This was one of those weekends that I looked forward to and dreaded all at the same time. My committee was in charge of putting on our Ward's pancake breakfast. I bought 2 bags of Krusteas pancake mix (enough to make 540 pancakes) 5 cases of 5 dozen eggs, two large containers of syrup. 6 gallongs of OJ, and 2 gallons of milk. We got up early Saturday morning to set up. The night before of course, I'm running though my head what I could need....tape, scissors, mixing bowls, spatulas, butter, sugar, trash bags, more forks... on and on. It was the activity I've been least stressed about but right before the actual event, my mind is always racing. Will the speaker show up? With the scouts be ready to do the flag ceremony? I think what took the stress off was that I WASN'T cooking. I wasn't even mixing the food for that matter. So right as we finish setting up that morning and the program is about to begin, the speaker is a no show and as I look down at the program....my blurry spot in the center of my vision decides to rear it's ugly head. This, for me, means a migraine is on it's way. It comes most times even before the headache does and it usually means I'm dehydrated and that I'd better take 2 Excedrin, get a jug of water to drink, and wet cold rag over my eyes, a dark quiet room, and a bowl in case I puke. Well, that wasn't going to happen. So I pretended like I didn't have it and went on with the show.
The Cooks!! Stan Anderson, Bishop Ham, Graig Rhodes, and Doug Carroll
It was a complete success...we had an amazing turn out...which meant we had to ration the eggs a bit, and it also meant that the Bishop was inspired by bringing another couple of bags of pancake mix. (How did I doubt my ward's support in this activity?!) Anyway, another veteran in the ward ad-libed a little patriotic thought, we sang some songs and got right to eating.
Toward the end of the activity, I had to keep one eye closed and look at the ground (it was bright out there!) And I broke the news to the committee that they were on their own for clean up. I felt bad but I really was going to vomit at any moment. I couldn't even drive home so my mother-in-law took me home and got me all set up in my bed. Waiting 2 hours after the first sign of the migraine was NOT smart. I was crying in pain and just plain miserable. I didn't drink anything that whole morning and I NEVER eat at those functions because I can't stomach the food when I'm worried about everything turning out right. Thank goodness for a great committee that stepped up and took care of the rest....and a sweet husband who spent yet another Saturday in charge of the kids. After about 4 or 5 hours, I emerged from my room. My stomach was raw and my body felt tired from dealing with the pain.
The next day was the 4th and I'll have to admit, I kinda felt like we were party poopers. I was maybe the only one who wanted to take the kids to see fireworks, but with everyone else dragging, it just seemed like too much effort. So, we didn't go to see any fireworks....although we could hear a few in the distance...and we didn't have any of our own to light like last year. Alli talks about eating chicken (KFC) and watching fireworks all throughout the year (we did it once and she seemed traumatized but then seems to look forward to it at the same time) It was Sunday so we weren't going to get KFC and somehow we just kapooted on the whole thing. I think we were all just having a really lazy Sunday.....We had good food, good company, and played some games together. I took the chance though to take a few pics of our family on the 4th...Kaitlyn got this darling little patriotic dress form her Uncle Nick and Aunt Kendra. I'd been looking for one for her but wasn't liking anything, so when we opened her birthday gift from them and saw it, I was delighted!! I thought Kaitlyn looked especially cute in it! And I somehow convinced my picky dresser to where this adorable navy coat...
Get ready for a picture palooza......
We begged and begged to have a trunk-or-treat last year for Halloween. We got the shaft. BUT! We were promised one this year, due to the day falling on a Sunday. These things are the best. Dinner (that I don't have to cook), lots of candy in a short distance, with people I trust. Sounds pretty perfect to me! I wore my Jeanie outfit I made a few years ago before I had Kaitlyn, and Dan borrowed an Airforce uniform to be my Major Nelson. Allison was easy to please with a cheap witch costume, which I then had to enlarge the opening of the hat for day of. Cole went for the pirate costume, and Kaitlyn perfectly fit the giraffe costume I bought a year ago on clearance. 
We had Allison's school Festival the Friday before Halloween.....which she looked forward to and asked about almost weekly since the day after last years'. 
Then, we had the trunk or treat at the church which I was in charge of with the activities committee. That night before Halloween, we went to a Halloween party and I got a pretty good ab workout from laughing. 
I'm pretty sure Dan added a bruise or two to the thigh, and I contributed to a huge dent the the wall--doh!
Needless to say, we had a pretty freakin' good time. The costumes were great,
the company was even better, 
and it was topped off by my least favorite movie. The Ring. *Shiver* The next day (on Halloween) we had dinner with the whole family at Kari's house, and we played games and the kids handed out candy to the trick-or-treaters. Shannon and I might have gone to see a haunted house or two in the neighborhood. 
The kids overall were really great about not going out that night and almost had more fun handing the candy out!
