Happy Halloween!

I didn't see much of Todd tonight -- he was working his last shift at King's Island and Madi and I were gone to our "old neighborhood" to trick-or-treat with our old neighbor's and dear friends Connie Langlois and her daughter, Valerie.

And I didn't get any pics during the trick-or-treating festivities, but here are a couple of before and after's of Madison. We walked and walked and walked, just like pioneer children. Unlike pioneer children, though, we collected candy along the way! It was a slightly chilly but otherwise awesome evening and we had a great time.

Here are Todd's "Special" Pics...

These pictures are Todd... they capture the very heart of who he is... jokester, funny, silly, thoughtful, infuriating Todd. Enjoy!



Todd's "Stephen Colbert" pose with Madi along for the ride



Todd's "Captain Morgan" pose



Todd's "The Thinker" pose



Todd's "Oh" pose (stated in girly falsetto)

My super cute kids and a really fun photo shoot

I decided not to partake in the annual "School Photo Op Day" aka. "man-these-are-bad-pictures-and-I-KNOW-I'm-way-cuter-than-that" session offered by the local school. I find those pics are typically not that attractive and rarely do they capture the essence and "sparkle" that are Todd and Madi. So I took the kids to a cheap (aka. reasonably priced) local photographer, recommended by several different friends, and we had a photo shoot. We took TONS of pics and laughed (comedy provided by Todd) the entire time. Todd even had the photographer in stitches. We had a great time and captured the specialness that is my children in nearly every shot. Frankly, some of the pics are more "special" than others and by that I mean "eye rolling funny" Todd -- I will definately have to post his very "special pics". Although I am totally biased, I think these pics are way more fabulous than any school picture I've ever seen. Don't you agree?!

WE.ARE.MOVING.AGAIN!!!

Can you EVEN believe it?

On one hand, it feels a bit overwhelming -- we're still tying up loose ends from our most recent move WAAAAAAAYYYY back in June 2009. We just got here -- back to the Cincinnati area; to a home, friends, and ward we love. The kids are settling into school and making friends. I feel badly for them.

Things changed with Kendon's company and so, we are being relocated. Back to Texas. WE LOVE TEXAS. A lot! So we'll suck it up and take the short term pain for long term gain.

We won't EVER have to deal with the snow, ice and cold because I'm never, ever, ever moving again. We can sell the snow thrower (by the way, anyone looking for a sweet snow thrower??)

We'll be back in a place we loved with people we love. Kinda like Cinci, only warmer. There are miles of bike trails, lots of golf courses, lakes, and awesome TexMex food. (Pappasito's here we come!)

Kendon will be back in the field working with "his people", which he LOVES... Corporate HQ is NOT his favorite thing. That reality hit with this most recent move. This is his second stint at Corporate HQ and frankly, the first time he didn't know any better. After four years at HQ, often working 16 - 20 hour days, he got transferred to a "field" position. We moved to Texas and he worked out of a home office. Even though he was working, he was home. Madi grew up having him around. When he wasn't travelling, he was home and she could walk by his office and wave at him, blow him a kiss, share a quick hug or tell him a story about her day. She has really missed that since we moved back to Cinci. It's been three months and she still asks "Where's dad?"

I'll go back to work, too. And the kids will be back in familiar surroundings. Who knows, depending on where we find a home, we may even be in the same schools and ward as we were before. We're looking forward, anticipating our return to a place we love. We're ready.

House is on the market and it looks great! Anyone out there wanna buy it?

Top Chef Funny

Our family likes to watch "Top Chef". It's features a cooking themed show filled with several talented chefs from all over the place -- one by one they are eliminated based on their culinary creativity (usually a lack therof) or food quality compared with the other chefs. At any rate, during each episode there is a "quick fire challenge" where the chefs have 30 minutes to prepare something, anything with assigned ingredients. They have to think fast, prepare gourmet type food and plate it in an esthetic way all in a very short time. Based on the results of the quick fire, one chef is given "immunity" which means he / she cannot be sent home that episode, no matter the outcome of the rest of the challenges.

I missed the last episode and asked the family to give me an update. Madison proudly explained that Jen had won "COMMUNITY" and would be safe for another episode.

Madison is STILL perfect

Just wanted to throw that out there... it's been two days since her baptism and she is STILL perfect! How awesome that this is such a big deal to her. Mind you, we all (Madi included) realize she'll trip up sometime but that's what the Atonement is all about, right?

We had a nice turn out at her baptism. Our only family members present (besides Ken, Todd and me) were Marcia, Scott, and Charlie Johnson (my sister and her family). Madi was pretty sad that neither of her grandparents could make it, but she had several new friends from her primary class who came, and several local family friends. Our old neighbors and very close friends, Connie and Val Langlois also came. Why that is worth mentioning is because they do not share our religion but understood that this was a big deal to Madison so wanted to be there to share the special event with her.

I talked to Connie after the baptism and she thought it was awesome -- said she cried several different times she was so touched. She is a very spiritual person, thoroughly committed to her religion. We have always had frank open discussions about Mormonism vs. Catholicism. So afterwards, when I asked her what she thought, she told me. She didn't think it was weird. She didn't think we were strange. She thought it was a very spiritual and a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I love that we can talk openly about religion, despite the differences between the two.

Madison is getting baptized!

Yup, it's true. And it's happening tomorrow evening at 6pm. She is so excited. She's been planning it for months -- she has the "perfect" pretty white dress, wants her hair in a french braid so it won't fly around her face and possibly out of the water. I think she's a bit nervous about "not doing it right the first time". But I have tried to reassure her that it doesn't matter if she has to be immersed more than once -- no big deal. To her it is and she is determined to do it "right".

She outlined her program in great detail, including who she wanted to give talks, what songs she wanted to sing, etc. And so, I have been working on programs, writing a talk, editing pics, making cookies and holding my breath just a little. Tomorrow is a big day. A milestone for Madison. I'm excited for her and just a tiny bit sad that she is growing up so fast.