Halloween Book Club

When we started the Princeton Ward Book Club back in 2000, we had no idea that we would still be having fun together 11 years later.  We had no idea that only 1 person would still be in the Princeton Ward (that's me!).  And we had no idea that we could actually get our husbands to read.  Who knew?  Every year in October, we have a couples' night for our book club .  Each couple reads a book of their choice and talks about it at our Halloween party. 

Want to hear a joke?  There was a gangster, a monster, and a soldier hanging out at a bar...

We eat, talk about great books (or magazine articles for some husbands:), and have a great time. We usually only spend about 20 minutes total talking about the books, but it's a great excuse to get together and have fun, especially since we have all moved away and don't see each other very often.   McKenzie and her husband, Gary, are always great sports and host it for us.   

Drama Queen McKenzie and Gary the Hippie:  Proof that opposites attract!

This year was the first year without Joe and Michelle, who moved to Wyoming in July.  We missed them and will hold their spots for them when they move back!  Here's a look at the guest list:

Kassie and John were looking fierce!

 

Rita and Nick managed a night away from the Munchkins.

Dr. Myndee is checking to make sure Jason's heartbeat is OK

Hailey and Jason played it cool as Bella and Edward.  Look closely and you'll see bite marks!

Del and I had fun being the bad guys of the Roaring 20's.

Good Job, Tucker and Susan! We didn't know you were on the team that got him.

No More Wisdom

Century's band was invited to perform with ISU's band, and I heard it was wonderful.  Del took the kids to see Maren's performance, but sadly, I couldn't go.  I was home recovering from.......

....domestic violence?   No, although I sure looked like it with my big, ugly bruise and swollen jaw!  No, it was the dreaded Wisdom Tooth Extraction!  Ouch!  I know exactly what you are thinking (because it was the first thing everyone said to me).  "You still had your wisdom teeth?"  Yes, because I am a great, big baby!  I got my bottom ones out when I was 16, and it was awful!  My upper ones never descended until about 8 years ago, and for the last 8 years every time I go in for a cleaning, my dentist has been telling me to make an appointment to get them out. Being the chicken that I am, I just told him, "You can't make me!" What finally got me to make the appointment was sheer thriftiness.  Starting in January (thanks to Obamacare) my insurance premiums will go up and the benefit will go down, so I decided to bite the bullet to save a few dollars.  More likely a few hundred.

It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be, but it was several times worse than I wanted it to be!  I'm just glad it's over.   The only good part was that I ordered season 1 of "The Middle" to watch while I was recuperating.  I love that show!  I watched every episode straight through twice and laughed until my cheeks ached.  Unfortunately, all of the laughing made me pop a stitch in an incision my dentist had carefully sewed shut, so now it's healing incorrectly, and he assures me it will never look quite right.  Bummer!  There goes my career as a molar model.  Oh, well.  I'm feeling good now (just in time for Halloween candy!), and my bruise is almost gone, so Del is feeling better when I go out in public.  Life is better now that I don't have that hanging over my head.  I am now wisdomless.

Homecoming Hoopla

Chris and Christina

 

 Chris had so much fun at his Homecoming Dance!   He asked his friend, Christina, to go and joined with a group of friends.  During the day they rode to a park on tandem bikes and ate a delicious picnic lunch prepared by the girls.  Later, after getting ready for the dance, they had a yummy Italian dinner at Tyler's house.  We brought a few appetizers, and the chocolate covered raspberries Chris helped dip were a huge hit!  Surprisingly, he's a really good cook, and he enjoys making new things.

We provided the drinks, and I can verify that it was just sparkling white grape juice!

Mmmmm...  So good!

Chris practicing his John Travolta moves before the dance.

Looking Handsome:  Matt, Tyler, Chris, and Daniel

Looking Pretty:  Amanda Reddish, Jaycie Erickson, Letti, and Christina

Love that "thumbs-up" sign!

A really great group of kids!

One Busy Fairy!

The Tooth Fairy is sure going to have a busy time at our house this week!  Yesterday, Emma had three teeth pulled and next week I get my wisdom teeth out!  I'm afraid that having them pulled within a week of each other is going to make it obvious to my dentist that I am a coward.  The comparison with brave, little Emma is too much!  Really, my dentist has to know by now that I am full-blooded chicken; he's been taking care of my teeth since I was 4.  And he's been hounding me to have my top two wisdom teeth out for at least 6 years!  I'm finally doing it, but I'm sure not looking forward to it.  Emma spent a few hours watching Wonder Woman and Bewitched (household favorites!:), and then she decided to go to her Children's Musical Theater class that night because she didn't want to miss tryouts for the next play.  She's one tough cookie!  She wasn't brave enough to let me take a picture of her with a swollen, numb mouth, though.  There are limits to everybody's courage, and she knows hers.

The Infamous Pumpkin Bread Incident

Who would have thought that Maren would win a blue ribbon for her fantastic pumpkin bread only a week after her infamous baking mishap?  I would, that's who!  I had complete faith in my daughter because she has generations of baking genes (and some amazing recipes)!

During a particularly busy week, I wanted to make something yummy to take to a neighbor, but I didn't have time to make it myself.  I asked Maren to make a batch of mini loaves of Pumpkin Bread, and being the thoughtful daughter that she is, she said, "I would love to, Mother!"  Okay, it wasn't quite like that, but she gave it a good try.  When I got home from work, I was quite impressed.  They looked perfect!  There are few smells more irresistible than pumpkin bread, so I quickly cut a slice of warm bread and prepared to enjoy it.  Unfortunately, I immediately bit into something woody and then felt my tongue begin to go numb.  On closer inspection I found that the bread was dotted with a smattering of whole cloves!  I started to laugh and asked her what she had done to the bread!  She replied indignantly that she just followed the recipe. It called for cloves and that was what she had put in!  Apparently, she thought they would dissolve as they baked...or something like that.  Everyone who came to the house had to try some of it because it smelled so good, and she got teased quite a bit about her bread with its extra fiber!

The following week was the local fair, and the girls were trying to find as many items as they could to enter (because they get paid for every ribbon they earn!).  I convinced Maren that she should try her hand at baking again but follow the recipe a little closer.  After some encouragement, she decided to give it a try and entered pumpkin bread and whole wheat bread.  She took first place in both categories even though she was competing against bakers years older than she is!  I was very proud of her!

Not to be outdone, Emma entered Oreo Truffles, and she won first place for the candy category!  They were delicious and very pretty.  My girls are off to a fabulous start!  They each won several ribbons at the fair and are determined to enter even more next year.  They're going to be tough to beat!