Trick or Treat

This is a comic strip that I saw on Glenn Beck's website.
I thought it was hilarious! Enjoy!

Revisiting the Scene of the Pumpkin Patch

When we lived in Gilroy, we would take the children to a special patch to pick out that "perfect pumpkin". Every year we rode the train, jumped off bales of hay, and marveled at the pyramid of pumpkins.
We are back in California and it is October again. It was time to pick out a pumpkin. And where did we go? To our pumpkin patch in Morgan Hill! It has been six years since we have been there. And things have changed! It is now a mini theme park. But the rows of flowers in autumn colors, bales of hay, and "perfect pumpkins" were still there. It was still a magical experience. Justin, James, Steven, and Kirsten took their time picking out their pumpkin. Then they spent the rest of the time jumping on the bales of hay. (Except for Justin. He can't go near hay without sneezing)
I thought it would be fun to show you pictures of the kids on our last visit six years ago compared to now.

Pressing On

As many of you know, we are vigorously fighting a battle here in California. It is a battle unlike the ones we read about in the Middle East. It is being fought without guns, bloodshed, or death. But it is just as evil. President Ballard spoke to California and said that this battle is a continuation of the Battle in Heaven.

Most of the time it feels like an uphill battle, but then Heavenly Father sends little miracles to lift my spirits giving me the strength to continue the fight. For example, just yesterday I spoke to my neighbor and she told me that she just sent in her ballot by mail and voted "YES" on Prop 8. Last week a person from ComCast knocked on our door. I told him that I hadn't called. It turned out he was on the wrong street. Anyways, he saw our Prop 8 sign and said that he has donated a thousand dollars and spends his weekends walking door to door. Not only that, but he talks about it in every home that he enters. He makes sure that they know what Prop 8 is.

After Elder Ballard and Elder Cook spoke to us via satellite, the congregation watching the broadcast sang "Let Us All Press On". If only all of you could have been in that chapel! It was as though angels were in that room with us. The voices were powerful and beautiful. I can't even describe it. The lyrics to this song says it all:

1. Let us all press on in the work of the Lord, That when life is o'er we may gain a reward;
   In the fight for right let us wield a sword, The mighty sword of truth.
   Fear not, though the enemy deride; Courage, for the Lord is on our side.
   We will heed not what the wicked may say, But the Lord alone we will obey.
2. We will not retreat, though our numbers may be few When compared with the opposite host in view;
   But an unseen pow'r will aid me and you In the glorious cause of truth.
   Fear not, though the enemy deride; Courage, for the Lord is on our side.
   We will heed not what the wicked may say, But the Lord alone we will obey.
3. If we do what's right we have no need to fear, For the Lord, our helper, will ever be near;
   In the days of trial his Saints he will cheer, And prosper the cause of truth.
   Fear not, though the enemy deride; Courage, for the Lord is on our side.
   We will heed not what the wicked may say, But the Lord alone we will obey.

Celebration

We spent Saturday afternoon at Coyote Ranch
celebrating Micrel's 30 years of excellence!












The food was yummy;
The country music entertaining;
The games fun;
But the time spent with family...
PRICELESS!

Sumo Wrestling, Zinn Style

Act II - Scene 1


"Jeffrey the Fat" walks down the stairs dressed in a sumo/cowgirl outfit. Her face and cowboy hat says it all. "Jeffrey the Fat" is obviously looking for a fight.

Scene 2

"Big J" walks onto the scene showing off his tummy and flexing his muscles. "Jeffrey the Fat" sizes up her competition.

"Big J" is no match for "Jeffrey the Fat"!

POW! BAM!

Scene 3

"Belly Flop King" watches from the sidelines. He's trying to decide what side he wants to be on.
That's it! "Belly Flop King" decides to confront "Big J", and pays for it.

BAM!

Scene 4

"Mysterious Stranger" finally enters the scene. He doesn't like what he sees. He flexes his muscles and the fight is over. "Jeffrey the Fat", "Big J", and "Belly Flop King" all run away.

Was it "Mysterious Stranger's" muscles that scared everyone...or was it his green poisonous pet snake he keeps in his shirt? You decide.

Meet the cast

Mysterious Stranger, Big J, Belly Flop King, Jeffrey the Fat

Patterns

Kirsten's .............Steven's................. James's

It took James, Steven, and Kirsten a couple of days to finish this art project, but it was worth the hard work. First they made patterns on printing foam using a stylus. Next they made a print on black paper by applying white paint (I didn't have white ink) onto their foam using a brayer.
The next day, the kids used oil pastels to continue their patterns on the black paper.