Shadi, Tyson, and Leanne

Sydney

Sydney actually did work the haunted house. She wore a mask and laid in a coffin all night scaring people as they walked by. She wore a vampire cape. I told her she should wear some vampire teeth too, but she said that she was "not going to do the stereotypical vampire." Twilight has changed her forever.

Jack

Jack was supposed to work in our friend's haunted house this year. This was the mask he wore. He ended up feeling sick and went home. Bummer Halloween for him and Dad, who stayed home with him.

Halloween

Katie actually had 3 costumes this year. She was a cowgirl for the church party and a friend's halloween party and was Snow White for Halloween night. We never got around to the 3rd costume, which was a fairy.

The Jack-o-lantern Master

Jesse is the carver in our home. He also figured out a way to get some great special affects while photographing the finished product.

Things that make me happy!!!

6 Years

Today is Jesse and my 6th anniversary. Hard to believe it's been six years because so much has happened. Some of you might be wondering how such a perfectly matched pair of individuals crossed paths. Well, I'll tell you.
When Jesse was a baby, his family moved to Kermit. I was just a little bit older than that. (It's my story so I can tell it however I want). We grew up almost together but didn't really know each other. After I graduated I left home, married few years later, had a couple of wonderful children. In the mean time Jesse is still working his way through school and eventually goes on his mission. I moved back to Monahans while going through a divorce. Three weeks later Jesse came home from his mission.
Funny story. A few weeks after he got home my mom made the comment one day that she really liked Jesse Bell and sure wished he date one of her daughters, referring to my little sisters of course. I proceeded to tell her that she should not wish that upon her poor daughters because he was a big dork. Well, I started working for his dad as a secretary (hardest job I've ever had I might add). His office is in their family home. I started spending time with Jesse because he was always home and he helped with computer issues and such. About a month after making my "dork" comment I started rethinking what I had said and felt bad. I was actually kind of liking him. Well, I told my mom that I felt bad about what I had said about Jesse and that I actually really liked him. She tells me "Be careful, Leanne, or he'll get a crush on you and you could break his heart". I didn't tell her I already had a little crush on him. I was still a little hung up on the "slight" age difference.
So now to the important part- the sign. See, I believe in signs. Jesse thinks this is a little quirky. Sometimes I misinterpret the signs, like the night Jesse and I got married (six years ago today) and he put my cat outside because he doesn't like inside animals and then my cat came up missing for a week. Well, I thought this must be a sign that we weren't supposed to be married. She came back, lucky for my husband, but he hasn't really gotten over that misreading. I think I actually hurt his feelings. Anyway, back to the good signs. One day while I was working for his dad, I was going on my lunch break. I asked him if he wanted to run to DonBurrito with me. While we were sitting in the drive-up window line a song came on. The song was "The Sweetest Thing" by U2. Of course this song is about breaking up, but the part that stuck out was when it says "blue eyed boy meets a brown eyed girl". I suddenly looked at him and thought, "he has blue eyes and I have brown eyes; it must be a sign." My quirky signs paid off for him in this instance. Now this is "our song" and I say the reason we came together in the first place. About 8 months after this encounter we were married and here we are today with six years of marriage to look back on. It's been a wonderful six years and I am so glad that I was willing to see the signs.

Katie's Halloween Costume

Soccer games

The Secret Life of Bees

Just went and saw this movie with some friends and baby sister last night and I loved it. I loved the book and was a little leery at first about seeing the movie but I couldn't stand it. I was not disappointed. Definitely a chick flick and tear-jerker. But also a wonderful girlfriend and sister movie so I am so glad I was able to see it with friends/family. We also went to Chili's and had the new chocolate chip molten cake. Yum, yum. It was so sweet I couldn't even finish it. That's unheard of for me and my sweet tooth.

Dr. Jekyl and Sweet Little Miss Hyde

What sets off a 13 year old girl into a fit of anger that ends in screaming and slamming doors you ask? Ask her brother and dad. They can send a girl into a rage in 0-60 seconds. The other night they walk in the door behind Sydney and all I hear is yelling and slamming. Jesse walks in the room and tells me to ask Sydney if she's had enchiladas today. Or maybe chicken cordon blue. Strange thing to get whipped into a tizzy over, I agree. Until I quiz her about whether or not she ate enchiladas today. She glares at me. Hmmm, I think, it must have something to do with a boy. As it turns out she was in the car riding home from YW and something comes up about a singer named David Archuleta. Jack is in the back seat and says "Who? David Enchilada?". That's all it took. They thought it was hilarious and wouldn't quit teasing her about "Cordon Blue" (Corbin Bleu is also a singer) and "David Enchilada". The funny part is that I get a call from her YW leader telling me that she is just the sweetest thing and she wishes she could have taken a picture of her tonight because she was just so cute.

Katie the body artist

While I am being the bad mom and working away on my paper, Katie takes pink marker and colors all over her body. I decided we needed to stop and go to the park. Luckily, Jack's soccer practice is at a nice school and Katie gets to play while he's practicing. She needed the outlet for all her energy.

I survived

This was a rough week. I guess technically it's not a full week, but the rough part started last week. I had soooo much going on with the activity on Saturday, soccer games Saturday, quick trip to Mansfield Sunday to watch Lindsey do her first ever speaking part in the Primary program (yeah, Lindsey), two tests Monday, Jesse out of town Monday night and Tuesday, and an important paper due on Wednesday. I just got home from school and I am so exhausted from staying up till 2:30 am finishing my paper. I didn't put it off on purpose. It was done last week by Monday, but I didn't have time to go back and work on the works cited. I had to study, study, study when I had free time. So, I am beginning to feel like the greatest failure in school, home and life in general because it just doesn't feel like I can handle all of this anymore and I get a phone call. Someone from the Stake Presidency calls and asks me to speak at the adult session of Stake Conference. I laughed, out loud and asked if he was kidding. I am in my bed with my laptop trying to get through this paper. My house is falling apart, I mean bad, like the kind of falling apart where things are so messy you don't even stop to pick things up off the floor anymore because what's the point really, falling apart. And he wants me to talk about, and I quote "Finding Balance in the challenges we face living the gospel, raising a family, and providing for temporal needs". This only makes me laugh louder. He wasn't joking unfortunately. Jesse tells me that's what I get for being friendly to with the Stake Pres. I'm not amused.

Trunk or Treat

Saturday night was our ward trunk or treat. I am the activities chairperson for the ward so with the help of several other very wonderful people we put on a grand party. We had bounce houses, different booths, lots of contests, and chili cook-off and trunk or treat at the end. Jesse was one of the judges for the chili cook-off. I have also included some pictures of a couple of friends at the party. I was so busy I didn't get any pictures of my own kids. All the kids had a great time. I have to say I love my calling at church. I get to throw parties several times a year. It's the best.

Splish Splash

Sydney went in to check on Katie while she was taking a bath and found her donning Mom's shower cap. She kind of missed the point since she put it on after washing her hair. She is such a funny kid. I can't wait for the day when I get my bathtub back. Everytime I got to take a bath I have to empty it of horses and numerous other Katie items.

BYU Fans!!

Oh, my brother in law. He's those people you see on the t.v. at sporting events and you think, "Wow, do people like that really exist." Now I know they do. Hope they have fun tonight at the TCU vs. BYU game!! I'll just keep the kids.

Casserole Swap

Next Casserole swap is scheduled for Thursday, November 13th. If you are interested in participating then post what you will bring here. If you have questions about how this works, let me know. Thanks so much everyone who participated last time. I get so excited everytime I open my freezer and find 4 dinners already made. And FYI, we will not do more than 7 casseroles even if we get more than 7 participants.

I finally finished it!!

I finished Breaking Dawn yesterday. I know, I know, it's about darn time. There were various reasons it took me so long, beginning with a little thing called school. I have no business reading for pleasure right now but somehow I found time to get it done. But to be perfectly honest I was also not sure how I was feeling about the book. Part of me was not ready for it to be over and part of me was pretty sure I would be disappointed based on reviews and readers comments about the story line. Now that I am done I have to say, I don't know if I loved it. It was a little too convenient. I guess the reality of it is nothing will ever compare to the first one for me. Eclipse is my absolute favorite in the series. I think it's that whole "new love." Not necessarily the "new love" of Edward and Bella but my new love for these people and this story. By the fourth I am somewhat over that part. Everything has to change of course but I think I just prefer to stay in the beginning when it's mysterious and dangerous and NEW. This book was okay but at times a little too weird. With the other three it didn't seem strange to love these vampires. Breaking Dawn was just science fiction for me. I'm not a fan of science fiction. I didn't cry when it ended. I was never scared at any point. It didn't give me that dreamy feeling that I got with the others. It was just okay. Anway, I'd love to hear all of your thoughts on the subject.

What's on the Menu

This is one of my family's favorites so I decided to make it for the first swap.

Stuffed Bell Peppers

3-4 Large bell peppers (one per person)
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground turkey
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
1 clove chopped garlic
1/2 cup chopped bell peppers (I chop the leftover bell pepper tops)
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup brown rice
1 tbls. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 cup shredded cheddar or mozarella, separated

Cut the tops off of the bell peppers. Remove seeds and membrane. Immerse bell peppers in boiling water for 3 minutes. Sprinkle inside with salt. Invert on paper towels to drain well.

In large skillet cook onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, garlic in 2 tbls. olive oil. Add meat and brown. Drain off fat. Stir in undrained tomatoes, water, and uncooked rice. Add worcestershire, salt, pepper, basil, oregano. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat, simmer covered about 20 minutes, until rice is tender. Stir in 1/2 cup cheese.

Fill peppers with meat mixture. Place in remaining mixture in the bottom of the pan. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese in the last few minutes of baking. Let stand for 2 minutes.

Brilliance

I was thinking about my crazy life the other night. Of course it was while I was trying to fall asleep but I couldn't because I couldn't stop thinking about all that I had to get done the next day, causing me to feel more frustrated that I couldn't fall asleep knowing I would be even more tired because I didn't go to sleep for hours. Why, why, why do I always do that? Anyway, not the point. As I was lying there trying to think of ways to make my life easier I had a moment of pure brilliance. Casserole swap. Yes, this would be awesome. Of course this is not my original idea. I'm sure moms have been doing this since casseroles and disposable pans were invented. But it's the first time in my life I find that even cooking dinner is almost impossible with running to all the soccer practices, drama rehearsals, church functions, studying, and many, many other things. So this it what we are doing. I found other busy moms and we are all making one casserole per participant that can be frozen. We are meeting up at my house tonight to make the exchange and voila! I have dinner for five busy nights. Rosa's is going to miss our business but I won't miss feeding my kids fast food and cereal for dinner. Ugh.