More Halloween fun!

A lot of adults like to dress up at Halloween when given a chance! I admit I am not one of them.... so I was happy to have an excuse to dress casual for work- I wore jeans and one of Cami's UC Davis sweat shirts--- I told everyone I was a college student!!
We had a pot luck for the day- and I was a good girl! I managed to stay away from most of the goodies.... I brought a big bowl of different kinds of fruit. Boring, I know.... but it actually went over well. It was almost all gone by then end of the day. So I thought I would include a few cute pictures of the braver ones that really dressed up.


Roni won best costume of the day!!



Judy was a great witch!


Esme was a beautiful Snow White!!

And of course, I would be remiss not to show the beautiful granddaughters dressed up for Halloween!


Reagan as a Rock Star and Jenna as Ariel!!


McKenzie was a cute Little Orphan Annie


McKenzie and Brynn with their cousins on Daddy's side- Elleyette and Jack!

And then there was Ian and Anayansi- they couldn't have looked more beautiful!


Happy Halloween!

Trunk or Treat!!

I have to admit-- when I moved to Sacramento 5 years ago it was so hard to start over with a new church family. To this day I still go to church with Brooke and Evan a lot and I love to go back to my ward in Pleasanton. But I can truly say that I have finally learned to feel comfortable in my ward and even my stake. Last night was a testament to the great Stake that I belong to. We had an amazing Trunk or Treat event! There were about 50 cars decorated in the parking lot that the kids went trick or treating to, games to play- like fishing, bowling, throwing, a pumped- up- slide, old movies playing on the wall, barbecued hotdogs, root beer floats, face painting, and pumpkin carving contests. I would say there were at least 450 people there if not more! The costumes were so fun! I spent most of my time helping with the dinner but also had a chance to walk around to the cars making sure everyone had enough candy to hand out (and replenishing their supply if they didn't). So enjoy the pictures!! It was a fun night!


Seth is a plumber in real life- so very appropriate! His "Broken Sewer" was the hit of the night. Look closely at this picture!!He gave away his candy down his sewer pipe!!


Our Stake President with some hot dogs!


Snow White with the Wicked Witch!


A dragon guarding the castle!


Bishop Wickham was a chef!


Randy was one mean cowboy!!!


April was one beautiful damsel- helping the YW with their face painting table.


Spencer and Connor- a.k.a Indiana Jones and Steve Erkel!


Judy was spaghetti dinner!!!


Nicole and Kirsten collected a lot of candy!!


The missionaries stopped to pose for me!

Time Travel

Do you have smells that take you back in time?? I certainly do! I was in Dan and Kathy's back yard this evening...McKenzie picked a gardenia off of one of their bushes and handed it to me. Just one sniff and I traveled in time back to 1969-Senior Year in Coronado! Summer nights in Coronado always smelled like gardenias. It amazes me that almost 40 years later the fragrance of a flower has the power of time travel!


Gardenias from Kathy's back yard.

So I was thinking on my drive home what other smells trigger past memories. Here are a few- Jergens hand lotion always reminds me of my mother. I'm sure she had other fragrances around her but that is the one I remember. Snickerdoodle cookies take me back to Enid, Oklahoma where my Grandmother Schaefer lived. She always made them for us when we came to visit. A fresh box of crayons reminds me of elementary school.

And what about music?? I could go on all night about what memories come from which song. Beach Boys' "Surfer Girl" takes me back to Jr High dancing with Mike Rohan. Jan and Dean songs take me back to Laurie Gray's living room when a bunch of us 8th grade girls would practice dancing and snacking on chips and dip! Rolling Stones and The Beatles take me back to all the dances in high school. The Stones' "Under My Thumb" gives me flash backs of being with Joanie in her '67 Mustang. Fast forward to the 80'sand 90's---Kylie Minogue's "Locomotion" takes me back to Brooke's birthday party when she was in 4th grade. When I hear a Raffi song I can see clearly in my mind Cami in her pink bedroom listening to his songs on her Fisher Price tape player at bedtime! Every time I hear a Bob Marley song I think of Ian and how he liked him when he was about 15. "Soul Man" was a song Cami danced to in a tap competition. The list goes on forever, as I'm sure it does for you too. So what smells and songs take you back in time??? I would love to hear about it.

Jenna is 3!

My little granddaughter, Jenna, is is 3 today!!!!!!!!! I wish so much I could be with her on her birthday. Her other grandparents are with her so I know she is having a great day. Things I love about Jenna- she is beautiful, she funny- no, not just funny, she is hilarious! She is the best climber! She is so smart for 3 years old. She loves princesses. Anayansi said that right now she is especially into Ariel. She is such a good girl for her mom and dad. She absolutely loves her big sister! When I was with her a few months ago she constantly loved to twirl in circles. There is never a dull moment if Jenna is in the room! I am so excited that I will see her and the rest of her family at Disneyland in 3 weeks. So Happpy Birthday Jenna- Grandma loves you sooooooooooo much!!!!

In Spite of My Homemaking Skills!

Today's world is so fast paced. It easy to get overwhelmed. Between time and money there is never enough of either..... If I had enough time, my house would always be clean, I would never be tired, I would cook perfect meals, and I would remember everyone's birthday!! If I had enough money I wouldn't stress about bills, I would have nicer clothes, I would travel a lot more, and I would share it with as many as possible! But the older I get the more I realize all those things aren't really that important. The important things are not as tangible as the perfect meal or the clean house. My children were raised on the 30 minute meal plan! When they were young, cooking was not really a priority for me. I didn't have the time to be Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray. But you know what- I think my children turned out to be amazing adults. In spite of my lack of skills they turned out pretty darn well. I don't think the perfect parent is out there. I know some that come really close to that..... but I don't think perfect exists. So we all try hard and do the best we can. The important thing is that we are true to ourselves. If we are true to ourself then we set the best example a parent can set. It doesn't matter if we don't make perfect meals, it doesn't matter if the house isn't spotless, it doesn't matter if we can't sew a button. What matters is that we are engaged. Being present in the moment states that those that are around us are what matters. I see that in each of my children. Each has their own unique personality. Each one is strong and independent, yet they are also very caring. I am most proud that they know how to love their families and friends.

I had another fun weekend with Brooke and her family. They are so sweet to be with. I couldn't be more proud of the mother that Brooke is. Do I sound like a doting mom and grandma??? Yea--- sorry! But I am. I am so blessed to have Ian, Anayansi, Reagan, Jenna, Brooke, Evan, McKenzie, Brynn, Cami and Klas in my life!


McKenzie built this tower while we were watching conference on TV!


Brynn smiling for Grandma.

Cousins

When you are asked what is most important to you- most would say family. I know I would. The family I am thinking of isn't just the immediate family but the extended family also. This past weekend I had the opportunity to go to my cousin Mike's daughter's wedding in Santa Cruz. I don't get to see my cousins very often...We are all really different from each other but we all have the same bond of being part of the Maxwell family. My mother's maiden name is Maxwell. My cousin Mike's Mom was my mom's older sister. The Maxwells lived in a teeny tiny town in Lucien, Oklahoma. Every year my family made a trip back to Oklahoma to spend a month with the grandparents and all the aunts, uncles and cousins. Everyone came from other parts of Oklahoma, Kansas. We came the farthest from California. I have 21 first cousins. By LDS standards that isn't a big deal. But having not grown up in the LDS church I always thought I was pretty special to have so many cousins.

Lucien was a little farming town in rural Oklahoma. It had one gas station, one local market, one post office and one church. Miles and Evelyn Maxwell had a big white 2 story house across the red dirt road from the one room school house.. Going there was such an adventure. The house had 2 stair cases in it. One was like a secret passage. It had a great front porch with a creaky screen door that I can still remember the sound of. We bathed on the back porch in a small tin tub with hot water that was heated on the stove. And to go to the bathroom we had to walk out the back door down the steps, go through a small gate, walk past the vegetable garden to the outhouse. Sometimes Pat , the bull, was grazing in the back and I was terrified to go out there. It was always a challenge to wake up one of my sisters or cousins to go with me out there at night so that they could hold the flashlight! For fun we would climb out on the roof of the house and climb into the pine tree by the roof, or hike to the railroad trellis and climb down to the creek below, or play on the playground at the school house across the road. I also remember walking to the market to see Mabel, the owner. We would buy strawberry soda pop from a really weird pop bottle machine. Of all my memories of being in Lucien - probably the best is being with the rest of the the kids and watching my grandmother pulling the homemade taffy with her buttery hands. She would work really fast so as not to burn her hands. She also made the best popcorn balls and for fun would put food coloring in the sugar!

So over the years we have grown up and now we all live all over the world. Many of us are grandparents ourselves. But there is something great about being with family. My cousin, Monita and I had a great talk on the way back from Santa Cruz. She made a comment that our family is full of grace- meaning unconditional love- for each other in spite of our flaws. That's why when I get a chance to see my cousins I will always make the effort.

Thought I would share a few pictures of the wedding--


All of the cousins that we there.


The happy couple, Lyda and Jason.


My cousin, Mike, with his daughter.


My cousin, Monita, and her son, Martin after a long day!

Pain Pain, Go Away!!!

Have you ever had a pinched nerve????? Somehow- 2 months ago I did something that has caused pain ever since. It starts right where my neck and right shoulder meet- and goes all the way down my right arm. To the point that I now can hardly use my right arm. So I thought I would let everyone know just so you understand why this will be a short post. I laid low this weekend trying to rest the arm. And have you ever tried using the mouse on the computer with your other hand? I feel like such a dork!!! I have started physical therapy and been to the Dr. but my doctor (she wasn't my usual Dr.) didn't seem to have a clue. Then I talked to my friend, Diana, that is a psychologist that deals with pain management. She totally heard what I was saying and told me to get a certain pain prescription and see to a Physiatrist. I never even knew there was such a Dr.- but a physiatrist is a spine doctor. She also said do not go to a chiropractor. So I am doing the hot-cold treatment, wearing the forearm brace and living on Ibuprofen. So tomorrow I am calling the Dr. again. We'll see. I have dealt with chronic pain before but this is getting ridiculous!!!!!
Thanks for letting me whine!!!! I will keep you posted! =)