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.