ZOO, HALLOWEEN AND BOOKS

We have had a fun, crazy, and busy week!  It started on Wednesday...  We decided to take 14 kids to the zoo to see the monkeys:

Just kidding!  I really enjoyed these two, big, strapping young men: Doritos and Jalapeno.  They were really helpful with the younger kids.
The zoo was wonderful!  The weather was perfect.  The kids were well behaved.  And the company was delightful!  I've always wanted a large family.... and Wednesday I pretended I had one.  (I think my nieces and nephews need to live closer to me so I can "adopt" them too!  But luckily my two Amy friends let me "kidnap" their kiddos once in awhile to feed my crazy tendencies.)
I wish I could tell you about the day in minute by minute details - but I'll let the pictures tell the story:

Apple Pie loves his pig!

Jumbalaya is ADORABLE!!!!

Spaghetti was excited to see an ant eater....

Key Lime Pie and Jalapeno as confused super heroes!

Eclair and Marmalade were VERY photogenic.

This cute little wallaby is 16 1/2 years old.

We decided she would make the perfect date for Jalapeno...

He said he would take her to Outback Steak House for dinner.

Lemon Drop decided to take a page from

the wallabies by holding Jumbalaya in her "pouch"

Jumbalaya and Snickerdoodle got to ride...

I was a bit jealous....

Obviously Jalapeno was jealous too....

Kotten Kandy LOVES ice-cream!

But she doesn't like pizza....

Key Lime Pie is a natural with Jelly Bean!

And Jelly Bean LOVED being tall on Doritos shoulders!

Brothers - First they were monkeys.  Now they are turtles?!

Snickerdoodle isn't quite as big as a gorilla....

Teenagers?!

Snickerdoodle and Jumbalaya...

Mom - this pics for you...

Consider yourself challenged!

Come visit so we can play!!!!!

Boys!  If you look closely - there are 6 of them in this picture!

Nuts is relaxing on Spaghetti

- while Dorito's head is precariously positioned in the throne.

Crazy moms who brought the crew!

Me - Jan - Amy B.

Marmalade and Eclair channeling Elsa....

Nuts, Apple Pie, Spaghetti, and Juice

Crazy boys!

I really had a great day!  I hope the kids did too!  They are all wonderful children of God!

So... this month has been crazy busy.  I have been helping my husband a lot at work.  And I have been trying to keep our homeschooling efforts alive and well.  I've also been trying to keep up with my Church calling.  Between all the business, I haven't had much time to read.  But I did manage to read two books from The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer.  Much to my surprise, I REALLY liked them.  Marissa Meyer likes to re-tell the traditional fairy tales using a futuristic, space-age theme.  At first I was wondering if I would really like reading about a "Borg"-like Cinderella... but she actually works as a "cyborg."  OK... let me start at the very beginning:

Cinder is the first book.  It's loosely based on Cinderella.  And yes, she is a cyborg.  Throughout the book, we are introduced to a world of technology and wonder - in addition to governmental intrigue and the Lunars, another species.  Prince Kai - from future China - meets Cinder early on in the story to ask her help in repairing his android.  And it becomes clear that he may have to marry the evil Queen Levana, a Lunar, to avoid a war with the Lunars.  While some of the aspects of the story are similar to Cinderela, there are some changes.  And the story enthralled me from start to finish.  I wasn't surprised by the big reveal at the end.  But overall, I thought it was a terrific and unique retelling.  I liked it a lot!  (And there is no swearing at all!  Which is a HUGE plus in this mother's eyes.)

I was really excited, after reading Cinder, to read Scarlet.  Scarlet is the second book in the series.  I liked the sequel just as much.  It picks up right where Cinder left off.   Now there is an army of genetically modified human/wolf soldiers hunting Cinder down and poised to destroy all of Earth's major cities.  Fortunately, Cinder isn't alone.  She has "Captain" Thorne.  And Scarlet Benoit, aka Red Riding Hood, on her side.  Wolf, a street fighter with his own issues also joins the unusual group of fugitives.
I liked both of these books enough to buy the third book in the series, Cress.  I'll let ya'll know about it when I've read it.  :-)

The ward Autumn Festival was Saturday night.  Of course, we wouldn't be THE DeGooyers if we didn't dress up as a family!  We were elves this year!  Lord of the Rings elves to be exact.  Scott and I were woodland elves while Key Lime Pie and Kotten Kandy were from Rivendale.

We were thrilled that Lemon Drop decided to dress up too!

She was adorable in her colonial outfit!

There couldn't be a nicer girl!  And I LOVE that smile!!!!!

Doritos attempted to dress up, but the blond wig didn't work.

He is supposed to be Edward Elric (a cartoon character I had never heard of before)....

I miss my blond hair....

And Scott is the MOST handsome guy I know!

He can pull off any look - He's even better looking 

than Orlando Bloom as Legolas.

Key Lime Pie

Kotten Kandy

These two girls are GORGEOUS (inside and out)!

I'm lucky to be their mother!

HALLOWEEN FUN & IN LOVING MEMORY

We love crafting with our Bettenhausen friends/family!  Here is our latest creations:

Juice, Kotten Kandy and Key Lime Pie

Apple Pie, Marmalade and Nuts

Jelly Bean wanted his picture taken too...

He didn't make a candy corn candle, but he loved the candles themselves!

Yeah for electric tea lights!  :-)

Key Lime Pie created these cute candy corn candles

 Kotten Kandy made these crazy creations

 I joined in the fun with these adorable guys

On a somber note:

Kamelot passed away last Sunday, October 12th.  He had been suffering, and we believe he had a heart attack.  He passed away quickly.  And it was difficult for the family.  We had him for 12+ years.

He really was a good dog.  His nature was calm.  He was scared of flies.  And he was loyal, loving and a true friend to all of us.  He will be missed.  We celebrated his life this evening for FHE.  We made a beautiful memorial to mark his grave.  And we all remembered stories about his life.

He will be missed.

SWEET 16

What happened to my baby girl?

She grew up.  She turned 16.

On her birthday she got to go on her first date.

Her father took her to Havana Rumba and to Culvers.  They also went driving for awhile.  (Shhh - she doesn't actually have her permit quite yet.  She has to take a test on Wednesday before they will issue her permit.)  Her first date was a huge success!!!!!
Saturday was Key Lime Pie's Birthday Party.  (Unfortunately, the pictures were all blurry....  I'm sooooo sorry.)  Here's what happened:

"Welcome to DeGooyer Cutthroat Kitchen.  This is a special birthday edition.  The challenge: to create a birthday feast worthy of a sweet 16 celebration."
We had six chefs competing for top honors:

Chef Jalapeno claims his mentors were trolls.  They taught him how to make salamander stew and dragon stew.  His first foray with bacon was unforgettable.  (Not sure what the story is there.)  His greatest accomplishment was a chocolate hazelnut torte.  (Why have you not made this for me, Jalapeno?)

Chef Key Lime Pie has been cooking for the DeGooyer bakery for about 5 years now.  Her specialty is Peeta's Cinnamon Bakery Bread and homemade rolls.  She also enjoys cooking all types of pasta.  Unfortunately, she does not enjoy doing dishes, but will do them when prodded.

Chef Muffin has been baking for about 4 years.  She loves to bake and her specialty is snickerdoodles.  Her favorite thing to do is bake for others.  She also has set up her own "romantic dinner for two restaurant" for her parents.

Chef Doritos loves to eat, but don't tell him what you put into the food.  He is quite the pizza chef because his mother put too many vegetables on the pizzas.  "If you are the chef, it gets made your way." he explains.  Doritos has been baking since he could stir and would sit on the floor stirring the cookie batter.

Chef Kotten Kandy is known as the hardest working chef, albeit a bit clumsy.  She willingly tries new recipes and especially loves making people smile with her brownies.  She is famous for her BYU mint brownies, Ork brownies and Buck-Eyed brownies.

Chef Lemon Drop was tutored under Chef Jalapeno in making biscuits.  She progressed to muffins, mac n cheese, jello and quesadillas.  Her favorite thing to make is dessert.  Just don't ask her to bake at night; her mistake ratio increases with how tired she is.
These 6 chefs had two culinary challenges to complete in the time allotted.  But this was no simple test of skill.  They each had $16,000 with which to bid on "sabotages."  They were allowed to impair their fellow competitors.  The sabotages forced rivals to change their cooking strategy.  And the celebrity judges had no knowledge of these changes before sampling the final entries.  Our celebrity judges were:  Amy Bettenhausen, Jan Melanson and Dave Melanson.  (Honorary judge, who couldn't be here, Joyce Glaze!)

Each chef had 45 minutes to make the perfect pizza.  The dishes were judged on two criteria: presentation and taste.  The sabotages included being tied up so you could only use one hand.  Adding a banana to your pizza.  Switching places with someone else and finishing their pizza.  Baking in a microwave.  Having less time than other chefs.  And not being able to use a cheese grater.  The chefs were amazing!  And all the pizzas were DELICIOUS!

Chef Doritos took the grand prize though!  What a proud moment for him....

After the pizza round, we went to round two.  We decorated cakes - and they were supposed to represent Key Lime Pie (since it was her 16th Birthday).  The cakes were AWESOME!

The sabotages included not being able to use any utensils, using pickles in the decorating, blowing 20 bubble gum bubbles before being able to work.  And only using German Chocolate frosting (not white frosting.)  This time Key Lime Pie won!

It was a fun evening!  With really good friends!  And Key Lime Pie was spoiled rotten.

She is an amazing young lady.  She makes everyone around her smile.  She is always laughing and has a great sense of humor.  She loves music and is willing to share and work hard to strengthen her talents.  She loves the gospel.  And she has a strong desire to be the best she can be.  I'm proud of my 16 year old!  I just wish she wouldn't grow up so fast.