U-N-I-O-N...On To Victory!

Titans are in the State Semi-finals!!!! If you weren't at the Saturday night game, you missed a great game. Jennifer was a bit worried (as we all were) after the first half, but the Union Titans showed they knew how to play and came back from the half time with a vengeance. With only a minute left to go in the game the score was tied 14-14. The Ferndale Golden Eagles had the ball on the 35 yard line going in. It was 4th down with a yard to go. The Eagles' coach decided to let the time run down to 14 seconds. He called a time out and put in the field goal team. Union then called a time out to ice the kicker. The tension was so high it was incredible. As soon as the ball was hiked, #2 Dex Homer from Union crossed the line and blocked the kick. The ball bounced up into #18 Mitch Saylor's arms, who ran the 65 yards for the winning touch down with 3.3 seconds to go!!! The crowd went wild!!! Jennifer, the ultimate cheerleader, lead the crowd down onto the track so they could swarm the field once the game was officially over. Our boys, who were at home 2 miles away, could hear the roar of the crowd and the jubilation of our band. Friday we'll be up in Tacoma for the Semi-final game against the #3 team from Lakeview. Wish us luck.

Fall in the Great Northwest

Today Aaron had his final football game. The weather cooperated for the first part of the game, but in the end the rain started coming down fast and furious. (I think the boys loved playing in the rain, mud, and cold.) By the time the game was over they were drenched. From there Andrew and Edward joined Aaron, me, and some of the other Cub Scouts in our pack to march in the Veterans Day Parade. Not many of them could make it, so we needed our Den Chiefs to help out.

We carried a flag that measures about 8' x 12'. By the time we got to the end of the parade route I think it weighed at least 10 pounds more with all the water. The rain actually held off until we had passed the final review stand, then the sky opened up and it came down hard. At one point one of the other leaders said, "Slow down boys, the Bishop wants to get a picture." My glasses were so wet and steamy that I couldn't see him at all. I always cry at a parade, but this year was even more moving. As the boys passed the review stands, not only did they salute the Veterans in the grandstands, but they also sang "Its a Grand Ole' Flag." We heard a lot of nice comments from the crowd. I'm so proud of my boys.

I'm So Depressed

I can't believe that so many people fell for the Democrate line this year of vote for us and we will take care of you from craddle to the grave. I can see why the prophets have been warning us to be prepared for tough times ahead. Tuesday, when Aaron got home from school he wanted to make a poster that read, "Vote for John McCain" and go stand out on the corner down by Safeway. This morning he told me that he didn't think he should go to school, as everyone else in his class was "voting" for Obama. I told him that as conservative Republicans, we just had to suck it up and stand firm in our convictions.

Halloween

Ed and Edward were out of town all week (Ed in Denver on business and Edward in San Diego with Grandma & Grandpa Greenfield) so Jennifer, Andrew, Aaron and I all decided to have a Halloween party for family home evening. We ate "monster toes", "ghostly ghoul", carmel apples, and drank various concoctions (ie grave yards). We also played a few games, such as who could eat the donut off the string the fastest (Jennifer won), and bobbing for apples. The kids love bobbing for apples and each did it several times as they dunked their whole head in. Later, the two boys carved their pumpkins. Andrew's was a face, and Aaron's was the profile of a beagle - Dapple I believe - either that or Snoopy.

On Halloween night Ed got home from Denver just in time to take Jennifer to the Evergreen football game so they could watch a few of the young men from our ward play. They then stayed at McKenzie stadium to watch the Union Titans football game (the varsity team was playing the Camas Papermakers) since Union was undefeated. I am happy to report they remained so. Jennifer's friend John stayed after his Evergreen game to hang out with Jennifer during her game. (She didn't have to cheer for this game, so she wasn't busy.) I took Andrew and Aaron to the church building for "Trunk or Treat". This is were everyone goes from car to car (or trunk to trunk) to beg for candy. The boys made a huge haul. Andrew went as Wolfman, and Aaron went as the ultimate Huskie Fan. From there we went to visit with Grandpa Mueller and then over to join Jennifer and Dad at the football game.

Apples, Apples, and more Apples

We were invited to go to Echo, Oregon to the orchard of our friends and pick apples and make fresh apple juice. Several members of our ward went down and we brought back over 500 gallons of freshly squeezed apple juice and at least a ton of golden delicious apples. I have spent the last week trying to find time to can. I have done up at least 21 quarts of apple sauce so far, and I haven't made a dent in the amount of apples our family brought home. Somehow I managed not to get any pictures of the kids actually picking the apples, but here Jennifer, Edward, and some of the other youth that came along are washing the apples in preparation for them being ground to mash. From there the apple mash was loaded into the press, where the juice was literally squished out. It is the best tasting juice around. (Too bad Ed can't enjoy, as he is allergic to uncooked apples.)

Edward and Jennifer also helped bring up boxes of fresh apples from the orchard with the help of Donna and her trusty tractor. I don't think there was a job there that they didn't do. We were all tired and a bit sticky when we were finished.

If you happen to want to come over and help me can, I would love to give you apples to can for yourself. Bring along your own jars and we'll can yours on the spot as well.