Camping at Tibblefork

August 11th and 12th

We got into town on the 10th for Tom's wedding, the wedding wasn't until the 19th so we had lots of time to play. We went to Tibblefork, in American Fork Canyon in Ut.on the 12th.

 It really was such a beautiful place. Steve and I used ti camp here all the time during out college years.

 Uncle Tom and Uncle Matt came with us. Thank goodness because I couldn't of done it without them. I was post knee surgery only 3 weeks on this camping trip, so I didn't get to do a lot of hiking.

 I was busy running around trying to get all the camping gear ready so I asked the kids to pack themselves. BIG mistake. It gets really cold in the canyon at night and no one brought pj's. I even forgot Spencer's, and since I didn't want my kids to freeze I gave them mine. I layered everyone up the best I could. Eliza is wearing one of my shirts and my bathing suit cover up. Spencer is wearing one of my shirts and my socks on his hands and arms to try and keep him war. Dallin is in my sweats. Thomas and Matt gave up some of there clothes so I didn't freeze. However it was a cold night seeing as how we didn't have blankets or pillows. We had sleeping bags and about 2 blankets but it didn't help much.

 Thank goodness we had a great fire. We all stayed warm as long as we stayed close to the flames.

  The morning after a very long night of NO sleep and i wasn't the only one. Eliza, Spencer and myself ended up in the back of the pilot and left the boys in the tent with a few more blankets so they could bundle up and stay warm. We used the heat in the car.

 Just a cute picture of Spencer with his Uncle Matt.

 Honestly my kids have the best Aunts and Uncles. Our kids are so spoiled and lucky to have them. I hope they realize someday how loved they are.

 That Blondie, is me in the back of the pilot. Just trying to get a little bit of beauty rest.

 We packed up camp and headed over to the lake to fish. Uncle Matt was so sweet to help the kids fish.

 Eliza attempting to swim, however the water was way to cold. Spencer fell in and came up with a look of total shock and terror because of how cold it was.

 We spent about half the day up there and made it home in time for dinner. Later that night Uncle Erik helped Spencer get in full camo. He looked so cute. 

Taylor Swift Concert

October 21st-23rd

 This was the best weekend. Eliza and I need to do this at least once a year. The boys are going to copy us. They are taking a weekend and going to the Chiefs vs. Cardnials football game soon. Liza Lou and I had so much fun they want in on the party. This is how the weekend went. We left for Pheonix early, did some shopping, and let me tell you Eliza is a great shopper when it's about her. We then went and got our nails done. After our mani, pedis, we checked into our room and got all ready for the concert. Then Eliza and I went out to eat and headed over to the big show. It was so much fun to just be with her.

 When the concert finally started Eliza had to leave her head and ears hurt. So I got a napkin and made ear plugs then we went back in sang and danced the night away.

The concert got over around 11:30 so of course on the way home she fell asleep. (This si when I wish Steve was around) I had to carry her in from the car all the way to the room. We slept in a little the following morning and then headed out to the pool. Eliza got her lunch pool side, with a smoothie and thats when she told me, "we really should do this all the time Mom." Agreed!!! We swam till 1 then went in got all ready to do some more shopping, went out to eat one last time, then headed home. We got home pretty late that night, and yes the whole way home we had microphones and sang to the Taylor Swift CD.

Halloween Party

October the 15th
 Tradition!!! I guess now, not only is it tradition for my kids, but from what I hear from other parents their kids look forward to it to. Almost as much as trick or treating. One mom told me her daughter put her costume on the morning of the party and couldn't wait for it to star. It's those comments and the excitement for the kids that makes the 2 weeks of hard work (1 week of prep and about 1 week of clean up) ALL WORTH IT. My kids obviously love it to. This year was a little different we invited some parents. I think next year will be even bigger and we will just have to invite everyone. It's hard to choose who gets to come and who doesn't. As tradition goes the kids bobbed for apples, had a doughnut eating contest, this year we had a pinata, and of course as tradition goes I made a ton of food. 

Bobbing for apples and the doughnut contest

Spencer was Darth Vader, Han Solo was there and he so kindly shared his gun with Spencer.

Han and Leia

Some Pirates

Ann Marie, trying to bust in on Kevin and Claudia. Lucky, Kevin.

Eliza and Tabby. Just in case you can't tell what they are, they are fish. Tabby, is a goldfish. Eliza is a angelfish. Dallin is to cool and was off with his friends the second they showed up.

Dan and Marisa, she is a Pink Lady.

Candy GOODS!

Monster cupcakes!

This year, I climbed trees and broke branches to make my front porch a little spooky. Yes, I really climbed trees. I spent about 3 hours hanging branches and putting crows all over.

I drug this big old piece of wood over for the owl to sit on.

These pretzels were easy to make and a huge hit.

One of the many food stations.

I would make a few changes, but over all such a fun night. I wish I had pictures from the pinata but I was to busy spinning kids and making sure no one got hit by the bat.

Portland, Oregon

Steve's surgery October the 4th, Oregon trip October 6th-10th

 When it's just Steve and I, I really stink at taking pictures. We came home with 4 pictures from the whole trip.  Steve had to take some CE classes and since he didn't work it out to take them in Hawaii or on a cruise we went to Portland. It was fun to get away with Steve for a few days. I had forgotten what it's like to be alone. Truthfully, we didn't do to much. Steve had shoulder surgery 3 days before we left, he was a little sore and uncomfortable. We did go out on the town, a few times. On Saturday we went to the market downtown, we went out Saturday night and got GREAT seafood. We did a little bit of shopping. They don't have sales tax, so I'm sure we ended up saving money. :) We got to sleep, sleep in, and even take a nap if we wanted. I'm already, ready for another vacation away from the kids.

 Downtown at the market. This tattooing happened before we left on our trip. It took him maybe 3-5 minutes to color both of his legs.

Washington DC

September the 20th through the 27th

 Any time the neck is cracked, a major artery is threatened. If you happen to compress this artery while cracking your neck, it could cause a stroke. This is why I took off to DC. My little sister Sarah cracked her neck and landed herself in the Nero ICU for 10 days. They ended up having to remove part off her skull to allow room for her brain to swell. It was a pretty nerve racking 2 weeks. Sarah, is a walking miracle, "Watson." She is still struggling with some side effects but is doing amazing and is almost back to 100%. We love her and are so thankful she had great doctors and our Father in Heaven on her side. It was really good timing on her part, it was my sister Rachel's birthday and we were lucky enough to fly out there to stay with them for a week. While it wasn't an event filled week it was fun to hang out with my sisters and we did manage to shop, see a few sites, and eat some great food. Spencer got to take a tub which I know he loves. We only have showers at our house. We decorated for Rachel's birthday, sweet 16 style.

 I took Spencer to the Natural History Museum. He was running from room to room screaming, "whoo, you see that." He was having the best time.

 Eliza's class is doing Flat Stanley, we were going to send it off to Sarah anyways so while we were there we just had Spencer hold him up every where we went. After a couple of times he had the drill down and would grab little Stanley hold him up and smile. Spencer and Stanley in front of the White House.

 Aunt Rachel Spencer and Stanley in front of the capital. There was a walk for the cure that day, the finish line was at the capital, so the music was playing. We could barley get Spencer out of there he was having such a great time dancing. 

 Rach with her new pilot boyfriend.

 Spencer and Stan, at the Lincoln Memorial, and below we are at the World War 2 Memorial

 Of course we couldn't leave without a hair cut, Spencer was so good during this one, shooking!  His last one it took 3 of us to hold him still.

 Out to eat in Georgetown.