The Noehren's

We got dolled up last night in our pirate best for our ward's fall festival.   Brian's wig made me chuckle.  He said it looked like he was going to an Aerosmith concert.  On our way home we drove by this over the top Halloween house on Tanbark Rd.  If you live in town - it's worth getting out and walking around day or night to check out all they have going on.  Today, I'm back to being a sick Pirate.  I guess I over did it last night!  Boo. 

Brian flew to Iowa this afternoon for a quick work trip and as Grant said tonight's dinner prayer he "blessed daddy that he can have a safe trip to another world."  Haley and I got a good laugh out of it.  Sweet boy, let's keep daddy on Earth! 

Fall has officially begun now that the 2011 Noehren applesauce and apple pie filling has been made!  The house smelled heavenly. Our 2 bushels made 6 jars apple pie filling and and 14 jars of applesauce.  Yummy!

Over the years I've learned that I seem to be prone to some wacky embarassing moments.  I've also learned to just roll with it and get a good laugh.  So, yesterday I'm at church teaching the adult women's group and realize that my nylons are creeping down.  Then I realize I can't even form sentences because they are creeping WAY down and it's probably only a matter of minutes before they are down to my knees and visible below my skirt.  I tried my best to move forward but then realized there is NO way I could stand in front of a group and teach a lesson with this going on!  After weighing my options I told them my pantyhose were falling down, ran out of the room to an empty room across the hall - ripped the things off and returned to teach my lesson!  How embarassing - but mostly how funny is that??  I'm sure I had everyone's attention!  Have you had any embarassing moments happen lately?

Not many outside of academia understand the throws of academia - but victories come in the form of publications, presentations and grants...and I am happy to announce that this week Brian got all 3, plus notification that his lab will recieve a 100K facelift (much needed for the old centerfuge NASA spun monkeys in)!!!!!  The grant is one of the big ones that will carry him through the next 3 years and fund the majority of his salary plus pay him to work on his month off (which he never really took off anyway).  Universities like it when you get somebody else to pay your salary!  So, he's happy to finally focus on his true love - research - and not be spread thin with everything else and I'm happy for him!  Plus, this is a major help in getting tenue (aka - not moving again)!  It really is the best week ever!

I just had to share my EXTREME joy!  My dining room is no longer empty...AND the beautiful china my mother in law has helped me acquire finally has a home.  Although our dining room has been empty for over 2 years now we weren't planning on buying anything until next spring.  But last Thursday I felt this sudden urge to start thinking about pretty centerpieces I could make for Thanksgiving when a lot of my family is coming.  Well, as my wheels started turning - I quickly started thinking that maybe we should be thinking about getting a table now - when we need it, rather than in 6 months.  I call Brian to tell him how my centerpiece ideas have now turned to table ideas and even though he thought I was nuts he agreed to check out some stores after work Friday.  Well after looking at 7 stores Friday and Saturday morning I came home not seeing anything I was crazy about and everything was so expensive!  In my dejected state I decided to look at...

Friday, Grant's preschool went on a fieldtrip to a fun apple orchard.  We got to pick pumpkins, apples, go on a hayride and play on their amazing playground.  While I was working Saturday night, Brian roasted marshmellows in the firepit,  looked at the stars through Haley's new telescope she bought with her birthday money,  ...and then camped out in the sunroom for the night!  It was adorable to come home and see all 3 of them fast asleep in the sunroom.  Looks like I missed all the fun this time!