All Hallow's Eve

It is that fantastic time of year where we decapitate gourds, scoops out their guts, and free the images that are trying to get out. This year we had to contend with Darren who had no problem sticking his hands in the guts and smearing it all around the table top. We gave up trying to keep the kid off the table top and just accepted that it was easier to control him if he had his hands wrist deep in the goo.

Here are the final products of the evening. I love digital photography that allows me to take 30 shots in the dark until I find a picture that I like. From left to right: Darren's, Alex's, Amanda's (up), Aaron's, Justin's, and Brittany's.


This year Justin went to a party instead of trick-or-treating and Darren stayed home. So here are the costumes minutes before we walked out the door. The weather was supposed to be rainy and windy, but we had a moderate evening with a clear sky. What a blessing! No extra fat coats stuffed beneath costumes were required! We walked until our legs were tired and came home for an evening of swapping chocolate. Let the sugar rush begin!

Life Happens

OK, I decided that since I really enjoy looking at my friends and families blogs I should update mine just in case they like to look at mine! We have had so much going on lately. Hopefully all the staying busy will keep us out of trouble!

Activities:

The beginning of Oct. Justin and Dad took a quick road trip to Utah and attended General Conference. They had tickets to the Sat. morning and Priesthood sessions. They were excited to have the opportunity to go to a BYU football game on Friday night too! Go Cougars!


They stayed at Carl and Devin's (thanks guys!) and even got to meet up with my bro. and nephew Ken and Brenden. The days were filled with activities and I had two tired boys when they got home.


Thanks Carl and Devin for the b-day cake and present!





Justin and Brenden in front of Pres. Hinckley's grave.

We celebrated Justin's birthday too this month! Yeah, he turned 12 and was ordained a Deacon. Thanks Moms and Dads for making the quick trip to participate in that. We love you!





The kids decorated Justin's room for him. Everyone was a little goofy and kept asking Justin, "Can I have your old one?" When he got a new wallet and ihome clock radio.

Darren loves to climb on the table. Apparently this day he was feeling a little bit fruity too!

This other picture? Oh he ate 2 markers. I was glad they were washable...and he only got one spot on the carpet! It is SO hard to keep my carpet clean/unspotted when trying to sell! Today I am cleaning it again! I will be so happy when this is over!






OK, enough of my lame picture formatting. This is what happens when I try to do a blog update with 2 toddlers at my feet.

Moving backwards and in no particular order, we had the 1st day of school. The house is quieter but I get to have Amanda home a few days a week because she is on an alternating schedule.

I love this pic because of Alex's face. He really wasn't happy to be starting school. He likes it now.

We went to Birch Bay and had a Bonfire...without Daddy. Beautiful evening and lots of fun.

AJ constantly shows us how cool he is

And he is a good brother during soccer games to take care of his little brother so we can watch his sisters.

Haven't got a good pic of Brit yet so here is Manda.
Darren learned how to swing all by himself! No he waits for no one and loves to be outside.

We also picked apples as a family at a nearby orchard. Had tons of fun and ended up driving to another farm and picked hazelnuts!


you could eat as many apples as you wanted in the orchard. We all ate at least one!
They even gave us carts to carry them back to the car. The kids took turns riding in and pushing. Twas a great day!

One Last Thing

Justin started cross country this year in middle school. He is doing great and I love to watch him run. His last meet he took more than a minute off his time! Great job Justin! His last meet is tomorrow.

Life is great. We have been pretty healthy so hope to avoid the big flus and colds that are quickly spreading. Make it a great day!

We have hardly done anything lately

Since Candace's last post on August 12 we have:

1. Gone camping, fishing, swimming near Leavenworth on Aug 13-15 with our friends the Pringles.
2. Gone to the NW Washington State Fair and got our yearly allotment of wonderfully greasy food.
3. I took the boy scouts camping hiking up near Mt. Baker on August 21st.
4. Went tubing with friends on Lake Samish
5. Canned 30+ quarts of tomatoes from our garden
6. Canned 28 pints of salsa from our garden.
7. Started soccer practice and I am coaching Brittany's team this year.
8. Attended a great party to wrap up the Trek experience at a gorgeous home in Skagit County. (I was the trailboss this time)
9. Started both elementary and middle school, but no preschool!
10. Got our house ready and put it on the market.
11. Kept our house clean and ready to show at a moments notice
12. Attended open houses and curriculum nights for 4 different students.
13. Built and launched rockets at the high school.
14. I took the boy scouts camping on Sucia Island on Sept 18-19. My last scout campout without my son in attendance! While I was camping, Candace took the kids to Birch Bay and had a big bonfire on the beach.
15. Watched as our preferred home went off the market before we were ready to make an offer.

That doesn't mention the regular things that we do around the house too. Last week I commented that the week seemed pretty calm and then proceeded to list something that was happening every night of the week. So if you wonder why we haven't posted anything, now you know.

Thanks G-ma!

Brit spent a week with Grandpa and Grandma. The rest of us headed over the mountains to pick her up and some treasures. Lots of dress up sent home with us. My boys want to thank Grandma for the clothes. They fit perfectly!


aren't they lovely?

A Day in our Life

Last weekend we participated in the Old Settler's Parade and activities here in town. Aaron, Amanda, Darren and Brit did the 2k walk. The boys and I did the 5K run. AJ ran with me and was insistent on doing it. He loves to go fast and I tried to talk to him about pacing himself but that is hard to do! He did great. We walked for a bit after halfway and then as we were coming down the final stretch we ran down main street and there were tons of people there waiting for the parade to start. He saw a few people from school who cheered him on and then ran so fast I had a hard time keeping up with him!
He was so tired but did great. We finished just under 34 minutes. Justin came in 3rd for his age group and did great too.
There was a raffle after and Amanda won a $25 gift card to Haggen (local grocery store), Brit won some cotton candy and carmel corn and AJ a free pizza! It was great.

Then we hit the parade and had a great time enjoying the community.

My Littlest Guy


School starts in a month. I am excited...but also dreading it. I don't know what I will do without my two oldest helpers all day. Wait, yes I do. I will be spending my day keeping Darren off the table, out of the bread drawer, out of the toilet, away from the street, etc. He is getting into everything and I sometimes am pulling my gray hairs out before noon! Thank goodness for my older children to take him outside to play while I make a meal or take care of something.

We can't keep this kid out of the garden. He picked at least 4 green tomatoes last night while we were working/weeding for FHE activity!
Each night I put Darren down for bed, cover him with a blanket (I know it is hot but I don't want to mess with the routine) give him a kiss and walk out the room. This is what he does after I close the door.

Lately Darren has figured how to climb on things. For a day if I pushed in the chairs and turned the ones on the end around then I could keep him off the table. It took him one day to figure out how to use the chair as a ladder. I guess I will actually have to move the chairs out of the kitchen area. (note: the hissing noise in the background of the 2nd half of video is the pressure canner. 10 quarts of beans from the first picking. not bad.)

Summer Fun

This week flew by as we managed to stay busy. We picked raspberries...

19 lbs! Justin and I had a contest to see who could fill the bucket first. We finished at the same time so weighed it to find the winner. The stakes? Loser cleans the boys bedroom. Well, Justin's weighed in at 5.75lbs. Mine? 5.5 lbs. Yes, I lost...but did I really? Yes, his room will be clean--and have A LOT less stuff in it when I am done!


The kids participated in the craft fair at the library. Brit made some jewelry and sold some plays she had written. Justin made cookies, punch and bean bag balls. Amanda helped sell the punch and Alex tye-dyed shoelaces to sell. It was a success and they had a great time.

Since Brit is my main raspberry jam consumer, she got to learn to make it! We had fun making 5 batches of jam. That should hold us over for a bit. Next up is blueberries. I love this time of year!

Manda was stung by a wasp while swinging. Ouch! We have had 3 bee stings this month. JT, Amanda and a friend. glad no one is allergic.

And what would a post be without my happy boy? He definatly knows how to put a smile on your face. He has so many friends and loves to give hugs.

The weather has been incredibly nice lately and so we have spent so much time outside. We went to the park, lake and have played for hours in the sandbox.

Justin has been wanting to jump off the bridge for a few years. I finally let him.

$10 day ice cream trip. Brit got a super size. It was HUGE. I don't think she will order that size again.


We also got to spend a weekend in Portland visiting family and getting teeth fixed (thanks dr. greg). We got to be present for Julia's blessing and see my brother finish the Seattle to Portland bike ride in 1 day.


205 miles. AMAZING! Way to go Scott.

Day 2 - The Yellowstone Canyon

We couldn't drive all the way to Yellowstone and only visit the park once. So after conferring with my brother and sister after day 1, we decided to spend day 2 along the south rim of the "Grand Canyon" of Yellowstone. My brother, Carl, had found an internet article claiming that the south rim of the canyon had the best hike in all the park. Additionally our oldest son, Justin needed to complete a 5-mile hike using a map and compass. So why not knock off that requirement in the exact same location that his old man fulfilled the same requirement 24 years ago? It actually turned out to be pretty neat. Candace convinced me that we should stay as a family, so Darren went in the backpack and everybody headed out onto the trail.

The first stop was the Upper Yellowstone Falls. They were neat, but not a show stopper. We parked only near the overlook and where at the viewpoint minutes into our hike. Here is a shot of Alex and his hat at the Upper Falls.We continued east along the rim and soon we started to get peek-a-boo looks at the Lower Yellowstone Falls and we could tell that this was going to be the star of the hike. We were happy to catch up to my sister and her family along the hike at the first overlook for the lower falls. We enjoyed the walk with them all the way to Artist Point. When we arrived the view was breath taking. It was almost comical to watch and listen to everybody walk to the viewpoint, stop, and say, "Oh, wow!" You couldn't help yourself. The view was magnificent.
As we continued passed Artist Point, the views of the canyon continued to be drop dead gorgeous. At one point we stopped and listed the colors we could see: yellow, many shades of red, pink, orange, tan, brown, white, shades of green in the tree and water, and blue skies. It is hard to describe the beauty and the pictures of the canyon don't do the colors justice, but I'll try.We eventually had to turn away from the canyon and hike through he back country. We saw the aptly named Lily Pad Lake, swatted some mosquitoes, walked through another stinky geothermal area with mud pots (Amanda actually held her nose the entire time as shown in the picture below), passed Clear Lake and then out into an open meadow. We were rained on while hiking and saw some thunder, but nothing too serious. The rain actually kept the bugs at bay. It was a spectacular hike and everybody made it the 4.2 miles back to the car. Including Amanda who walked every step of the way! Justin and I went and walked a loop up above the upper falls to complete his 5 miles and then we all went for ice cream and souvineirs. It was another great day!