Halloween

For Halloween we had a Spiderman, a Ninja, Cruella Deville, and a bag of jelly beans.  

The "Trunk or Treat" at church was a success, immediately followed by trick or treating through the neighborhood.

Kaitlyn went with friends (AHHH, she's getting older) and the rest of us tagged along with our friends the Teson's and Hess'.

Happy Halloween!

Max the Monkey

Matthew got to bring home the class mascot on a VERY important weekend, that of Halloween.

He had a lot of time with him, and even took this photo of him himself, I discovered it on my phone.  

Silly Matthew.

Zoe Hastings

The LONGEST week of my life and the hardest thing I've ever done in my calling.

A sweet 18 year old girl, the daughter of a bishop, was kidnapped on her way to missionary prep class.  Her body was found a couple days later in a wooded area near the church.  She'd been stabbed.

In my assignment as Public Affairs Director for The Church in the Dallas Area, it became my role to help handle the media on behalf of the family.

Amazingly (no coincidence) I had JUST received training on how to handle high profile deaths with the media.  And that training got put to the test.  I am grateful for the professional expertise of the Media Specialist on my council, Karen McDonough.  She was uniquely qualified to handle this.

So many miracles happened in this week.  It was an honor to be of help and service to this family.

Cute Clara

I got to spend the day with this cute girl while her mom took a break and went to the Temple.  There was a fun play group activity with her ward where we got to paint a pumpkin.  We stopped by the store to get one, while she chose the one in her hands, it would have been fun to get this HUGE one!

Kevin and Laura Day get married!

Stephen's cousin Kevin got married in Tyler.  We joined with many McKneely/Day family for the wedding.

Our children were the ONLY children at the event.  Thankfully they were well behaved and charmed everyone.  And thankfully we've been to many wedding receptions and when they get out on the dance floor they really get going and had so much fun.

Matthew even caught the garter!

Marvelous Maverick

This girl was chosen by her teacher as the "Marvelous Maverick", we think she's pretty special too.  Way to go K!

Something else that's special is that Kaitlyn earned a book this past summer called "The Evolution of Calpernia Tate".  It's a book that Grandma McKneely remembered reading when she was younger, and so she and Kaitlyn began to read it together.  Sometimes in person but most of the time over the phone with each other.  What a special way for Susan to make a connection with Kaitlyn.  They both have laughed and laughed while reading this book.  I am so blessed to have such wonderful people in my children's lives.

Mare and Randall

One of my best friends from college, my room-roommate Marianne Harris and her husband have been considering a move here to Dallas.  Randall is a pilot for Virgin American Airlines and since they have a hub at Dallas Love Field, and since housing is affordable here in Dallas.

We've had very full days looking at way too many houses, it's definitely a sellers market in Dallas right now and you have to work FAST to secure a house.  It's been a bit stressful.  But I've been so thrilled to be with Marianne again.

It has been nearly 15 years since I've seen "My Mare" and not only does she still love me, but she and Randall have fallen in love with my children.  I can't wait for them to move here.

When they're here, they stay in our guest room.  That same guest room is our "Lego room" when we don't have guests.  On a return visit, my children built them a message of "hello".  When Mare and Randall had to catch an early flight home, we found this fun message in the guest room after they left.

I am blessed with great friends. A couple of them have been staying with me for a few days and not only do they still love me, they've fallen in love with my children. When they stay, they stay in the guest room which, when we don't have guests, is also known as the "Lego room" because it's where we store and play with Legos. My sweet kids welcomed them with a "Hello" made out of Legos. When my friends had to leave super early this morning before they had a chance to say goodbye, my clever and thoughtful friends made them this note. They are the BEST!