Finding Krissi

Happy Halloween Everyone, The pumpkins are all carved, the chili is in the crockpot and the kids are dancing around waiting for the trick or treating to begin. Well, everyone but S. she is waiting to pass out candy, she has taken a pass on trick or treating this year. I guess she thinks she is big. Last weekend we attended the city carnival and the ward Halloween party we had lots of fun. Below are pictures. These unlike the ones from tonight include S. (My first attempt at a scary Halloween costume, the tongue is what he thought about it) (My second attempt, this was apparently scary enough) (He told me Ninjas don't smile)

Returning to school as a mom is a challenge. However, one of the biggest blessings has been my study group. They are the best and I don't know what I would do without them. I love that when I am sitting on my bed working on homework they bring their homework in and join me. Kinda cool!

I was reading through the blogs I follow this morning and came across this video. A total laugh out loud video if you are into Vampire romance books. Thanks to Marg at Reading Adventures for the great find.

Last night was the first night of a new class. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate starting something new. First of all I walk into the classroom right smack dead in a good ole Mormon bashing conversation. The one thing you find out pretty quick living in Utah you are either Mormon or you hate Mormons. This is what you call generalizing, learned that last night in my culture and diversity class. Anyway, lets just say Utah has some extremes. I went in sat down and just shook my head the conversation was ridiculous. The subject of the course is interesting, we do live in a diverse world, we do need to accept and deal with the diversity, diversity is not a bad thing, so I see the point of the class. Last night I witnessed what happens when you put too much caffeine in a small body. This woman would not be quiet she went on and on and took every conversation way to far. Then she would stop take a breath take a sip of coffee and keep going. She told all kinds of stories peppered with all ...

I know I know I know that it isn't even Halloween yet but but but I have no excuse Except It's Christmas and Coldplay so you know well you know I just had to post it so ummm happy halloween :)

So far working at the same place the kids go to school has been an adventure. The beginning of the year I was handed the testing scores for all 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th graders. Then I had to go through the scores and sort out the top 10% of all students. Do you want to know how much it sucks to know all that information about children you know personally. Not to mention the lines you make cutting kids out of SEM only to notice one tiny percent difference. Then last week there was an incident in school that involved my 5th grader two other boys and the principals office. We will just leave that story alone. However, none of that tops what happened today. I was sitting at my desk getting ready for the next group when I hear H.'s teacher yelling for me. "Kristi, Kristi I have a child throwing up!" As I watch her scurry past me with a child's head in a trash can. "What? My child is throwing up?" "Yes!" I followed them into the sick room where she informe...

The soccer season has come and gone. Considering the weather that is a good thing. We are suppose to get snow this week. We even turned on the heat this morning for the first time. BRRR! Before we get to far away from soccer I thought I would post a couple more of my favorite soccer pics. These pics are of H. and the crazy faces he makes when he is playing. He is so focused and so into the game Brent and I just laugh. Hope you have a great Monday. After work today I start a new class, yay!

Enjoy a few Halloween Videos For Fun Cool! For Sharonda, who should be warned that she probably wont like "IT!"

My first class is over. I only have about a zillion more to go. That may be a bit of an over-exaggeration. It was a good class and I learned a ton. Some of what I am already using with kids at school. I love that what I am learning at school is so immediately applicable to what I am doing. Kind of makes learning easier. Meanwhile, I feel like I'm Indiana Jones. I'm running and running and the big rock is right on my butt. Thankfully Indie didn't get squished by the rock. Gives me hope that I won't be squished by the rock. I may get squished by laundry. One way or the other I'm still alive. There are still holes in my socks. Mother Nature is having some major mood swings and Halloween is one short week away. Holly Cow. Any ideas on costumes for 11 year old boys?

Summer is bidding a fond farewell and the bi-annual closet explosion has begun. For you out of state people who don't know what this is let me explain. Here in Utah you need two full wardrobes. You need short sleeve shirts, shorts, and your favorite pair of sandals. If your a true Utahn you can pull this wardrobe off from about Mid-April to the Beginning of November. If your a wuss Utahn, like me, you pull this particular wardrobe off from June to September. Then there is wardrobe number two, long sleeves (personally I am all about the Hoodie), jeans, and shoes to keep your toes toasty. Through out the month of October your closest explodes as every article of clothing you have has to be kept out. Is today a hot day, cold day, starting out cold getting warm, is it going to snow, rain, be gloomy, or is it going to be a beautiful blue sky day. Mother Nature has several Mood Swings when it comes to Utah weather. Right now we are dealing with exploding closets and the inevitable cries ...

At the beginning of 7th grade I bought my daughter a bug net. That’s right I bought her a bug net so that she could go out and catch bugs. One of those ironies that all mom’s live with I have never bought any of my kids a bug net. Because they catch BUGS with those nets and they bring them into the house and show them to you. Hence, no bug nets. However, S.’s 7th grade Science teacher wanted all the kids to put together a bug collection. Bugs that they personally caught. Bugs that they froze. Bugs that they stabbed with little pins then classified. Then…. As little bugs lay frozen in MY freezer we come to find that if you pull them out of the freezer to soon they come back to life. Meaning I did not have DEAD bugs in my freezer. I had SLEEPING bugs in my freezer. The Bug assignment is done. Thank Goodness. Only three more 7th graders to go.

A little over a week ago we decided to hold our first ever scary movie night. It is fun that the kids are getting older and instead of watching, "Winnie the Poo says Boo" we can watch, "Beetle Juice." Since we were trying a new activity we thought it would be fun to try a new snack so Brent and the kids dug through the family cook book and decided on, "Screaming Yellow Zonker's." A caramel corn recipe provided by his sister. The kids had lots of fun making it and of course lots of fun eating it. So if you are looking for a great caramel corn recipe keep reading. 3 Bags of Popcorn 2 Cups Butter or Margarine (That is not a Typo 2) 1/2 Cup Corn Syrup 2 Cups Sugar 1/2 tsp. Salt 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda Instructions: Put first five ingredients in medium pot. Bring to rolling boil and boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add baking soda. Immediately pour over popcorn and mix well. Place caramel corn in a shallow pan and bake at 350 for 5-10 minutes. Watch cl...

I will be honest and tell you that I read a lot of books that I call brain candy. I would compare them to a 30 minute TV show or just the type of book you don't have to engage to much brain power. Because lets face it most days my brain power is running on empty by the end of the day. Often I pick up a book, start reading, figure out it is going to take me a little extra brain power, and quit reading. However, from the first page Brunonia Barry's, "The Lace Reader," pulled me in. I kept reading even after I figured out that it was going to take a few extra brain cells. The story had a wonderful flow that was very sad and haunting. There were moments that I thought I couldn't keep reading because I hate feeling sad and depressed. The characters just kept pulling at me. There were several mysteries intertwined and I had to know how they were going to work out. The ending of this book was very unexpected so unexpected I think I may have to re-read this book. If your ...

The Last One for today I promise. There is something so dang cute about boys in jerseys and cleats. Melts my heart.

I just uploaded over 200 pictures from my camera. So you get to humor me as I share a few of my faves. Sunset

Today at school a cute little girl stopped me our conversation follows: Cute Little Girl: Hi Me: Hi CLG: I’m going to be Mickey Mouse for Halloween Me: Mickey? Sounds good to me. CLG: (Looking at me confused) No, I said Minnie I’m going to be Minnie Mouse for Halloween. Me: Sounds even better. CLG: What are you going to be for Halloween? Me: I don’t know I haven’t thought about it. CLG: (Frowning) Oh, okay. By the way I like your hair. Me: You do, thanks! CLG: Okay I’m going to class now Me: Sounds like a good idea It was just too cute. I should mention I have no idea who she is. She isn’t in any of my clusters and I have only seen her around the school. Kids can be very entertaining.

It is a new month and you are thinking that your blog needs a new look. You know where you need to go? You need to head over to Dotty Dot Dot Backgrounds where you can check out my friend Ashlie's cool backgrounds. She uploads a new one practically every day. They are cool and fun and I'm way impressed with her talent. My favorite backgrounds right now are definitely her Halloween backgrounds. You can tell that she has fun designing them and that she is enjoying a little spooky fun. Of course your updated blog wouldn't be complete with out a blinkie. So check them out and bling up your blog. While your there you can enter her latest giveaway. Lots of cool stuff.

You know it isn't really Halloween until you do a little Monster Mash! Write your own Halloween Post and send me a link. At the end of the month I will send a Treat to the post with the most comments. Trick or Treat!

Today I feel grumpy. Today I feel like I could kick a puppy and not even feel bad. Except I probably would feel bad and that would make me feel even more grumpy. Why are Mondays so BLAHH? We had a nice long weekend and now the thought of getting up and going. . . Makes me GRUMPY! Okay, I'm done. I'm going to work on being optimistic. I'm optimistic that today is a Blahhh day! Definitely going to be one of these days. Comic found on this site. Check it out for a few umm. . . smiles.

The best part of Halloween are the costumes. I love dressing up and pretending to be anyone you want. I like it even more that everyone does it. Before I became a mom I had my fun of dressing up but once I became a mom the real fun began. Over the years the kids have been many things. Some of the costumes home made, some of them store bought, and more than once recycled down to another child. I don't know if I have a favorite. Some have been fun, some I've been proud of, but most of all I just like the traditions that we have created as a family. Halloween costumes are my favorite Halloween Treat! Share your favorite Halloween Costume Pictures. Leave a Link. Trick or Treat!

October just happens to be one my favorite months of the year. In fact Halloween happens to be my favorite holiday. I love Halloween Costumes. Halloween Decorations. Halloween Weather. Oh, and of course Halloween Treats. My favorite part of Halloween is the dressing up. For one day getting to be anything, or anyone you want to be. It is awesome. In honor of my most favorite month of the year I want to post a daily post of yours and of course my favorite Halloween traditions. We will all get to do our own Virtual Trick or Treating. All you have to do is write a post sharing your favorite Halloween tradition, picture, treat ANYTHING that has ANYTHING to do with Halloween. After your done send me a link of your post and every day I will share with everyone. At the end of the month the post with the comments will win a treat. I'm very excited and looking forward to all of your post. I will start with my very own post tomorrow. I'm pretty excited to dig through some old Halloween ...

Only three more soccer games and the fall season will be over. As I told everyone at the beginning of the season, my brother moved to Texas leaving me holding the coaches whistle. This experience has taught me quite a lot about boys and I want to share with you a few things I have learned about 10/11 year old boys. #1. They no longer can hear a mom voice. Yelling at them is pointless because they can not hear me. Somewhere along the line they have learned, loud, yelling, mom, voice tune it out. Therefore, when yelling one must drop the decibel of your voice making it sound like a yelling dad. You can also stand by a dad and have him yell. Dad yelling means everyone listens. #2. Do not say please. "Please get that ball." "Please run faster." "Thank you for throwing that in." Pointless! Completely pointless I might as well go home. #3. "Get that ball NOW!" " Smith if you don't run faster we will do sprints all next practice!" "...