November 3, 2011

A Haunted Halloween

This time of year starts what we call the "Dorius Marathon"!!
Which means you cram as much partying in as possible until January 1 (actually January 15 for my little family - Aaron's birthday).
So let the cramming and the partying begin!!

Sunday October 30th
We had a Haunted Halloween Costume Party!
Food, Games, a Haunted House, Horror Movies made by Josh, & a Costume Contest.

Kenz dressed as a teenage Zombie,
Mackay was a Zombie doctor,
& Hayden was Captain America (that had a black eye and blood - it's Halloween, everyone needs a little blood).
I dressed as a Haunted House Maid - back from the grave.
Aaron wore scrubs with a tag that read: G. Focker - Male Nurse (any Meet the Parents fans?)
Josh's Star Wars Family & Dan Fisher's Family (Roe's son)
Jenn's Family
Each won something in the Costume Contest! Scott won several awards!!
Ashley's family

Josh & I put a Haunted House together the party.
I will NEVER do it again. I didn't sleep well knowing it was in my basement. Even Aaron was a little creep ed out in the days leading up to the party.

I learned that Josh's mind is WARPED and Brilliant!!!
The things that kid thinks of.... My goal was to make it either "Scary or Cool". I didn't want anyone to walk out and say "that was lame." With Josh's help, we succeeded in that goal.
Again, I say I will NEVER do this again, but just in case I have a weak moment, I am documenting it all here as a reference for that moment ... please bear with me with all the narratives below. I am pretty sure I will NEVER do it again.?.?.

Here is your tour ... with the lights on...

I greeted guests at the door at the end of the hallway -
(even Manda got to go through although she couldn't see much.)
I explained that "many years ago there arose a need for a place of refuge and treatment for the mentally ill. Mr. H. Ed Hill, first name "Haunt Ed Hill" built an Insane Asylum and many are buried just out side."
I took them through the door into the cemetery (guest bedroom).
(the black walls were made from taping 2 garbage bags together and thumb tacking them to the ceiling).
Once in the cemetery, I explained that they would be "entering the basement of the Insane Asylum. I asked that they read all signs and try not to disturb the patients and to PLEASE close all doors because we had a missing patient and we didn't want him to escape".
(Josh was our missing/escaped patient) Then they were on their own.
The bathroom was covered with blood and TEETH...
"Room B1.
Patient: Scott Michaels (aka "Chuckles)
Condition: Enjoys making others smile - permanently."
We had a freaky clown with a dead body - with a permanent smile.
A strobe lights and circus music with laughter playing.
Scott doesn't like scary clowns so this was there especially for Scott.
Passing through the next door (into my other guest bedroom) you were greeted with the Scream Guy & pictures that look normal one way/dead the other... On the closet door was a sign.
"Room B2
Patient: Karole Dead-a-more
Condition: Strong denial of loss of child"
Kenz sat in this room rocking and banging on the walls with dolls all around her. Occasionally holding the dolls and telling the visitors that "he keeps watching me" which confused the visitors until they turned around and saw... Him.
I hated him. While putting this together, I avoided this area. I knew he was there and I knew what it was made out of, but it still scared me. Black lights made him glow. The mirror said to "Gaze into the mirror", if you did so, you would see Him.
"Spider Zone" (this was for my sweet husband, who would prefer snakes, rats, anything but SPIDERS) had a Corpse hanging from the ceiling that shock and lit up as you walked by.
Next to the Bunk Bed was Dr. Craze E. Hunter's Lab and Research Center.
On top of the bunk bed was a tortured man. His face was covered, guts hanging out and blood and spiders covered the area. Josh had "moaning" sounds coming from near his head. It was gross.
Our "escaped patient" (Josh) came out from behind the wall - carrying a knife and trying to find his next patient to torture. Dr. Craze E. Hunter had been strapped to a chair, suffocated with a green grocery bag... In the wood cabinet (the lab) were jars filled with body parts and Tonic water... Who knew Tonic water glows in a black light as well as the masks swinging above the cabinet.

(Note the suffocated Doctor)
We had a Rotting Corpse that shook and moaned and lit up (laying in the trundle). And then the Animal Lab... a HUGE MONKEY (Rustyn) sat in a chair to greet and scare the daylights out of you.
Molly was in her kennel sitting atop a dresser. Her movement from wanting out-of-there caused the crows on top to light up and caw... Poor Molly...
As you exit the room - Mr. & Mrs. Haunt Ed Hill were there to thank you for coming to their Insane Asylum. (Looks like Haunt's head is falling).
Our Insane Asylum Crew
We used a Fog Machine to FILL the room, black lights, strobe lights, awful music & sounds and lots of people to scare. Our crew was exhausted and SWEATY!! We invited friends and neighbors to come through our Insane Asylum too.
It was SO MUCH FUN!! Totally worth the effort!!
Thanks Josh for being so warped and having awesome ideas!!
My cleaning ladies came the next morning at 8:30 am so Aaron and I happily put it all away after the party. Although we didn't get to bed until LATE, we were glad to box up all the creepy things... and glad we have all the stuff for my next weak moment...

Monday was Halloween!
I went to the kids School Parade.
Neither of them wore their costly costumes to school - go figure...
Mackay was a "famous person/rapper" and Hayden was an "army guy" (same as last year).

They went Trick-or-Treating later that night with their friends.
I gave out candy and Aaron kept an eye on Hayden. They are growing up so fast!

October is over and November has begun - MY FAVORITE!!
Thanksgiving is my FAVORITE holiday!
We are heading to Indiana for Jane's baptism in a few weeks so the Marathon continues...

October 22, 2011

Kenzie's Hidden Talent???



Josh let Kenzie borrow his keyboard. I didn't even know she could play... She surprises me everyday...

October 9, 2011

Opportunities to Do Good

Some of you may remember my friend from high school, Michelle Chase. She was in Dance Company with me. I also worked with her at Videomatic after we graduated. She has always been such a good friend - one that you can go YEARS without talking to but when you do chat, it is as if it was yesterday.
Michelle has been through a lot. I have learned that those who are given multiple challenges (those that you plead with the Lord to NEVER give you) are usually the strongest, most valiant, and obedient ones. (My aunt Ruth Ellen is another example of this.) Michelle is definitely one of the strongest.

This Mormon Message is about her experience with her daughter's transplant.
Their message is of Service.

October 7, 2011

Bobcat, Wolf, Bear - Check.

Mackay finished all his requirements for his BEAR.
I was a little nervous since he hasn't been able to go to any den meetings due to football. Luckily he is easy and says "OK" when I make his do a scout requirement before going out to play with friends.
Brother Chip Ormond is our Cub Master.
(I picked up Mackay from a friend's house minutes before Pack Meeting started. I handed him his shirt and hoped it would cover his "homeless" outfit.... Not that lucky.)
(Then again, I am looking pretty homeless myself...)
Tradition is to put the pin on Mom and then give her a big kiss in front of everyone at Pack Meeting!!!
This is Mackay after a sweet smooch from Mom (a little embarrassed)!!
I am so proud of you Mackay. You are such a good boy!

October 5, 2011

Aaron's Passion

When Kenzie was little, she loved horses.
We lived in Pittsburgh at the time & my mom would send her brochures & trophies from the Horse Show. She thought she was a real cowgirl. She used to beg Aaron to buy her a horse.

Aaron has always loved Mercedes.
Early in our marriage, he would tell me that one day he would own a "Midnight Blue Mercedes". I would listen and then think:
"Kenzie wants a horse - Aaron wants a Mercedes - And I want a million bucks!!
Never going to happen..."

Mom encouraged Kenzie. She'd say:
"Make a deal with your dad. You buy him a Mercedes and he'll buy you a horse."
Kenz believed she would do that one day - she was
young.
Luckily, her love for horses faded,
but Aaron's love for Mercedes did not!

After finishing dental school, moving back to Utah, and opening a dental practice,
Aaron's dream finally came true - - - sort of...
He bought himself a Mercedes - color: light metallic blue.
He loved his car.
I remember my mom telling me how proud she was of Aaron. She'd say:
"You realize your husband did it!! He set a goal and accomplished it - without any help.
He Did It!"
I was glad my mom recognized his efforts -
very few have recognized him for his hard work in a positive way.
I know he is a determined person. If he wants to do something, he will.
He has done this time and time again - accomplished what I thought was impossible.

Last year, he traded in his Mercedes for a midnight blue Range Rover. It broke my heart!!!
His Mercedes was more then a car to me.
It was something that my mom had seen and made a big deal out of...
It is funny, when someone you love and respect and worship and adore, etc, etc, passes away,
you tend to hold on to anything that reminds you of them.
He owned the Range Rover for just a few months. It was a lemon!!!

He then purchased a beautiful charcoal Lexus. I loved his Lexus.
I really hated the Range Rover so I loved the Lexus even more.

He liked his Lexus, but his heart belongs to Mercedes.
After much thought, research, nights without sleep at the computer, and excitement, he sold his Lexus and went two weeks without a car - well, he drove my Big White Car.
(I refuse to drive it. And I am not looking forward to winter and cold weather - I LOVE my mother's day gift from Aaron...and drive it rain or shine.)
(yes, I had to put this in here)

Until last Thursday -
He finally got his MIDNIGHT BLUE MERCEDES!!!




He is the happiest man alive!!

Everyone has a passion for something...
Mine is Decorating.
Kenzie's is singing.
Mackay's is football.
Hayden's is weapons.
Aaron's will always be CARS!!!

I don't mind.
If he can afford it and it makes him happy - Go for it!!
You deserve whatever car you want!!
(I really wish my mom could see it.
She would tell him how proud she is of him.
But since she isn't here to tell him, I will....)
Good Job, Babe!!
I love your car too.
And I am so proud of ALL you have accomplished!
And you look really hot in your new car... wink, wink.