Halloween Festivities

Happy Halloween!

We have made it a tradition to carve pumpkins while listening to Doug Fabrizio's Halloween RadioWest shows on NPR. Todd had some spooky stories saved from years past and I was pretty freaked, i.e. I was glancing behind my back and leeringly looking out the window.
It was just what I'd want for Halloween.
Here are the pumpkins before:and after:From L-R: Todd, Henry, me.
We went to Todd's Comedy Sportz Halloween party dressed as the Three Stooges.
Can you guess who we are? Yep. Todd is Moe, Henry is Curly, and I am Larry. We had a whole quirky fight scene choreographed for fun, and also in case people needed a hint when guessing what we were dressed as.

I bet you can't guess which of the following pictures is of our family and which one is of the actually Three Stooges:


Here I am giving a shot at improve. Needless to say my act needs a lot of work.
I didn't get one laugh. I wouldn't have laughed at me. It was about 20 seconds of awkwardness.
(I now have a much greater respect for Todd and all the players.)Anyway, here is Todd as Moe and he is picking on poor Alice (in Wonderland). I mean, she was just trying to find her way!
This was a great party. We had Obama, Sarah Palin, Carmen San Diego, Maleficent, Jack Skelington, a monk, an easy-bake oven (a pregnant lady), a bee; Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, and a beaver; and much, much more.
Henry with Senator Obama. I know you're all jealous. Just kidding.
Henry, those are my thoughts exactly. Yikes!

We played a pumpkin-toss game and it was pretty intense. It was like musical chairs but instead of running around chairs you're passing a pumpkin, and not just a light one--it was heavy! Sadly I dropped it and didn't make it to the final round, but it was still fun.

And the winner was . . . the lovely Ginger Grant from Gilligan's Island!

It has been a great Halloween.

And we've only had 5 trick-or-treaters! Lucky us--we get lots of candy.

Plethora o' pictures o' Henry

Sometimes
I

just
can't
get
enough
of
him.
However, this post is not only for me,
it is for my grandma Cameron.
She told me that sometimes she wakes up
in the night and cannot get back to
sleep so she checks her grandkids' blogs.
She also uses pictures from our blogs for her scrap book.

I love that. And, I love her.

Happy birthday, grandma Cameron!!

Henry LOVES to play with his tongue.

Henry with Mim.

Bathtime. He has graduated from bathing in his mini tub on the floor to the real bathtub. The carpet could not take any more continual soaks. He likes the new arrangement much more.

He is learning to grab things and pull them to his face.

"I see you taking a picture of me!"

Henry's crib.

Struggling through tummy-time.

He loves to stretch. He also loves the Boppy. Thanks Lisel and Whitney!

"Daddy, I love you THIS much."

Henry and Edward the Bear (a.k.a. Winnie-the-Pooh).

Henry is now 4 months old, weighs 14#7oz. and is 24.5" long. He is a great baby.

Baptism

Our dear friend, Cindy, was baptized and confirmed (she received the gift of the Holy Ghost) a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a few weeks ago. Todd was able to confirm her, and it was a sweet experience. Cindy is from Korea and is here at BYU with her husband. They live in our quad and we have been friends for about 10 months. Cindy is an angel, so willing to give and share, and she is so much fun.
On her baptism day she said, "Rachel, I am just so happy, so happy." She beamed. It was neat to witness her enthusiasm and joy as she accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ and joined His Church.
Watching her conversion has caused me to think about my baptismal day 14 years ago and my testimony. It would make me happy to share it.
I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know Jesus Christ is the head of this church and that it is God's kingdom on Earth. I kjnow that it was restored through Joseph Smith, that God revealed it to him. I know the Book of Mormon is true, that it is the word of God. When I read the Book of Mormon I feel good inside, I receive answers to my prayers, and I am comforted and guided by it when I have hard times. I know that our current prophet is President Thomas S. Monson. I know that he was called of God and that he shares with us God's will. It is amazing to know that God loves us--everyone that has lived and will ever live on the Earth--so much that He sent His Son to die for us, to fulfill the plan of salvation. I know that God hears and answers our prayers. Prayer is an amazing gift.
I know if we follow Jesus Christ we will be happy. I love Him. These things I know to be true by my experiences, and by the Spirit that has confirmed them to me to be true.
Here are some pictures we took after her baptism.
Friends: Me, Ximena, Cindy, and Tiffany. (Ximena and Tiffany spoke at her baptism.)
We are blessed to have Cindy in our life. She is an amazing friend!

My Nephew: The football player

So, my little nephew is not so little anymore. He's a big football player.
Okay, if you don't know how big I am you will probably think I'm huge just by looking at this picture, but my nephew, Caleb is really only eight years old. So I'm really not a giant. If you notice, he has a black X on top of his helmet. That indicates that he is not allowed to carry the ball (because he's so big). He's on the offensive line, and they actually tackle each other! At eight years old he is practicing for 10 hours per week including conditioning plus playing games--rain or shine.To stay hydrated he guzzles a gallon of water. He does it because he says, "My coach told me I need to stay "hydwaited". He seems to love football. Just last week he was upgraded to first-string because he's so awesome.

He even has a little cheer squad. My nieces are the two girls on the left. I'm so proud. I mean, I was sure to tell them that once, a long time ago, I too was a cheerleader. (Yep, I'm bow-legged.) For some reason I don't think they believed me.

Anyway, a little while ago he went to a BYU day camp to meet the team and practice.

When asked how it went Caleb said, "Yeah, it was so awesome. I got to meet the players and do stuff with them and touch them." I bet he didn't wash his hands for days. Oh, to be eight again.

Buzzing and Mr. Bright Eyes

Henry has great eyes.