November 1, 2009

Dear Family,
    Happy Halloween! We’ve had lots of celebrating this year!—school parade and class parties, friend parties, no school on Friday, Ward Chili Cook Off (Brian took 2nd!)& Trunk-or-Treat, and even real Trick-or-Treating!! Schwew!! This Halloween on a weekend really spreads out the fun!
    I was in charge of Emily’s class party, and helping w/ Brent’s, so after sweating a bit the night before, we had quite a fun day being a part of the festivities.  I let Spencer and Anne play at the park a little before coming home, after being such good sports through it all.  I love that our school still does a Halloween parade (w/ costumes) in the morning for all of the parents to watch, just like I remember doing way back in Waynesboro, VA.  Of course, no weapons or masks, so when Spencer, dressed up like an Inja (the way he says it), was ever asked to do some of his Ninja moves, he would answer, “Not at school—no weapons.”  He spent the whole time at Emily’s party trying to hide, and when I asked him later why he was so shy, he said that he didn’t want Emily’s teacher to see him—he had heard Emily saying that she didn’t think younger children were supposed to come to the class parties, so he didn’t want to get us in trouble! He is quite the entertainment to us.  When he delivered some ghost cookies to the neighbors, he’d hide until the door was answered, and then jump out w/ them, saying “BOO!”  We made applesauce Friday thanks to a free bushel from someone at aerobics who wasn’t using them, and Spencer thought it was cool to learn how many jars made a gallon.  When we were done that night, he looked on the counter and said, “Oh, wow! We did 3 gallons?!!” To which, when he is right, he loves to exclaim, “I’m a genius!!” He’s catching on at school too—he was telling me in the car the other day, “Did you know Mom, that we can’t pick our nose at school?” I tried to let him know that was a good rule for everywhere, but he just couldn’t get over how hard it was to get things out w/ a tissue, and that, “I sure can’t wait to get home sometimes!” He was at a little girl’s birthday party over the weekend (the only boy again!), and got along just fine, until they wanted the girl to open her new Little Ponies to play with.  He just said, “UM—I’m a boy here, and I think I’m going to have a problem with that!” At least he had befriended her Grandpa who was there visiting, and talked his ear off when things got too girly.  He is quite a character.
    I had a fun birthday last week, and first tried to get a rug for our living room, only to find the store doesn’t carry the size I need anymore.  I’ve tried 2 others as close 2nds, but they didn’t do the trick, so now I’ve got 2 big rolls sitting here to return .  Then, I was so excited to find a new temple dress at Distribution that I loved (and can even wear pregnant!), but not only were they out of my size, but it’s on backorder, and when I called Salt Lake, they said it may be several months before they have it ready. So instead, I’m trying to find a pair of shoes.  So far, only 2 pairs to return so far, and one very hopeful pair on the way .  I am a ridiculous shopper! (though I have found a few tricks to get free shipping).  Brian brought home roses that night though, and the kids gave me sweet things they had made—Emily even wrote a little book about “The Best Mom in the World.”
    We had a great stake conference last weekend—we even got to sing in the “family choir.”  I thought Anne would make it—it was just the prelude and opening song, but she was climbing into the organ pit one verse into the first prelude song, so Brian sat down w/ her.  The whole weekend was focused on families, and our stake-in an effort to strengthen our families was challenged to read the Book of Mormon before our next stake conference in 6 months.  We are trying it w/ the family this time—and becoming fast readers! Elder Bednar was quoted a lot too, about the importance of being consistent in our efforts.  I got to go and do sealings w/ Nate & Stacey and some cousins early Sat. morning too (we were having our stake temple day at the same time), so it was a great kickoff to those meetings.
    Brian’s enjoyed being able to get trained on the new Family Search program the church has, and he bore his testimony about the importance of Family History today.  After a few snow spottings this week, we were glad to have such good weather yesterday, and again today—enough to walk home from church again! Anne learned how to say “Trick or Treat” just in time, and though she tried walking into every house we stopped at, thinking we were there to play, she eventually got the hang of things and had some fun.  She’s a new girl w/ nursery now too.  Today during Sacrament Mtg., as the closing song began, I asked her if she was ready to go to Nursery, and she scooted down to the end of the row, where it was all Brian could do to keep her from running to her class before they were even there! It’s a fun and beautiful time of year here that is flying by! Have a great week! Love, The Duncan’s

Blowing out birthday candles

Bingo at Emily's class party (she's the cowgirl)

I found this wizard hat and comfy graduation robe at DI, so I thought Brian could be my Magic Wand--he let me take this picture, but when Emily said he kind of looked like a fairy thing, he left the headband home--at least he did well in the chili cook-off!--he spent a LOT of time on how to use those jabaneros from the garden!

We carved these on Halloween--okay, Mom carved them w/ some help from the girls, and I LOVED how they turned out!

One last look at the costumes--this was between trunk or treating and trick or treating (why both??!!!), so they were already happy w/ candy! Maddie was a princess (made the costume herself and I got her "tiara" from a 75 cent holiday dish at DI)

Spencer the Inja, or Ninja, Emily cowgirl, Brent skeleton (DI again--and just his size!) and Anne as a Funshine carebear (a $3 costume on clearance a few years ago)--we try to dress her in happy things to remind her to smile and not shriek