2nd week of October

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

Carter got a weird bump on his leg, so Steve took him into the Dr. to check on it.  It was some sort of bug bite he got while out duck hunting w/ Steve.  The Dr. gave us antibiotics just in case it changed for the worse, but thankfully it has pretty well cleared up.

I went into the office this week.  On Wednesday, October 11th, I organized a potluck for my team at lunch.  I asked Steve if he would make his Smoked Chili, which he did.  It's super yummy w/ the smoked flavor from the smoker  After dropping the boys off at school, he took me into work so I didn't have to carry a big pot full of chili on the train.  Everyone LOVED the chili at work and ate it all up! Nyles was sad he didn't get any to eat, so Steve make ANOTHER batch during the day, and we had it for dinner.  Thanks Steve!!!

Steve and I got this text from one of Carter's teachers.  He's doing awesome!  Carter's leg w/ the bug bite.  The yummy smoked chili Steve made for us for dinner.

A cute picture of Hudson that Jeff took while at the hot springs a couple weeks ago.  Cute Hudson waiting in line at preschool.  Piper all snuggled up next to the fire.  We've had a few pretty cool days this week, so we turned on the fire.  The chili we had was perfect as well as it rained most of the day.

 The SLC Temple still under construction.  I'm on the train going to work w/ another rainy cool day.

Our neighbor Ron helped Steve straighten up our trailer light after someone hit it backing their trailer up while Steve was out duck hunting.

Friday morning Nyles got an award at school.  Dave and Joann came to see him.

Nyles w/ his award, along w/ other students and their new principal Julie Fielding.

More pictures w/ Steve, Dave, Joann and Hudson.

Great job Nyles!!!

Friday evening we had the family Halloween Party up at Melanie/Brandon's place (in the garage).  It was Harry Potter themed.  Nyles was Harry Potter, Carter was Neville Longbottom, Steve and I were Vernon and Petunia Dursley (Harry's Uncle/Aunt) and Hudson was our little Dudley Dursley.  I made mini pumpkin pies (made in a cupcake tins).

Joann was Professor Sprouts and Dave was Cornelius Fudge.  We also wanted to surprise Stacie for her 40th birthday coming up, so we combined the family party and invited some of her friends.  Hudson hid under the table as we waited for her to say "Happy Birthday."  She was pretty surprised thankfully.  Stacie dressed up as the lady who guards the Gryffindor Tower.

Carter, Conor (as Dobby), and Nyles.  Nyles trying on the 'sorting hat' to find out which house he belongs to.  Then Hudson and Carter's turn.

Steve taking a turn w/ the sorting hat.  Joann w/ Nyles, then Carter.  

Stacie getting sorted and singing Happy Birthday to her.

Brandon as Lucius Malfoy, Phill as Mundungus Fletcher, Melanie as Sybill Trelawney, and Diane as Arabella Figg.  They were awesome costumes!

More fun pics.

Saturday morning we went to check out the eclipse.  We stopped by Draper Park for a minute, then went to the Jungle Hike to enjoy some nature while we were viewing the amazing eclipse.  There were a lot of bikers on the trail, totally oblivious to the eclipse that was happening, so we let them borrow our glasses for a minute to look at it.  It definitely got cooler as the moon covered the sun, and it got darker as well.  Our shadows were "fuzzy" as the sun got covered.

We then went through the Jungle Hike.  The fall colors are so pretty this time of year.

Pretty leaf.  Piper wanted to go pretty fast, so Carter, Piper and I went quickly.  Steve came a little later w/ Hudson and Nyles.  Carter and I saw a little bunny while we waited.

Our Honda hit 100,000 miles this week!  The eclipse w/ the 'ring of fire' (further south than we were).

Steve and Nyles then went duck hunting that afternoon, so Carter, Hudson and I went to Sprucewood to play on the playground.  They wanted to roll down the hill as well :)

Going around the spinner and climbing on the rock wall.

A cute fuzzy caterpillar Nyles saw out duck hunting.  Ryan Miller and his son Gavin came out w/ them as well.  Steve has been taking them out the last 3 years to learn how to duck hunt.  Gavin and Nyles both shot a duck!

Sunday afternoon we went for a quick stroll up Little Bell Reservoir to see more fall colors.

Hudson getting a ride w/ Steve.  Carter and Nyles on the trail.  Beautiful colors around the reservoir. 

Family pics.

We enjoyed the sunset as we hiked back.  So pretty!

Beautiful colors across the valley.  Checking out the rock.  

Nyles enjoyed a little pumpkin pie after we got home.

Great quotes from our October Conference:

First full week of October

Here are some highlights from the first full week of October. 

The boys have been working hard in their marital arts classes and earned their next belt color.  Nyles is now a Red belt and Carter is a blue belt.  Awesome work boys!!!

Carter took a field trip up to the Leonardo downtown SLC.

Steve and Hudson went to the Butterfly museum.  Hudson loves to "hold" the butterflies.

Silly Piper wanting to get a belly scratch.  Hudson trying on "Harry Potter" glasses.  Hudson found a little lady bug and was just content letting it crawl on his fingers.

Nyles lost his final baby tooth at school, besides his wisdom teeth.  He also got a cool shirt for being on the Student Council this year.  On Friday, the whole student council went to another Elementary School for some leadership development.  One activity he did was to put pictures on a poster of what he likes such as nature.  Nyles is growing so much and applying himself.  We are so proud of him! 

Saturday afternoon Steve, Nyles and Carter went out to go duck hunting (the official opener for the regular season).  Rob and Cameron went as well.

They had a great time and Nyles shot, and retrieved, his first duck!  Good work Nyles!

Steve and Nyles shooting.

Nyles and Steve shooting.

While they were out hunting, Hudson and I went to the park and library.  

Pretty sunset getting off the water.

On Sunday, we made Halloween sugar cookies and decorated them w/ Kool-Aid orange frosting, candy corn and sprinkles (my mom's family tradition).  Afterwards we went for a nature walk.  There were lots of pretty fall colors to see.

We haven't gone on this hike for at least a year, so it was fun to go again.  It's a hike made for kids, so there were lots of fun things to see and do.  Hudson scratched his knee, so he thought he needed to hold up his shorts to make it feel better.

Fun logs to climb over.  Pretty colors.

Family pictures.

Hudson wanted Steve to carry him the last minute since his knee was hurting :)  More pretty colors on the hillside.  When we got home we decorated our pumpkins.  We don't carve them since Steve is allergic to the insides.

Great quotes.

Last Week of September

Here are some highlights from the last week of September.

Hudson and I playing at the park while the others were at karate.  Piper sniffing out a little bone/treat we stuck in a toy.  Great thought.

The boys had Parent Teacher Conferences this week.  Nyles and Carter got out of school early on Thursday, and Hudson didn't have school at all on Thursday.  Steve met w/ all of their teachers.  They are all doing awesome!  They are all working hard and applying themselves.  We are so proud of them in their efforts and determination to give it their all.

Thursday evening, we went over to Gardner Village to find the witches.

Finding the witches and enjoying the fall decor.

Trying to get a family picture.  After finding all the witches, our family tradition is to go to Winco close by and get pumpkins and a treat.  So fun!  Almost a full moon coming home.

Nyles volunteered to mow the lawn for me on Friday since I was working and they didn't have school. It was Nyles' first time to mow.  Steve stayed w/ him to teach him until he got the hang of it.  Nyles did awesome!  He said he really enjoyed mowing and wants to do it more, but I also enjoy it, so we'll see :)  That afternoon we finished packing up, and drove over to Starvation Reservoir. 

 Carter and Hudson were cheering Nyles on while jumping on the trampoline. 

There were beautiful fall colors driving up Parley's Canyon; so pretty!

Piper quickly found a spot in the camper to relax.  The boys wanted to check out our spot.  We were right next to the reservoir, and had Big Cottonwood trees for hammocks.  Pretty sunset, then we saw the full moon, which was amazing!

The boys playing in the hammocks.  They wanted a fire of course before going to bed.

Hudson getting one more snack before bed (microwave popcorn).  Carter showing Piper a secret hiding place under the table.  The cool full moon behind the camper.

The next morning we cooked pancakes and bacon.  We tried out our new griddle top, which worked great!  Carter enjoying his breakfast, snuggled up in his blanket he bought in Mexico.  Hudson found a rubber ducky on the sidewalk w/ a string on it, so he took it for a walk.

We then went over to the beach.  There was a tight rope the boys had to try, then played in the sand.  We were the only ones on the beach and only a few boats in the water, which was nice!  General Conference was starting by then, so I pulled it up on my phone and listened that way.

We took the kayaks out for a ride.  Piper even came for a ride w/ me.  Then I dropped her off and took Hudson for a ride.  There were Seagulls everywhere!

Carter having fun in the sand.  Nyles and I went out for a ride as well.

We then cleaned up and went and had lunch.  The State Park has a 3D archery course you could go on (free), so we went and borrowed some bows/arrows and gave it a try.  It was a lot of fun!

Practicing w/ the bows.

Hudson was done after a bit, so Steve took him to the car, while Nyles, Carter and I continued on.  

We had fun shooting and even got some!

Hudson was ready for a nap by this time, so we drove a couple miles to Duchesne.  Thankfully he fell asleep shortly after getting on the road.  We got gas while in "town" then drove back to the campground.  We then got our fishing poles and went over to a dock to catch fish.  Hudson slept for a little while longer, so I stayed in the car w/ him while Steve went over w/ Nyles and Carter.  After he woke up we joined them.  Unfortunately we didn't get any bites, but we still had fun.

Trying to catch a fish.

Pretty flowers and evening view.

Playing in the hammock while getting dinner done, then we went for a little hike on a nearby hill.

The boys wanted to throw rocks in the water of course.

Then we had another fire before bed.

The winds picked up Sunday morning around 4am, along w/ rain.  It woke Steve and I up, but the boys slept through it, and thankfully we all stayed warm and dry in our camper.  We also had packed up almost everything the night before, so after waking up we grabbed some snacks to take w/ us in the car and headed out.  We stopped at the cabin to try and borrow a Dutch oven, but the spare key was gone.  We then stopped a little further at the Visitor's Center at Strawberry Reservoir and walked over to the trap and egg harvesting facility to see the Kokanee Salmon run.

Kokanee Salmon in pink!  Beautiful colors at the cabin.  At the Visitor's Center.

So pretty!  We drove home through Provo Canyon and enjoyed more beautiful fall colors.

So pretty!

We listened to General Conference in the car coming home.  We made it home by 11am, then continued to watch it on TV.  Hudson then took a nap after lunch.  We made Perler Beads during the last session of General Conference and put magnets on the back of them so we can take them on our cruise coming up next month.

Carter w/ his Donald Duck he made, Hudson w/ his Goofy, and my Minnie and Mickey.

Sunday night we had our family dinner over at LuDean/Diane's.  Steve made his yummy smoked "over the top" chili again and I made my mom's cornbread.  Both were pretty well eaten up.

We sang Happy Birthday to Dave, Diane and Stacie (Hudson helped).  

Silly faces!

We're so grateful for a living prophet to lead us and guide us.  We're thankful for the messages that were shared w/ us and for the Holy Ghost to testify to us of their truthfulness.

A couple great quotes from General Conference.