Nauvoo

We made a quick trip to Nauvoo this past weekend to see G&G Middleton before they head home from their mission. It was so good to see them but it did make us a bit more homesick for California and family. The kids had so much fun playing with G&G that I could have stayed longer just to watch them all be together. Thanks for the fun memories Grandma and Grandpa!

Halloween is almost here. Halloween is fun!

I love Halloween with little ones. I am not big into the scariness and creepies of Halloween but I love the pumpkins and other traditions with little ones. Bryson went on a field trip with his kindergarten to a pumpkin patch. He was quite proud when he came home and said he got "the second biggest pumpkin and that it has a huge stem."


The kids love when I get out the various holiday tubs. They have been dressing up in old costumes and practicing trick or treating for weeks. (for some reason they also are into rocks and trick or treating??? We have bags of little rocks in our garage and they claim that if someone comes trick or treating and wants a rock that they will give them one??? I have no idea where this came??? Maybe they are already thinking Christmas and coal???)



My mom made all of these costumes when I was little, I bet she didn't realize truly how many kids would use them, maybe it was worth all that work. I am impressed!

Tornado

Last night we had our first real experience being in the midwest. We knew some storms were passing through but about 9:30ish we heard the tornado siren go off. We woke up the kids and took them to the basement for about an hour. At the beginning Alyssa was the only one smiling and thinking it was a party, we told you she is always happy even when you wake her up after sleeping for just 2 hours. Bryson and Kaitlyn were pretty groggy for a bit but once they woke up they thought it was fun to have a party in the basement "in the middle of the night". They each picked out a "treat" from the basement food closet.

Kaitlyn picked cranberries.



Bryson picked Chex cereal.

We are so grateful to have a finished basement so that we were able to enjoy this late night experience and be comfortable. Luckily everything was fine. It sounds like this happens every once in a while so I guess I better keep the basement food closet stocked with more yummy "treats."

North Carolina

Alyssa and I spend a few days in North Carolina. Thanks for Kevin and some great friends who made it possible. Kevin "worked" from home while watching the kids. They had a great time but he was ready to get back to his "official" job. It was funny cause he said that the first day that the kids kept calling him mom... "mom I want a drink" or "mom will you get me.." When I got home, the first day I had lots of laughs and loved that they kept calling me dad. I tried to let them know that it was okay but they still switched the habit to asking mom to help with everything.

We went to see my amazing friend Catie and her precious 2 lb. 4 oz. baby. I treasured the little bit of time with them. And loved the time I got to spend with Mini Catie and Mini Steve, I mean Mary and David. There were really several moments that I felt like I was back in time seeing Catie and Steve as toddlers, we won't comment on which was cuter as a toddler than an adult! Bryson and Kaitlyn were so envious of me and Alyssa and can't wait 'til Thanksgiving when they will get to see David and Mary themselves.

Kaitlyn would have been proud to see David reading each of her grandma's chocolate cookbooks. He seriously looked at each one a page at a time and had to show me almost each picture.



Both David and Mary would have made Kevin and Bryson pleased with the popcorn eating and not even letting the tiniest piece go to waste.


Alyssa was entertained the entire time. They were so cute with her and will be great with Sarah.



David and Mary did love when Riley would come home from school. He rose to the occasion and was a great help.






Thanks to mom and dad for all they did! Catie and Steve we love you. Thanks for sharing your precious little ones with me!!!

Alyssa or Kaitlyn

People still make comments that they see Bryson in Alyssa but I see more and more of Kaitlyn as a baby when I look at Alyssa. Sometimes photos don't show it as well but here goes:




I could have tricked you and had them all Alyssa but I didn't and the correct answers are Kaitlyn, Alyssa, Kaitlyn, Alyssa

Apple Orchard

Since Bryson LIVES for apples I was excited to read in the newspaper about an apple orchard close to here. We went on Saturday and had a great time. It was kids day so they had lots of little kid activities.


They had face painting (the kids actually did "arm" painting)



We went on a wagon ride pulled by a tractor throughout the orchard. Kevin and I ended up enjoying it even more than the kids, who thought it was fun too. We learned tons about growing apples and even got to taste different varieties.


It all ended perfectly as we walked away with apples to make caramel apples with this week and also homemade apple butter!

Highchair

I guess now that she is eating cereal we had better get her a highchair. She loves it and loves being up high with the family at meal time.

This is her first week of solids and she is already a pro. I am still shocked that she can pick up the cheerios and put them in her mouth, not even just by accident.



And also here is Bryson and Kaitlyn working on projects in the sun room.