October Happenings.

Baby Cousin Lovin'

Halloween Lunchin' with the Governor

 

 

 Where after the luncheon,

the kids got to meet the Governor and received a book from him.

(Did I ever mention that back when Phil celebrated entering a new decade, he also changed jobs.  He now works for the Governor's Office of Management and Budget.)

Pumpkin Carvin'

 

 

Halloween Craftin'

 

 Crazy Hair Wearin' - by Soccerboy

Corn Maize Attendin'

with my Brother and his brave Wife, who is fighting cancer for the fourth time in her young life, and their family.  Hanging out at this Maize is becoming a tradition.

 

 

where there was also pipe sliding, hay jumping and corn pit playing, pumpkin blasting and a few other activities.

 and Teenage Drivin'

6 FALLish Things Making Me Smile

1 Ms. M always wanting to wear her RED SPARKLY SHOES-even if they don't go with what she is wearing!  Wonder who she is going to be for halloween.

2 A HALLOWEEN countdown project that consumed way too much money and time, but none-the-less the little kids are enjoying it.  Notice we have already begun to countdown the days, yet it is still unfinished-it needs a title and there are 31 days in October not 30.

 3 This TOOTHLESS smile and the little man that goes along with it.

4  The BEAUTIFUL fall colors that make this time of year so amazing to behold.

 

5 The backyard garden that did really well this year.  We grew tomatoes, cantaloupe, watermelon and of course pumpkins-this pumpkin is the biggest one we have EVER grown.

6 And finally the opportunity I have (multiple times a week) to go watch my favorite sport being played by my favorite people.

 #3 that's my girl out there who doesn't always follow the ball because she gets distracted by the grass.

 #21 that is my competitive boy who is learning and growing and loving his new team.

Goalie-I don't know his number because he spends most of his time wearing a goalie shirt, but I have enjoyed watching him become involved with soccer again.

Weekends

Last weekend we escaped to the Cabin. It was very relaxing. I wish we were there again this weekend, but alas we are not.

Too many things going on this weekend like:

Soccer games
Primary Program Practice
Ward Party
Attend RSL Playoff Game
WC Meeting
Primary Program
Ordination
Family Bday Party for two oldest

So instead of being at the cabin, where I got to relax and do nothing, I will just dream of being back there and not having to worry about all this other stuff.

Okay, so we didn't just do nothing last weekend. We finished putting together this puzzle,

and we went to the Corn Maze in Bluebell

where we got LOST in the corn, not really

and the boys took turns shooting pumpkins out of a blaster

and we played around on the equipment.

We also spent an afternoon at the LAKE where these two got the greatest pleasure of throwing endless amounts of rocks into the water.


So I guess I can't say we did nothing last weekend, it was just less stressful and more relaxing than the before mentioned list of things we have to do this weekend.

Out and About

Our Joy School group took a field trip to Wheeler Farm a few weeks ago. It was nice. The weather was nice, the kids were nice and the animals were relatively nice-except for those geese who are the same size as the kids when they stand tall and stretch out their necks AND who chased after and scared our 3-year-olds to try and get the bread they were feeding to the ducks.

Miss M wasn't as interested in looking at and/or touching the animals as she was climbing up and jumping down. This girl is an adventurous climber and jumper. If it looks like something she can climb she will and then she will try to jump off of it.

And speaking of jumping. Look who has started putting on dance attire and slipping on pretend ballet shoes. When I ask her to show me what she does at her dance class, she jumps.

September

Where has September gone.

Probably my most favorite month of the year
and now it is gone.

I was so busy with driving kids to soccer, karate, scouts and helping with all the school projects and homework that September just seemed to fly by. But the weather has been fantastic and I have tried to soak as much of it in as possible before the snow starts to fall!

We had a Fall Family Outing yesterday. As we listened to the last session of conference we drove.
Drove into the mountains to see the beautiful color that appears this time of year in Utah. Then we stopped for a walk at this lovely place called Cascade Springs. Cap't Jack even came along for the ride.

I LOVE family outings. My kids don't always appreciate them but I think and hope that someday they will remember them and have fond memories of all the places we explored together.

I took the chance to get a picture of the gang that I so proudly call mine. And if you don't know them, let me introduce you...

From Left to Right we have:

The newest school kid on the block that decided he was going to collect some leaves for "SHOW n TELL" the next day - Good thinking Bubba.

Mr. Grumpypants, aka preteen, who proclaimed throughout our whole outing that "he just wanted to go home".

The leader of this gang who I like to call Mr. Responsibility, but also the Big Teaser of this gang, (I know this payback from my childhood).

Little Miss M who could get what ever she wants from her brothers, but could also be known as Miss Stubborn when it comes to potty training or doing her hair!

And last but not least, Mr. Soccer, who was so tired from his game the night before that he slept in his uniform and then proceeded to wear it throughout the next day.


Hopefully, this is just the first of a few of the things we can enjoy this Autumn together as a family.

5 Things Making Me Smile...

1 - This little cutie calling me Mama Mia.
2 - The smell of Autumn in the air.
3 - Clearing out the house from too much stuff.
4 - A lot of items checked off the Primary to-do list.
5 - An upcoming trip out west to visit a few GREAT friends.

What we have been UP to...

But first a warning.
Back up your hard drive.
So that if it crashes - like mine did,
you don't lose everything!

About a month ago the hard drive on my Mac crashed.
The Apple people we able to recover NOTHING.
This whole experience has caused me to...

not want to blog
not want to read blogs
not want to download any pictures
pretty much not use the computer unless I have to.

After avoiding the computer for most of the month,
I have decided I need to jump back in.
And of course start BACKING UP.

So don't do what I did.
Back up your hard drive.
Regularly.
And then you will not grieve over
lost pictures and documents.

Now this is what we have been up to...

We said GOODBYE to my sister and her family from California,
it was so good to have them not only visit with us,
but to be able to stay with us.


Then, a few weeks later we said GOODBYE
to our live in summer resident,
my other sister who returned to Hawaii for college.


Every Saturday for the past 5 weeks
we have enjoyed watching this young man
up his game in soccer.


Our oldest got to fly in a small airplane
with his dad and our Bishop (the pilot)
to earn his aviation merit badge.


We visited the "Healing Field"
in remembrance of 9/11.
It is such an AWESOME tribute.

My two youngest started preschool
with one of the greatest people we know,
Miss Cindy.

The hubby and I had a getaway where we spent one night
at Daniel's Summit Lodge and...

drove around where we got to see Utah
in all its autumn splendor. I love this time of year.

I got to visit son number two in his classroom at school.
That is his teacher sitting next to him,
I secretly think she is still in High School :).

Last Friday the two youngsters and I
spent a lovely day at Thanksgiving Point
with Nanna and Papa,
feeding the animals and

viewing and exploring the fabulous gardens there.

And Finally,
on Sunday evening we went for a drive up the canyon
with my Brother's family,
to once again enjoy the beauty of
Autumn.