Halloween 2013

trick or treating: Kay stayed home and handed out about 100 candies (Russell Stover) to the awaiting local kids (Wayne said he heard how excited they were to get our candy) and the missionaries told us their sob  story about how they had to stay in so I got some pizza for them all. they got to visit with Kay for 2 hours.  They actually like listening to his apostasy lecture and his take on scriptures.  fancy that!

I went to the Sudanese family (whose mother Leila Kuku works from 2-10pm) and took them 15 min away to Village Greene, a condo place where most of our ward lives because they are going to school      Nyawitch (16) Julye (6) and Rose (3) were  coming with me.  It turned out another YW  (Hapgu) called and asked if she and her 5yo brother could come.  Yes, they all live in bad areas.... no trick or treaters there!

And, Nya's sister, Rose's mother wanted to come and the two older boys Deng (14) and Wal (10)- Dad baptized Wal.  2 car loads.

I brought a pizza, dropped it off and did 2 trips to the condos. went around till 8 with them... mostly with cute 3yo Rose and her mom who isn't a member, and then we all (9) piled in my car to get home.  They were all very happy about the loot and it was fun going to the neighborhood where we knew almost everyone.

PS I go to the Kuku house on Wednesdays and read to Julye and Rose so the older kids can go to Cubs, YM and YW.

Alice and Claire Mississippi girls now~

First project

We are in Mississippi at Frances's house doing some projects.  First one complete: adding upper kitchen cabinets. There were none and not a drawer in  the kitchen.  We added 2 banks of drawers.   All cabinets from IKEA.

Zoo

I took some kids to the zoo before school started.  Cheyanne and Dravin’s mom is a nurse and dad is a stay at home dad  who wasn’t feeling well so I took them. Mom and dad are getting baptized on Saturday. Some lions were unusually close to the fence.  I growled at the one on the far right and he gave me a huge growl back.  We screamed and jumped! 

Watermelon

We drove to and  from Oxford Mississippi helping Frances and Marc get settled in their home.  On the way home we stopped for gas and found a huge watermelon stand. $5 each.  We took a screw driver and chiseled a hole on top  and used spoons to spoon out the deliciousness.  We bought 3, ate 1/2 of the big one in the truck, gave one away to the O’Connors, and weighed the smaller one at 48lbs we shared with our workers.

Help?

 Rachael's one day old baby.  #6.  5th boy! 9lbs 11 oz. No name yet.

Come Home to Kanesville

My friend Angie was in the Winter Quarters Musical a few years ago and I told her Ethan would really love to do this.  He is my grandson and 10 years old… a real ham.  He likes to memorize poems and perform in front of audiences.  I tried to talk Rachael into auditioning but little did I know, she was pregnant and due in Aug.  I decided to be in it with him in the ensemble… back ground.  I went with him to auditions and he got the part out of 8.  I also got a part with singing in it and lines!
We are double cast so I  go on every other night, mostly with Ethan.  It is a pioneer story about 2 families who lived in the area before heading out west with the other pioneers in the late 1840’s.
We started practicing on July 5th and had the script and a sound track.  We only had 10 rehearsals so we had to have everything memorized by the 5th.  Then rehearsal was from 6-10 or 11PM with every minute being used with 5 assistant directors and coaches.  Intense.
Two and a half weeks of shows, 17 total and we are to our last week.  Wow what a mind blast!  The show has mostly young adults in it.  I am a mother to 3 and have struggles and trials as a family.  I sing parts (by myself- scary? yesssss.  Ethan is in the other family and has some show stopping lines.  he is great and knows how to follow directions.  I am so  proud of him.  Because of the late schedules we are keeping (home at 11:30PM last night) Ethan is sleeping over at my house and we bonded.   Kay is out of town fishing in Alaska and was able to see our first show.  Because it is the final season we are having a DVD made so that is what we are gearing up to on Saturday.  
Rachael’s kids have been able to see it a couple times and loved it.  Isaac (2) was mesmerized by the dancing. I also volunteered to help feed the cast dinner which puts me busy all day cooking.  It has been a fun month.  My parents drove out from Utah to see  me perform 3 times and Lauren, my daughter came with cousin Mitch and Even my brother Jamon made it on his cross country trek.  Thanks!