Halloween 2009 was awesome!

We went to Frightmares the weekend before Halloween. Good times with good friends. Sure Lagoon is a bit whitetrash, and I felt old when after two rides I was dizzy, but still...who doesn't like amusement parks?!...Jared?

It's times such as these where I'm just so proud. Poor guy doesn't really fit on most of those rides, but he giggles like a giddy little girl every time. :)



Pretty fall colors. You could only enjoy the view for a second. This was on the peak of the Collosus... before Sarah blacked out. ;)


PUMPKIN CARVING! Always a highlight of this holiday. I tend to carve my pumpkin based on the current mood I'm in. Last year I felt a little... Asian? (see here). This year, Comcast really got to me prior to this event so I was a bit emotional. Of course Allen had a pumpkin dedicated to the undefeated SAINTS!




Which pumpkin is your favorite?...not that it matters. We should've set the prize beforehand. Dang it!


The night before Halloween we had a witch come all the way from Idaho to make us "witches brew." I know!...lucky us! Only a witch knows how to make "witches brew," but I can tell you it involves some angel dust, a little spiders blood, a spell, and a few bats/spiders...




She was proud of her work, and rightfully so.


We were all fascinated!


This year we went as smurfs. I think I look a little demonic but Allen made the costumes. He makes a fine papa smurf. Smurfette... just looks evil.


My Grandma and Grandpa sure know how to throw a killer party!


We had so much fun! Tin foil dinners, smores, hot chocolate, "eye balls," and candy of course. We played mafia around the camp fire in their awesome back yard. It really was a perfect Halloween night.

creepy Mands...


The Vances - Elder and Sister Kellum were the presiding senior missionaries. We were joined by two witches, a clown, "the princess of Halloween," a dalmation puppy, a Ravenclaw student, and...my dad.

Overall, it was a fantastic Halloween!

THE END

Spooky

Did you notice the Halloweeeeny sunset tonight?... spooky? I love it!

Getting excited for Halloween!

Wishing...Give Thanks Thursday

Sometimes. I wish.
I wish I were more able.
I wish I had more faith.
I wish I had more time.
I feel off.
I feel in control, but chaotic still.
I'm not sure of the remedy, but I wish I could find it.

Please read this poem. Ann Marie is a wonderful writer. I've admired her since high school. She is my older sister's friend. Thank you for sharing Ann. Beautiful poetry.

Nevertheless...today I'm Thankful for good neighbors. Few things in life you come to understand. Few experiences and situations you ever find the exact reason for. (which alone is another struggle of mine). However, I know we were supposed to move here. In this house. In this neighborhood. At this time. We've met some genuinely good people. People who have helped us. Friends who support through trial. Thank you Tenille. People we laugh with/at. :) Memories in the making. Today, I'm Thankful for our good neighbors. Friends.

Good day

This morning I stopped by my grandparents house for a visit. My Grandpa sent me home with some beautiful fruits and veggies from his garden/orchard. There is nothing like home-grown food.




My Grandpa is a gifted farmer. He can make things grow that otherwise would not. Yummy!! Thanks Grandpa!


Perhaps I'll make a pie!

Otherwise, not much to report from us here in the Witt house. Allen is BUSY but happy. We're looking forward to when his school days are finished. He's working hard to get there while continuing his 45+ hour work week. He's also working on projects for our house. (stay tuned) He does a great job.

I'm sad to see our tiny summer leave, but LOVE the colors and feel of FALL! Here's our backyard. I don't complain.

Thinking of Him Today

Happy Birthday Wyatt! He would be 2 years old. What a beautiful little boy huh? He is missed.

Intermountain Healing Hearts - Angels

On Saturday, we remembered.
We honored.
We loved.
We miss you sweet baby Wyatt, and will remember you always.

The Larsen family getting ready to release their butterfly in honor of Wyatt.



All of the angel families ready for a group release for the family memebers who have passed on -- fallen heros.





Hayley, Emily, and Addie got butterflies painted on their faces in honor of Wyatt.



Our family took a moment after the walk and ceremony. A Wyatt moment. We released Wyatt's balloons.


They stayed together...up to the heavens.



Wyatt Lewis Larsen is very loved! It was a special day.

Read more about Wyatt and last years walk here and visit Andrea's blog here.

Red Rock Relay

Sick of me posting about Red Rock yet?...tough! The relay was better than I imagined! It was more fun than I thought it would be. It was a prettier run than I thought it could be. I was even better prepared for it than I thought! This relay was AWESOME! I have a new passion folks, and I can't wait for my next race! (suggestions?) Here's how it went down -
Before the "sun van" began the relay, we decorated. We decorated our van and ourselves. "Diablo divas" apparently must have bright red nails, devil horns, and tails in order to run well. Who knew? I did not...which is why I never wore either of those items.


This was our starting point.

Here is about where our team had climbed up 8,000 feet. Hills suck...they are not included when I claim this as a new passion.

This is where I started my first leg. Beautiful right? Don't let those clouds fool you. They gave it to me. Hard. 8 miles of running/trudging through 2 inches of mud puddles, rain/hail...but it was oh so pretty. The sun came out again after my 8 miles were complete. The Lord loves me. I'm sure of it. ;)



Around 2:00 am. Emily had completed her second leg. Heather and I were gearing up...which after only a couple hours of sleep, can take a while.

Here goes leg 2 around 3:00am! Once again, in the rain, but by FAR my strongest leg of the race. 5 miles. This time paved and with hills. I conquered them all. :) I was so pumped when I finished this leg!

Before starting our last legs of the race. The "sun van." From left to right: Jill "Bear Claw", Alissa "Joker", Emily "Da Bomb", Isabelle "Hamstring", Natalie "Anchor." Our running assignments came with nicknames. We embraced these names at this point in the race, aka we were quite delirious.

1 more leg to go! I was feeling GREAT! (Note: black bars on your calf let everyone know where you were at in the race/how may legs you had completed)

4.5 miles through Snow Canyon. Beautiful. Down hill. "Easy"...right? I gotta say, it's so nice to have people who will give you water or spray you down during a long run. I would not be opposed to Allen driving along side me for this purpose. We'll see...

You can see the end of my leg on the far right. I was trying to sprint out the last few hundred yards. During the last two miles, my legs cramped up. I suddenly became exhausted. I was running in the middle of the day now. I was getting heat off the rock walls and the pavement. I was sleep deprived and hungry. But, I'm proud to say, I kept on running! I was determined not to walk.

Our whole team finished together.



Here's my van and new friends. They are strong women. It was great getting to know all of you girls!


In the end, I was proud of myself. I wish I would've had Allen there with me at the finish line. I haven't felt real pride in myself like that for a long time. There's something about forcing yourself to do something hard and completing it that builds confidence and character. That's why this has become a new passion for me. I think it's important and healthy for me to feel this way. Let's get out there and do something HARD. :)


Who wants to get a team together for next year?!