Halo's, High Heels, Honor, Halloween, History & More

We had a wonderful and busy October!

Kayla turned 15! I finally accepted the fact that she will be able to drive in one short year and so we started practicing. I'm very proud of my calm and collected demeanor. She tries not to show how excited she really is. We had a “white quinceanera” birthday party. There are some really cool traditions for this very important birthday for Spanish girls turning 15. They are brought out into society as a woman and to symbolize this they are given their first pair of heels and a crown. As I looked into the symbolism of the crown I learned that it originally symbolized a halo representing deity or a source of light or the sun which gives life to all things. This is especially significant to a woman because she is, body and soul, a source of life. We symbolically “pass down the crown of light” from mother to daughter. It was a fun and beautiful moment when I placed the crown on her head. She will make a great queen. The high heels tradition was passed down from European men who wanted to look taller. Women liked the look and have kept the tradition going simply for aesthetic purposes that I think we all understand:) The girls made some adorable paper shoes from a template I found online.

And yes, baby Joseph also turned 1 year old on the same day, but we waited for the visitors to come for his party. And it was worth the wait. It was wonderful to have family here to celebrate a birthday. That never happens!

JT is continuing to earn merit badges and grows closer to his Eagle. I was asked to speak at his Court of Honor and it really was an honor. He's doing really awesome in school though it gets harder each week with the pressures and struggles to maintain his standards. As long as he keeps up his personal scripture study he handles it well.

The kids participated in the Mexican Consulate Concert again this year. JT knocked everyone's socks off. They had to take a deep breath when he was done! Kayla choose a very difficult Mozart piece and did really well. She looked like a movie star, with actual talent.

The trunk or treat was fun this year. Simple and over with before dark. Love it! Thomas was Thomas the Train and Joseph was a train engineer.

The highlight of the month was Mom & Dad & G&G Nielsen here for a visit. The best night was sitting around telling stories. Here are a couple you may not have heard before:

Grandma Nielsen got a little Shetland Pony one day for her girls to use out on the farm. However, there was only one way to get it home. They put a diaper on it and put it in the back seat of the car! It was so small that Grandma's feet nearly touched the ground as she sat on it. I love that picture in my mind.

Once, the girls (Sandy & sisters) caught a chipmunk, but it got out and was around the basement for about a month. One morning Sandy woke up and that chipmunk was sitting right on her chest looking at her.

Grandma Nielsen's Great Grandfather, John Jones Williams, joined the church in Wales. Before they joined the church they had gone to london to work as apprentice blacksmith's in the kings stable. He met and married Jane Emma Merrified, who was a lady in waiting for the court. When she joined the chruch her family disowned her. They worked and saved to go to America and their first baby was born on the ship to America. They soon had everyone on the ship converted to the gospel. At one point, the wind completely stalled and they were in danger becasue of short supplies. So, the captain said, “Well, you're supposed to be Mormons. Do something!” So, they fasted and prayed and the winds came up and they made it to America.

Other highlights and picture explanations: Kayla got to try on a dress from Spain; I got to try on an Alpaca sweater from Brazil; and JT wore a Brazilian poncho that a friend wore to school each day as a nine year old.

We went on a trip to a pumpkin patch to ride a hayride that Thomas still talks about and to buy a $7 pumpkin that I could have bought at Walmart for $3.50!