Halloween - 2010

We had a fun Halloween this year. Halloween was on a Sunday so our ward had a
trunk-or-treat at the church on Saturday. Then on Sunday we had a special Halloween dinner with a barfing pumpkin, and rack of lamb with a knife thru the heart and some yummy cupcakes that Faye created. We ended the night by skyping with Dane and Chelsea. Their screen kept freezing and I totally got the giggles, Chelsea didn't think it was so funny, but my immaturity came out and I couldn't stop laughing.

Tess was a rocker and her friend Brady was a nerd.

Noah was a Ipod, with speakers and all.

Reese as a beautiful Rapunzel. Brooke made the wig, it was awesome.

Charlee as a shy ladybug.

Faye as a pretty and charming southern belle.

Back to School

Back to school is always such a bitter sweet moment for me. I love the extra time I have to myself but I really miss the kids and like keeping them with me in our little nest away from the harms of the world. I am so grateful for the gospel in our lives and the direction it gives the the children. Everyday they have to hold on tight to the iron rod. Tess is as beautiful as ever. I am grateful for her character and values.

Noah is all smiles pretty much no matter what he is doing. He has such a great positive attitude.

Back to school is a little harder on Faye than it is on me. But after the first few minutes in the morning she is ready to go. She has to come up with a quality every morning and she is usually very thoughtful. The first day she was going to be helpful, just incase someone was scared and needed some help.

The carpool moms are great (caught you Michelle). I couldn't do as much as I do with out the help of friends.

Summer 2010 recap

Seems like you can't have summer without watermelon.

We visited the Orange County Fair.

At the Fair we ate deep fried Klondike Bar and Snickers bar.
Below Tess is eating a foot long corndog.

Faye and I enjoying a yummy cinnamon roll.

We had a great time when Chelsea and Dane came for a week and stayed 10 days instead.

We hit the beach a couple of times and one day we rented a paddle board and took it out in the harbor. It was alot of fun. It is something I would like to do again.

Dane and Chelsea tandem

Brooke and Bret kinda tandem

Faye looks like a natural here with Glen.

The Word of Wisdom says to eat meat sparingly. Does every 2 years count for sparingly?

Bret told Glen of a great place for pastrami sandwiches and Glen and I went there for a date. Glen has a weakness for a good pastrami sandwich.

In a couple of years, maybe we will go back.

The onion rings weren't bad either.

Of course, you can't have summer without Monday nights at San O.

We have a fantastic time there with friends and family. I think if you asked the kids they would say this is there favorite tradition. It is just so relaxing and so fun to be with everyone.

Tess and McKay enjoying the bonfire.

The sun setting on our summer.

The waves were really good this night.

This might have been the night that there was a great white shark sighting.

Come Labor Day it is time for our annual scone breakfast.

This year we had everyone over to our house in the front yard instead of Doheny.

It made things a little easier for Glen.

After the scone fry, Glen had a fish fry.

It was a great summer, I love having the kids home from school and being relaxed and having fun together. Only 9 months to go til next summer. I am already looking forward to it.

Grandma Camp

We had Gigi Fairy Camp for the past 2 days. Reese came over on Thursday after lunch and we played. Faye, of course, got to play too. Everything was fairies with a little swimming pool and beach mixed in. It was so fun to be with the girls and just do girly things. They love girly things. We tried to include Noah and made him a big, bad troll, but he wanted nothing to do with it.

First a few pictures of fairies running through the trees.

Faye and Reese are becoming really good friends, even though there are times Faye will ask to be called "Aunt Faye".

Fairies can be a little camera shy.

But not all fairies, some take after their mommies.

Fairies like to flutter and run.

We made fairy star cookies and left them at friends and neighbors.

Karch, Kendall and Sandon caught the fairies outside their door.

The fairies I made and they played with for hours.
Fairy houses to put in their backyards.

What did Ida-ho?

We spent a wonderful few days in Swan Valley Idaho with the Olsen's. They had a beautiful place on the Snake River and the Tetons were just a little over an hour away. It was very fun to get away and explore a new place. The Olsen's, of course, were great hosts and we enjoyed spending time with them.

Noah, Faye and Todd enjoying square ice cream.

Glen and I at Jenny Lake. I would love to hike around the lake some day.

A moose!

Chelsea, Noah and Faye with the Tetons in the background.

Noah was complaining about all our stops and taking pictures, so we snapped one of him coming out of the bathroom.

All of us with the Tetons in the background. It was great to have Chelsea and Dane with us.

Chelsea with her fish.

Faye learning to fly fish from her daddy.

Noah, Dane and Chelsea went on a horseback riding adventure. They said it was very pretty and I am sure it was, but horses and I don't mix. I think they are beautiful to look at, but I am really afraid of them

I Wanna Hold Your Hand

On our visit to see my mom I spent many hours holding her hand. Whoever is near she asks you to sit by her and just hold her hand. When I had to leave to go to the store, she called Noah to come and sit and she even watched cartoon network with him so she could just hold his hand. It is very hard for her to communicate any words or feelings to us, but you know she is there when you hold her hand. She still has a very strong grip and doesn't want to let go. It is a special time.
It is difficult to see the ones you love grow old, but there are lessons and love here that I have learned and hope to never forget.

My mom is very patient and doesn't complain and is never mean to anyone,

I don't know if at this time I would be so good. I have much growing to do.

San Jose

We had a great trip to San Jose. Probably one of our better ones lately. We did alot of things in the area and also had plenty of time with my mom.
We rode the train in Felton thru the Redwoods. Noah, even though he is getting older, loves trains so he thought it was pretty great to ride on a steam engine train. The Redwoods were beautiful and everyone had a good time, even Brady, though you would never tell from his expression in the picture.
Also while in San Jose, we went swimming, to a drive-in movie, the Japanese Friendship Gardens and Tess, Noah and Brady went to Raging Waters. It was a great time together.

Riding the train thru the Redwoods

Glen and Noah standing in front of the mighty Redwoods.

Faye at the Japanese Friendship Gardens.