Halloween 32

Note: Garrett is NOT a power ranger. He is Frozone from The Incredibles.

Conference Sunday

I love staying home for conference!!

So nice.

Jr Jazz

After two whole weeks with nothing but the usual primary and mom commitments, Junior Jazz started last night. It was fun and the parents are all really nice. I was so focused on the new players and learning their names that I barely noticed Weston was there. He said he had fun. I love that kid.

Tuesday night Wes was feeling sick, but he didn't have the word for it. Dramatically, he told me, "My brain feels really soft. I need something to harden it." Kirstin and were talking about how what he might need (for therapy, not brain-hardening) is to go through the dictionary A to Z and talk about each word and the situations in which you might use it. That would surely cover all the gaps I do not realize he has!

One more Weston story:

The other night he gave a distraught Garrett his special bunny (Weston had just found it after it had been missing for two months). After Garrett calmed down and fell asleep, I came into their room and the following ensued:

Weston: "I know I did a good thing for Garrett. You know how I know? I feel it right here, in my heart."

Hug.

Mom: "Yes you did."

Hug still going.

Weston: "I wish Caden was as good as me."

We had a discussion about how everyone is good and has talents and sometimes we make poor choices that influence others, etc, etc, etc. It was hard to keep a straight face.

November Flowers Bring . . .

It hadn't hit 20 yet when I left the house, so it is a good day to remember the warm November . . .

Clematis

Rosemary

Snapdragon

Our flower garden was nice for a very long time this year . . .

Lydia's Birthday Part 2

"Little Girls, Little Girls!"

We rationalized the treasure box purchase by saying we were going to buy her a princess costume anyway . . .

Lydia's Birthday

Happy Birthday Lydia! Did we really do this party the same day as the primary program??? More pictures later!!! Gotta run.

The boring post

I had to document something from the hours and hours I put into the reflections program. It was fun, and gets more rewarding every year. Plus I get to shop on someone else's bucks!

I love this guy!

This is my sweet nephew Krieg. I know everybody could use everybody's prayers, but this guy maybe could use a few extra. Read Kirstin's blog for updates . . .

Another first for Stephanie

I remembered to take first-day-of-school pics!!!!

(I know, we took them other years, but either my mom reminded me or we just pretended it was the first day of school.)

Aaron is awesome

He has been spoiling me lately. Mostly cleaning, but also doing things that we have been putting off. Yea!!!

California Dreamin'

A night in San Fransisco without fog . . .

is like . . .

a day in san fransisco without fog, only more rare.


My boys

Lydia loves crab . . .

. . . dressing up . . .

. . . Garrett . . .

. . . and baseball.

Grandma and Grandpa Cousins love baseball too!

Thanks for the fun times!

I told the boys they could get their toes wet.

It turned out to be a little bit more than toes.

We had great seats!!!

Lydia, Weston, Caden, and Aaron and I walked out on the Golden Gate bridge for our first time. It was amazing! I love the color and the size. I love that we can walk across it.

On a clear day . . . you can see forever :)

I love California!!!

We tried to keep this trip low-key, and as a result we ended up at the exploratorium, the golden gate bridge, the A's game, Great-Grandma's house, Children's Wonderland, Great America, Ghiradelli's, Jelly Belly Factory, and a BBQ.

Jack and Greta go on their mission in October (yay!) so we wanted to go visit them. I feel good about this decision. We are so blessed to have had such a smooth journey (one chip in the windshield, one other unmentionable annoyance) and to have gone and returned in such good health and happiness.

Family Vacation Number Three That Was Not to Relatives' or While Moving

Number One was a day in Vegas (kind of a bust for two mormons who have never spent much time there and have a 1- and 3-year-old).

Number Two was really awesome. We went to see LeBron James play in his rookie year in Cleveland. We hit Goodies in Cincinnati, the Colombus temple, Kirtland, the NFL Hall of Fame, and General Conference in the middle of nowhere.

Number Three . . . 

We went to Colorado for a big baseball tournament. Six hour drive, kids were perfect in the car. No kidding. We stayed in a condo with a kitchen so we only had to eat out a couple of times, otherwise we cooked at home. So much yummier! And safer! (Yes, I am paranoid.)

Tubing down this river. Boy do I wish we had pictures of that adventure. It was awesome, and quite an accomplishment for this little family. Aaron and I held Garrett and Lydia in our tubes. 

Lydia preferred to be alone in the tube, so I did a fair amount of pushing, swimming, and banging my shins against the rocks. No complaints though, it was a great day. 

This is at Fish Creek Falls. Over 200 feet high, and raging at its peak. Lucky for us, the snowmelt is winding down so it was calm enough to play in. 

More pictures to come, maybe. We decided to take one last vacation to California before we pay for our sins (PAYEE: AMEX).  :) Aaron's parents should get their mission call this week or next and we want to spend time with them before they go. Plus, who can resist the coast?