These two are such a joy! But such a handful, they just spur each other on to be wild & crazy. But they are at such a fun age with all of their great questions and views of the world--I love it.
This hike was so good for me, why do I go so long in between times of being out in nature? It always does me so much good, it always has. Just a way of reconnecting, relearning. A chance to take a step back from busy life and take a deep breath and to realize what is truly important. And it is not the busy, silly things that we stress ourselves over every day.
I have never been able to take those pictures where you hold the camera and take one of yourself. We just could not get it right.
But we laughed a lot trying.
What a great day. We are so blessed to live where we live to have such beautiful scenery all around us and the freedom to enjoy it all.

On that note of being so grateful; wasn't conference so wonderful?! I look so forward to those conference weekends and they always get over so fast. What wonderful talks were given, it just inspired me to better and kinder and more aware of all that I have. I love you all.

'Fear Factor..do you dare!

Can I just say how great Grammie and Grandad are!! Grammie is the party lady! I tell her she needs to start her own business with all of her great party ideas, she is just really creative and fun.
She had a party for all of the October birthdays and there are a lot in the family. She always likes to have a theme for these parties, and of course this month's is Halloween-Fear Factor.

She really goes to the hilt. Even down to the food. Look how fun, she had all these different choices of gross things to eat...
Dried skin and lotion, maggots, brains for dinner anyone?It was a 'Fear Factor' theme so there were plenty of crazy things the kids had to do.
The kids loved it and the grown-ups too! It is always so great to get together with the family. Thank-you Grammie for always making such fun parties, for all of the hard work you do and for always taking such good care of us. You and Grandad are the best. We love you.

I love these fall days. We had fun out at Willard Bay over the weekend. The weather was still warm enough to get in the water, but we must spent the time walking on the shore and collecting shells.
Emma to always create some detailed sand castle.
Also this weekend, I finally got into my grape juice project. I really don't think that I knew what I was in for. The kitchen sink was overflowing and there was still more in the baskets. And I had this crazy idea that I could get it all done while Cody was at the Priesthood session. I had these grand visions of having all these bottles full of beautiful juice by the time he walked thru the door. Boy, was I ever wrong...
...that is just not the project to get into with four screaming kids running around thru the kitchen.
Anyway at 3:30 am we finally called it good with the juice adventure. Cody stayed up and helped and it is always so good to be with him just being able to talk and laugh.
I know I am a nerd but I was so proud of my little grape juice-it just gave me a thrill to do it. All this canning stuff is new to me, so I guess I think it is still fun.

The real mountain men are here...

So here they are the true mountain men! Last weekend Cody and Grandad went on the mussle loader hunt. They went up around the Logan area and had a great time.
They got dressed up in their garb and set up the big markee tent. Cody said they ate like kings, but that is a little hard for me to believe considering they had 'blue cheese beans' --I am getting the gag reflex just thinking about it.
Oh these boys love to camp and just be out there in it. They love to rough it and love to be together. I am so glad they got a chance to get away for a little while together. They haven't been able to do that for a long time.
Oh cute Codyboy!
Looks like they had a great time--lots of hiking and lots of time to just hang out and be mellow around the campfire. We all missed you. Glad your back!

I love fall

I love fall. I am loving the weather lately. The days are perfect and the nights are so nice and cool. I am so proud of my little grape vine... it is finally growing up over our arbor and it looks so pretty. And just look and those beautiful little grapes. I am just beaming. Anyway I am excited to try and tackle making grape juice tomorrow. I've heard it is not too bad. I just remember Mom and Grandma Jean always making grape juice when we were little and it always just tasted so magical. So we'll see what happens.
I've got this crazy little love affair going on with our yard. No, I guess you could call it a love/hate relationship. I love working in the yard and the garden, it truly is one of my passions. I love being out there in the dirt with my durag on my head, I just go into my own little world. I think there might be something wrong with me...I mean I even ask if I can mow the lawn, and when I get the chance to weed wack; it's like giving candy to a baby. I don't know, I just love it. I guess it is good stress reliever for me. Anyway the hate part comes from the fact that I hardly ever get time to really be out there much. And then our maggie dog doesn't help much with her crazy adventures of digging things up right after I plant them,and peeing on the lawn, so it looks like it has pokadots- I just want to strangle her.
Not to bore you with anymore of the weird love affair I've got going on; I have just been happy that our yard is finally starting to look like a yard, where we really started from scratch here. My little herb garden is even doing well and it all just makes me happy.

On a much sadder note, Abby's little bunny escaped yesterday. It's been nothing but a huge bawl festival around here. Last night she was just walking around our yard crying her eyes out. They even made a bunch of 'missing bunny' signs to take around the neighborhood. Oh well, another pet, another day. I wonder what will be the next to enter the family....sammy has been talking about wanting a turtle. I guess we'll see.

Fall is in the air!

Well fall really is in the air, and I love it! I love the changes of the seasons. The different feelings each one brings. It seems every time fall comes around, I find myself wanting to get crafty. It always puts me in the mood for really great soups and stews. Just being cozy in the house. Anyway, we got a super weird virus on our computer and had to take in to get it fixed, so it has been a while since I have written.

Some good friends of ours had a Hawaiian-cowboy party last weekend with a roasted pig and everything. The food was awesome, it was good to catch up with friends. And the kids loved riding the horses.

Also, last weekend Grandma Jean got us all together for a weenie-roast up Spanish Fork canyon. It was beautiful! The leaves are just starting to change and the view was wonderful. I can't believe this the only picture I got that night. Lucy and Sadie deciding whether or not to get in. Well they did get in and got soaked. But they all had fun. It was great to see everyone! we missed you Heidi!!!!

Happy Birthday Aunt Cindy!! Last Monday we went to greatest restaurant to celebrate! It is called Bucca Di Beppo and it was a blast! If you've not been, you should put it on your list. The food is super good and the atmosphere is so fun. They have every inch of that place covered with the most random pictures and statues and just weird stuff--it is great . I could have just stayed there all night looking at the pictures. I had to put this photo in to redeem myself from the one on Lindsay, Heather's and Amanda's blog--talk about Jaba! Anyway we had a great time cacklin' and hootin' with mom and Cindy. With them it always promises a good time! I love you guys--missed you Heidi.

Saturday Cody was still on the mussleloader's trip, so I loaded up the kids and we went to SLC. We went to Liberty park and the Tracy Aviary. We had so much fun, the weather was perfect, except for the fact that I almost got attacked by a peacock. I swear those birds most know I am afraid of them-it never fails every time I am the one they come after! This time the kids totally abandoned me and left me for the crazy peacock. All they could do is stand safely on the side and watch while their nerdy mom ran around screaming her head off, trying to get away from the dumb thing.
I wish you could see this picture better, it is a Golden Bald Eagle, and just about the most beautiful thing you've every seen. They are pretty amazing, just how big they are. We also got to see a couple of really creepy vultures and a condor that was bigger than me. It was a great day with the kids. They always make it fun.

This is random, but I am so excited for the Body Worlds exhibit in SLC. Has anyone been yet? What was it like? That is all I want for my birthday this year. We were talking about getting everyone together and going-so let me know.

Fashion Show...

I wanted to post a few pictures of our fashion show- I thought it turned out so nice and the girls all looked so adorable. I got the opportunity of speaking to our Stake girls about dressing modestly and still being 'fashionable'. We had a little fashion show and luncheon. They had it decorated like a Garden Party with fresh flowers everywhere and soft music playing. It was just beautiful. The ladies that did the decorating did an outstanding job. I am such a boob, as soon as the music started playing and those sweet little girls walked out; I just started bawling and couldn't stop. They are all just so special and sweet, I love these kids. It was fun for Emma and Abby to be in it with their cousins Kailea and Maili, and good friends Lilly and Laura. They all did a great job. Thank-you girls!