Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to all of the family! Please - post pictures of your kids in costume. It would be GREAT to see what all of your kids dressed up for Halloween! Hope everyone had a good day, with no school! Ashley, happy belated birthday. Hope all is well in the valley.

They don't do much up here for Halloween - no trunk or treats this year. But, both schools do something, so we might hit that. We trick-or-treated the public library, some businesses, and the local hospital. The kids had fun and maybe we will hit some member's homes tonight!


So, Bryson decided to wear a homemade fly costume that I created several years ago (although you cannot see his wings in the back). Megan wore the BSU Cheerleader outfit that she almost fits into (something Jason bought on clearance at the Bookstore years ago that was "dress-up" for later). Kimberly sported the same costume she wore last year - a little fairy. Tyler wore Bryson's purple dragon costume from a few years ago (it was a 5T, but we rolled up the pants really good and he made it work!). And Emma wore the infamous Frog costume (Bryson's first Halloween costume), that we added a pink bow, so she didn't look like a boy. The kids were very satisfied, loved dressing up, and enjoyed the trick-and-treating (even Tyler!)

Christmas Makeover

Apparently it is time for new Christmas traditions. Perhaps it is now time for the "White Elephant game", no mom I am not talking about you, lOL, to come into our family. Instead of fancy gifts, perhaps it should only be things that we already have. I don't believe a person has to spend a great amount of money or even any at all on a gift. On the other side of my family, we are doing white elephants and only $1 limit on the little children. Translating into a trip to the dollar store. Perhaps, that is even too much for some, so why not something we already have. I do feel that there is great joy when cousins get together and take turns opening their present. I know mine would love whatever they got. Old books, stuffed animals, etc. I am just throwing this out there, but eight years and up could participate in the White Elephant game. This would mean each individual brings something laying around the house or perhaps a $5 limit to contribute to the game. We need to pick a date and time for our party also. Pannells, what is going on for you?

Happy Birthday, Amanda!

So, I feel like all I am doing is wishing people Happy Birthday this month, holy cow! We have a lot of birthdays in October. I hope everyone is getting pumped for the annual Grandparent-Cookie-Decorating Party! Should be quite a fest. We are humbly sorry to say that we won't be able to be there, unfortunately. Seems like we are missing out on all of the festivities! But, Amanda, hope you have a good day today! Hope school is going well and you are still helping your mom keep her sanity and take care of the boys! :] We love and miss all of you guys. Hope all is well for all of you! The weather here is getting colder, so I am sure you are feeling it down there too. It's only 30 degrees today, but the sky is blue and the sun is shining, not a cloud to be found. It's so beautiful, you would never know it was so cold! And no snow yet!!! Ha, Boise got snow before we did - a few weeks ago. Anyways, we love y'all. Don't be afraid to post how your family is doing and how everyone's birthday bashes were. It would be great to see some pictures of your families (it has been a while since we have seen everyone!) What's everyone gonna be for Halloween. I think I'm gonna dress the kids in white sheets and cover them with trash and go as "white trash". Ha! Ha! Just kidding. If anyone has any good homemade Halloween costume ideas that are CHEAP, please let me know (like the ones you can do with things around the house), I am open for anything!!! :]

Happy Birthday & Voting

Happy Birthday to Jayden. Sorry that I missed your birthday yesterday. Hope that it was good!

Voting: there is only one more day for ya'll to vote for our Christmas budget. Please put in your vote, as majority rules! :]

Happy Birthday, Gregorio!

This is a little birthday wish to my oldest and awnriest big brother. Greg, how old are you now? 37? I can't ever remember. Anyways, the kids and I (and Jason ) of course, just wanted to wish you a little Happy Birthday. Sorry, I am terrible with phone calls - way too much going on today with our primary program and stuff, but wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday anyway! :]

Christmas Spending Poll

If you would like to anonymously vote for how much you want to spend on Christmas presents this year between families, look on the right side of the blog. I have posted two polls where you can vote on what you want to spend. If everyone participates, we should get a majority. If you don't like the choices, let me know and we can change them. But, please... vote for what you want. This is when your voice can be heard, and we will let majority rule once everyone has voted. You have one week to do it!!! :]

Names for Christmas

Larson Family has Downs Family
Ashley has Mackenzie
Michael has Megan
Abbey has Haidyn
Matthew has Amanda

Downs Family has Blacker Family
Amanda has Tyler
Brendan has Lily
Chase has Kimberly

Blacker Family has Wagoner Family
Bailey has Matthew
Haidyn has Kathryn
Braxton has James
Jayden has Bryson
Jaxson has Brendan

Wagoner Family has Pannell Family
Mackenzie has Michael
Kathryn has Jaxson
Davis has Emma
James has Chase
Lily has Ashley

Pannell Family has Larson Family
Bryson has Jayden
Megan has Davis
Kimberly has Braxton
Tyler has Abbey
Emma has Bailey

Please feel free to comment on what you would like to see the budget for family gifts and grandkid gifts, so that planning can be arranged. And if you want to leave ideas for gifts for your kids, and/or family.

Change of Plans

Well, since everyone is changing their plans, I won't feel so bad that we have had to change ours as well. I was released on Sunday from being in the Young Women's Presidency and was put in as the 1st counselor in the Primary Presidency. Well, we WERE planning on coming down this weekend - to see family, to have a cookie party, to go to the temple, for doctor's appointments, but all of that has been changed. Our primary program is this Sunday (10/19), so I will need to be here for it. See, the old Primary Presidency did not plan ANYTHING for a program. So, the kids have learned the music, but we are scrambling to put a program together this week for Sunday. And the new President absolutely loves children, but is a convert and doesn't know much about Primary. We don't have a 2nd counselor yet, so I can't let her wing it alone. So... we will NOT be coming this weekend.

We had changed our plans to come NEXT weekend for the cookie party, family, temple, and Braxton's Baptism, but since that has been changed, too, we are going to postpone our visit for now. Funds are tight and we can't make multiple trips down. So, we have scheduled doctor appts for the kids (eye & allergy) on Friday, November 7. Jason has the day off and the kids don't have school. We will come down Thursday afternoon/night (Mom, you will be glad to know that Jason gets off at 2 PM that day). Our doctor appts are in the morning on Friday and then we want to go to the temple Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. It would be fun to see some of you possibly Friday night, if any of you can swing it. Or even possibly Saturday afternoon. We will head back up Saturday evening.

So, there it is. Sorry you will have a cookie party without us. Obviously we can't make it to everything, but we have to use our time wisely. I hope you all understand. Greg & Tami, sorry that we won't make it to Braxton's baptism. We were looking forward to it, but hope that you understand. Tami, thank you for offering your costumes. I am going to see if the kids still fit into what they wore last year. I will have to get those from you sometime, to use for next year. Thanks for being willing to do that for me, though. So... HAPPY HALLOWEEN Y'ALL!

What a Crazy Month

So hello everyone. I hope all plans are set in stone. I have changed mine a billion times. However, we are all coming to our house next week for a cookie party. Perhaps we could have somemore fun as well. I am thinking that we could do some sort of pumpkin hunt. Maybe even paint pumpkins if the weather permits. A few games would be good. We could have some kind of mummy dogs, or pizza. What does everyone think? This is grandma and grandpas party, but you are coming all the way out we might as well make a meal of it. Perhaps we could celebrate Ashley and Amanda's birthday. Whatever works.

Happy Birthday, Braxton!

The Pannell family would like to wish Braxton a Happy 8th Birthday. We hope you had a good day and enjoyed the special cake that your mom made you (because she always makes really good cakes!) We are excited that you have decided to get baptized, too. We hope that we can come down next week end to see you become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! We love and miss you. - The Pannell Family of Fun! :]

Monthly Update

My first thoughts were to post weekly. Unfortunately, those thoughts have come and gone. Now we are going to attempt a monthly post. The boys are finishing up their football seasons. Brendan is enjoying tackle football. He likes to watch the film after his game with his dad. (Mom has a hard time figuring out which one is Brendan on the film.) Chase is having fun with flag football because all of his Wilson buddies are on his team. Dave has three more games and so far has an even record at 3-3. A few weeks ago, Brendan decided to run for school treasurer. He gave his primary speech today with the help of his campaign manager, Chase. He got voted on, so he will be running against another boy for the job. His final speech is next week in front of the whole student body. We enjoyed making his posters as a family. Amanda enjoys playing football outside with the boys. She picks them up from school everyday and it is so nice for me! I actually have some "down time" after school. It is hard to believe she is going to be 20 soon. We wish everyone a safe and healthy October and hope to see everyone soon!

Halloween Costumes!

This is a little shout out to my family to see if ANY of you have Halloween Costumes lurking in your homes, garages, or storage units that you would like to share, donate, lend me for Halloween. Since our resources are low and I am grateful for hand-me-downs, I don't have the funds for costumes this year. So, if any of you have some to spare, I will take any and all you have for my kids! And... if you don't have any costumes to share, what about inexpensive, homemade costume ideas??? I will take anything!!

P.S. Becky, how are you doing? You and Greg are the only ones that haven't reported on this blog yet. I emailed you with your new address, but I have never heard back. Just curious to see how your throat stuff is doing, how you are feeling, and what the latest news is... if there is any?

P.S.S. Also, we will be down to visit for eye doctor and allergy appointments next weekend (17-20) and was wondering if we could see any of you while we are in town!?!?