mighty Mackinac Bridge, AKA the Mighty Mac. 

You may wonder as I have, why the U.P. is even part of Michigan when they don't even touch but the U.P. is actually connected to Wisconsin.  Why isn't is just part of Wisconsin?  Well, if you're interested I found this very cool article explaining just that: Why the Upper Peninsula is Not Part of Wisconsin.

Now if you can tell me what a Yooper and a Troll is, in regard to Michigan, you get 1,000 bonus points. Here is your REALLY big hint. And if you search the internet webs and you're honest you still get 500 points. 

(Disclaimer: points are actually meaningless so don't be tryin' to redeem them!)

I'm a wife & mother. A happy homemaker! I'm am what I consider an active parent in my community. My name is Becky. And I'm a Mormon.

Have you seen these?

http://mormon.org/people

Just click on the link and then click on a picture. 

Then you can watch, what I consider, an awesome short film!

Go ahead and go watch some!

There are hundreds!

They are so uplifting!

I love them.

I would direct you to my favorites, but I really do love all of them!

We all have a story. 

The site says:

"While our backgrounds and experiences are diverse, we share a deep commitment to Jesus Christ, to each other, and our neighbors. Watch these stories of faith in the everyday lives of Mormons.

Post edit/confession: I don't think I personally know anyone in any of these videos. But, I wish I new all of them...and kinda feel like I do after I watch.

I would love to see them about everyone I know...don't you think you'd know even your closest friends better once a video snippet is made of their life with cool music in the background?

Also, I wish they would make one about me.
I wonder what that would look like?
With my blog title...you probably already new my (secret) wish/confession.