First week of October

Here we are almost half way through October.  It's going fast and I need to get caught up.  The first week of October it literally POURED the whole week!  We had some serious lightening and thunder storms almost every night that week.  It was wet and cold to say the least.  The temperatures have definitely came down.  It has hardly been above 60 degrees.  It felt like we went almost directly from using the A/C to now the heater, with no break in between.  It supposed to freeze tonight as well.  I have to admit I wish we had "fall" temperatures for a little longer.

Steve sent me this picture while at work of the rain coming down. 

One day Carter just wanted to play outside on the grass all day w/ his tractor.  Cute boy!

On Thursday, Steve went to the Aquarium w/ Dave Thomas and his kids.  His wife Melissa had a training for work, so he had the kids all day.  Dave thought it would be fun to get out and get a change of scenery.  They had a good time looking at all the different kids of animals, then Steve took Carter home for a nap.

Carter and Calvin looking at the leopard.

 

Another day when Steve was getting out of the shower, he found Carter on our bed wrapped up in my blanket.  He had gotten it out of our closet and taken it over to our bed.  He likes to snuggle w/ my bunny as well.  Silly boy!

 

Carter w/ his Halloween skeleton pjs on readying some books before bed.

Cute Carter and Nyles eating some watermelon from our garden.  They all were really juicy, just not really sweet.  We enjoyed eating them, then we'd give the rinds to the neighbor's ducks.

 

We finally got our basement windows replaced.  We did all the others a couple months after moving in 2 years ago, but we didn't think we'd use the basement very much, so we didn't replace them.  We've since found out that we use the basement quit often, so we thought it would be a good idea to get them replaced.  With the new windows they definitely help let in more light and help better w/ temperature control.  Now we just need to paint downstairs.  Luckily we at least put the carpet in when we were putting carpet in the rest of the house.

Old window in the playroom downstairs.

New window.

Old window in the bedroom downstairs.

New window.

Old window in the garage.

Getting installed, and new window in the garage.  

All the windows let in so much more light.  It's wonderful!

 

Duck season started on Saturday, October 6th.  Steve went up Friday night w/ Zach Hannay, Rob Daniels, and Kalia Clark.  They spent the night at the cabin, then went out to their "spot" the next morning at Strawberry Reservoir by 4:30am.  Unfortunately there were a few other groups that ended up next to them, so they didn't get a lot of ducks.  They had a good time though.

Rob waiting for the ducks.

Steve all ready to go, waiting for the ducks to fly over him.

Kalia trying out duck hunting for the 1st time.  Ironically Nyles wanted to try the duck they shot.  Steve bbq'd it after socking it in soy sauce.  Nyles and Steve said they really liked it (I didn't try it).

General Conference was great.  There were more announcements made of some upcoming changes in the church (such as 2 hours of church starting in January).  It's always great to be uplifted and hear the prophet and other leaders speak.  President Nelson gave 4 invitations during the General Women's Session.  They were:

1.  Participate in a 10 day social media fast.  It's good to take a break from them every so often.  Steve and I are doing it together, which is nice.

2.  Read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year.  Steve and I are working on this already.  Our ward issued the challenge just last month.

3.  Attend the temple regularly.  Steve and I have always made this a priority in our marriage, but it's great to be reminded of its importance.

4.  Participate fully in Relief Society.  This one is only for me, not Steve ;)

On Sunday, after General Conference we went up to Midway (Melanie/Brandon's house) for family pictures and family dinner.  I made Halloween cupcakes: mummies, spiders in their webs, and monsters.  They boys had fun helping me make them.

Spooky cupcakes!

Dave and Joann w/ all the grand kids.

Front row (left to right): Lynsie Hammett, Alexa McGrath, Conor Monson, Olivia Lake, Nyles McGrath, London Monson, Noah Lake.  Back row: Cameron McGrath, Isaac McGrath, Joann and Dave McGrath, Carter McGrath, Chandler Lake and Ethan Lake.

And a picture of Dave and Joann w/ their 5 kids.  Stacie Monson, Jeff McGrath, Joann and Dave McGrath, Carrie Hammett, Steve McGrath and Melanie Lake.

Our family: Steve, Carter, Nyles and Penny McGrath 

While dinner was getting put together, we had the kids decorate pumpkins, which Dave and Joann brought.  Lynsie, Olivia, Conor and Stacie working on their pumpkins.

Phill, London, Dave, Nyles, Steve and Carter.

Joann and Alexa.

 Carter decorated his pumpkin all by himself, with a little help of Steve.

Grandpa Dave helping Nyles w/ his spider legs.

Noah helping Conor wrap his mummy pumpkin.

After dinner we sang Happy Birthday to Isaac (September) and Dave and Stacie (October).

Carter blew out Dave's candle just as we were finishing up the song.  After 2 years he's got this happy birthday thing down.  Nyles w/ his completed spider pumpkin.

 

All the finished pumpkins.

Carter enjoying some ice cream.

We had a fun time but both boys were wiped out shortly after getting on the road.

It was a fun, eventful weekend.  I am so thankful for a living prophet and the chance we have to listen to General Conference every 6 months.  I know this is His Church and He leads and guides it.  I'm thankful for the restoration of the priesthood especially so we can be eternal families.

Rest of September 2nd Half

September has come and gone.  Here are the last few highlights from the month.

Cute Carter w/ Steve after waking up from his nap.  I took a day off work so Steve could study for his test.  We walked Nyles to school in the morning.  This is where Carter learned to stick his tongue out.

Carter had to play on the playground before finishing our walk home. 
He also likes to point out all the fire hydrants on our walk home.  So cute!

Carter also likes to be my big helper in the kitchen as well.  Helping stir the potatoes.

I also took him over to the aquarium while Nyles was at school.

He's a champ at the slide now.

Since there weren't many kids in the playground area, and especially not bigger kids, Carter ventured out a little more.  It was cute to see him play.

After picking up Nyles from school we went over to the library.  They had a little craft out on a table so Nyles just had to try it.  He made 2 apples, a red one and a green one.  He did a great job following the instructions on how to make them.  We then went over to the park to play on the playground.  It was a fun afternoon!

Nyles figured out how to swing all by himself!  And Carter figured out how to climb up the ladder and go down the slides all by himself!  They're growing up too fast!

Later that week we got out Nyles' old bike and put the training wheels back on so Carter could try it.  He thinks it's pretty fun going down hill.  And more sticking out the tongue from Carter.  Silly boy!

Nyles driving the jeep w/ the neighbor boy Clay Evans next to him, and pulling Carter in the wagon.  They thought it was a riot!

Nyles made a farm w/ chalk.  He said he was just like Grandpa on the farm. 
Here is his peach tree, carrots, and corn.  Pretty creative little boy.

Steve made another add on to the trailer to hold their gas motors.

Steve is a little excited about duck season.

Nyles and Carter drawing chalk farms w/ the neighbor girls.

Nyles riding his bike to school.  A watermelon from our garden!

 

I took the boys to see if the splash pad was still open, but it wasn't, so we went to the park instead.

Carter going down the slide and he wanted to sit on the sheep :)

Cute boy.

Nyles driving the tractor.

Going around on the swing then down the slide.

 

We like to feed Ron and Becky's ducks some of our tomatoes we're growing in our garden.

The boys sit on the wall between our place, throw the tomatoes, and then watch them eat it.

Nyles and Carter drawing w/ chalk.

Watermelon, tomatoes and a bell pepper all from our own garden!

Nyles found his Halloween costume, a ninja!  

And Carter's attempt at getting toilet paper to blow his nose.

 

Steve's boat at Strawberry while scouting for ducks.

Nyles and Carter enjoying fresh raspberries from Grandma McGrath's house.

"I love to see the Holy Temple."

Nyles has been so excited to paint and carve pumpkins, he couldn't wait until October.

Cute Nyles and Carter painting pumpkins.

Steve has been working hard catching up in his program.  He's doing a great job and seems to be a natural at using the ultrasound machine.  We've got a long way to go, but we feel really fortunate he is in the program.  Another tender mercy is that we had been saving up for Steve's school for a while, even though we weren't sure he'd get into the program.  Ironically we saved enough to pay for his whole 2 years of school!  That's definitely a relief knowing we at least have his school costs covered.  The Lord has a plan for each of us, we need only have faith.