What's your favorite color?

Brown?

Pink? or Blue?

Purple?

Green?

or Black?

How about a box of us?

We actually got our pumpkins ahead of time this year. We learned that we might wait a little next year - the pumpkins really didn't make it until Halloween. But it was fun to have them and all the decorations up for a little longer.

Cackling Jack O'lanterns

The girls each had a pumpkin that they designed and we carved for them.

 

BYU in New Orleans

Greg and I got to make a quick trip to New Orleans to see BYU play. They don't come this way very often so we took advantage of Grandma and Grandpa and had a weekend on our own. They did win the game 54-3.

They played in the Superdome and somehow Stan managed to get us seats right up against the wall on the 40 yard line.

Out of all those seats, we were on the very bottom and pretty much in the middle. We actually had to move back a couple of rows because we couldn't see over the players!

After the game, we took a walk down to the French Market and had our beignets. You can't go to New Orleans without that. We also got to spend a couple of hours visiting with my aunt Carol, which was nice.

Cakes

For Greg (top) and a friend.

The Places We Can Go

Sometimes we find our children in random places.

This is the "book corner" in the girls' bedroom. It was overrun with books covered by what seemed to be every stuffed animal we own. Apparently, it was also a comfy place to sleep.

Thanks to Kroger and a shorter shopping list, I can still take all four kids shopping and go at my pace.

Dacey just manages to find herself in all sorts of odd places.

Baby Ballerina

Ashlen has been waiting until she was old enough to take dance classes, pretty much since she was born. This year was the year! She loves it! I can't wait to see her at the recital.

Grandpa's Surgery

Grandpa had an unexpected back surgery this summer that put him in rehab for a couple of weeks. The girls gladly helped decorate his room while he was there.

The girls liked visiting Grandpa so that he wouldn't be lonely. But I think they also really liked the snacks they got to have while we were there!

It's nice to see Grandpa able to walk on his own again.

1st Day of School (Kindergarten!)

August 10 was the first day of school and the first day of kindergarten for Brynn. She was so excited! The school puts out signs in the yards to welcome all the new kindergarteners.

We also got to go and meet her teacher and see the classroom ahead of time.

School shopping with Grandma and Grandpa is our tradition to start off the school year; that, eating out and seeing a movie! I think we add something to it each year. Except this year we kind of left out Grandma and Grandpa (only for the shopping), considering they were both recovering from surgeries!

This was actually after school. We struggle to get to school on time EVERY day, the first day was no exception! As much as Brynn enjoys school, she does not like waking up in the morning. Another way she takes after me, I guess. :)

Camden and her 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Mackey.

Twite

This is Twite. He was the one kitten we caught (I was going to save them all) and decided to keep. The girls really wanted a kitten.

He was very playful and could do the neatest tricks! Things like jump on your back while you were sitting at the computer, attaching himself to your thigh as you walked by, attack your feet as you mistakenly stood too close to the edge of the bed, fun things like that. Unfortunately for him, not everyone thought his tricks were fun.

Twite suddenly became our "outside" cat! I'm glad that Dacey healed quickly and nicely. Because of all the scratches, the girls were not so sad when we decided that Twite needed to go.

The Wildlife Around Us

Of course, these guys are usually always around. But while they were at the grandparents' this summer, these guys showed up . . .

This guy got a little too close. I first saw him in the backyard, more specifically in Buddy's mouth! Poor guy was just a play toy. I have no idea if he survived, but he did get at least as far as this wall next door.

A Special Day

On July 4th Camden was baptized. We are so proud of her and the decision that she made to be baptized. We were lucky to have almost all of our family in town to share her special day with us. (We missed you Aunt Lo, Sydney and Cash!) Camden had a lot of people come to show their support, so many that we had to move to the chapel so that everyone would have a place to sit. We are grateful to all of our family and friends that came to support her. She was also a good missionary. She invited several nonmember friends, including her teacher, who came to share the occasion also. I hope that she remembers this experience always. At least she won't forget the date!

No water?

Conversation with Brynn a few moments ago:

I hear her upstairs to herself: "Are you serious? Are you serious?!"

Then to me: "Mom, the water doesn't work upstairs. It won't come on. So it probably doesn't work in the kitchen, too."

So I get up and turn on the kitchen sink. It's fine. We go upstairs to the bathroom. I turn on the light and then turn on the sink.

Brynn: "Ohhh, so it only works with the light on!"

Working our way back

Our nephew Martin turned 8 in May. Eight is an important birthday because now he is old enough to decide to be baptized in our church. That is what he wanted to do, so this past weekend Grandma and Grandpa helped me out so that we could be in Arizona for his special day. Dacey got to come because she still flies free! Dad got to spend some quality time with the other girls while we were gone. This was the first trip that I have made away from the family. Everyone else has left me at some point, but never the other way around. It was Dacey's first airplane ride and she did great! At least until we had to wait on the plane for a couple hours BEFORE we got to take off. But that was the last leg of the trip home. Her usual routine was to fall asleep right before take off and sleep for at least part of the flight. The other part was not too bad. We didn't do a lot over the weekend, but what we did was fun. With Grandpa's mobility in question, there was a lot of time spent at the hotel. Adam's kids came and spent the night and most of the following day with us. All the family got together to see UP, attend the baptism and go for Chinese at Braden's favorite place. It was a short trip, but we had fun.

Dacey waiting for the plane. Getting settled before takeoff.

We had a posh ride to the hotel where the cousins were waiting for us.

At Martin's baptism.

Daniel and his faces.

What we called his pirate face.

Dacey enjoying crab off Grandpa's plate. Braden helped her get the good stuff.

Helping herself

Wondering what else she gets to eat.

Score! Thanks for not paying attention Grandpa!