The deer story is true....except...

Everything that Rick has said is true except that what he FAILed to mention is that HE bought the food. I don't think it coincedence that James and I both managed to get sick on the same day. The real story is that R was looking to take all the glory of the "first kill" by poisoning his brothers. It would have worked too if the deer had not let Jim and I onto this early. In exchange, I made a deal with the deer to "convieniently not show up". Yes, deer are smart. -S

The Tale of the Hunt

Dear Family,

I told Mom for her birthday I would write in the BB. I would like to explain how we were out-performed, out-manuvered, and out-thought by simple deer.

My 1st excuse for the lack of success on the hunt is illness: Our first night Steve turned white during dinner and didn't want to eat any food. He went to bed and slept until about 2 o'clock in the morning. He woke up, and tried to stand up. He felt dizzy and had to lay down in the back of the truck. He finally got up and tried to pee and promptly passed out.....he woke up some time later with his pants down and "wet". Jim had a bad head ache and thought it would be a good idea not to get out of his sleeping bag to pee. He hopped to the edge of the tent and began to void only to fall over in mid stream.....wetness was again the end result. Let's just say the next morning the deer that were down wind knew we were coming.

Excuse number 2 deer are smart.

Excuse number 3: we know almost nothing about hunting, I fear for our families if we are ever in a Nephi/steel bow scenario.

Truth be told we had a great time. We would stay up every night playing stupid games like "War" with cards. We did see a few deer on private land. (A cabin must be obtained in the future.) There was nothing on public land but chipmunks. Steve and I thought about popping one with a 30-06, but weren't certain how much of a trophy we would have to bring home.

Anyway hope springs eternal. We'll get them next year. I'll leave it to Steve to make up a story about how there were bears that attacked us.

love,

Richard

The Good Citizen Award

Well, Eliza, Peter, and I just voted. As I left the one hour process and was getting my kids into the car a gentleman said, "You deserve the good citizen award." We were fine waiting in line, but during the actual voting part Peter was wailing and bending backwards in my arms and Eliza was trying to escape with the stroller. Thanks to a nice lady with "I voted early" stickers, and me knowing exactly what I was going to vote for - we made it. It also really helped that I get a lot of satisfaction out of voting. I do think I will look into mail-in ballots like Kathy has used for the last couple of elections.






In others news we carved pumpkins last night and went to the Wheeler Farm and Lagoon during the last couple of weeks.

Hope you are enjoying your fall season.

Sharon

Recent kid quotes...

""What language do babies think in? I can't remember." -Maddie

"When you're all alone in the garage, and you're hiding in the van, laugh ho ho because you know there's no such thing as a killer soccer ball." -Josh (gotta love 9-year old humor)

"Did you know that my teacher said that you can't use 'That's all, folks!' as a concluding sentence?"
"That's too bad. What would be a good example of a good concluding sentence?"
"'From that day on, I decided never to mess with snails again. Especially the Apache snail.'" -Maddie

How do babies get to school? They go on the Drool bus. - Josh (original jokes)

We love you guys. :)

DKJMJB

Hi from the Colorado Thompson-Bentleys

For the record I love the blog, Rick, not so much.

We had such a fun overnighter with Steve's family last week. We went to a place about an hour east and stayed in a cabin. While there we were scheming trying to think how to get the rest of you to come and do a family reunion in these facilities. It could be fun ... think about it.

The kids had so much fun and were up by 5am laughing and running around. Why would you be quiet at 5 in the morning when you have cousins around? We love having Steve and Rachel's family in town.

Rick, Steve and Jim are going hunting this weekend. Each night Rick comments on how cold it is in our house ... how cold is it going to be outside? Colorado is not a warm place, especially at nights. Hopefully they will all return with all their digits.

We still have an open invitation to anyone who wants to come to Colorado for Thanksgiving. Just start thinking about it and let us know sooner rather than later so we can make the appropriate plans.

Big kisses from all of us, Rick, Marisa, Cora, Lincoln, Brigham, Lydia and Clyde

We do exist and are excited for the great additions to the Bentley Clan. Yesterday Sister Moss the Mission President's wife in Tampico stopped by bringing gifts for the grandkids. It is obvious that she loves Dad and Mom and even more obvious Gpa and Gma love their grandkids. I think the gifts are for Easter or something.

Some of the events that have caused a bit of commotion this month have included: Peter burning himself with my curling iron on the back of his neck. Eliza splitting the back of her head open about 1 inch when she fell backwards on her highchair and hit the corner of the cubbyhole. Sharon's eye repeating its iritis and deciding not to get better. Matt starting doctor's visits to hopefully get rid of the back, wrist, and other pain he constantly feels. Sam having no health problems.



Matt has also been called to be the Deacons advisor and assistant Scout Master. The first major planned activity is to go camping at Crystal Hot Springs using a motor home. I think Matt will have some opinions on what will be future camping trips. In fairness, this is an annual event that has been very successful with the Deacons. Even though many of them will get to sleep on the floor of the motor home. It beats freezing in November.

Why do people have to be in the background of this picture. AAAAH!

Sam's usual camera position for family photos

We are loving the fall season and our surprise snow storm that occurred last Sunday. Peter woke up and looked out the window and was practically screaming. He couldn't believe the world was white. It was a really funny reaction.



The Gehrings

News you certainly can't use

...But that's all we have to offer. :)

Jakey: Thinks that foam is a food group. Has taken serious bites out of anything nerf, including swords and footballs. Now likes to "discuss" things at length and is frustrated that we don't speak his language. Obsessed with horses.

Maddie: Creative to the max. Is decorating a pumpkin for a school contest where they're not allowed to carve it, so she's used a rotten part of the pumpkin for an eye. It's amazing. Is creating a seriously cool human sockpuppet costume for Halloween, if Dave and I can jimmy rig it. (We seriously could use Jimmy to rig it. Where are you when we need you, Beans?)

Josh: Was one of only 20 kids in the entire school who was invited to be in the Academically Gifted and Talented group. Quite an honor, but they meet every Tuesday for two hours. I asked him if he wanted to pray about it, seeing as how he is already doing piano, Cub Scouts and iceskating. He opted out. When I asked him what made him decide, he said that he had prayed about it, and that he had discussed it with Jakey. "Jakey's a good listener."

Kar: Chopped her hair off. Dreaming of a house in the Hamptons with a personal maid, cook, and masseuse. So happy that we live close enough to Mary and Zach that we could drive over and see our newest little neice (who is beautiful, by the way! Good work guys.)

Dave: Learning to do the whole High Council thing. Gone most Sundays but looking quite smashing in his suit and clean shaven. Blessing people's lives right and left (although he'll never tell you that. But I'm onto him.) Super busy with work and traveling again.

WE love you, even though we stink at posting on time. Thanks for keeping in touch, everyone. :)

Love,

DKJMJ

the guilt got to me

The guilt sent my way has convinced me to write.

Hey fam,

Lets see, what’s new? I’m going hunting with Steve and Rick this weekend. I’m convinced that the reason they really want me to come is so that in the event of a Donnor party scenario I will be the first to go. Although Steve has the most meat on his bones. It should be fun really unless we forget matches, tp, or other essentials for survival. It’s about mid-term time in school but all is well and work is good too. Mandi is nicer to me now as well so I’m pretty happy. Jk. Big gulps huh? Well have a good one.

Jim Bean and Mand

Ps. The blog is way better than the old way. Who started the mutiny?

So we were going to wait until Rachel had our baby, but since that doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon, I guess I will report. Life is more complicated lately as I ended up spraining my ankle playing hoops. Luckily I didn't break it because it was a bad one, and quite painful. Rachel is ready to have our little Violet, but nothing is happening. Josie has learned how to say "baby," but I'm sure has no idea what is about to happen in her life. I think she'll like her, she seems to like small furry things. Speaking of furry things, Keena tolerates Josie and is actually quite kind considering the abuse she receives (from Josie, not me of course). Josie is going to be Little Red Riding Hood for Holloween. I am going to borrow my brother-in-law's wookie suit (yes, he has one too), and go as the "Big Bad Wolf." Not that my "silver-back" gorilla/abominable snowmanster suit that Mom made me wouldn't do the job swimmingly, it's just that this one is more wolfish, which is important. I tried to convince Rachel to where my suit and go as an abominable pregnant womanster, but she declined. Maybe if the baby doesn't come she'll give in and play the womanster role. I'm not getting my hopes up though. Hey, a man can dream can't he. Happy Holloween!

Dan, Rach, Josie, Violet and Kee

more fairy castle fun

Feelin' hot?

Last weekend one of my friends invited my family over for dinner. She has a big yard with all sorts of vegetables growing, including jalepeno peppers. The kids were goofing around while the adults talked away when Will got the bright idea to make Emma eat one of the peppers. Well, Emma, being the trusting little soul that she is, took a big bite at Will's suggestion. Pretty soon she was tearing up and waving her hand in front of her mouth because it was so hot. Will just thought that was so funny and was giggling in the corner as she drank glass after glass of milk to chase the spiciness away. Soon it was time to go and we all hopped in the car. We were a couple minutes into the drive home when Caroline started screaming. I looked back to see that her eyes and entire face were red and swollen. I couldn't figure out what was going on until I remembered the jalepeno peppers. It seems that the kids had stuffed their pockets with them and Caroline must have touched her eyes and face after having touched the peppers. As it always is after a long car ride home, the kids and Mom, all raced into the bathroom to use the toilet first. Will was the fastest but before long, he came out of the bathroom, jumping up and down and holering in agony. It seems he must have had some jalepeno remains on his hands too!

This is my BBB for the month and also a vignette from my memoirs: Although I will also post this so of you have said it is easier to print it off from e-mail. So I'm sending it both ways. I figure when I can't sleep and start remembering things I might as well get up and write them down. Enjoy!

Wendy Jo slid off the bed and made her way into the living room where Douglas and Bruce were still arguing over something that had begun at the dinner table. “Get the gloves and let’s fight it out,” said Bruce. Douglas gladly obliged and the boxing match began. Wendy Jo hated it when her brothers fought. It scared her and she began to cry. Gordon was sitting on the sofa. He picked her up and swung her onto his lap reassuring her with, “They aren’t really going to hurt each other. They are just having fun.” Wendy Jo wasn’t at all convinced, but after the first punch or two were delivered, the dispute was settled and the gloves were thrown off. “No, not so high!” Wendy Jo shrieked as she found herself being lifted over Gordon’s head so that she touched the ceiling. Taking turns the boys passed her from on to the other, until Bruce perched her on his shoulders and headed towards her bedroom.

Tonight it was his turn to put her to bed. He was anxious to get down the alley and play ball with the Giefer brothers, but dutifully, he listened to her prayers and tucked her into bed with one of his famous Sweet Fanny Goonie adventure stories. “Remember to leave the closet light on and don’t close the bedroom door all the way,” pleaded Wendy Jo. “Okay” he agreed and Wendy relaxed.

She awoke when a wind from the open window blew the door close with a bang. She got out of bed to open the door again when to her horror she noticed that the rest of the house was dark. Was she alone? With eyes wide with fright, she popped her thumb into her mouth. She clutched her threadbare, small, green wool, blankey with one hand, and inched out of her room and up the staircase to where the big boy’s rooms were. By now her imagination began to conger up all sorts of dreadful images. She loved make believe and stories of princesses and castles. Unfortunately, a lot of them included evil stepmothers and ugly witches. She was alone, and maybe something awful was lurking down the long hallway. Then for a second time that night she was lifted into Gordon’s reassuring arms.

October's Birthdays

With the births of Liza and Violet, October is now in second position next to May as our biggest birthday month. Here they are:
Oct. 5th Elizabeth Ivy (Liza) Williams welcome to the family!
Oct. 12th Levi Aaron Bentley turns 9
Oct. 13th Violet Bentley is due
Oct. 14th HORRORS Bishop Stephen Anthony turns 40
Oct. 24th Marisa Lee Bentley celebrates her special day
Oct. 27th Mom Bentley is another year young

Are you an orphan this Thanksgiving?

Dear Family,
Aunt Bev and Uncle Bruce wish me to extend an invitation to any and all of you who are without family this Thanksgiving (or who just don't like their family) to come to Wyoming! We all know from first-hand experience that Aunt Bev can cook and the company is great, so this is an offer that you would be wise to consider. Eric and Michelle and Pete and Natalie will be there too. Love, Kathy