Pumpkin carving

After the kids got home from school we carved their pumpkins.

Canyon did most of the pumpkin gut removal which surprised me because he doesn't care for gooey. I carved his pumpkin after he told me what he wanted.

Sahara did her whole pumpkin herself this year.

We had to work inside this year because it has been raining 300 days this year. Really, we got a few inches in the last 2 days. We went from almost to the top 10 for wettest years to in the top 5 during this last storm. We only need like 7 more inches to break the record and we have 2 months left. Not a record any of us really are looking forward to. Everything is SOAKED!

Red Ribbon Week

The kids get to dress up for Red Ribbon Week. It is an anti drug / alcohol program that last all week and they have themed days to dress up like in a Spirit Week. Crazy hair day, mismatch day, camo day, etc. Well today for Sahara's building it is career day. She wants to be a teacher, but did that the last 2 years so this year she decided to be a doctor. Look at how cute she is :)

It is so comfy and easy.

We made the badge on the internet in less than 5 minutes and then attached it to her Walmart badge. She is a pediatric dr. in the physical therapy dept.

Is it over all ready???

Canyon had his last basketball game Thursday. Then the awards ceremony after. It is a really short program. I wish it were 6 - 8 weeks long instead of only 4. Anyway, I finally got 2 video clips of Canyon making baskets!! Only problem is that in my picture folder they are rotatable and you can see correctly, but when I load them on the blog they go sideways. Oh well.

I ran out of camera battery at the end of the game and didn't get to take any pictures of the ceremony. At home I got new batteries and took a picture of the medal and ball he got.

Plus they had individual pictures and a team photo. And all the kids pictures were in memory book. The local paper was there taking pictures too at the last game so I will have to post those when I see them. Also, I found out about a new program starting in Feb for kids with special needs in acting. I don't know much about it but I will be signing him up for that too. It is so cool all this is available for him here.

*****LINK TO ACTS JR.*****

http://www.communityconnectionsar.org/actsJr.html

Canyon's Science Project

While Canyon was out sick, he had a science project to do. I guess since he missed it at school, they decided to have him do it at home. He had to make and edible animal cell. We used apricot jello and fruit and fruit candies.

Mixing the jello

Pouring it into a container to take to school.

Half a plum with a grape on top for the nucleus. He also used twizzlers, grapes cut in half, and gummy candies

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Sticking in the labels the next day.

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The final project :)

the flu???

Last week Sahara wasn't feeling well on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday was sent home from school early with a fever. With Tylenol in her system every 4 hours, her fever was between 100.3 and 101.3. It lasted thru Thursday and Friday she really didn't have fever but developed a cough that she still has. Then I heard on the news that 90% of people with the flu so far are complaining of fever and cough. So, maybe she had it, maybe it was something else. Now, this past Tuesday Canyon woke up with a fever of 101 at 3 in the morning. I figured it was going to be the same thing Sahara had so I took off work for 2 days right away. (Sahara stayed home herself when she had it) After 1 dose of Tylenol, Canyons fever did not come back. He was trying to make himself throw up tho and that went away as soon as I was able to get some toast in him. But he had no energy for the next 2 days taking a 2 1/2 hour nap on Tuesday and a 3 hour nap on Wednesday. And he got a cough. I dont know if it was the same sickness or something different. I signed both the kids and myself up for getting both the flu vaccines at school on Nov. 5-6. We have never had the vaccines before for flu. I hope getting them is a good thing.

Canyon turns 11 !!!

CANYONS PARTY IN 3 ROUNDS ( well, 2 out of 3 anyway)

Whoop ~ Whoop !! Canyon had a blast for his b-day. Plans were all pretty much last minute but everything turned out great!

ROUND 1

1st, he went to the new Jump Place with his two little buddies, Zane and Rylan. They are the sons of his waiver worker and his ex-aide/waiver worker. Here they are, having a jumpin good time :)

Canyon - Zane - Rylan

The 3 boy in the baby bumper

Silly boys!

Canyon gets ready to dive thru the obstacle course.

Zane down the slide

Rylan down the slide

Canyon down the slide

ROUND 2

We were going to meet a friend from school at the movies to watch 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs', but found out Friday night he would not be able to make it. So, I asked Rylan and Zane if they could join us for ROUND 3 and we skipped ROUND 2 altogether. Instead, we got some Taco Bell after Jump Place and went home, cleaned up the house a bit, and took a nap for...

ROUND 3

Spaghetti dinner

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Then opening gifts

FINALLY

:) CAKE TIME (:

Water Heater Woes

Well, woke up this morning to running water. Thought that Canyon was up, outside and had the hose on. I got up and when I passed the bathroom found that it was Sahara trying to get the shower to work. 'There's no hot water mom.' I try and sure enough there isn't. I told her no shower today, we will see what is going on when I am more awake. After a cup of coffee, I went to the water heater and cut off the wrap so that whoever might need to fix the problem can get to the panels better. Then I decided to wipe off the top of the water heater because after 10 years, it was quite dusty. I got buzzed touching the side of the tank. Not much, but enough to make me wonder what was going on. I checked the breaker box and all was ok there. I continued to wash off the top and got ZAPPED when I touched the copper line from the wall to the tank. I called a plumber but was told he was on a job and would have to call back. Joe (the neighbor) came over and checked it out with a friend of his. We came to several possibilities, but not wanting to buy unnecessary parts or parts at all if the whole thing was shot, we decided to get better help. He wont be available to come see until tomorrow. The plumber called back but I didn't answer the call. From what I hear just to come to the house is around $80 and that's on a week day. Double time on the weekend. I'll do without hot water for 2 days and go to Mila's for a shower or boil water if I have too. A new tank the same size as the one I have will be $400. Hopefully Jerry (the guy coming tomorrow) can rescue this one. Part for it are between $15 and 25. That is more like it. The heater is about 10-11 years old. I assume they are supposed to last longer than that. I might be wrong.

GAME 1

Canyon had a great time at his first basketball game. He liked it much more than baseball, more action I guess. Here he makes a basket (with the help of a buddy). Next time I will be sure to get on the side of the court that he is shooting on instead of the wrong side.