Things I Learned this Halloween

1. Candy Corn is still absolutely scrumptious.
   
2. Halloween has the ability to make students very, very hyper.
   
3. Striped tights are pretty much the coolest thing ever. If I thought I could get away with it, I would wear them to church tomorrow!
   
4. If you are going to have to wear a costume to school all day, and then to a dance, make sure it is comfortable.
5. Check the weather forecast before settling on a costume idea so that you won't freeze to death.
6. Children really will throw up if given too much candy.
7. No matter how cute shoes are, and how well they go with your costume, don't wear them to a dance if you can't handle wearing them all night.
8. There is a line dance for every song. And if there isn't, somebody at a dance will make one up.
9. Have you ever seen a first grader trying to do jumping jacks? That is what I look like while trying to do a line dance. (I caught a girl behind me trying to follow my lead. Poor girl)
10. Children's enthusiasm for Halloween is contagious and magical.

Hope your week has been as fun as mine! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I had to stick this picture in because I think that My sister's family made the cutest Flinstone's! Isn't it fun?

An Auntie Again!

Last night I got to have a sleepover with Madison because her parents were kind of busy with this little beauty:

Brooklyn Kay
7 lbs 6 oz
19 1/2 inches

Isn't she adorable? Such big eyes! I can't wait to meet her. Congratulations, Karl & Liz. Welcome to the family Brooklyn!

A Wake-Up Call

Our family is on baby-watch. Liz is ready to deliver a baby girl any day now. We are all super excited! If Liz goes into labor during the night, the plan is that she will call me so that I can run over and stay with Madison while she and Karl run to the hospital. The plan for a day delivery is different, but since I don't have any children of my own, it makes it easy for me to take off in the middle of the night.

I take my responsibilities as an aunt very seriously. I am packed and ready to go, so if the call comes I can run out the door in less than a minute.

At 3:18 this morning the phone rang. I jumped out of bed. I heard my mom answer the phone with a "Are we on? Liz?" I ran for my closet to get my shoes, I was ready to head out the door. This was it!

I opened my door to have my mom tell me that it was not Liz, but a wrong number. Seriously? What are the chances of being a wrong-call number during the week when a middle of the night phone call means labor?

I went back to bed, but I had so much adrenaline running at that point I didn't sleep very well. However, should the call come, I am ready for it!

Family Resemblance

This is my niece, Ivy Isabelle. She is one of the cutest kids ever. She is a very content child, and has the funniest little mannerism. I love this girl!

A couple weeks ago my Grandma found these pictures from my childhood, and we were all shocked to realize how much miss Ivy looks like ME when I was a child. Lacey and I get comments about how much we look alike now, but we were quite opposite as children.

Take, for example, this picture of me with my Grandpa and Karl. I was about 1 year old:

And now, Ivy, 14 months:

Can you see the resemblance?

Family Reunion, 1986 - 1 year old

Ivy - Around 9 months

Me, somewhere around 9 months:

Ivy - 1 year:

I never really resembled anybody in my family when I was little, so it was a fun discovery to see that I have a niece that looks a little like me. I am hoping that this means that I will one day have a daughter just like Ivy!

I Spent Most of Last Night Here:

Yesterday started out as a completely normal day. I went to school, had a meeting with my principal, then did some cleaning and laundry when I got home. Nothing out of the ordinary. Around 6:00 last night I started to hurt. By 8:00 it was a pretty severe pain. Finally, at 9:00, I took a trip to the Emergency Room.

The last time I was in the Emergency Room I was 10. I remember nothing about it. Word to the wise - when you go to the ER, take a book or magazine with you. There is nothing to do while you wait, and wait, and wait. After several hours and multiple tests it was decided that I had a kidney stone, and I was sent home with some (wonderful) pain medication, and the name of a specialist to see to make sure that everything is okay.

I may not have the greatest immune system, but this last month has been out of control when it comes to health problems! When it rains it pours, and I am hoping this storm is about to pass!

A HUGE thanks to Laura who is teaching for me today! You're a lifesaver!

Red Ribbon Run '09

It's a tradition now, so even though it was a bit chilly this morning the whole family made their way to the annual Red Ribbon Run. I ran the 5K with Bethany and Stephanie while the rest of the family walked the mile. Liz hoped that the brisk pace would hurry along labor. Still no baby, but a fun morning!

*A few days later Grandma recieved a card in the mail with a gift certificate for being the oldest participant at this years race. So cool!

Talent Show Memories

Liz found this picture of me today. It is from our ward talent show in 2006. I laughed and laughed when I saw it! Yes, that is me, playing the piano upside down. Now the fact that I am upside down isn't really the funny part, its more the fact that I can't play the piano. At all. Even though I took lessons for years, I never put in the time required to actually become a piano player - one of my greatest regrets. I can play a grand total of one song, which I taught myself to play upside down (don't be fooled, it's not hard, just looks cool) for lack of a better "talent". What are you supposed to do at a talent show anyway?