Tradition

Every year Gardner Village has "Witches Night Out", an event held on both the Friday and Saturday the weekend before Halloween. It begins at 6 pm and ended at 10 pm this year, it has gone later in the past. You can have your tarot cards or tea leaves read (for fun). There is a dream interpreter. They have a DJ playing music so you can dance outside. Every store store has great sales and giveaways. Sadly, no one out of our group won the raffle this time, which was a first! They have a costume contest. Women go all out for this event, you should see some of the witch costumes and hats! They are spectacular! All the women in my family that can attend go every year together. It has become a tradition in our family. We all dress up as witches and have a girls' night out. I look forward to it. How often to moms, sisters, and sisters-in-law have the opportunity to go out all together? Not often enough. So we treasure the one evening a year we do get out and have fun as women. Even Katie came this year and she enjoyed dancing to the music.

So True...

David always says, "If wishes were fishes then we'd all have our catch!"

The Scarecrow Festival

That pumpkin is just the right size

However, there are so many to choose from...

"What do you think Aidan?"

This pumpkin may be too small for Aidan's carving plans

Decisions, decisions...

Our little family

My Mom, Aidan, Me, and my little sister Katie

Seery is determined to haul this load!

Seery found "the one"

Aidan is meticulous in his choices, even if it is just a pumpkin.

Ever since 2004 we have attended the annually held "Scarecrow Festival" which raises money for Westridge Academy. It used to be held in Sandy across from City Hall and was a much smaller event. Last year and this year it was held at Thanksgiving Point and has had the space to be a larger event. Here are some of the activities that they had: bounce houses, blow up obstacle courses, a haunted house for kids, go carts, remote control truck racing, lots of games, comedians, jugglers, music, face painting, a boutique to shop, a pumpkin patch, and good food, to name what I can think of at the moment. We love going. It has become our family Fall tradition. This year most of my family met us there. It's rare that we all go out together with every one's varying schedules, so even better! We went on Saturday which has to be one of the nicest days we have had, perfect weather. Although we would go rain or shine.

Wheeler Farm & Good Friends

Aidan feeding the ducks

Seery & Bailey feeding the geese

The ducks really liked their food

Seery loved how they swam over to eat the food she threw to them

Aidan came over to check out the other pond where Seery was feeding ducks

Bailey, Seery, Mackenzie, Justin, and Aidan all playing in the tree house

Seery & Aidan saying hello from the tree house

Aidan & Seery on the tractor

Justin, Seery, and Bailey planning where they will drive the tractor

Last Thursday my good friend Gentrey and I decided to take our kids out for the day. First stop was Wheeler Farm. (I miss that we used to live minutes away from there) We fed the ducks and geese in both ponds. The kids pretended to fish in the stream with sticks. We visited all the animals. Seery's favorite animal to see were the rabbits. Aidan really liked the chickens, he thinks it's so cool that they lay eggs. The kids went up in the tree house to play, and eventually, came down. The tractor pulled wagon ride was fun. Wheeler Farm is so pretty. And always a favorite for my kids at the farm, they were able to "drive" a tractor. After the farm we went to Gardner Village. It was "Wee Witches Weekend", a "Witches Night Out" for kids. The kids walked around to see the witches, but I think their favorite thing was dancing to the music hosted by the DJ in a castle. I think the kids could have easily partied with the other kids but the pregnant moms were exhausted and ready to go home.

First Snow of 2008

Well this weekend the snow began to fall. Our lawn was covered! And since our house faces west it did not melt until the end of the day. My kids LOVE the snow. We drove the Alpine Loop and stopped to play in the snow. Aidan was thrilled to make his first snow ball of the season. Seriously it made his whole weekend. Of course 3 and 4 year old children think snow=Christmas. They want to start drinking hot cocoa, telling stories at night in front of the fire, putting up Christmas decor, and writing letters to Santa. I love this time of year too, so exciting!

The Alpine Loop

Over the weekend the 4 of us drove the Alpine Loop for the first time. It's about 34 miles between Highland and Provo, UT. It is the best of fall to see here. We went a little after the peak, but it was still gorgeous. Obviously not a fall even close to the lovely East Coast. However, I found it magical to see the seasons of fall and winter mixed together. Fall colors with snow. We loved our leisurely drive through the Utah mountains.

With Just Weeks Left....

Here are my latest pregnancy pictures. I am 8 months along now! I have to say that each week that passes brings relief and gratitude. I am guaranteed delivery no later than December 7 because of everything. I go to the doctor again on Friday and may possibly know the exact date of delivery. Can't believe how fast the weeks are flying by all of a sudden! There's a good chance this baby will be born before Thanksgiving. I guess it's about that time to get out baby clothes, crib, changing table, and all of the other gear. I better stop organizing the guest room and get to "nesting" with where I am going to put all the baby stuff! Oh... and we should probably decide on the name. There is much debate in our home on what the middle name should be. All 4 of us like a different name.

New Hair

This past Saturday at the early hour of 7 am I had a hair appointment up in Sandy. I put blond highlights back in my hair along with some caramel and red for the fall. Feeling brave I decided to cut my hair even shorter. I love it. Although I am still getting used to washing and brushing much less of it. I love changing my hair, it's one of the funnest things about being a woman, and it's my goal to never have the same hair for 5 years!

Dear Friends

Last Friday I was able to go the Mt. Timpanogos Temple with Lisee to see one of our dearest friends, Amber, get sealed to her beautiful daughter that she and her husband were able to adopt in January. I was touched beyond words to be invited and be there for it. It was truly amazing. There was not a dry eye in that sealing room. Cody and Amber are just the most amazing people and I am so glad that finally they have such a gorgeous little girl that is theirs forever.

General Conference

The first weekend in April and October are when our church holds what is called General Conference. It's a weekend of listening to talks being given by the leaders of church, of course it's always inspirational. The difference for my kids is that in Utah you stay home and watch it on TV. I, on the other hand, growing up went to the stake center for all the sessions to watch them via satellite, in Sunday dress. When we began going with the Fox family, well those are some of my favorite memories. We would have lunch at the stake center on the Saturday afternoon between sessions. The Fox family would bring sandwiches and we would bring dessert. Remember the "conference brownies" Anna? On Sunday the Fox family would come to our home between sessions and we would have lunch there. Of course we could participate in Sister Fox's General Conference quiz of the Saturday sessions in which we would receive candy for each correct answer. Incentive for us young ones to pay attention! I feel that something has been lost watching it at home. It's nice to hang out in our "scrubs" but I find it too casual and too easy to not pay as close attention, I mean you are at home. Anyways... we have to find our own traditions since here we will always be at home. So thanks to my fabulous in-laws we have found what works for now. A General Conference packet filled with activities. Aidan liked playing Bingo. He would put 1 smartie in a square when a particular word was spoken. It was fun. It kept their attention focused, and they were excited. And we were luckily graced once more with my mom's conference brownies after dinner that Sunday!