3rd Week of September

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

Carter made a "fort" out of wood blocks and later doing his spelling words.

Hudson smelling the flowers at Sam's Club.  Steve and I were able to go to the temple Tuesday morning after dropping the boys off to school and Hudson at pre-school.  It was fun to go together in the morning, during the week, instead of the evening like we usually do.

Pretty Mums in bloom in our front yard and a Daisy.

Friday night our ward had a chili cookoff.  Steve made some chili in the smoker called "over the top smoked chili."  You let the beef cook/smoke above the beans/rest of the chili.  It was SUPER YUMMY!  Good work Steve!  Hudson playing in the water w/ a spray bottle.  He LOVES playing in the water anyway he can.

Steve finished his duck blind.  The frame is what my dad helped him build when we were up to visit last month.  Then Steve added netting and grass to it.  This way they can sit in the boat and be hidden better so the ducks will fly right to them.

Saturday afternoon, Steve took Nyles out for his first duck hunt at the Youth Opener, 3 weeks before the "regular" hunt begins.  Nyles officially finished his Hunter's Safety on June 3rd so he was super excited to actually shoot this time.  Carter wanted to go along as well.  Rob also went to help and Jeff's son Cameron came too (Steve picked him up in Lehi on the way to Utah Lake).  Cameron wanted to do the "trial program" to see if he liked it first.

I took Hudson to the park and library while the others were gone.

Getting set up.  Carter made a little "fort" at the back of the boat.  Cameron and Nyles ready to hunt.

Nyles shot a hen Mallard and a Coot.  He did awesome!

Steve getting Nyles' bird he shot, then cleaning up their decoys.

Pretty sunset coming home.

Nyles and Steve coming back to the boat.

On Sunday, we had our Primary Program.  Nyles and Carter did a great job w/ their parts and singing the songs.  Steve sat up on the stage as well to help the Primary kids.  Dave and Joann came to support them and my parents/Diane/LuDean were able to join w/ a Zoom link (thanks for your support!).  Unfortunately they couldn't hear the music though since they forgot to put more mics in the back.  They all did great though!  Good work boys!

Steve helping the kids w/ their parts.  We had dinner w/ Diane/LuDean/Dave/Joann that evening.  On the way over we discussed helping others and not doing it grudgingly or w/ a sad face.  Steve demonstrated to the boys a sad face (he's really good at it) :)  We played Cards Against Humanity Family Edition after dinner, which was fun!

Steve has been doing awesome w/ his weight loss.

He is now officially down 100 lbs since he started his weight loss journey back in June!

Awesome job Steve!

Great quotes.

2nd Week of September

Here are some highlights of the 2nd week of September.  The weather has been nice and we enjoyed some fun activities outside.

I went into work this week, taking the train in, passing the construction on the SLC temple.  Steve has been busy working on his boat blind that my dad helped him build/weld.

Silly Hudson using the roller on Piper.  Carter finally got his loose tooth out, with Steve's help.  

As you can see his other tooth has been coming in behind it, so we're glad it's finally out ;)

My cute boys!  Nyles and Carter ready for picture day.

Carter and Hudson trying on their pirate costumes for our cruise coming up in November.

We went on a walk and got rained on, but it stopped after a bit thankfully.  

We saw the zebra and emu on our way back.

Carter w/ his award from school.

Carter getting his award.

Carter getting his award.

It's the responsibility of 5th graders to help as crossing guards.  Nyles took his turn this week.

Nyles working as a crossing guard at his elementary school.

Cute Hudson at Scheels, then playing w/ the chalk.

Friday night we went over to Mountain Point Lake and Hot Springs w/ the family. Jeff reserved it for everyone and we all paid our share for the 3 hours we were there. I invited Pauline and Rose to join us, though only Pauline could make it.

Nyles and Hudson swimming. Pauline and Lincoln on our kayak.

Ezra jumping off the highest spot into the lake. Cameron on a paddle board.

Cute Carter.  Steve and I on the kayaks.  Pretty sunset.

More fun on the lake.

Pauline and I on the kayaks.  Hudson and Nyles swimming some more, then over to the hot springs.

Making some s'mores (Kathy, Kim's mom in the back), Claire, Olivia and Nyles.  Nyles and Carter rode home w/ Phill/Stacie and stayed the night w/ them.  The girl cousins also stayed the night w/ Claire.

The next morning we woke up early (before 7am) and drove up to Farmington Bay for the Youth Waterfowl Festival.  It was Hudson and my first time going.  The boys were all pretty excited to go.  It's a free activity, especially geared towards kids to learn about the outdoors, especially hunting and little bit of fishing.

Hudson w/ his free duck decoy.  Going on a boat ride.

Learning how to use their free duck calls.  Hudson walking w/ Grandpa Dave.

Learning to duck call.

Taking an airboat ride.

So fun!  The kids that came: Lynsie, Alexa, Claire, Olivia, Hudson, Carter, Nyles and Conor.

Airboat ride.

Trying to guess which duck is which.  Throwing bean bags.

Conor taking a turn trying to shoot a duck, then Hudson.  

Hudson also shooting the dart gun w/ Olivia's help.  Olivia and Alexa playing w/ Hudson.

Nyles shooting.

Steve enjoying the boat ride.  Going on another air boat ride.

Fun times on the boat!

Switching spots, then Conor and Nyles getting cat tails blown in their face.

Airboat ride.

Airboat ride, another view.

Airboat ride.

In addition to all the free stuff they already got going around to the different booths, they then have free door prizes.  Incredibly, almost all the kids won a prize.  Hudson won a goose call, Nyles won shooting targets that explode, and Carter won a sling shot.  After getting their door prizes, we packed up and headed home.

As we were headed home, our friends Dave and Melissa Thomas asked if we wanted to go to the Aquarium w/ them.  We got home, I hurried and showered, then we met them at the Aquarium.

The "touch pond" checking out the starfish and sea anemone.  The turtle got turned upside down.  Hudson watching the penguins.

Piper, Tessa and Carter sitting on the Comodo Dragon.  The clouded leopard was out!  

Going across the bridge.

Getting some peaches off our tree.  There are LOTS this year again!  Steve finishing up his blind.

Hudson playing on the ukulele.

Great quotes as we prepare for General Conference coming up in a couple weeks.

1st Full Week of September

Here are some highlights from the 1st full week of September, after Labor Day.

Steve took Hudson to the Butterfly Museum while the other 2 boys were at school.

Hudson and I coming down the slide at the park, then smelling the flowers at the store while the other 2 were at Martial Arts.  Pretty Sunset.

Hudson getting out of bed when he's not supposed to.  My cute boys on the morning of my mom's birthday, September 7th.  Carter got an award at school from his teachers for working hard.  Nyles was also elected by the teacher's at their school to be on the Student Council.  Good work boys!

Friday late afternoon, after work, we packed up and headed up to Rockport State Park to go camping.  We met Jeff/Kim's family up there as well for the weekend.  The boys were excited to use our camper trailer again.

Silly Hudson playing in Piper's kennel.  Our camper all set up.  Getting a fire going at Jeff/Kim's campsite.  We put the kayak's on top of the roof rack on the Honda.  The Honda did great going up Parley's Canyon thankfully and we made it in good time.

Hudson playing in the hammock.  Pretty sunset.  Getting stuff ready for s'mores.

Nyles, Steve, Carter, Cameron, Hudson and Kim.

The next day Hudson playing w/ his boat at the reservoir.  Nyles and the kids went on a walk w/ the dogs and Carol (Jeff's friend Richard's neighbor who was camping by us).

We then got our gear and brought them down to the water.  Phill came up w/ Claire and Conor for the day.  Stacie was gone for the weekend.  Hudson playing in the muddy water.  Cameron putting mud on his face.  Conor, Carter and Nyles playing in the muddy water.

Claire and Alexa putting mud on their faces and playing w/ Hudson. Steve, Hudson and I going on a ride on the kayaks.  Jeff flew his drone above us as we were kayaking.

Steve and Nyles in kayaks.  Then Nyles in a kayak and Conor and Carter in a raft.  

Alexa and Claire playing on the paddleboard.

Steve and Nyles going out for a ride.  Kim on the kayaks.  Steve took Hudson for a quick ride in the car and he fell asleep, and for a few minutes back in the camper, then came back down to the water.

Nyles trying out the paddleboard.  Kim on the kayak.   Claire, Hudson and Alexa on the paddleboard.

Nyles and Carter swimming while Conor tried to get on the raft.  

Hudson playing in the rocks.  Carter and Nyles on the paddleboard.

Beautiful flowers.

That evening a wind came up, so we moved our dinner inside our campers.  

Carter, Cameron and Hudson playing on the hammock.  Beautiful sunset.

The next morning at breakfast: Cameron and Hudson playing on the hammock again.  Kim, Alexa, Carter and Nyles getting breakfast.  Jeff and Steve working on getting the fire going.

Steve hit a big achievement this week, he got below 300 lbs.  He started at 392 lbs in June.  He was also able to use our "regular" kayaks instead of our bigger one that he normally uses which can hold 2 people.  He's doing awesome!  Good work Steve!  Another pretty sunset.  The boys racing for fun.

Great quotes.