Spooky sound effects

We're getting excited about having trick-or-treaters on Halloween because Walt is rigging a system where sound effects are triggered by people walking up to our house (a hooting owl), ringing the doorbell (a moaning ghost), us opening the door (a loud creak) and us closing the door (a goofy voice saying Happy Halloween). We tried to pick sound effects that aren't too scary, but enough to get some blood pumping. :)

Silbling Sleepover

This weekend was the 1st Annual Graden Sibling Sleepover. It was kind of last minute. Monday night Bry and Sarah were here for dinner and FHE and we were talking and realizing that three of us would be on Fall Break that week, Bryan would finish the 3rd of his 4 accounting tests on Saturday morning, 5 of us have October birthdays, and all of this called for some kind of major celebration! Everyone jumped on board and all six siblings were here at our house Saturday night with spouses and kids, making a total of 14.5 of us (Sarah is due in 6 weeks)! Everyone arrived around 6:30, and we ate pizza and talked and laughed and played King, Queen, Beggar until we felt like going to bed. Jon and Heather ended up going back home for the night, but the rest were here. The nieces all slept in our den, all our bedrooms were full, and one couple was on the family room floor. Definitely worth repeating. Good memories!

Month of Birthdays

Today is my brother's birthday and my step-mom's birthday. Next week is my Dad's birthday and my step-brother's birthday. The next week is my nephew's birthday, my sister-in-law's birthday, and Walt's birthday. Walt has another nephew due on Monday, so that will make 8 birthdays in October! It's almost like Christmas for all the people I need to think about and do something for. It's so fun! (But a little hard on the budget).

This week on Thursday and Friday is a big conference for the Utah Association of School Psychologists. I sit on the state board for that organization and co-chair the conference committee, so it has been a big deal, and I'll be glad when it's over. To be honest, several other members of the committee have done way more for it than I have since they all work together in Salt Lake and have done these conference before, and I'm new and kind of out of the way in Provo. I've learned a lot about organizing a big event, though. There are so may details to work out, and so many expenses to consider. Wow.