HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Love, The Jacksons

OPRAH!

Researching online about the Oprah show prior to going DOES help you when attending. It really does pay to be prepared to know what not to take, what colors to wear, when to arrive and what to expect. How you might ask? Like as in FIRST ROW seats in the audience. And sitting next to some of the guests- Bonus.

My mom and sister-in-law watched the taping of the Biggest Loser episode. It airs TODAY!! Check it out!

Update: I totally saw my mom twice really well (for up to 15 seconds) and got two great looks at my sister-in-law Sarah. I was loving it. I called home through the show giving my mom and dad updates since they would have to view it two hours later. I had all my kids around the TV searching for faces anytime they panned to the audience. I was so glad the subject matter was suitable for kids.

Thanks to DVR we can relive the fun forever. I pulled up the show for Rich when he got home and the girls pushed a chair up to the TV and were pointing at my mom who was frozen on the screen (thanks to the pause button) and chanting "Grandma! Grandma!" Rich laughed at my frenzy and excitement. Sure, we see his family on TV during nearly every Jazz game, but come on this was OPRAH in Chicago. I loved the whole thing.

I called Wisconsin and talked to Sarah and Jeff and discovered their cool new flat screen TV had a much wider viewing angle than my older, not so cool TV. Who knew? They were able to see a great face shot of Sarah and they other girls in their group. Wish I could have seen it.

Anyway, it was the highlight of my day. It was awesome. Really awesome.

Pack Night

Tonight at Pack Night Trey received his Wolf badge. He worked hard over the past twelve months completing various activities, lists, goals, assignments and projects to earn this award.

I even received a mother's wolf pin and Trey helped me put it on.Trey is now working towards his Bear. They moved Rich from assistant Wolf leader to Bear Leader so he and Trey can work together. It is so nice to have Rich in cub scouts because of Trey, but it also allows Josh and Matt to tag along each Wednesday night for the fun.The wolf pack performed a skit about knife safety.Way to go Trey!

Patience.....

Sunday was the long awaited and highly anticipated Primary Program. The boys had practiced and we were ready. What I didn't factor in was this. Lipstick/gloss I never wear. Except that day. And I accidentally tossed it into my young women bag instead of zipping it into my purse. Add this lovely, dry clean only, raw silk dress I have had in the closet for eighteen months waiting for the girls to grow into them and a bored yet inquisitive Brynn rummaging through the bag at my feet. The program was lovely and the girls were SO well behaved. Especially Brynn, who just happened to be DRAWING with LIPSTICK ALL OVER her NEW DRESS!! Not just one small spot. Oh on. From the top of the neck to the bottom of the skirt and everywhere in-between and on the pretty white cotton sweater top. When I spied the new addition to her look during the Bishop's closing remarks, the word MAD would be an understatement. It looked like she was covered in blood from her mouth to her toes. Man, I was not happy. Not one teeny tiny bit. We made one HASTY exit after the closing prayer and headed towards home. It was a twenty minute drive each way and I had to be back to teach young women's. Ten minutes would be all I would have to try to salvage the dress and clean up Miss Brynn.

She knew she was in trouble. Because she knew she shouldn't have done it. "Sorry Mom. Sorry Mom," were the words she uttered on the drive home. Silence was all she got. I was in no mood for talk. I was trying to figure out a way to clean the dress and make it back in time.

There were two amazing things here: 1. I was so freaked out and short on time I didn't even take a photo of the disaster, thus proving what a state I was in. Though I did think about where my camera was on the drive home. 2. I LOVE Goo Off. It's a miracle cleaner. It smells like the dickens, but the results are in the photos. Both the top photo of the dress and the one below were after the lipstick nightmare. Yes, I used my full ten minutes dumping and scraping with my fingernails and washing but somehow it all came clean. What a relief. Two hand wash cycles and it was nearly as good as new. But if you are left thinking, Poor Sad Brynn. She must have learned her lesson. Think again. She did this that night while I was brushing the boys' teeth.

I think, "Patience Cheryl. Patience." My but head shouts, "Maybe. Maybe. I am really, really trying. But sometimes it is WAY harder than others."

Thank heavens she's so dang cute. Dang cute.

Trunk-or-Treat

Our ward's annual Trunk-or-Treat was this past Saturday night. This is such a great idea. I love that we can all dress up again and spend the night with our friends from church. Plus it's such an easy an convenient way to get goodies, unlike all the walking required on the big night. That is fine when you are older, but little feet need less area to cover.Kaitlyn was unsure of a few of the spooky costume and cars.Matt had a new added accessory- a cool pirate sword.Rich dressed up as.... a doctor. No joke. He changed his clothes into scrubs. I thought it was funny. I seriously LOVE her wings.Our sweet Bishop and his wife. They should have won for best costume.Though there were so many great ones everywhere I looked. She reminded me of the Anne Geddes photos.This was such a cute idea for twins.I thought this was darling (though going to the bathroom would be near impossible.....)Great minds think alike. Ashlee and and I dressed up as cats.And these two fellas really looked the part! Just kidding, they are the Elders assigned to our ward. I just love missionaries. I had to take a photo in honor of my little brother Kurt.Can you blame her for smiling? Quite the haul. Hard to believe we are going out to get more on Halloween!

YMCA Soccer

Another great soccer season came to an end on Saturday. Yes, it was a strange one since Trey broke his arm after his first double header game, but he was a trooper and never complained about the pain, about having to use his left hand for everything or about having to miss the rest of the season. Josh and Matt did a great job playing for Coach Brooks on the Generals. Here are a few highlights.Trey Josh Matt I felt so blessed that I took my new camera for its maiden voyage that morning. I had not taken more than 20 pictures with it, so I went nuts trying out settings and features and lenses took HUNDREDS of photos of the boys' first games. I was so grateful. Who would have thought it would be Trey's first two and last two games of the year? I was so happy to have pictures of him playing. He even managed to scored a goal. That's Trey for you!TREY Classic Trey. Down for the count. Helped off the field. Back in the action seconds later. He really is a soccer player (minus the stretcher)! JOSH & MATT I love watching them play together.Last game of the year: The Fall Soccer ExtravaganzaMattJoshCELEBRATE!Time for awards and trophiesJosh: Most Gifted AthleteMatt: Most Talented AthleteCoach BrooksCoach Brooks brought over Trey's trophy, award (Most Spirited Player), Wizard t-shirt and candy bar a few days after the last game.

Great job guys!!!