How to Get a New Oven

November 13- Are you ready for an embarrassing story? Dave had been out of town for a conference and was due back later that evening. I was making dinner and talking on the phone with my friend at the same time (bad idea). I had been preheating the oven for dinner, when I smelled something funny and suddenly memories of the previous day flooded my thoughts. I was expecting two ladies over to work on a project and my kitchen wasn't its cleanest so I was scrambling to hide the mess. The high chair tray was dirty and with no time to clean it, I shoved it into the oven. I've never done this before! But I remember growing up that my mom was constantly storing things in the oven. There were several occasions when things were melted (bags of tortilla chips, my brother's plastic toy truck, etc)...I hope you okay I shared that, Mom. :) Because I've never done this before it never occurred to me to check the inside before I turned the oven on. And yep, when I smelled that horrible smell I opened the oven to find the high chair tray was a dripping melted mess and it also added oxygen to the existing flames. I explained the scene to my friend and kind of laughed..."oh and there are flames". But as the flames grew my laughter turned to panic and that panic turned to fear. She started to freak out and said "do you have a fire extinguisher!". I closed the oven door and ran to the garage and put her on hold for a minute while I took two squirts of the extinguisher to the oven. You wouldn't believe the mess and the smell that came from that dang thing. Of course all the alarms in the house are going off by now and all the kids wanted to come see what was going on. So I hung up with my friend, locked the kids in the toy room, opened every window and door to the house, and fanned the alarms until they stopped screaming. Then a new emotion hit me...anger. I was SO MAD at myself. I HATE making dumb mistakes. And I was angry that the highchair tray was toast...literally. I was also mad that this might make Dave think less of me. I'd like to think that I am a capable woman, but this doesn't add to that reality at all. So I cleaned up the film of fine powder from the extinguisher and waited for Dave's return. He walked in the door and I gave him a big hug. Then I asked him "how much do you love me"? To which he replied "uh oh, what happened?" I showed him the oven and he was quiet. I could tell that he was upset, but he could also see that I was just as equally upset, so he was kind to me...like always. We tried all that we could to clean that oven. I chiseled for hours, but nothing got it all off. So we went to The Home Depot and got a great deal on a new oven. But good things have come from it. My kitchen has been clean for two months now! :) And I know that I can handle using a fire extinguisher. :) Anyone have an oven catastrophe story they want to share? It would make me feel better! 

All the tan-colored stuff is the plastic remains.

And The Award Goes To...

Last August Derek completed his Wolf badge for Cub Scouts. He loves Scouts and it's fun to see him take such an interest in something. My little guy is now in the Bear den. 

After Pack Meeting we came outside to find a double rainbow. And since people think that pictures of just scenery are boring, I made Derek get in with his new award.

All of the Young Women and leaders that received their award in September.

Last September I finally finished my Young Women Recognition Award as a leader. What a powerful experience! I completed it as a youth but it meant so much more this time. I highly recommend that everyone do it whether you have a daughter or not. Personal Progress is an amazing program.

My display table representing some of the projects I completed.

It took me two years to complete the requirements for the award. Each of the 8 values requires you to complete certain goals and a 10 hour project relating to the value. Some examples: I took a sewing class, created a fitness and healthy eating program, read the entire Book of Mormon, taught the Beehives a craft, and spent 40+ hours on a Girls Camp video montage. And best of all...my new necklace is silver instead of gold like my first one. :)

And yesterday, Derek was one of five winners of a school-wide Reflections contest. He wanted to win so badly and was so excited when they called his name at an awards assembly. He entered a film that went with the year's theme, "Diversity means...". His film was titled "Weirdos". That kid has quite the imagination. Congratulations, Derek!

Give Me Something Good to Eat!

Halloween is a busy holiday for moms. Got to get the kids up early to get the costumes on and ready, attend the school parade, help with the class party, get dinner ready early, get the kids ready again while handing out candy to the way-too-early trick or treaters, walk the streets begging for candy trick or treating, then home again to let the kids binge, and down they all go to a late bedtime. But I do love Halloween. My kids are at fun age for it and I realize that there aren't many years left when we all get to go together. Soon they'll want to go with friends on rollerblades to maximize their time, and use pillowcases instead of cute little pumpkins because it holds more candy. Right, Dave?! :) Oh and that's all hypothetical, of course. ;)

 My sweet little Snow White.

I'm sorry, but the Woopie Cushion just struck me as funny. Don't judge me! :)

 Derek had the idea to be a swat dude. This is what he came up with using church pants and Batman's mask. I forgot about my idea to make the shield thingy until I was driving them to school that morning. I raced home cut out the cardboard, spray painted it, stenciled the letters, and had to him in time for the parade. Yeah, that's the extent of my craftiness. I can spray paint cardboard. Nice.

 We just can't let this "Monkey Face" thing die. First his birthday cake and now the Halloween costume. But he's such a cute monkey!

 And it had a tail for Heaven's sake!

 We should have mapped out a begging for candy trick-or-treating route. We zigzagged haphazardly throughout our neighborhood. We did a lot of walking! The kids still ended up with plenty of candy.

Eventually I went home with Ryan, and Dave took the other three kids for another hour. They ran into McKenna's little friend and they all finished up the last hour together. Our last trick-or-treater came at 10:00 PM!! I told them it was over and they should probably call it a night. Am I a Scrooge or what...but, really? 10:00 PM!? Bah Hum Bug. :)