4th Week of October

Here are some highlights from this past week, the last week of October.

On Monday, the winds were blowing really strong.  Steve went over to Dave/Joann's house to get a tree down for them.  The tree's roots were lifting up the soil and it was going to fall over in the wind.  Thankfully they were able to tie it up to Dave's truck to stabilize it enough to get it to fall right where they needed it.  Good work Steve!

Hudson was a big helper and played w/ a box inside w/ Joann.

We were "Booed" twice w/ some goodies and a note to pass it on.  We had it in our main window, but apparently they couldn't see it, so we put it next to the door this time.  The kids had fun "booing" others too.  Diane gave us a cool puzzle from the movie Coco.  Carter did the puzzle all by himself!  The boys were making a fort and Piper decided to join them :)

Carter and Nyles learning to use num-chuks in their martial arts class.

Steve tickling the boys and Hudson crawling on them.

The boys went on Wednesday to pass off their speed test at marital arts.  They normally go on Tuesday and Thursday, but they went on Wednesday in order to be free on Thursday for Dave's birthday.  

They did awesome!

Carter helping Grandpa put up Christmas lights on his birthday!

While Carter was w/ Joann on Monday, he decided to try adding M&Ms to his macaroni.  He figured since he likes macaroni and M&Ms that they'd taste good together.  Well.... they didn't, haha ;)

Carter and Piper looking out the window.  Cute baby Hudson w/ his bum in the air.  Carter fell asleep in the car on the way to LuDean's for Dave's birthday dinner.

We went over to LuDean's place on Thursday for Dave's birthday.  I cooked up a lasagna from Costco, Diane made her yummy breadsticks, and Dave/Joann brought a salad.  It was yummy!  Dave wanted chocolate donuts for dessert instead of a cake.  The boys thought it was a great idea as well :)

On Friday, after dropping off Nyles and Carter at school, they heard Nyles' school was going to do a Halloween costume parade, so they came back to watch.  Hudson had a great time eating his snacks.

Friday night we headed up to Midway for our family Halloween party at Melanie and Brandon's house, well in their detached garage.  Carter and Hudson fell asleep on the way up.  Rob rode up w/ us as well.  Olivia had a scavenger hunt for the kids after we got there.

We had chili for dinner, then played games.  It was a jungle theme.  Dave and Joann did jungle bingo.

Then we did our game which was charades, jungle animals.  Everyone had a fun time taking a turn.

Then we played jungle limbo.  It was a lot of fun as well.

Playing Limbo

More Limbo.

Dave and Joann, our family, Steve and Rob, and Dave, Rob, Steve and Phill all dress up for a jungle safari w/ a dinosaur (Ethan) near by.

Stacie, Phill, London Claire and Conor.  A Lion veggie tray and an elephant fruit tray.  

Olivia, Noah, Chandler, Ethan, Melanie and Brandon from the original Jurassic Park. 

Saturday, Steve and the boys, Dave and Rob went out duck hunting.  The weather was beautiful!

The boys definitely had fun, especially since it wasn't cold.

Steve and Nyles putting decoys out.  Carter helping Rob get the mojos ready.

Steve and Nyles throwing out the decoys.

Coming back from setting up, Carter getting a snack.

Hudson playing w/ Piper's bones.  Thankfully Piper is patient w/ him and doesn't mind :)

Cute baby Hudson trying on his monster costume.  Our pretty Mum is finally in bloom!  

Cute Hudson bum in the air again while sleeping.

Carter w/ his friend Colin at preschool in their Halloween costumes.  Carter getting his good night kisses from Piper.  All of us out Trick-or-Treating Saturday night around our neighborhood for Halloween. Nyles was an Army man, Carter was Spiderman, and Hudson was a monster. 

Carter left me some bugs in our room (he knows I don't like bugs and thinks it's funny).

Hudson all tuckered out after Trick-or-Treating.

Sunday we went to the park for a little bit.  The weather was beautiful.  Hudson really likes the swings now, just like his brothers.  Nyles and Carter also like to roll down the hill.

My cute boys!  Piper playing fetch w/ a stick and Nyles and Carter rolling down the hill again.

Rolling down the hill.

More rolling down the hill w/ Piper playing fetch.

Cute Hudson sat in the chair in between Steve and I and wanted to hold some popcorn himself. 

He's also learning to stand, or in this case, sit on Steve's hand and pretend he's standing :)

We had dinner together Sunday night w/ LuDean, Diane, Dave and Joann.  

Hudson is learning to walk with some help.  Another pic of him w/ the popcorn.

Cute Hudson likes to play peek-a-book w/ LuDean.  Piper's silly ear flipped over.

Great quotes.

3rd Week of October

Here are some highlights from the 3rd week of October.  

Steve had a busy week.  His parents and Diane left to Disneyland on Sunday, October 17th w/ Stacie and Phill.  Steve drove over to his parent's house Sunday morning, picked them up (switched over to Dave's truck) then went over to pick up Aunt Diane.  He then drove them out to the airport.  That evening we brought dinner over to Grandma LuDean.  Steve then went back every day after picking Carter up from preschool to make sure LuDean was able to get lunch and do a few errands around the house.  Friday afternoon, he also went and picked up his parents and Diane at the airport and took them home.

We also had our roof looked at.  We've had some shingles come off, and have been wondering how long it'll last us.  We knew it wasn't in the best shape when we moved in.  Two roofing companies both said that it might last another year, but that's it.  So we are contracted to get our roof replaced first thing next year, as soon as the weather permits.  Definitely not something we want to do, but something that needs to be done or course.  We feel blessed though it's held out this long and should get us through the winter.  The company said they'll come fix a leak if needs be before they completely replace it next year at no cost, so that's nice as well.

Nyles also had a Primary Activity on Wednesday for the boys.  They had one of our neighbors bring his telescope and they took turns looking at the stars.  They had postponed it from last week due to the rain and cloud cover.  They had a good time.

We decorated our Halloween pumpkins for FHE on Monday night.

Silly Hudson was supposed to be taking a nap, but grabbed his bedtime book instead and started "reading" it.  We put up a baby gate downstairs, which Hudson doesn't like.

Nap time: Piper taking a nap in our room while I work, soaking up the sun.  Cute Hudson w/ his bum in the air, and Piper all comfortable on her bed.

I got this email from the librarian at Altara about Nyles.  So proud of him!

Steve also went over to Dave/Joann's house every day to check on their house, the bird Rio, and get their garbage cans on Wednesday.  One time he came in and Rio was flying around, apparently lost and unable to find his cage.  Steve was able to get him and bring him back to his cage.  The boys also had fun playing on the trampoline, even Hudson. 

Friday afternoon, Steve went to pick up Dave, Joann and Diane from the airport, so I finished up work early to be w/ the kids.  We went outside and played for a while, then went over to the park to play as well.  It was a beautiful day to be outside.

Hudson crawling in the grass.

Hudson trying to go up the slide.

Nyles and Hudson going down the slide.

Hudson enjoying the swing at the park.

Thursday night we went over to Lowe's for a quick activity.  The kids got a bag of candy and a cup of hot chocolate.  Then Friday night after Steve got back, we went over to the Sandy Amphitheater.  They had music and did a Trunk or Treat for the kids.  

Nyles, me, Carter and Hudson at the Sandy Trunk or Treat.  Unfortunately Carter got his thumb stuck in the car door when we got home, so it was hurting.  Piper came to cheer him up :)

Silly Hudson in the laundry basket and playing w/ sprinkles.  Carter getting so love licks from Piper.

Saturday Steve went out w/ Rob and Nyles to go duck hunting.  It rained a LOT and they got soaked.  They always have a good time, but they mentioned they might not go out when it's raining that hard anymore.  Steve bought some waterproof LED lights to put inside the boat now and installed them.  That way they can see inside the boat as well, not just outside, when it's dark.

Saturday night we had our ward/neighborhood Chili Cookoff.  I made White Chicken Chili, and to my surprise it won 1st place!  Everyone got to try the different chilis and vote for their top 3.  I think mine was the only white chicken, so maybe it won since it was different.  They also had pies for dessert.  Then the kids went around and played some games and got some candy.  They even got their faces painted.  Steve had a corn hole booth w/ the young men (Deacons).  It was his last official activity w/ them.  He was released on Sunday as the Deacon's Advisor and called as our Ward Mission Leader now.  He taught a combined young men's lesson Sunday even after being released, since he was already planning on it.  Since he's been in young men's for 4.5 years, he's actually taught all of the boys that were there (Deacons through Priests), so it was a great opportunity to see them all together and teach them one more time.

Family picture.

We brought dinner over to LuDean's on Sunday and had dinner w/ her, Diane, Dave and Joann.  Dave/Joann brought cupcakes.  Hudson thought they were pretty good, especially the frosting.  He tried a orange frosting one first, then a purple one.  Such a cutie!

Nyles and Carter trying on some eyeball glasses.

Hudson loves playing w/ balloons.

Great quotes.

2nd week of October

 Here are some highlights from the 2nd week of October.

Cute baby Hudson got tired while we were grocery shopping, so he put his head down on the Halloween candy bag while sucking on a sucker.  Hudson w/ a cute fall shirt on.  Nyles and Carter decorating their Halloween houses more.

Piper sleeping while wagging her tail.  So funny!

Hudson likes me to read the book " Good Morning, Good Night!" A touch and feel bedtime book (the animals have fuzzy textures), before going to bed every night.  Hudson crawled over to pet Piper.  

Carter and Nyles earned another stripe on their belts, this time for perseverance.  

They're both working really hard and doing a great job!

Cute "officer" Carter w/ the hat he made at preschool.  Hudson playing w/ some pop-its.  

My pink Mum is finally blooming!

The boys didn't have school on Thursday or Friday due to UEA holiday.  They met up w/ Stacie and her kids and Dave at Thanksgiving Point's dinosaur museum, the museum of ancient life.

The boys operating on my stuffed animal bear with their tools.

Friday, October 15th, Steve and the boys went up to the cabin to help winterize it.  Joann came over and rode up w/ them also (Parley's was shut down due to an accident).  Hudson was a big helper getting things out of the fridge.  Rob came up the night before w/ Dave to help also.  They went fishing for a couple hours in the afternoon.  They also saw a Bald Eagle!

Hudson being his squeaky self.

Hudson telling Grandma Joann a story.

Though it was really cold (the boys wore their snow clothes), they caught a LOT of fish!  

They each took turns reeling in the fish.  

Nyles reeled in a really big Kokanee Salmon.  Unfortunately they had to release it since it's spawning season.  He did a great job though bringing it in.

Cute baby Hudson awake from his nap at the cabin.

Hudson checking out the new propane fireplace at the cabin.  

Back at home, Hudson watching Piper eat one of her bones.

Saturday morning we went to Thanksgiving Point to see their scarecrow festival at Ashton Gardens.  

It was really fun to see all the different scarecrows entered.  Here are some we really liked:

-Bernie Sanders (haha), Mike Wazowski and Sullivan, Godzilla, and a bird scarecrow.

Legoman, another Mike Wazowski, the mouse from "If you give a Mouse a Cookie" book and Dwight Schrute from the office. 

The boys playing w/ leaves, cute Hudson enjoying the ride, and playing cornhole.

Nyles and Carter going down the slide.

Nyles and Carter playing w/ sticks, then going up the slide, and getting cotton candy.

Nyles and Carter w/ their cotton candy that tastes like Tiger's Blood.  

It was shaped like a penguin as well.  It was a beautiful day and the festival was fun!

When we got back, Steve went to Farmington Bay to duck hunt.  He took Nyles, Carter, Rob and our neighbor Jacob Anderson as well.  The weather was nice, and they shot 1 duck.

On their way out at Farmington Bay.

Nyles showing off the Blue Wing Teal duck they shot.

While the boys were out hunting, Hudson, Piper and I hung out.  Hudson started "normal" crawling vs his army crawl that he normally does.  He's getting it down!

He likes to "play" with Piper also, like his brothers.

Sunday we made Halloween sugar cookies again.  We also made chicken noodle soup and took it down to have dinner w/ LuDean.  The boys operating on my bear again.  And Nyles and Carter playing w/ their shark blankets Aunt Diane made.

Great quote.