Pumpkin Patch 2011

This year, instead of going to Lakeview, we went to the pumpkin patch that our tulip fields turn into in the fall. It was super fun with pumpkin and potato shooters (we almost got hit by a pumpkin), paintball gallery, and archery and BB guns. By the way I have awesome aim. :) We didn't get a pumpkin, which I think defeats the purpose of going (besides hanging out with friends). We did have to ride the "cow train". It's kind of super uncomfortable, but it's a family tradition so Mom wasn't going to let me get out of it. At least Emma and Emilee got to do it too, so I wasn't a loner. :)

Halloween is in 2 days! Pictures of costumes to come. 

Today I carved my adorable pumpkin. Guess what it is? 

Miss Mia: my little starfish-part 2

Sad news. Mia had her 2nd surgery in September and she passed away the day after. Sigh. That leaves Chris, Grace and Luke as the only ones left out of the 6 that started.

One a happier note: look at how good Mr. Isaac looks now! He got his surgery in April.

 April

Now

Best of EFY

I got to go to Best of EFY with all of my friends on Saturday. It was really fun. The speakers were really good. The only problem was that I had to wait 40 minutes extra for my pizza because they ran out. The first guy that spoke was Brother Jacobs. He talked about being "steadfast and immovable". Then was Sister Terry. She challenged us to read the Book of Mormon in a month (more about this to come). Last was Hank Smith. He was hilarious. He talked about friends and the difference between loving friends and loving having friends. I don't think I just made sense, oh well. :)
So back to Sister Terry... I took her challenge and started reading that night. By Sunday night I was in 2nd Nephi. By Monday night I was in Alma. And guess what I just did. I just finished the Book of Mormon in 66 hours. I'm feeling pretty awesome about it. On top of the fact that I just finished my Personal Progress. What am I going to do now? :)

Amazing Video

Operation Smile made this amazing video about a little girl in Brazil who is around 4 that got her cleft lip surgery. The delight in her eyes when she first sees herself after the surgery is priceless. 

 www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4nUkE1moT-g

General Conference

This last weekend we got to listen to General Conference, which is when we get to listen to our Prophet and church leaders counsel us. It is always very uplifting and there always seems to be this one talk that just sticks out. I really enjoyed General Conference this October because I didn't get to watch it in April because I was in China. I'm so proud that I only had to miss 1 session this time for soccer. Sometimes my games are at inconvenient times. The talk that popped out at me was the one by Carl B. Cook with the story about his elevator experience. So many times we are looking down, but we need to remember that it is always better to look up.

So...my soccer game went kind of well. Our defense was asleep, but what do you expect when you wake up 15 teens at 6:30 to go play soccer in St. Helens. Not that good of a result, apparently. :) We were tied in the first half 1-1. The second half we got 2 more goals and they only got 1. We had a British ref, which totally made my day. You can't get angry at a ref with an accent. :) There were some calls that should have been called, but we won anyways. I'm so glad that was the last game that I'm going to that was far away. I'm skipping the next one in Molalla for Best of EFY. The rest of our games are at Thatcher expect for the last one in Hillsboro, which isn't far at all. A team has to come all the way from The Dalles to play us though. That stinks for them. It will super stink for them if they lose by a lot. I had my first practice in the rain yesterday. By the end of 2 hours in the rain I was soaked with grass covering my legs and my ankle hurt so bad from slipping on it. Rain and soccer just don't go together. :)