Hocus Pocus

Last weekend we went to a "Hocus Pocus Celebration" here in Rexburg. It was held just a few blocks from our home, so it was nice to have it so close. The weather was still pretty chilly, but not as cold as it has been. (By the way, tomorrow is set to be mid 60s, and all the snow has melted). Amelia donned her little red riding hood and "tappy" shoes, and Cooper morphed into Thor, completed with his thunder-bringing hammer.

We had a fun time looking at the pumpkins, riding the horse-drawn hay ride, eating donut holes and cider (okay, just I drank it), getting our face painted (okay, just Amelia), listening to the storyteller, and gathering candy from all the businesses up and down the street. I don't have a lot of pictures because the camera my sweet parents lent me after mine mysteriously fell into water ran out of batteries, and I didn't have extra on hand. Here the few pictures from our fun afternoon out:

Ready to bring the thunder and run from wolves.

We found a Thor pumpkin, so had to get Coop's picture by it.

Outside one of the businesses. Even though it was cool, Cooper's "soft" muscles and Amelia's warm cape kept them toasty. I was freezing, however.

The storyteller.....creepy, huh? I wish I could've recorded her cackle, it was sinister. She was so realistic I almost threw water on her to see if she'd melt, and I occasionally checked the sky for flying monkeys.

Whew, not as creepy.

We also carved our jack-o'-lanterns on Friday. The kids did really well and knew exactly what they wanted. However, for the third year running, Cooper would NOT clean the guts out of his pumpkin, "'cuz its disgusting!" Amelia gave him a hard time about it, but I saw her gingerly spooning out her pumpkin's innards, careful not to touch any of the slimy seeds or pulp!

Amelia carved it!

Cooper by his pumpkin. All evening Amelia and I heard over and over, "I'm the youngest in our family, but I got the biggest pumpkin!"

All lit up. Mine is missing a huge black spider on its head to frighten it. Cooper and Amelia took it and try to hide it in different places to scare each other. Maybe I should put a math book or my latest homework, instead? They are positively terrifying.

Let It Snow..................and It Did!

We've had a lot going on this week. It's Red Ribbon Week at school, so the kids have different dress up days, I've been researching the best option math-wise for me, and we had our first snow! Here are a few pictures of our week:

Cooper's new shirt and tie. They are size 6-7, because at 5 1/2, he's closer to 6 than 5 now.

Dress like a pirate day.

It also happened to snow that day......5 1/2 inches.

Cooper was lying on his stomach, slowly army-crawling through the snow. I asked him what he was doing and he said, "Plowing through the snow with my arms." 

A front view of the plowing.

Amelia decided to join him.

This is the snowman Amelia was trying to make. The snow wasn't cooperating. As I was pulling Cooper in the sled I could hear Amelia talking to her snowman. I asked her what she named him, and she said, "I named him Arnold, but I call him Harold." I laughed so hard I couldn't pull Cooper anymore. Amelia didn't see the humor, and kept adding snow to Arnold/Harold. Hope he doesn't have an identity crisis.

The demise of Arnold/Harold.

 I wish next week was a bit slower, but with Halloween on Wednesday, I doubt it will be! Look forward to a post with school parades, Hocus Pocus celebration and trunk or treating!

Advice Please, My 5 Faithful Readers

I have reached the midterm of my classes for this semester. I'm sure you are all aware of my math difficulties. I am not doing bad, but neither am I doing well. After speaking with my professor, it is unlikely that I will be able to pull my C- to a B in the next five weeks unless I receive a 90% or above on my remaining tests. (I'll give you a moment to control your wild laughter).

Why do I need a B, you ask? This class was fulfilling a requirement for one the three tests I must pass by December 15th. Therefore, if I continue in my class, I will not only receive a grade that will plummet my 3.8 GPA to a 3.4 (not high enough for a academic scholarship) but I will have to take and pass the dreaded third test anyway.

HOWEVER, if I withdraw from my class, my credits for the semester will drop below the "progressive rate" that BYUI requires, and regardless of my straight A's and one B-, I will be put on Academic Warning. Academic Warning will not affect my GPA, my progression toward my degree, or my financial aid. The only downside is its like using my "get out of jail free" card early in the game. If, during the remaining course of my illustrious college career, I withdraw or fail another class, or my GPA drops below 2.0, I run the risk of being put straight on Academic Probation. Here are my options:

1. I withdraw from Intermediate Algebra by November 5. There will be no penalty with my financial aid, my GPA will remain in its glorious state, and I can put all my previous class time, tutoring, and effort into studying like mad to pass the third test----by only the required 70%. BUT, I will be on Academic Warning for the Winter semester, and use up my "free" card, so to speak, with two math classes left to pass (only with a C-, though). Also, I will feel like a failure.

2. I can continue with my Algebra class, try to increase my tutoring and understanding, pray for a miracle, and run the risk of not succeeding in the class, ruining my GPA, having no hair left due to stress and having to take the test anyway.

3. Shut all my books, cry for an hour straight, eat junk food while I watch TV until I weigh 545 pounds and must be removed from my house by a crane.

Any thoughts?

Straw Maze 2012

This weekend we went on our annual straw maze outing with some friends. We had a great time, the hardest part was keeping track of four hyped-up children running and dodging around corners. Once we actually got separated, one adult with one of our own kids, and one of the others. We shouted and shouted and shouted, then turned a corner and ran into the rest of our party. I asked my friend if she heard us shouting, and she said no. Take note--straw is an excellent insulator!

It was pretty cold going in, but after running for twenty minutes straight through switchbacks, twists and turns, it got pretty warm. We all had a great time, and the kids fell asleep almost as soon as they went to bed, so all in all, it was a fantastic night!

At the beginning, ready to get lost!

At the tunnel section of the maze. Amelia was pretty hyped up, and Cooper was posing like crazy.

Another dead end!

Hooray! After an hour we made it out!

The kids liked the maze, but they LOVED the bales of straw nearby that they were allowed to climb on. They spent almost as much time climbing those as we did in the maze. (But they never got lost).

Cooper found a hole in one of the bales and went back and forth a few times.

Cooper took our picture in the maze. He was in a hurry so its a little blurry.

Pumpkin Patch 2012

Last Saturday we went to the pumpkin patch to pick our future jack-o-latern's. It was a decent day, and Amelia and Cooper had a great time picking the perfect pumpkin. Cooper picked his quickly then spent the rest of the time crowing back at the roosters next to the patch. He had just watched "Peter Pan", so his "Ar-ar-ar-ar-arrrrrrrrrr!" was pretty good. The roosters thought so, too. Amelia took her time inspecting and rejecting pumpkins until she found the perfect one. We loaded up and went to Blackfoot to see Nana, Bompa, Joey, Jojo and Lynnli. My parents watched my kids while I ran out for a quick tutor session with the World's Best Math Tutor Marty. Two hours later my knowledge of algebra had increased three fold.

We had a great weekend and I, at least, am not ready for another week quite yet!

Ready to search for pumpkins!

Found one! (It ended up not being big enough.)

Cooper, the rooster whisperer.

After a long, careful inspection, Amelia found her pumpkin.

Not-so-patiently waiting for me to take a picture--the straw maze awaited!

Lost?

No!

Yes.

As side note--I don't think the invites to Amelia's blog are going through. If you can log into this blog, you should be able to log into hers. Here's her address: www.whatameliathinks.blogspot.com.  Let me know if you have any problems!

Fashionistas

I guess Cooper would technically be a fashionis-ter, right? Either way, the kids were rockin' their outfits today, and wanted to be sure the moment was captured forever on digital film to be broadcast throughout the world---or at least my loyal five readers. Here they are:

Cooper was "going cowboy" today. He had cowboy boots, fashionably faded and broken-in Wranglers, and a cowboy shirt!

Amelia had a meeting with her "High-Heel Club" today, so she opted for black boots and a jean skirt.

For those of you who have read and commented on Amelia's new blog, thank you. She is quite proud of it. For those of you who have not, what's the hold-up?! If you didn't receive the invite (some I had to send multiple times) let me know, and I'll resend it!

Harvest Break

Tomorrow is the last day of Amelia and Cooper's 6-day Harvest Break. It was.....full. The kids had school off, but I didn't. Most of the week was spent juggling babysitters, appointments, class and tests. The Friday before the break they had a field day at school. Here are a couple pictures from it:

Amelia and her class at the tug of war; boys against girls. The girls won two out of three games. The boys were not good losers, shouting, "They cheated!"

So the teachers "evened-up" the teams. Amelia's still won.

Cooper's class also set boys against girls. While the boys are very strong (and very manly with the grunts and groans) I have to give their victory to the fact that there are 17 boys in the class......and 9 girls.

Cooper working as the anchor.

We managed to do a lot of of fun things last week , too. Some of them included gymnastics, picnics in the still-warm weather, playing in the dirt and making mud pies, and having lunch with friends and Bompa.

Cooper also entertained himself while we were waiting for Amelia to finish her ballet lesson by practicing his ninja moves:

"I'm pretty awesome."

 

 

 

 

 

In other news, Amelia has been campaigning pretty hard to begin her own blog. She promises "totally random" pictures and stories to go along with them. Any input on whether I should let her? It would be private, of course.

Future blogger?