Park

 

It is amazing how many great days for playing at the park we have had this year. I am sad to see the weather turn colder finally.  We are big fans of the changes in the seasons that we get here. We have lived in California and Washington and have learned to appreciate the changes of the seasons.  

Evelyn took a break from violin for the month of November due to her teacher being in poor health but we are back to it and the other kids enjoy playing at the park while we wait. 

Hailey and Bristol have also taken breaks from Dance for the holidays but will start back up in January. I still see lots of dancing around the house though so don't worry about them getting rusty. 

We also did a lot of yard work as a family this weekend!

Thank you good weather!!!

Dad has been working on some amazing wood projects for our home. 

Hopefully I can get pictures of those soon. The kids have helped with various parts of the making! 

Thanksgiving

Our favorite thanksgiving yam dish!

Raw cranberry salad! 

A new cousin who joined us for the holiday weekend!

Family who was in town for the weekend! 

The kids got plenty time in the kitchen this week. They helped me with our two favorite dishes shown and preparing veggies and dips as well as turkey and other yummy pies! 

Grandma Janet also invited the girls over to make pies with her and they really enjoyed being in the kitchen with her. 

 

Primary Program!!!

Ezra says: "Take a picture of me, mom!" 

Evelyn's Playdo rendition of Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, the horse and the tower. 

A pretty princess cake and Playdo time! 

Dress up! 

The kids enjoyed Ice cream cones after completing their primary program on Sunday. Consisting of lots of singing and saying personal parts into the microphone in front of a lot of people. 

They all did great!!!

 

Skoolie

As we were driving home from Co-op this week we saw a "skoolie" bus converted into a RV which Evelyn took picture of. She thought it was super cool since we are converting our own school bus into a "skoolie". so far we have the seats out and have a long way yet to go. Our "skoolie" will mostly be a storage unit for the winter. 

Other projects that we have been working on are a making our kitchen table, refinishing a china hutch, making cushions for a window seat, replacing closet handles and many other home improvements or canning.  Of course the kids are helping in their small way and learning along with us. 

 

Dance Recital

Hailey and best friend Esther.

Bristol posing in a dance position. 

Hailey and Bristol had a mini recital and are now taking a break for the holidays. 

We really like our teacher and classmates. It is a little bit of a drive. 

Evelyn is still doing great in Gymnastics and loves going with our neighbor girls and friends. 

Stetson is creating computers for several of his friends; either buying parts, loaning parts or giving suggestions. He is also improving greatly with his piano and you'll often hear him pounding out a tune on the music room. Stetson also got an air soft gun for his 13th birthday and is so excited to have it. Mom is still working our rules that need to be followed for peace of mind and safety.

Math, writing, phonograms and reading are happening on a regular basis.

Evelyn is also very excited about some fabric we bought for her and are going to sew up soon. 

 

Falling Leaves

Hailey and Bristol sure do enjoy their dance class. 

We often play at the park next to were dance is out in Mendon. 

It helps that we have friends in both girls classes that are fun for all the kids to be with wither in class or at the park. 

We have also really enjoyed the leaves falling and playing in them. Our yard is full of them and we have found the kids several times outside raking and hoping to hide in the leaves and scare someone, usually Dad or I. 

We did take a little bit of a break from going out to our classes last week due to a cough going around our kids. Thankfully it seems like all are on the mend. 

 

Grandpa's Wedding to Janet

Janet's Bouquet. 

Grandpa's bout. 

The deck

After the wedding. 

Bouquet of flowers!

Bishop Huss, Grandpa and Janet during the ceremony. 

The kids gained a new Grandma this week. Grandpa has found someone to care for and be companion with for as long as he has left. Janet came into our life more fully in July of this year and we have been getting to know her ever since. They announced there marriage on Sunday to us and then began telling the rest of our family and hers. 

Janet invited the kids over to Grandpa's to make pies on Wednesday. Hailey and Bristol went and were so excited to help make yummy treats for after the wedding. 

Few people were invited for this event but there were others in attendance. 

 

Winter Storm

Apple picking with Hailey at our neighbors house and then again with all of the kids on Friday at another friends house. This is just the apples from the our neighbors house. We will be making lots of applesauce this weekend. 

Stetson saw a great recipe at my husbands office so we picked up a few groceries and came home and he made us a most delicious lunch. The recipe is called "Hibachi Steak Lettuce Wraps" however we chose to switch the beef for shrimp and it was amazing!

We are getting ready for Halloween over here with some pre dress up parties and poses. I don't know that this is what we will be but at least we know these are options.     

We lost our pie eating cherry tree this last week in the storm. We are sad to lose any trees but had no clue that this one was even weak. We have seen so many trees broken and down. We took three trailer loads to the green waist. The kids were so great about helping us on Saturday with lots of yard clean up, tree chopping and pruning. We haven't even started on our leave clean up, yet! 

 

Fall Colors

The majority of the family went for a Sunday drive though the canyon and enjoyed the beautiful fall colors. 

Lots of pictures were requested because mom wanted to go but couldn't. She went to the ER to pick up her father and then took him though a drive through for lunch. Stetson came with mom and all others went with Dad.  There was lots of helping Grandpa these last few weeks as he is starting to recover from Pneumonia and regain his strength. 

 

Little Piggy

Evelyn and Stetson in the middle with Hailey close in pink and Bristol with her back to us. 

Ezra doing a great job balancing and munching on his lunch! 

Last week before Co-op started we went to the Smithfield skate park and eat lunch. The kids also spent some time on their scooters and enjoyed the adventure park. I was so thankful that no one got hurt while we were there. 

Unfortunately our luck was not kept all day. Not long after starting class at Co-op Ezra was running across the class room when a ball rolled in front of him. Whether he was trying to kick the ball or jump on the ball I am not certain but he fell and he fell so hard that you could hear his brain raddle and he was not the same after. He most assuredly sustained a concussion. 

Thankfully his Dad is a Chiropractor and he knows how put the atlas bone back in after such a traumatic trauma.  I have such great appreciation for what my husband does. I know we could have had a very bad situation if not for his knowledge.  

One of the momma pigs feeding her piglets.

Ezra watching the other group of pigs! 

Thankfully Ezra is back to normal although as parents we are watching over him pretty closely still trying to prevent any additional trauma to his head. 

Every Thursday after we drop Evelyn off at her violin lessons we drive past this house with these new baby piglets. Finally we have pictures to go with our fun discovery. Ezra and I really enjoyed watching them and playing with the dog who also lives there. We love life and the beauty of each animal. 

With rain and cooler weather on the way we have harvested our garden are putting away our bounty. 

 

More Pumpkin Patch

 

Daddy felt like we needed even more quashes so he took some helpers and went back out. 

We do enjoy our squash. We are harvesting our garden and other friends grapes and apples in preparation to make grape juice and applesauce. We sure do enjoy the harvest season and all the amazing produce that can be grown in a summer. 

Pumpkin Patch

The whole family helped to harvest squash and pumpkins for Halloween and to eat throughout the winter. We are big fans of squash. 

Friends were showing us there dog, donkey, goats, pigs, cows and fruit trees. The kids were loving all the animals and the farm experience. 

This little goat doesn't know what is good for her and she keeps getting her head stuck in the fence. I and one of our friends were able to free her. Ezra was very concerned for the goat. 

This little park is in the town of Paradise, Utah and we go there  every week why Evelyn goes to her violin lessons. Stetson taught me a bit about Pickleball, the kids played on the slides and swung on the swings. The weather was a little cold at first but warmed up as the day went on. 

Evelyn has struggled to get back into a good practice pattern but I think that she has finally turned a page and has practiced 3 days in a row. 

Stetson and Hailey started piano lessons this week and they are off to a good start. 

Co-op is fun and we are getting lots of time with new and old friends. 

Evelyn is really enjoying gymnastics and loves that she gets to go with friends. She also loves to teach her siblings what she learns in class each week. 

 

Cousins Wedding

 

This is our family in front of the Pocatello Temple. We were so excited to get out of the car on our way home from Teton Idaho. We were surprised by the kindness of a lady who jumped out of her car and asked if she could take the picture for us. I love the kindness of others. 

Sage is now married and this is the inside of the tent were the reception was held. Unfortunately the weather and wind did not know about the family request for good weather. At least the rain held off until the next day. 

All of the girls helped me as we prepared the flowers for the entire wedding. It was a lot of fun to teach and create for loving family.  

Travel was short and school still happened.