Beautiful Tuesday

We are having ideal weather! It's not as warm as it was a week ago (it was in the 70's!), but it is clear and beautiful and in the 50's. Perfect weather for working in the yard again, but I'm letting a blister heal, so didn't do too much today.

Just for fun, I'll run through the day, so you know what it's like around here. I slept in until 7, but Tom was up by 6/6:30. Matt was also up 6:30. He starts breakfast for whichever children are up. Tom and I left at 7:30 to go to the temple and were back around 10. Meredith and Garrett left for school about 8:30; Jianna walks them to school, and sometimes Haley walks along, too. But usually Haley and Bethany stay home with Dad (or Grandma, when I 'm here).

Then there's the usual routine stuff, like laundry that goes on each day. But today Matt and I went down the street to a new neighbor's to help set up our old bunkbed in their house. We found there was a need to move some furniture to make room for the bed first. It's a good thing Matt knows how to disconnect and reconnect computers and other stuff, because he needed to do that, too. We barely got back in time for Jianna to go to get Garrett from school at 12.

As beautiful as the day was, we had to convince Garrett and Haley that playing outside would be more fun than staying inside today (they wanted to watch TV). They played on the swingset and helped rake leaves and cut twigs. Meredith gets out of school at 2:50, and today had to get home quickly to get dressed in her Halloween costume and go to "activity day" with other girls her age in Primary.

The piano will finally be getting some regular use again. Meredith had her first lesson yesterday, and was able to learn the first half of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" during the lesson, and figure out the rest after hearing Matt play it after the lesson. She practiced yesterday and today, and is doing very well. Now Garrett wants to take piano lessons, too.

Jianna stayed at home working on dinner while I did the pickup of the carpool for Meredith's activity day. We had duck spring rolls, some other kind of rolls (like a crepe with scallions and filled with egg), and peas. Our meals are much more varied now than ever before, thanks to Matt and Jianna.

Tonight Thomas called with a question about paying his credit card bill. Karen also called, but it was time to eat, so we didn't get to talk much. It's always nice to hear from one or more of you.

The evening routine tends to be the same most nights. After dinner, baths are administered and dinner dishes washed. Then Meredith reads from the Book of Mormon with Matt. Then Jianna reads some scriptures to the family. After that, Matt reads from something a little lighter - they finished Harry Potter, and are currently reading "Bunnicula."

I couldn't resist sitting to write this for a few minutes, though I have several other things to do before going to bed tonight.

So I hope you all have a safe and pleasant day tomorrow. And I hope all the children enjoy Halloween!! We'll be at the door handing out the large candy bars Tom always buys. Everyone enjoys coming to our house on Halloween for those big candy bars. We usually have more than 100 trick-or-treaters! But there are always leftover candy bars:)

Happy Halloween, and love,

Mom/Pam/Grandma