Thursday, October 31, 2013

October 2013

 Elliott's 3-D robot drawing.

 Our friends the Josephs were cleaning out their garage and found this cat tree that used to belong to their now deceased cat.  We were the only ones they could think of that had a cat, so they brought it over for us.  Here Moon is investigating.

 She loves it!  And we love that she will now use it as a scratching post instead of our new couches!  :)  And it's a great place for her to hide when there's too much commotion going on in our home.

Some friends of ours moved and gave us three 50 lb bags of wheat to add to our food storage.  We were able to check out a canner from our Church's canning facility in Detroit to safely store it all.  We made a family assembly line to make it an easy process.  Elliott brought the empty #10 cans to the table,

 Crystal filled the cans with wheat kernels,

Roswell placed an oxygen absorbing packet on top to keep it preserved,

 Donovan placed the lid on top,

 Mom took pictures,

 and Dad took pictures,

and then Dan sealed the lids onto the cans.  Canning them this way makes the wheat safe on the shelf for 25-30 years unopened.  We have been working to build up a year supply of non-perishable food to follow the counsel of our Prophet.  When trouble may arise, such as a natural disaster, troubles with the country's crops, loss of a job, etc., we know that we have supplies to take care of our family with items we use regularly.

I am privileged to be able to be in the presidency of our branch's Relief Society organization at Church.  This year we have been busy making crocheted beanies for the upcoming winter season.  We were able to donate close to 110 various sizes of hats to Haven House, a homeless facility that is geared towards helping families get educated, clothed, and able to find a way back into a better life.  I'm so grateful that we were able to help if but in a little way.

 Fall is here!

 Dan was able to be a part of Woodbadge this year for scouts.  He has been Scout Master for a bit and was very excited to get more training at Woodbadge.  He joined the Fox Patrol.  Before it became popular, we were playing the 'stupid' but catchy song "What Does the Fox Say?".  So for his birthday, he got a foxy cake.

 Happy 34th Birthday Dan!



My poor stretch-marked belly!  Miss Savannah is making quite a home in here!  One month to go!

Miss Avery singing "I Am a Child of God".  She's so cute!  I love how she substitutes all her "I's" for "My".

Halloween time!

 Donovan the ninja.

 Elliott the vampire.

 Roswell the knight.

Avery the candy corn witch.

And everyone needs a little bacon and eggs!  With Miss Savannah as the yolk!

 10-25-13  Donovan's cub scout pack went to Uncle John's Cider Mill to have fun in the corn maze.  It was pretty cold, but we had lots of fun.

 We all ended up getting separated in a way, so once we made it out, the littles got to play in the play area until the others found their way out.


 Avery kitty.

 The kids had fun decorating their own pumpkins.  We even decorated a baby one for Evelyn and Savannah.


I didn't realize until studying why Dan took this picture later, that we ended October with a full moon!  Oh the joys of parenthood!  :)