11-20

11.) Athletic ability

12.) To serve in the Young Womens Program

13.) Know that God Lives

14.) Johnsons

15.) Stokes

16.) Sacrament

17.) Cars (they we have 2 and they are paid off)

18.) To be taught the gosple in our youth

19.) The Murpheys

20.) Beautiful fall days

1-10

For family home evening awhile back Mike and I made a list of 100 things we were greatful for. It got pretty hard towards the end since we generalize a lot of our blessings. It was a lot of fun though, and I like to look at it when I'm feeling a little "ungrateful." Since Thanksgiving is only 2 weeks away I wanted to do a post each day (or so) with 10 things we are greatful for. When we did the activity we took turns, so Mike thouight of all the odds and I thought of the evens.

1.) The Gosple of Jesus Christ

2.) My Husband

3.) My Wife

4.) The Cats (Epps and Rosalie)

5.) Our Jobs

6.) McMomma (Kristin's Mom)

7.) Health

8.) Wonderful, healthy Granparents

9.) Awesome parents

10.) Siblings

Regis and Kelly

I have lived in the New York Metro area for over two years now and haven't taken advantage of the city like I should. So I decided since I'm not working every morning that I should apply for tickets to a few shows that are taped in the area. I was surprised how fast I heard back from them. I sent my envelope in requesting tickets to the Regis and Kelly show on Thursday and on the following Tuesday they called me and offered me 4 tickets to a show the following week. I was ecstatic. I found a few of my friends in the ward to join me and off we went. We left at 6:15 in the morning and drove down to where the temple is. Turns out that the show is taped just a few blocks away.

I was so excited to be in the studio that I see on TV everyday!

Gilman the director of the show who is so funny and manipulates the audience into their reactions!

The hosts of the show, my two favorite people on TV at 9am....

Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa...

The girls Lisa, Kristin, Camille and Corrine.

The guest on the show that day weren't A list but still fun to see. My favorite was when Regis and Kelly would come to the audience during commercials and talk to us. We had a short conversation with them. This is how it went.

Regis (talking to our section): Can you guys see ok, I know all these cameras can get in the way..

Kris: We are just honored to be in your presence Regis... (I know the eternal brown nosier)

Regis: Aww you are to kind (sends kisses my way.)

Corrine: Regis we live in CT too (He has a weekend home in Greenwich, one town below us)

Regis: Oh really, what part

Corrine: Close to you, in Darien

Regis: Oh Darien, thats a nice place. Thats where all the Hoyte-Toyte people live...

at this point he goes on about this and Kelly joins in about attending dinner at Judge Judy's house in Greenwich and how it was actually a castle and she felt underdressed the minute she pulled up.

It was a great time and since it was so easy to get tickets I'm sure I'll go back. So for all of you who want to come visit... new incentive is tickets to the show :)

The Pumpkin and the Pharaoh

We wanted the cats to get into the Holiday spirit this year. Rosalie was so against the idea of putting clothes on that she found a new place to squeeze herself! She is so tiny for a full grown cat.

Miss Epps Started off as an Egyptian Pharaoh, can you tell she loved it?

Rosalie was a pumpkin

They were trying to help each other get their customs off. lol. So funny.

After a while we switched it up and Epps was the pumpkin.

Haha-- She is so big! We just celebrated her 2nd Birthday!

Mike feeding Princess Rosalie a sucker... she really did lick it... and then Mike followed her lead...

And since Rosie was having a hard time keeping her custom on we put her in a Princess Dress... haha it was a little tight so she just crawled around the house all evening. It was pretty funny.

Halloween at Home

Since Halloween was a Sunday this year we kept it pretty low key. We just had Ben and Cynda over for some festivities. We had homemade chili, (a halloween tradition at mikes house) apple cider, pumpkin seeds and homemade coffee cake. We also had a pumpkin carving contest (but our judges didn't answer their phones (cough, cough STOKES!)

Ben and Cynda hard at work

Team Keeshkabob!

The Werewolf with Manges

By: Benda

Really living in the moment with their creation!

Mikes and I with our spooky house

Creepy thing isn't it!

Our yummy chili and Coffee cake

The Boys were acting a little silly (I think they had to much candy)

That bubble is HUGE!!

PaRtY TiMe!!!

Our Friends the Francia's throw a great Halloween party every year. They do such a great job decorating and with the food I look forward to it every year. This year was just as fun. The customs were fantastic and the company phenomenal. I love being able to visit with friends outside of church activities (since my new schedule hasn't left much time for socializing.)

We got a hold of a few extra M&M's from the school and used them. (I hate buying a custom for one night, and Mike really hates dressing up, so this was a good solution) We changed Mikes to be a scary vampire m&m. And yes I do know the green m&m is a girl (and Mike knows too) but green is his favorite color and he just had to be green.

Our friend Camille's Husband has been studying like crazy for some big tests so he couldn't make the party. She came with us and so we made her be an M&M too. Is was fun!

Ben and Cynda as the nerdy accountants. Love it!

Yes Antoine Dodson even attended our event. (if you don't know who he is go here)

Some of the pretty ladies visiting

Some more of the guests

Flashback to the 70's

Cynda and I

Corrine and Allan's customs killed me. She is pregnant and so she had her "baby" coming our and her "doctor" there to deliver. To funny!

Halloween Parade at School

I love working in the schools! I don't do it everyday but enough to where I know the kids and they know me. I was lucky to be apart of the Halloween festivities at pre-school/kindergarten this year. IT WAS SO FUN!

This is the Pre-K class I was working with. They are so adorable

Helping the kiddo's with their halloween crafts

Every year the younger kids take a bus to the main campus and begin the parade through all the 1st-5th classrooms. The parents all come and take pictures and take part in a bake sale. How cute are these little ones in their outfits?

The little boy dresses as Luke Skywalker is in the kindergarden class and won my heart over on the first day. He told me I was pretty :) He also thinks he is a robot (R2-D2) and when he make a mistake on his work he tells me he had a "malfunction!" How freaking cute right?

Some of the cuties in the kindergarten class

All of the teachers made customs to match one another. I think it was really cute. We were obviously M&M's but when you might not see is our colored tights, m&m headbands, and m&m medallions (like the Tory Burch kind) Very cool and very creative. Also I have to say this group of ladies are incredible. It has been so amazing to work and learn from them. I'm so blessed!

So there you have it. Thats what Halloween is like for my private school on the New England Coast!