It's Fall Ya'll!

It seems that fall does not last long here in the North. People think that because we do not have snow on the ground, we can't claim it winter. Let me tell you - it is winter. Randolph is where I have learned that it can be too cold to snow. We love it when it does snow, because it means it has warmed up outside.

Now that we are into November over a week, I thought I should post Halloween pics and whatever else I can download off the camera. Which wont be much! I am a terrible picture taker. Poor Kendall as a baby barely exists in photos because my camera was broken. Now that I have a fancy camera - which I have no clue how to operate Ryann has more baby pics than K-Dogg! And Ryann loves the camera! And red lipstick!

For Halloween we had Dorothy, Vampire Bat Girl, Pirate with a beat up face, and two little mermaids. I made Dorothy's dress and the mermaid costumes. Ryann did not understand that people are suppose to see the seashells, she wanted to wear them under her shirt. Once she was out with the other kids, she gave in and put them on the outside. The bat costume was mine when I was in middle school. Dylann found it at my parent's. And Kendall is always a pirate. Every year the same thing, different costume. She loves Captain Jack!

We did the 'Trunk-or-Treat' at the church parking lot. Then on to the standard houses. Judge McKinnon's for full size candy bars, the Telford's for marshmallow suckers, and up and down our street. We don't get very many Trick-or-Treater's at our house because our dog is gigantic. Kids are scared to steal our pumpkins too. Sometimes it is nice to have a horse for a dog. Christopher bought good candy this year and had a lot left over for him!

Kendall had a program at school for Halloween. It was so cute. She sang Halloween songs for the entire month. She is still singing them.

Last night the High School kids put on a after Halloween Spook House. They used the Elementary building for it. I had to stay in the car with Ryann and Payton, so the three older girls went in with a friend of mine. Halfway through my kids chickened out and came running to the car screaming their lungs out. The High School Principle came over to see if they were OK and told me I could walk them through and he would sit with my babies. My kids yelled "NOOOOOOOOO!" and begged me to just drive away. They slept on the front room couch last night due to the trauma they suffered.

And now for the monster in my house:

She loves her red lipstick. We have finally thrown it away because she colors her entire face with it. And her hands. And her neck. And her feet.

Today we had Stake Conference. Why I took Ryann and Payton I will never know. I took the two of them out for a potty break. Ryann was running down the hall and I told her to STOP! She turned to tell me "My legs just have to run!" Then I told her to follow me back down the hall. She was not obeying, so I told her that a monster was coming. She yelled at me, "No monsters live in this church!" I guess she would know, from one monster to another!

And yes, her hair always looks like that. We brush it and two seconds later - POOF!

Fossils and Guns!

Last Saturday Grandpa came up for a day of fun in the ..... wind! We took the 4-Wheelers, lunch and guns out for a day of treasure hunting.

Grandpa has a fossil finding kit (a backpack with hammers, a pic-axe, brushes and books) that the girls used for hours on the side of the hill above the Woodruff Reservoir. They had so much fun splitting rocks and searching in the dirt.

Christopher and I took Ryann and Kendall for a ride around the very low water. We found a skeleton of a cow, cow #88 to be exact, the ear tag was on the ground beside it. Ryann just knew it was a buffalo. She is in love with buffaloes. So we gathered up some bones and packed them back to the rest of the group on the 4-Wheeler. Ryann fell asleep on the way back. We hit a sagebrush ans her "buffalo leg" fell out of the bag. She woke right up and cried because her leg was gone. We had to back track to find it.

After lunch, we did a little target practice. It is the first time my girls have shot guns. When I was little my dad took my brother and I out all the time. I have not shot a gun since just after high school. Even with Christopher being a cop we never went out shooting. I did the best with the .22, next to my dad.

Then it was on to a great ride up above the Reservoir. Rylie is a big chicken and wont let us go fast or over bumps. But since she got into trouble before the ride, Ryann got to drive - big mistake for Rylie. Ryann loves to go as fast as the machine will go. She laughs all the way! My kind of girl!

It was a very fun day.

Man Tag!

“The rules: Each Person answers questions about their sweethearts.At the End of the post, the person then tags people and posts their names; then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged.”

What is your husband’s name? Christopher Ryan a.k.a Christopher Robin, Topher, Tuffer, Tuffily Puff, Tiff Piff, and anything else I can come up with. His girls call him “Fuzzy Cheeks”!
How long have you been married? 12 years, 8 months on the 29thHow long did you date? 6 weeks.
How old is he? 35
Who eats more sweets? ME! He has to be in the mood! And he is always in the mood for sugar, just not the eatin’ kind(:
Who said I love you first? I honestly cannot remember. Probably him. I was mean to him at first.
Who is taller? Topher – he is 6’1”.
Who can sing the best? He can, just ask him. He gets very mad when I sing in the car!
Who is smarter? Book smart - it’s totally me. Gospel things, it’s it most definitely him.
Who does the laundry? Me. Only because I am obsessive compulsive and have a fit if the laundry is not done the right way. He would totally do it if I let him.
Who pays the bills? Me, he never even sees his paycheck!
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Him. He could sleep anywhere.
Who mows the lawn? Our ‘Lawn Boy’, or me.
Who cooks dinner? I try to do the cooking. But ask him and I never cook.
Who drives? Do I have the choice to drive when he is in the car?
Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Not me!
Who kissed whom first? Topher kissed me while lying on his mom’s couch watching the Princess Bride. We were on the sectional couch, lying in opposite directions with our heads touching. He leaned over and kissed me upside-down.
Who asked whom out first? We met on a blind date. He got my number, but I called him first.
Who wears the pants? MEEEEEE! But I let Christopher think he does when I need something from him.

I tag Emily! Lets see if she is out there!

What is ---- in Spanish?

Kendall has become obsessed with the Spanish language. She has two little boys who speak Spanish, Michael and Jose, in her class at school that are her top two boyfriends. They are tied at #1 most days.

Michael joined the class last year and knew no English. By the end of the year he was a pro. All through Kindergarten Michael was Kendall's #1 boy. Jose arrived at the beginning of this school year. Kendall's heart had to make room for him too. Some days he and Michael are tied, other days he is top of the list. They are both so cute - how could she pick just one? She has no plans to marry, just flirt. And at almost 7, she is very good at it!

The boys have been trying to teach the first graders a few Spanish words, like 'orange'. The teacher said that the class was trying to help the boys say 'yellow' instead of 'jellow', so as a class they would learn to say 'naranjo'. Kendall is so frustrated because try as she may, she cannot say it.

The boys laugh at her and told her that if she could not say 'naranjo', she would get kicked out of Honduras, which is where Michael is from. Totally heartbroken Kendall has asked for my help. And I am absolutely no help. I asked Michael and Jose for help. I asked Jose's mom, even the waiter at Don Pedro's Mexican Restaurant. I cannot get my tongue to work right.

I think the boys have given up on getting her to say ' 'naranjo' correctly, so they have been teaching her other words.

Yesterday I went up to lunch at the school. Kendall and Michael move down to sit by me. Kendall, beaming with pride, says: "Mom, guess what I can say in Spanish?" "What?", I was waiting for the correct was to say 'naranjo'.

"Caca", Kendall yells out with pride. Michael smiles his big, cute smile. His face also beaming with pride because Kendall finally could pronounce a word. I start to laugh. Michael looks at me,"Caca means poop!"

I still chuckle thinking about how proud they both were.

Freankin'!

Freakin' crap! is all I can say. I finally decided I should change the background on my blog and it is driving me crazy! (Not that I was not CRAZY already Ronda I know!!!!!)

So if I ever figure it out, I will change it. If not - UGGGGGGGGG!

Help me if you can! Where do you all find cute layouts?

Home Coming Rituals

As this is Rich High School Homecoming Week, last night was the annual bonfire. Where children parade around the giant fire seen from space and nearly fall in with adults standing nearby. Christopher was suppose to help with the Volunteer Fire Department, but had decided that since attending meant taking the three oldest, he would not go.

So...my husband decided to finally have his movie night with his girls. 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' was on the schedule. They all nestled in and watched as Harry felt alone and then sprung to life as the secret teacher of the 'Defense Against the Dark Arts'.

Half way through the movie Ryann decided she had had enough and took me in to watch 'Bratz Babies' - a true horror film for grown-ups. Yet I rent it weekly from the Randolph Country Store because it is the only movie that will keep her attention so I can get something cleaned in my house.

As night fell, the sure sign that the bonfire was over made it's way past our house. There is a tradition here in Rich County, mainly in Randolph because this is where the High School is located, that when any event happens - taking State in sports mostly- you drive up and down every street honking your horn and screaming as loud as you can so every person knows the greatness that is Rich High School.

During the passing of our house the following conversation takes place:

"Dad, they almost crashed in front of our house."

"They almost crashed again"

"Dad, that car almost crashed in to our car."

In response, Dad says, "That is why you will not be allowed to go to the bonfire! Shelly, there were almost three accidents in front of our house. This is ridiculous!" I laughed my head off.

As a Cop, Christopher hated the "HONK-OUT"! He would get so mad that kids were allowed to hang out of the bus windows and scream, wave their arms and nearly fallout. Some kids even hung out the back emergency door. But no one would stop them. It's a tradition for heck sakes!

It has been the same every year we have lived here and it will continue on when our lovely rule following little girls enter Rich High. I am sure that before each of them go to their high school activities, their father will give the "Remember Who You Are" speech and then say "If I see you hanging out of the bus or rushing the bonfire there will be hell to pay!"

It has been too long!

Life has taken the fast track for us here in the North! I cannot believe that it is the middle of September. So I will do a fast recap of the latest adventures in the life of the Stapel Family - I know all have been waiting for an update!

August was the annual Russell Family Trip to Island Park. We always have so much fun. The kids play, the adults clean up and we party, party, party. We got up close with a mama moose and her calf. We floated down the Snake River. We rode our ATV's all over the place. We spent a day in Yellowstone, where we saw a crazy dingo. We spent a day in Virginia City, MT. Christopher and I are trying to figure out how we can live up in Island Park all the time. We love it up there.

Once we returned home from Vacation, it was Rich County Fair time. Rylie showed a pen of rabbits and Dylann showed rabbits and a lamb - Lola. She did very well - Reserve Champion in Showmanship. The lamb was a little scrawny, so she was one of the last to sell. But Wal-Mart bought her lamb for $4.50 a pound. Thanks to Wal-Mart of Evanston. Kendall showed a lamb for Clover-Buds and got a pretty ribbon. She also showed our new puppy, Chunky, at the Clover-Bud Parade. (Chunky has been now placed in a new home.)

School started August 25th for the three older girls. Rylie now rides the bus an hour a day to Laketown and back. I hate to think of her on the bus that long, but at least I know where she is!

Ryann and Payton started Preschool. A group of moms put together a fun little school. We each take turns teaching. It is nice for Ryann to go and spend time away from me. She loves being a big girl.

So now it is mid-September and it is getting cold. Winter is here for Randolph. I refuse to turn on the furnace, my children freeze! But they have electric blankets on their beds and I do run the pellet stove. I am not ready for the $350 Questar bills yet. But I am afraid I cannot put it off much longer!