Snake!

As our home doesn't seem to be able to enjoy "normal" pets (sorry but I just don't want a dog and am allergic to cats), we are now the proud owners of a ball python snake.  After a successful snake-sitting venture through the middle school Slithers club over the summer, we decided to honor Rachel's birthday present of making a snake a permanent part of our house.  Don't get me wrong, snakes in the wild seriously make me think I'm going to have a heart attack but keeping one in a cage that you know won't kill you is completely different.

Meet Hydra, our own 3 foot + ball python whom the girls absolutely love.

 Yes, I'll even occasionally hold her.

She does this yawn thing that looks like she wants to eat you and freaks Eric out but we still enjoy watching her slither on the ground.

Halloween 2016

Fall and Halloween tend to be my favorite time of the year.  The weather is usually fabulous and Halloween is just a low-stress holiday for me.  We had fun going punny on costumes this year.  Since we were in Hawaii for our ward trunk or treat and our friends didn't have their annual Halloween party, we dressed up at a Halloween open House thrown by the Braeggers (they have great Halloween decorations including flaming pumpkins) and trick or treated around our neighborhood on Halloween.

Eric and I were Hawaiian Punch

 Rachel--astronaut (what she says she wants to be when she grows up), Evelyn a leopard, and Elizabeth Social Butterfly.

  The day before Halloween we had fun carving our pumpkins.  Evelyn-I mustache you a question, Rachel-Jack Skellington, Elizabeth-Brace Face, Eric-I'm Batman!, me-supervising and scooping out pumpkin guts.

 Ready to go trick-or-treating and bring back mom & dad lots of candy.  Taxes are real people and we are teaching our kids early!

Rachel is 11

I can't believe my car and my daughter Rachel is 11 now, where has the time gone?  From my one true brown-haired baby to a beautiful young woman, Rachel has definitely grown up (quite literally!).

The day before Rachel's birthday we went as a family and watched "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," a kind of spin-off movie from Harry Potter.  The whole family enjoyed it.  On Rachel's birthday (a Sunday, the same day of the week she was born), Lisa & Brent came over for pizza, breadsticks and a yummy Reese's cheesecake Eric made.

Opening Presents.  Rachel's reaction to anything Kisses related, even the chocolate kind.

 She has been working on hand knitting a scarf ever since.

Rachel is my list girl and got almost everything else on her birthday list, just not pictured:  high-heeled boots (as if she wasn't tall enough already!), snake (need another post for this), and a few things she's getting for Christmas.

What we love about Rachel:

• She is a great middle child who easily gets along with both older and younger sisters (even if she's a little too good at knowing how to push buttons at times).
• Loves soccer and decided to go competitive this year, a real team player as center mid-defense.
• Loves skirts and high-heeled shoes and can walk in them without twisting her ankle.
• Is actually excited about school with a favorite subject of math.  She loves the flexible seating her classroom provides this year and can choose from sitting on the floor, bouncy ball, standing, or traditional desk.
• Our adventurous child wanting to try out anything new or somewhat dangerous (I'm sure she gets that from my sister Melissa).  She'll probably be the one to talk me into skydiving, bungee jumping, and other thrill-seeking adventures when an adult.
• Generally happy and willing to help out around the house.

We love you Rachel!