4th week of October

Here are some highlights from the 4th week of October.

Monday, October 23rd, the boys had the day off for a teacher day.  Zac had the day off work as well (he's as fireman), so they went out duck hunting at Utah Lake.

They had a good time, though didn't get any ducks.

Tuesday night, we went back to LuDean/Diane's place to celebrate Dave's birthday coming up on the 28th.  They were going to be gone for his birthday, down to Mesa, AZ to visit Joann's dad Carl, so we wanted to celebrate early.  Steve smoked more ribs for dinner.  Joann wasn't feeling well so she wasn't able to come unfortunately.  Hudson was a big helper blowing out Dave's candles.  Hudson also played catch w/ Grandma LuDean w/ a balloon :)

We are less than a month until we go on our big family cruise.  All of Steve's family is going this time! Steve also winterized our camper and parked it at Dave/Joann's place for the winter.

Steve is making great progress on his weight loss.

He's now down 116lbs!  Good work Steve!

Friday night, Nyles went to a Halloween Party w/ his school classmates.  He had a great time.  The rest of us, watched the Boo Fest w/ Curious George while he was gone.  

Cute Carter snuggling w/ Piper.  Saturday morning we stopped by Lowe's for some Trick or Treating.  They had Christmas Decorations up as well, haha :)

Saturday afternoon, Steve, Nyles and Rob went out duck hunting.

Cute Nyles.  Steve helping Nyles see where the duck is hiding.

Nyles, with Steve's help, got a Green Wing Teal Duck.  

It was REALLY cold, so they packed up a little early and came home.

Steve even got cold.  With all the weight Steve has lost, he now understands what it feels like to be cold, haha.  He now wears slippers to keep his feet warm and more blankets. :)

Great quotes.

3rd Week of October

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

Hudson playing at the Butterfly Museum.  He loves having butterflies land on him.

Hudson said he's ready to do on the cruise!  We also got our carpets cleaned, yeah!  

Piper enjoying the sunshine in our room.

Beautiful fall flowers in our yard!

The boys helped decorate for Halloween, putting up spiderwebs and ghosts.

Steve took Hudson to the Dinosaur Museum.  The boys coloring together.  

Hudson and Carter playing outside, looking at the Halloween lights/decor.

On Thursday and Friday the boys didn't have school for UEA/Fall Break.  

They decided to go up to the cabin on Thusday to go fishing w/ Dave.

It was as beautiful day!

They then stopped by the Strawberry Ranger Station to see if there were anymore Salmon running.

Our beautiful Honey Locust trees changing colors.  The boys playing in the circle w/ the Evans' boys.

Friday night we went to the Aquarium after I got off work.  

The boys dressed up and we went on a scavenger hunt.

Checking out the sharks, then playing outside.

Steve and I in our M&M shirts, notice Hudson's arms asking for us to help him unwrap his Tootsie Rolls.  The boys playing in the water.

I made the boys crepes and Steve made a Mickey Mouse for Carter.  

Steve and I took turns to go to the temple to do initiatories on Saturday.

On Sunday, Steve smoked some ribs to celebrate Aunt Diane's birthday that was on Thursday the 19th.  I taught the lesson in Relief Society as well on Sunday, from the General Conference Talk, Christlike Poise.  We had a great discussion thankfully, and all were edified.

 We then went over and had dinner w/ Diane and LuDean that night and sang Happy Birthday to her.  We are so blessed to have Aunt Diane in our lives!  We love her so much!  

Quotes from the talk.

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: