Halloween... (barely)

It seems like whenever we come back from our October trip, it's always a scramble to get Halloween ready!  For instance, we didn't buy pumpkins before we left.  When we got back, there wasn't a single pumpkin left in the Heber valley!  Believe me, we checked.  I asked mom if we could borrow a couple of her fake pumpkins.  They were very realistic and the kids didn't care.  I didn't miss the mess, the smell, the fact that I always have to FINISH carving when they loose interest after 10 minutes.  Maybe fake pumpkins are the way to go?!  Mom also had last-minute costumes for Drew and Tommy.  Phew! 

Anna was the Queen of Hearts, Dallin was an enderman (with glowing purple eyes), Drew was spiderman, and Tommy was the cutest lion ever! (but he absolutely hated wearing it).  We got an early start, thinking the cold weather would shut us down.  The littles and I did go home when it got dark... but Bevan, Anna, Dallin, and Ryder stayed for the long haul!  They weren't cold.  They ran between houses.  It paid off big time!  Now, we've got 2-gal Ziplocs full of candy that will probably be forgotten about next week.

Escalante Adventure!

Bevan and I had a blast in Southern Utah last weekend! There isn’t anything I look forward to MORE than our long-weekend-getaway every October.  A million thanks to Nora, being willing to watch the kiddos!  Bevan usually wants to do something "tropical", but I was able to persuade him to try backpacking instead! It’s seriously been about 9 years since we went backpacking together! I was planning a 2-night trek into Death Hollow, but decided Coyote Gulch instead, which is only 1 night. Next time we’ll bring water shoes and rope though! It was a pretty canyon with arches, natural bridges, pictographs, weeping alcoves, and cliff walls that are 1000’ high! The weather was perfect and there were only a handful of other backpackers down there. Since it wasn’t that long, it gave us some extra time to do other local popular day hikes like Lower Calf Creek Falls and Spooky and Peek-a-boo Gulch. The weather only started getting chilly our last afternoon. Luckily, we booked a B&B in Escalante for our last night, when the lows reached down to the 20’s! It was a great choice and a great Inn! We can’t wait to go back. Will this trip give me enough warm, sunny thoughts to last me through winter?!

Conference Breakfast in the Mountains

I love this tradition! I mean, I don’t particularly love the early morning or the cold weather, but I’m always game for a drive in the mountains that ends with some good pancakes and bacon! This year was especially cold, but we planned for it and the kids had fun. I’m not sure if everyone else dressed warm enough, but they can sit by the campfire or around the gas grills, whereas my kids will not sit still anywhere! Dallin found some swords, Drew found some water, Tommy found some rocks to suck on, and Anna just wandered. They were in heaven. I even got them to eat a little…
Props to Tina for taking such amazing photos!

And conference was good too! I loved all the talks, especially the ones during the women’s session. We hung out with my family for the afternoon session and watched what we could. I don’t get a whole lot out of conference that same day… it’s later, when I’m listening to the talks while driving that I get to cherish the experience! I can’t wait until next conference. President Nelson promised something extra special in April. Is it the 2^nd coming already?!

Walk-to-School Day

It’s the ONE THING I agree to help with for PTA. I’m still a little sour from the way they threw me in the first year, with heaps of things to be in charge of and no guidance. I’m a fan of the ol’ “shadow method” or easing someone in gradually… but oh well! I learned a lot. I learned that if everyone just helps a little, a lot would get done. I like Walk-to-School Day because it’s early in the year, it’s easy, it’s organized, and it’s something I truly believe in. I’m also a fan of the color green. So we decorated the designated safe-walk route with green ribbons, signs, and tree wraps. We walk with the principal and a large group from the town hall to the school. Firemen hand out pencils, my friends (who I roped into volunteering for an hour) hand out stickers, bananas, and water. And we’re done by 9am. Done. I’ll probably keep doing this until baby Tommy graduates, as long as it keeps me off the PTA’s radar. “That’s her thing!”