Mr. Monkey Pants

Carson and his Lady Bug friend had another Halloween photo shoot. This was them last year:

And here they are this year:

Mr. Monkey Pants and Little Ms. Piggy

Can you believe how much difference a year makes? Aren't they cute?

Lets just say taking pictures was a lot harder this year now that they are both so mobile.

Cute little bum shot_______________________________________________________________

At our wards Trunk or Treat. He was not a big fan. He kept trying to run out the door every chance he got and did not want to play any games. When we were going around to all the cars he was finally getting used to holding his bucket for treats, but I had to hold him.

Carson and his buddy Cole. Look at Carsons face! He looks so unsure of what was going on at least Cole was looking at the camera.Going around to all the cars:The after party tantrum:

Raiding the loot and realizing that Trick or Treating is not that bad.

Pony Rides and State Fair

Carson's First Pony Ride!


Animals at the State Fair. Carson did not like them. When we were in the petting zoo all he wanted to do was to get out and did not like it when I forced him to touch the animals. I definitely did not raise an animal lover!

The Candy Bomber

Our Primary class with Bro. Halversen-The Candy Bomber

Today was our primary program, which went well, but today for sharing time we had the privilege to listen to a member of our ward speak. He literally is a national treasure. His name is Brother Halvorsen, but he is also known as the "candy bomber". He was featured in this months Friend magazine and he came to speak to the children of our ward. It was the most spiritual lesson I've had since I've been in primary. Here is the article from the Friend:

Parachutes of Hope

By Jan Pinborough, “Parachutes of Hope,” Friend, Oct 2010, pages 28–29

When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service

of your God (Mosiah 2:17).

In 1948, the children of Berlin, Germany, knew all about bombs falling from

the sky. But miniature parachutes carrying candy bars? That was something

new. And it was all thanks to a member of the Church who wanted to send a

message of love and hope to those children.

During World War II, bombs had destroyed many homes and buildings in Berlin.

After the war, the whole city looked flattened and almost deserted. Now only

2.8 million people lived in a city where 4.6 million once lived.

But now there was another terrible enemy in Berlin—hunger! The people needed

about 5,000 tons of food a day, but the city had only about 100 tons. How

would the people keep from starving? Several countries sent cargo planes

with supplies. They brought flour, milk, dried eggs, potatoes, and other

food for people to eat and coal and gasoline to keep them warm.

One of the pilots who flew a big C-54 cargo plane was an LDS young man who

grew up on a farm in Utah. His name was Gail Halvorsen. He flew daily

missions to Berlin.

One day on his day off, Brother Halvorsen took his movie camera to the

runway where the supply planes landed every three minutes. He noticed a

group of children at the end of the runway watching the planes land. He

talked to them. They were so brave! And they were very grateful for the food

the planes brought.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his last two pieces of chewing

gum. When he gave them to the children, they broke them into tiny pieces to

share. Some only got to smell the wrappers, but none of them asked for more.

Then Brother Halvorsen had a great idea. He knew Heavenly Father loved those

children. He wanted them to know that they were important and that someone

cared about them. He wanted them to be happy and to have hope. “Watch for me

tomorrow,” he said.

“But how will we know which plane is yours?” the children wondered.

“I’ll wiggle the wings of my plane as a signal,” Brother Halvorsen promised.

That evening Brother Halvorsen bought some chocolate bars. He made

parachutes out of his handkerchiefs and attached them to the chocolate.

The next day as he neared the runway with his load of food, Brother

Halvorsen moved the wings of his plane up and down. Then he dropped his

candy parachutes to the children watching below.

Soon Brother Halvorsen received many letters addressed to Onkel Wackelflügel

(“Uncle Wiggly Wings”). Other pilots started helping too. Children and

adults back home donated handkerchiefs and candy.

In all, about 20 tons of candy floated down on little parachutes to the

children of Berlin. And each one carried an important message. Every child

is important, and each one is loved.

Brother Halvorsen is now 90 years old and has 24 grandchildren and 22

great-grandchildren. After retiring from the United States Air Force, he

served as a missionary with his wife in London, England, and St. Petersburg,

Russia. Today when he gives talks about his experience, he often meets

people who received his parachutes as children

I called my dad and told him of this wonderful experience and before I even got 2 sentences into the story my dad, the ever knowledgeable history guy (especially WWII history), immediately exclaimed "thats the candy bomber!" My dad went on to tell me how he has his book, but then said "I don't think you realize what a historical figure this guy is, because of him many other pilots started to drop candy and this changed the way the German's perceived us (Americans)."

About 6 months ago, Brad was asked to help move a family out of our ward. Only a few people showed up to help, and included was a 90 year old man. Of course he didn't do the heavy lifting, but Brad said he moved the boxes and was an extremely hard worker. While working with him he told Brad his life story, about how he stayed in the Air Force and became a high ranking officer. He was also heavily involved in the Apollo 11 moon landing. He goes around all over the world and tells his story. He told our primary that just 4 days ago he returned from Iraq and before that he took his grandson to Germany to drop candy bars from his airplane (yes he still flies) to the grandchildren that received his candy bars back in 1949. He said that while in Germany he spoke in a ward about his story and the other speaker was a girl that received his candy bars. He still gets letters from the service that he did. He has changed so many lives and

It was amazing to listen to him and I hope that I can strive to live my life the best that I can so that I may effect at least one person.

No More Monkeys Jumpin on the Bed!

3 little monkeys jumpin on the bed. One fell off and bumped his head. The momma called the Doctor and the Doctor said "No more monkeys jumpin on the bed!"

Two little monkeys jumpin on the bed...

Horror in the Hunted House

Remember when I told you I love Murder Mystery parties? See here if you want to remember. Well I finally got to do one. I've been asking Brad for a couple years now and he has never been interested. This year I told him I was going to do one with or without him. So he caved and I won.

The theme:

To solve the murder of movie producer Hal'O ween on set at his latest film the Hunted House.

The decor:

Usual Suspects:

Brad played the owner of the house - Adam Family. While I played the crazy stalker secretary-Elle Razor.

And the killer was.... Dun, Dun, Dun (in dark foreboding music)

The special effects guy! Played by Brian (Brad's cousin). He had us all fooled, except for Amanda, who saw past the sweet smile and cute laugh like the rest of us for the evil murderer that he was.

Well I think it was a hit! Even Brad liked it! We had so much fun and everyone dressed and acted their part. I might just have to make this a yearly tradition, if Brad will let me.

Oldie but Goodie

I was just sent this picture from a relative. It was taken clear back in June at my sisters wedding and I'm absolutely in LOVE. My two boys are everything to me. Love, Love, Love.

Hat

Thanks for the hat Kat!

Mexi Truck

Mexi Truck

Definition: overload, stuffed, filled to the brim, encumbersome, weighed down, obstruction, oversupply, possibly illegal, unsafe, unreliable, dangerous, obstruction of view, alarming, hanging by a thread, perilous, insecure, unsound, and last but not least... how do they do it?

We live off of I-19, the main highway from Tucson to Nogalas, Mexico. These Mexi Trucks (and I'm not being racist ALL of the trucks like this have a license plate from Mexico) are a common sight to where we live especially after our community has a yard sale. Mexicans have yard sales down like pat. Its amazing.

Driving behind one of these on the highway though are extremely scary. Some things look like they are going to fall right off and a few times they have. A pillow from a couch flew out and I ran over it. We have also had a work ladder fall off a truck and we hit it dead on causing damage to our car. Illegal you might ask? You'd think so right? But we continually see these perplexing vehicles. They truly are a phenomenon.

Inflation

Carson can count. Well, he only says two and occasionally three. So in trying to be funny I asked him how old he is...

Typical kid, they always round up.

North Shore and Surfing

North Shore is where all the surfer bums live. It has a Park City type vibe to it.

North shore is famous for their shaved ice. How can shaved ice be famous you ask? Well they put vanilla ice cream on the bottom and their ice shavings are thin so it soaks up all the juice. Mmmmm just thinking about is making me want one. We went there a few times on our trip needless to say.

Surfing

For Brads 30th birthday I had planned to go sky diving for his "last hurrah" before getting too old. Then we bought the tickets for Hawaii and I told Brad instead of sky diving HE could take surf lessons. Of course he wanted me to go and I was really hesitant. For everyone that knows me knows I'm not athletic. Not one bone in my body, and I thought that surfing would be really hard and that I would just fall over and over and that it was not going to be fun.

Lucky for me I was proved wrong. Surfing was AMAZING! Definitely the highlight of the trip, and I picked it up quite fast and did pretty well. We surfed for two hours, and by the end of the two hours I was done, but Brad went on for another hour and I just sat at the beach and snapped some pictures. I bet if we lived by the ocean Brad could easily become pro, and I could be decent.

After surfing I told Brad how fun it would be if Carson could be a little surfer dude, but alas no ocean in Arizona. Then how about skiing like his old man? Sadly, no snow either. Poor Carson he won't be able to do any cool stuff.

Brad surfing! And no that is not me I'm taking the picture