On to Another Adventure

So this month...almost to the day of 2 years....I was released as RS President.  I was lucky enough to work closely with 5 wonderful ladies throughout that time.  One moved away and the other was put in the stake so I got an extra 2 for my presidency.  In some ways it was a very long 2 years, while in other ways it went by so quickly.  I learned a lot of things that have helped me grow personally and spiritually.  I had to step out of my comfort zone and forget that I am truly a shy girl inside and put myself out there for the sisters in my ward....very hard to do at times.  But I became close with many women that I am so grateful for their friendships.  I hope that I did a good job...I feel that I did the best that I could and I accomplished much.  I am not going to miss the meetings, the worries and stress, the intimate knowledge of what is happening within the ward, the sleepless nights.....you name it.  I am looking forward to the rest....at least from this calling.

Before we were released, we went out for one last official "Presidency" lunch.  It also happened to be a birthday we were celebrating as well, but none the less, it was a great time.  I sure love these ladies and look forward to "relaxing" at the next RS function!  Thanks ladies for all your support!

Now on to my new calling.....Ward Girl's Camp Director and Sunday School teacher (this one starts in Jan)

Love It!

One of my most favorite things about living in Colorado is this......

There is a never ending supply of these gorgeous sunsets.  And I am up early enough for the beautiful sunrises too these days!  Love it!

BoO to YoU!

Halloween is always a fun time of year.....so many things going on and many opportunities to dress up and get candy!  Have gotten a few new decorations (made and bought) so had to get some pixs of those first.....

 

Our ward held their annual Fall Festival  again this year and the RS was in charge of it.  I think everyone had a good time, but I was too busy running around making sure everything was going ok that I didn't notice. We had the regular chili cook off and the costume parade.  Then the kids went around to different rooms that housed games and spooky things.  After that it was Trunk or Treat time...guess that went well, cuz I was inside cleaning up.  I was glad that night was over.  The girls had a late night with friends at our house and so wrapped up the first Halloween event. (How did I not get one picture of K that night...in fact not sure I saw her much anyway.  That is what happens when the kids get older and you don't have to go around with them)

 

Then came the Boo Bash...the high school JROTC puts it on every year and since it is close and free and we got into the habit of going when T was in it, we of course went.  M had to work some of the booths for school and J brought a friend, so K and I went around together until daddy showed up and we had a great time.  The Haunted House has always been the favorite...we missed have T in there scaring us.  More candy and dress up time with burritos to close out the night.

K decided to wear the hippie costume (at least part of it)  I think she might be growing out of the bear??? hmmm

 

Halloween night was spent with J and K trick or treating with their friends in a different neighborhood and M and I at home catching up on our shows and handing out candy.  K came home with 7 pounds of candy....she weighed it!  Add that to the candy from the other 2 events and she will have candy for the next year for sure.

K had her parade at school that day too which is always fun to go see...this will be the last year for this event...(boohoo)

 

Can't forget the pumpkin carving.  M started one a few days earlier with some friends, but joined us to carve one just for T.  It is nice to have everyone able to carve their own now that they are big enough.  They look awesome.

So Happy Halloween from Batman and the Bear!

Put the Gear Away...It's Over! :(

Softball is over and M couldn't be happier......NOT!  She loves the sport and wants to play it year round.  All I can say is it would get pretty chilly when you game is at 6pm on a cold, snowy January evening.  But she loves it...she craves it.  Even after the season they had.

This year was a rebuilding year....only 4 returning players and those that were on JV last year were not ready for Varsity ball.  But there was no choice but to bring them up and it showed.  Too bad the coaches couldn't have used this year to work on better skills instead of just running and catching fly balls.  Actually I don't know exactly what they worked on, but it wasn't pitching that is for sure.  It was the worst it has ever been and that is why they lost almost every single game.  Besides the many errors that were made in not catching the ball, or over throwing it, or not throwing it to the right person......you name it.  But M loved it anyway.  Even though she came home frustrated at times, she still managed to keep a smile on her face during the game and say encouraging words...even when it was 3-20.  It was hard to watch at times, but so happy that I could be there to support M.  It was harder this year as J had her VB games on the exact same day and time as the SB games.  I was running all over.

Anyway, she had a great time overall.  She even got to swing down and play some JV games when they didn't fall on the same day as Varsity.  But I think their last Varsity game was the most fun for them.  It was a Discovery Canyon and they lost pretty bad....I don't even keep track of the scores this year cuz they were "mercy ruled" so many times.  But the DC girls were awesome...very nice and afterwards, their team shared pizzas and bottled water with our team...including the parents.  They girls really let loose afterwards and it was fun to see them having such a good time.

**The 4 returning players from last year**

 

We now wait for the banquet after fall break and then it is on to the next sport....maybe?  She is thinking about a break this year, so we will see what she decides about basketball.

You did awesome this year....whether it was catcher or 1st base (2nd base should be left to someone else M), you improved over the last year.  YOU ARE FABULOUS.....you did great!

Chateau de Vie

So one thing that we got to do while in Arizona is hang out at this place......

 

Isn't it amazing?  We had so much fun exploring this HUGE mansion.....and we had two events here so we had plenty of time to wander.

First off I better tell you a little bit about this place.  My sister has a friend in her ward that owns this wonderful place.  She bought it with intent to turn it into a reception center to host weddings and such.   But alas, the city said no....or should I say it was really the neighbor's fault.  Go here to check out the story!  Now it is on the market again as that was the only reason they bought it....they had no intention of living there, only restoring it for others to enjoy.  It really is sad as it is a gorgeous place.

So the first event we held there was the wedding luncheon.  It was a prefect day for an outside luncheon next to a beautiful pool and the amazing house in the background.

big enough kitchen for lots of helpers...

The "Smoothie Bar" helpers....

the food ....

view out the upstairs window....

finally they are here and we can eat.....

 

After the luncheon.....or if you ask J, it was during the lunch....we went exploring.  We had started eating and we couldn't find J or her cousin.  So we were almost done when they finally showed up...they had gone exploring and missed the food.  Good thing there was some left.  Anyway, eventually we all went exploring and this is what we found.......

the great room....

many bedrooms had the fabric walls.....all had fireplaces....

looking down on the entryway and across from the great room...

master bedroom...

master bath.....

sitting room off master bedroom....

one of the closets in the master bedroom....

stain glass in master bath....

mural in the great room.....

servant's quarters......

had to take a picture of the bidet.....

a secret passageway behind the bookcase...there were 3 of them in the house...

the deck off the master bathroom....

the backyard from the deck....

the domed, lighted stain glass in the entry way....

the 2 balconies inside the entryway....

the front doors......

standing near the lake looking at the house.....

at the lake....

the animal enclosure.......

backyard stream.......

above the front door.....love the castle with the princess and the knight....

me and my girls......

It was just so fun running around this place....some even played Hide and Seek.  What a perfect place for it....some people were gone for a long time.  Anyway, we really enjoyed the largeness.  And what gorgeous wood everywhere.  It really would be a shame to tear it down and put up regular houses.  Those darn neighbors!

The 2nd event was a surprise party for my twin nieces.  They were turning 16 and since we had access to this place and my sister invited like 80 people.....they belong to the marching band so the whole band was invited.....why not throw another party here.

We did another smoothie bar so J and K helped with that....

here is the game room with another bar, a piano, and a pool table.  There was even a train that ran across the top of the room near the ceiling.....

the group...90% of them band members...they do love their parties....

AND complete with frogs on the grounds.....Sophie found several to show us...

It took some doing and fast talking for me to get over there to get it all set up and let in the guests, but it worked enough that they were surprised and everyone seemed to have a great time.  The pressure is on now.....M wants a surprise party with this many people in a house like this.  Sorry M.....no can do!  But I do love you!  :)

We really had a hard time leaving this place and not having a 3rd excuse to come back.  Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.  Wish we could have taken a dip in the pool though.