Party Warriors

Ellery has friends that are twins--Their bdays are just days apart so we held a joint soiree for these brave adventurers. We started at the Twins' Keep, painting and bejeweling masquerade masks. Then they had to endure some wicked "challenges" to earn their masquerade dress-up dress for the dance.

They had to escape from a silly-string web.

Bob for apples, a hard-won treasure indeed.

Find clues and solve riddles.

Encourage eachother on their quest.

Defend themselves from floating pumpkins.

They were tough.

The challenge was transformational to say the least. But they prevailed and hip-hopped out on the patio under twinkling orange lights. THEN we ranged further abroad to the Campbell Keep for a moonlight swim and steamy spa fun by the fireplace. T'were chilly but the pool was warm and inviting for these Halloween warriors.

Cyler made the cake. A solid effort not to mention a time-saver for me.

Ain't 8 Great? Afterward we gathered in the Great Hall (the game room upstairs) for a rousing joust of Balloon Charades--pop a balloon, act out the character on the slip of paper inside. The troops were well worn and deserved a safe place to lay down their weapons and rest. We all laid out our pallets and listened to the bard (Disney) entertain us. We all fell asleep together safely in the Keep.

The morning began with fresh doughnuts and juice to revive the party-warrior princesses. Notice the noble furry steed ready to score some doughnuts for herself. These noble souls were then collected by their parents after they gathered all the clothes, towels, glowsticks, candy bags, damp swimsuits, cups, masks that were strewn from East to West in the Campbell Keep.

Five minutes after it was all over, Ellery asked me if we could do it again next week. A Party Warrior is born.

Pink and Blue

Football season is continuing and it's a trip to see 7th graders playing on a big high school field. They look like true (blue) BYU Blues don't they?

I love my kids' new music teacher. She's educated, young and hip and has creative ideas. Like this one:

If the child needs a motive for relearning out of a bad habit, she breaks out the pink topped Scooby Doo bonker that squeaks when it bonks the head. (No students were injured in this shot.)

So, how does a wannabe (pinko) end up working for a venture capitalist, commercial real estate development group? It just happens. Here's what I like about my new schedule:

I get to wear work clothes, shoes and accessories that match, and do my hair.

I have my own scanner on my desk.

I go to bed tired.

Instead of temptations to shop or eat, I am making a bit of money.

My bosses are REALLY cool.

What I need to get used to:

Working out at 2:30pm when I usually nap.

Folding laundry at 10pm

Letting Cyler make Ellery's b-day cake.

Planning to Tivo my shows.

So I walk out yesterday and realize there is such a thing as the corporate belly-button car. (You know, everybody has one.) My (blue) BMW has a name though. Does that help set mine apart?

The seasonal altar. White corn, red flowers, orange spiders, black candelabra, orange berry twigs and jack'o'lanterns, and a spooky family pic (Heather as fortune teller, Cyler as Franciscan friar, Soren as Viking, Ellery as witch.)