Ahhh, Autumn!

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.

~George Eliot 

 

 

THINGS THAT AMUSE ME LATELY...

 This is a sweet movie that is both funny and heartwarming. I just may go see it again!

 Parker recommended this book series to me and it is addictive!

If you like Blue Grass music, you will LOVE this group! I just bought their "Hymn Revival" and I am hooked on it. Check them out here and see what you think!

MOVE OVER MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR!

What is better than watching General Conference? Watching your missionary son sing in the General Priesthood Session!  It's just my opinion, but I do think Elder Wiscombe is DARLING!

Click HERE to see his choir debut!

SURE SIGNS THAT FALL IS CLOSE.....

NON STOP PARTY NEXT DOOR AT THETA XI AKA "THE FRAT BOYS" THIS IS FROM THEIR FORMAL PARTY LAST NIGHT, THEY HAVE HAD 6 MAJOR PARTIES IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS (JUST AT THEIR PLACE), ALCOHOL PERMEATES THE AIR AT OUR HOUSE DUE TO THE INDUSTRIAL SIZE AMOUNTS CONSUMED! I HAVE DECIDED TO BUY STOCK IN THE DIXIE SOLO CUPS (RED) BECAUSE I AM SURE IT IS THE OFFICIAL PARTY OF ALL FRATS AND SORORITY'S, AND THEY USE SOOOOOOO MANY OF THEM!

COOL DECORATIONS AT MARSHALL'S

AMAZING PUMPKINS AT TRADER JOE'S (YES THIS IS REAL AND WAY BIZARRE!)

WAX LIPS! NEED I SAY MORE? A SPECIAL GIFT FROM SHAWN, BUT I AM SAD TO REPORT THAT THESE ONES DO NOT HAVE THAT YUMMY "WAX LIPS SMELL", (YOU KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT) THEY HAVE TO SMELL GOOD!

 

 

BUT MY FAVORITE FALL SIGN IS GENERAL CONFERENCE! A CHANCE TO BE SPIRITUALLY REFRESHED! AND OF COURSE IT IS ALWAYS GREAT TO HEAR FROM ELDER JEFFRY HOLLAND 

(I JUST CALL HIM JEFF EVER SINCE HE KISSED ME. NO, I WAS NOT WEARING THE WAX LIPS!)

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

I have always prided myself on what a savvy and frugal shopper I am! I thrive on finding a great bargain. Among my favorites are Marshall's and TJ Maxx . Ross was in the running until the following incident:

I popped into Ross after work to grab some new measuring cups (Shawn managed to wear mine out with all of his crazy baking) everyone knows that Ross has amazing and cheap kitchen stuff. I happily gathered my purchases and proceeded to the check out. I was smiling, I had found measuring cups and a few other great bargains. I stepped to the register and the cashier rang up my total, she then asked if I got my "discount". I am certain I had a puzzled look on my face wondering if I should have a coupon, or perhaps she thought I got the employee discount. My look soon turned to horror as she said "Oh, maybe you are too young" ARRGHHHHH! It was senior discount day! I wanted to cry! The nerve of that woman! I am now having to really evaluate if it is worth shopping there for a bargain. Is it worth sacrificing my pride and dignity? Maybe I need to be more loyal to Nordstrom's, they would NEVER ask me if I needed my senior discount!! My self esteem is hurt a little, my ego is bruised. Will it stifle my desire for a great bargain? I doubt it! But maybe I need to go get some fancy age defying make-up!

CHAN THE RUNNER?

For the last few years, my gal pal Anissa has come to run the Labor Day Race here. Why she or anyone else enjoys running for more than1 block is beyond my understanding! But she does it and hardly looks like she is winded coming across the finish line. She brought her son up to run in the kids race. At the last minute Chandler decided it might be fun to run with his friend Dallin (definitely not a gene he acquired from Shawn or myself.) 

So Chandler ran the little race ( I think it was less than a mile) but he managed to take 2nd place. As his mother, I have to think he would certainly have taken first if he had decided to race in tennis shoes instead of unlaced Vans (my humble opinion of course.)  It was a breeze for him because he has more than his fair share of energy. But perhaps he will be the first runner in the Wiscombe Family. Maybe after his first real marathon I will understand why people do this running thing, but probably not!

I am thinking since there is NO WAY he was genetically blessed to be a runner, his luck came from the number given to him at registration! Maybe we will go to the Casino !

FINALLY... NEW FAMILY PHOTOS

We knew before Braden left we needed to update the family photo. The adorable Marielle Hayes did them in a funky spot in Oakland called "Jingletown" She is great to work with and we adored her already (she was best friends with one of my babysitters/Young Women in Nevada) We are so happy we got her talents to do pictures! Click HERE for a sneak peek. You will want her to do your pictures also!

WACKY WEDNESDAY

It started at 5 a.m. dropping Braden off at the airport to head to the MTC in Provo where he will reside for the next three months while learning Hungarian, how to teach the people about the Gospel, and I'm pretty certain he will get a big dose of reality while he is there as well! I got "teary eyed" but I kept total control of my emotions!

Back to school! Hannah Leaves at 7:30 (until seminary starts, then she will leave at 6:30)

Can you tell that Parker is a teenager with attitude? He was less than thrilled to have me take his picture! It was really fun getting him up to go to the airport with us!

Chan leaves at 8 am. He is pretty easy to get going in the mornings!

I am now suffering from "mom guilt" as I was eating my amazing breakfast at the famous "TOWER CAFE" I realized my kids all left the house without breakfast! I had delusional ideas of fixing them a nice breakfast to send them all off to their various locations, but they were all too tired to even think about it!

MAYBE NEXT YEAR.........

PICTURES FROM POWELL

This boy was too quick doing 360 turns that I could not get it on film

SERIOUS BUSINESS

This is the life! Getting ready to pull me wake boarding,  truly a blessing for everyone that it was not caught on film!

 Chan could not get enough of driving, he is a very good driver I have to admit!

He practically wore the slide out

The cousins! Let me explain the "Wiscombe Funeral Banner" We needed something so those arriving late could find us. This Works right? It had several purposes:

• They had no doubt it was us
•  TOTALLY Deterred others from wanting to camp anywhere near us!

• I am trying to convince Shawn that we could get a houseboat and it would be the perfect write  off. I even have a name for it:

"COVER YOUR ASH"
I know, I am good! 

If you had this boys non stop energy you would have a 6 pack of your own! Non stop all day!

Parker knee boarding, thanks heavens with his suit on! That is all I will say on that issue!

We had an amazing time and it was the perfect get away. I am here to tell you that a houseboat is the only way to go!

It has spoiled me forever!

IS THIS GUY CLEVER OR WHAT?

IT'S HERE...

WE RETURNED FROM AN AMAZING WEEK AT LAKE POWELL TO A MISSION CALL WAITING FOR BRADEN!!!

HE WILL ENTER THE PROVO MTC AUGUST 25TH!!!

BUDAPEST,  HUNGARY

I WANT TO ADOPT THIS GUY. . . .

As Lissi and I were out running errands, we spotted this guy biking next to us (sad to say all we had was my phone to take a picture, and yes, we admit this is a bit "stalker-ish") However, we both immediately adored this guy on his bike. We thought it was the greatest, the sight of him totally made our day!! Note the skater helmet and construction goggles, and of course the Birkenstock's to complete the ensemble! Always something amusing when you are living in Davis!

I HOPE I CAN PULL THIS LOOK OFF WHEN I AM 90 YEARS OLD!

I WON'T SUGARCOAT IT...

7th grade has been PAINFUL for all of us!! I have a typical teen that does not see eye to eye with us on several levels. But he came home yesterday with an award that gave me hope!

This award was voted on by his peers and signed by several teachers:

"MOST LIKELY TO HOST A TALK SHOW"

Pretty in pink or teal or....

I was perusing pictures that Hannah and her friends took and loved this one (they often get together to do funny pictures of each other and play "dress up") It's so much fun that this trend she loved as a toddler has continued through her teens! The really exciting thing about this pictures is that it shows her passion for shoes and the great news is that we are almost the same size in shoes so more sharing and it almost validates my shoe buying!         

(I wish I wore her size in jeans!)

SUNDAY AFTERNOON HAPPENINGS. . .

Shawn showing Parker who the boss is (again)

Braden doing photos to submit for mission

Chandler creating a "tech-deck"  for miniature skateboard out of recycled boxes (way cool, the pictures don't do it justice!) very entertaining for Chandler!

And more creating. Chandler LOVES playing Legos, especially when Braden will play with him. This is their "rock concert stage"

Braden and Hannah recording lyrics for music that Braden wrote!

Where am I? Documenting these happenings BEHIND the camera, hoping to get a nap but playing a ferocious game of cards to end the evening!

I SMILE BECAUSE......

       

We got to see Tiffany and her new baby.  Parker was CRAZY over baby Layton and Tiff is a great mom because she had so much practice mothering my kids!! 

      

Chandler LOVES my new TOBI steam presser (so do I!!!) it is fast and does a great job, but the best thing is that Chan spent 2 hours yesterday steaming everyones clothes because he thought it was so much fun!!

  

We have been on a "jalepenos popper" kick around here. So YUMMY grilled, we stuff them with grilled chicken, gouda chesse and bacon! DELICIOSO!

             

Miss Hannah is done with crew for the year (posing with her coaches while they make her laugh)

She is sad, I am not so sad! She practiced 5 days a week @ the Port of Sacramento

That is a lot of practice and carpooling!

I keep smiling thinking that in 45 days I will be enjoying my favorite place on earth the glorious

LAKE POWELL!!

And....only 12 more days of school left!!!

ONE MORE TEENAGER!

HAPPY 13TH PARKER SHAY!!!!

SoCiAl BuTtErFlY, WITTY, donut eater,

UNUSUALLY  ENTERTAINING

 HiLaRiOuS

WILLING HELPER, loveable, ReAdInG MaNiAc,

  

          BOLD,  

Validates GREY HAIR!!

MY KIDS BEG ME TO MAKE THIS RECIPE. . .

BBQ SHRIMP

1 # raw shrimp with tails, rinse and set aside  in pan

2 T Worcestershire Sauce

2 T Italian Dressing

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 tsp Crab Boil (this is the liquid kind made by Zatarains)

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 cup onion chopped into big chunks

2 tsp minced garlic

2 T butter

Combine all spices and cook in microwave til melted. Pour over shrimp and onion and cover with foil. Bake @ 400 degrees for 20 minutes turning after 10 minutes. Do not overcook. Done when shrimp is pink. 

This can be doubled, but don't double pepper and cayenne unless you like HOT.

Serve with french bread to dip with. YUM! And very easy!

Girls would NEVER. . . .

EVER in a million years. . .

as a matter of fact it pretty much FREAKS us out!

to have an all out "wedgie-fest"

this is something that Hannah and her friends never do or even think of doing!

IT'S A BOY THING, ONE OF THE VERY CURIOUS AND OBNOXIOUS THINGS THAT IS UNIQUE TO BOYS OF ALL AGES AND IT HAPPENS IN THIS HOUSE I AM EMBARRASSED TO ADMIT!

(if you don't know what a wedgie is, then you do not have boys and I am not going to explain the process!)

HAPPY SWEET SIXTEEN!!

"A DAUGHTER IS A DAY BRIGHTENER AND A HEART WARMER"

anonymous

HIGH MAINTENANCE

I really never thought we were a high maintenance family, but I am really having to re-evaluate this thought! This is our car packed (minus a stop @ Trader Joe's for grub) for a 2 day (no typo, 2 days) trip to Dillon beach. We are leaving "no later than 10:30 a.m." and here it is after 1:00 p.m. and we are still not on the road (typical Wiscombe style I know but not all of our fault, hazards of running a Funeral Home!) With a little luck, we are out of here soon!

I HEART PEEPS!!!