Halloween....

Ty and Lori with the help of Zack carved pumpkins. They had lots of fun.

We had a dinner, games and trunk or treating with our ward and the others in our building. I put on this activity then I was release from Activities Committee the following Sunday. (I guess I did not a great job. Ha Ha. The needed me in Scouts and I cannot keep up three big callings)

Lori with Britanna Busby. She is a good friend of the families and one of my kids favorite babysitters.

Our "Ariel" Lori got to wear make up and lip stick she was so excited. She wants to wear it everyday since.

Our "Angel" Bryn was our sick Angel. She did not go since she had been throwing up for days. She wanted to wear her costume so we let her.

The whole family dressed up this year. I was a Dodger Fan, Zack from the "Biggest Loser", Ty was "#8 Brock Barlow" he loved his costume. Lori was "Ariel" and Bryn an "Angel"

Dance Class Party

Bryn wanting her candy. She woke up sick so I would not let her have any. She was not happy.

Lori's Dance class had a party the last half of class.

They got to wear their Halloween costumes. They had lots of fun. Lori is the oldest in her class.

Red Ribbon Week

During Red Ribbon Week "Say No to Drugs" Ty's school has many different activities.

Ty's class sang some songs.

If you cannot find Ty look for the only blonde hair in the back row. :)

Recycling

Ty and Lori have been saving their bottles and cans on the side of the house. After 4 months of saving and many donations from family we finally took it in.
They were so excited to turn it in and get $72.76. I told Zack we should start saving also.

Fun Pictures...

Grandma Barlow and Bryn. I love Bryn's face in this picture.

When we were in Utah visiting Grandma Jex we stayed at her house. This is how Lori fell asleep the last night.

Lori showing us her BIG smiles.

Thanksgiving Point

While in Utah this past month the girls and I were able to go the Thanksgiving Point with Kate, Garrett and Leanne. We had lots of fun.

Here are some pictures. Enjoy!

Girl's Having Fun

It was Lori's turn for treats for Family Home Evening. Lori loves cake so what do you think she picked. Chocolate Cake. Lori helped make this cake. Her favorite step was the sprinkles. She was so proud of herself.

Lori is showing off her new church dress.

Bryn and Lori in their purple dresses. They wanted to match today.

Lori's Dance Recital

Lori had a dance performance. They danced at our cities Fall Festival. Her class did a "Princess Dance". Lori was Cinderella. This is the end when Miss Keri had all the classes come up together and dance. It was so cold. She did a GREAT job.
I will have to get Zack to put her video on so you all can see it.

Lori wanted her hair a certain way. We did it several times during the week to make she is was right. We even called Aunt Melinda to get her idea. I think I did a pretty good job. When she goes to Prom we will have to call Aunt Melinda and Leanne to come and help. :)

The final style is the same as her Cinderella barbie doll has. She was so cute about it. We had lots of fun.

Proposition 8

Voting - I know that there is a lot of apathy about voting this year because the candidates we have are less than stellar. This may tempt people to avoid voting but I urge all---Vote! The most important things to vote on are propositions, state assemblymen, senators, congressmen etc. If you feel the need to avoid a presidential vote resist and vote for all other things. VOTE!If you aren't registered to vote register before October 20, 2008 (those in california) If you are outside california check the link to see when your deadline is. All can use the link to register. http://www.justvote.org/

Links:
http://www.preservingmarriage.org/
http://www.protectmarriage.com/
http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/media/mediaplayer.swf?media=http://broadcast.lds.org/newsroom/video/flv/Prop_8_Young_People_Master_150k.flv&type=FLV

13 Days of HE double hockey sticks :)

WARNING THERE ARE PICTURES CONTAINING A DEAD RAT AND BLOOD.

DO NOT GO DOWN TO PICTURES IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO SEE.

13th days ago I started seeing black small rice pellets in the laundry room and living room. I saw this for a few days then I told Zack I think we have a mouse in our house.

I was talking to my brother Todd and he told me you for sure have one. He told me no worries Michelle I had them crawling over me when I was over seas. (He had a roommate that had food in the tent. He killed 10 mice in one night)

So I will spare you of all the scary details of the last 13 days. We will highlight some good ones.

I AM 100% GIRLY GIRLY when it comes to RATS and MICE.

Area where we knew the mice/rat had been:

window in our room

my night stand

our bathroom

living room

swap cooler

kitchen

on my chair in family room

*One night I got up to go to the bathroom and heard noise in bath tub. I bravely went to the tub nothing in there, looked up and it was over me on the shower curtain rod. (SCARY)

*climbing on our living room curtains

*the first two nights of having the traps out it would eat everything and never get trapped.

*coming out of the swap

*The only time I have taken shoes off is when I am sleeping.

Friday night Zack said he had one room left at the Hotel if I wanted to go. I had not been sleeping at all. Either had out kids. One night we had Ty and Lori in bed with us. It was crazy. Saturday to Sunday there were not rooms (which is good for Zack)

So the kids and I stayed at home. I had lost it Saturday when Zack said we did not get it. I was feeling like he would.

At the soccer field yesterday Ty and I found a quarter heads up. I told him pick it up it is good luck. "This means buddy we are getting that rat." With our quarter and the 13th day (my birthday is on the 13th :) ) I was not letting another day go by. I also told Zack and Ty (they have had this thing with getting an xbox 360) that if we caught the rodent they could get an xbox 360.

Zack and I were up with Bryn. She had a fever so I was getting some Motrin. Then I got the broom in my hand and started looking in the living room. I found him crawling on the blinds in the front window. I gave Zack the broom and took Bryn. Ty was awake in his room I got him up and he held Bryn while Zack and I were trying to get it.

It got away once again. We saw it go into the office though. So Zack and I made an 8 inch wall of traps and sticky traps. We were going to get him this time. (we had done this before but nothing) This was at 4:00 - 4:30am.

By the end we had all 3 kids up. We got Ty and Bryn back in bed. Zack was holding Lori in the brown chair. He told me to go get some sleep. (FYI - our kids have had bad colds for the last week)

About 20 mins after I went to bed I heard a noise then Zack pushing the chair down and Zack telling Lori stay here do not move. The light went on and Zack yelled "We get an xbox 360!" so I knew we got it. Ty and I jumped out of bed (with shoes on of course)

WE GOT IT!!!

It is late now and I am still jumpy and scared. Even though I know it's gone. What if there are others and more to come. I think it will take me awhile to feel comfortable again.

We think we got it from our neighbor. The one on the side of us is moving Wednesday and the ones behind soon. Both have been original owners and never cleaned their garage until 2 weeks ago.

I need to just say Zack has been so patience and calm with the kids and I during all of this.

Zack you are GREAT!!! Thank You!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

WARNING PICTURES ARE COMING............

FINALLY!!!! Yes it is a RAT not a mouse. I cannot believe we caught it with a small trap. It was freaking out so Zack shot it with the bb gun. The bottom picture of blood is what we found when Zack moved it. We also had to smashed it between to sticky traps.

Ty is helping Zack clean up.
This is the bag where the RAT is and all the sticky traps. We spent a lot but worth every penny, on traps. You name it I bought it. (not poison though)
Here are some of our war traps. We would have this set up at the beginning of the hallway.
This is our homemade sticky trap we taped on the swifter. If you look in the top left corner Zack caught it and it fell off. (This has been the longest worst 13 days of my life)
We had seen the rat come out of the swap one night. So Zack took the cover off and put sticky traps inside.
This picture is for Shelly Zack's sister. She wanted pictures of what Zack was making.
Our cousin told Zack if you get a good shot to shoot it with a bb gun or air soft gun. We have both so Zack got them ready. (Ty thought it was cool to get the guns out)

Scorpions vs. Ghost Riders

When you first look at the chair you'd think it is full of blankets. BUT...
It's really Lori. The kids and I stayed at the Hotel last night. (we all needed sleep and Zack was going to kill the rat at our house) When we woke up it was cold and windy. I had pants for Bryn and sweatshirts for the girls. When Zack came with pants for Lori and warmer clothes this is what he found. We had to get to the game to get Ty there in time.
Ty is in the top right corner. I did not get good pictures this week.
Ty's team won 2 to 1. The team they played is the one they scrimmage a lot.

Zack could not find Bryn's coat so he brought some of Lori's sweat shirts. It had started to rain and it was cold so I put Bryn on the back sit while Zack and I loaded the back of the van. This is what we found. She did not want to move up front to her sit.

Dance Class

Lori has a dance performance on Saturday October 11th. She is very excited. They will be doing there dance at Palmdale Fall Festival. This is her first one since she started dance. They usually have them Sunday afternoons.
She loves to dance.
Can anyone tell me what movie that comes from "I love to dance"?

We love the camera

I had asked Lori to get the camera so we could take it to dance class. Lori said lets take a picture now. I was getting Bryn dressed. Lori brought the camera in and Bryn jumped up and smiled. They love to take pictures.
What wonderful daughters I have. I love you Lori and Bryn.