Halloween Festivities

The Panama City Stake did a really fun fall festival up in Bonifay. The temperatures dropped off and it felt seasonably cool. The kids had a great time.
I think Kaylee and Brandon would have done the cake walk all night if we didn't stop them!
Carving Pumpkins - Kaylee & Brandon helped cut the top and clean it out. Derek and Dustin each designed and cut out one side. It was a reversible pumpkin!
The Kindergarten through 3rd grade participated in a "candy parade" at school. Basically they walked around and around in the courtyard "trick-or-treating" at each door until the candy ran out.

It was a super hot day and Hermione couldn't stand wearing her robe any longer.

The kids went for a swim after school to cool off before the trunk or treat.

The ward trunk or treat - Kaylee and Brandon's primary teacher

This next picture really made me laugh, but you probably had to be there. The kids were all lined up for the costume contest when the parking lot light went out, plunging everyone into darkness. Several of us aimed our cameras into the dark to see what was going on with the kids. When the flash lit up this picture, everyone else was standing calmly against the wall. Brandon, on the other hand, decided to make the most of the darkness and started dancing.
Getting ready to trick-or-treat with friends. Derek's mummy costume was really funny. He kept losing paper, and by the time we finished our 4 mile trek, his legs and arms were bare. I think he has finally decided that it's not worth the humiliation of dressing up for free candy. We told him this was the last year he had the option anyway!

Homecoming Week

As part of spirit week leading up to Homecoming, the kids were given the option to dress up in various thematic clothing. Here are some pictures of Derek & Brandon on Western Day.
The Bozeman "Sound of Roaring Thunder" Marching Band - Derek is in the center of this picture with the tenor sax. They wore bandannas instead of their hats for Homecoming.

Derek's uniform (without the plume)

Another Boy Scout Court of Honor

Derek's first Court of Honor in Panama City. Kyle & Ammon handed out the awards.

Robotics Competition

Derek and Dustin participated in the Robotics club over the past couple of months. They had to build a remote control robot and compete against other robots to gather needed items for fuel. These pictures are from the competition in Pensacola.

School Projects

Derek and Dustin both had projects due on the same day. Derek had to make a tombstone for Ponce de Leon, and Dustin did a shoebox project on the book "Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment." Dustin did brush his hair before he actually took the project to school!

Chickens

Our makeshift chicken coop (made from existing structures and wood we found behind our house). The mildew look gives it an earthy feel - don't you think? We have 6 chickens.

Eggs - we are getting 2 or 3 a day now - hopefully all of the chickens will be laying soon!

I've decided it's hard to get a good picture of a chicken. They tend to think you are going to give them something, so they won't stay far enough away for you to get a good picture. Then, when they decide that you don't have anything for them, they go back to pecking the ground for bugs. After several exasperating attempts, these will have to do!

The most random post yet

Just a few really random pictures to share....

A gopher tortoise that made it's way into our yard

A visual aid from Family Home Evening - pictures of each of the kids as babies (Kaylee, Brandon, Dustin, Derek)Brandon's "All About Me" poster from school.So, I kind of lead Derek to believe that I wouldn't post this picture, but I really couldn't resist. At least I didn't put it on facebook where his friends would see it! He was asking for it when he started trying on old costumes. For obvious reasons, nobody has ever actually worn this one on Halloween!One of many crafts that Kaylee did on her own.
A hummingbird trying out the feeder (taken by Derek)