Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was spent in St. George at my parents house this year. It was great being all together playing games, making dinner, and being outside in the beautiful weather.

Sammy with his green smoothie face.

A hot air balloon that landed right in our neighborhood. It was so cool that I bought a gift certificate for Dustin and I to take a hot air balloon ride in Park City!

Cute kids waiting for their turkey dinner.

Beautiful table setting.

Shupe's Halloween Party

Shupe's hosted a very fun Halloween Party at their house. It was so fun to have Steph Ellerbeck in town (missed you Nick)!

Dustin and I went at Batgirl and Robin if you can't tell.

Costume Parade

The grandkids all looked so cute in their costumes (except for Dane because he was a spooky dementor) that we had to go on a visiting parade. First stop was Grandma and Grandpa Allred's house.

Then we went to visit Grandpa Taylor at his office downtown.

Elphaba (Abbey), Sam (Nacho Libre), Dane (dementor), Ian (Batman)

Then, on the way home Uncle Adam sat in the car with the kids while I ran into the grocery store. He must not have been paying attention to what was going on because this is what I found when I got back. Yes that is gum in Ian's eyelashes! Some caregiver Adam is! I hope my kids accidentally cut Logan's hair one day while he is in my care. Revenge is sweet :)

Pumpkin Carving

Our family pumpkin carving night was complete with soup in pumpkin bread bowls.

Ian chose to paint his pumpkin.

Dane carved his own masterpiece.

Dustin consolted Google to get just the pattern he wanted.

Finished products!

The Cool Older Brother

Dane was able to make a guest appearance at Ian's school as a Royal Reader. Boy did Dane feel special being able to read 2 books to Ian's class. He read so well and the class sat and listened quietly. When Dane was in Stephanie's 4's class older siblings of kids in his class came as Royal Reader's and it was a BIG deal. So for him to be able to do this for Ian's class is pretty awesome.

When Dane and I came back to get Ian there was time to play. Ian and Abbey LOVED Dane pulling them around in the trailer.

Happy Birthday Grandpa Taylor

HaPpY BiRtHdAy Grandpa Taylor!

October 16 was my favorite father's birthday. We surprised him by showing up at Stein Erikson's in Deer Valley (where he and my mom were staying) for breakfast. My dad is great and I love him so much. And regardless of what he thinks, I did listen to at least 83% of what lectured me on while growing up.

Dane and Ian love to wrestle with him. Dane enjoys golfing (or just driving the cart) with him.

After the birthday breakfast we hit the Park City dirt jump park for some fun. The kids LOVE this place! It is pretty entertaining to watch Ian ride his scoot bike with no brakes and feet up down the jumps.

Dane is a good little rider and LOVES catching big air.

One Beautiful Sunday

We have enjoyed the most beautiful Autumn this year and we have spent as much time as possible outside. One beautiful Sunday we hiked to Cecret Lake with Grandma Sherrie and Grandpa Taylor. It is a really nice, easy hike with a beautiful reward at the end, Water!

After the hike, Dustin, the boys and I went to the last day of the October Fest at Snowbird for lunch and activities. The kids begged to do the alpine slide and bounce house and we all had a wonderful time. I love this weather.

Halloween Decorating

HaLLoWeEn Time is here!

We had fun decorating the house and porch over the weekend. In one of the decoration boxes there was a Haunted House Gingerbread Kit that I bought at the end of the season last year. The boys worked really hard together eating and decorating. The finished product turned out really cute.

Everyone has decided on their costumes this year. Dane wants to be the joy sucking Dementor from Harry Potter, Ian wants to be Batman and I want Dustin and I to be Lego's (either the blocks or the funny people). Now I just need to get started finding, buying and/or making our costumes.

The Fabulous Weather

We have been doing quite a bit of biking in this beautiful weather. The kids rode up the Freeze Creek trail. It has a nice, easy climb and then a fun down hill.

I have mountain biked with some girlfriends a few times. We have done the Mid-Mountain trail in Park City, Dry Creek, and Solitude.

These old cars have been made into jumps at the end of the Bobsled Run off of the Dry Creek trail. Wish I could say that I got some sick air off of them, but.....I didn't. I prefer to keep both wheels on the ground.

Ian's Independance

Ian is in the stage where he wants to dress himself. And this shoe combination is what he came up with. The flip-flop is his but the running shoe is Dane's and is way too big. I wish I had gotten a picture of him wearing a rainbow-colored tie-dyed shirts, brown camo pants and monster truck rain boots. Classic!

There is never a dull moment with this child. So glad he's mine!

Lion King

We were able to take Dane and go with the McNally's to the last showing of the Lion King at Capitol Theatre downtown. The little kids and big kids LOVED it! Dustin and I have seen it before in New York and it was just as wonderful this time. The costumes are amazing, and the songs are so powerful. I downloaded the soundtrack when I got home and have listened to it quite a bit.

After the show we walked over to Benihana for dinner. The kids were in heaven watching the chef prepare our meal right in front of us.

Golf Anyone?

Grandpa Taylor, Ian, and Dane

Grandpa Bob and Dane

Ian found a good spot to ride.

Carol giving Ian, a budding golfer, some instruction.

Too bad he may never be invited back to play....

The weather has been so nice lately and we are trying to soak up as much warmth and sunshine as possible before winter comes. Golf is a perfect way to spend a warm Fall evening, right? We did have a great time with Grandpa Bob, Carol and Grandpa Taylor at Hidden Valley. Ian hit a few but enjoyed driving the cart with Grandpa Taylor. Dane had some good hits but enjoyed driving the cart all by himself. It really was a great evening despite 3 acts that may not get us invited back.

1. Dane threw his golf club about thirty feet in the air when swinging for the ball.

2. During a wonderful dinner on the patio Ian had to pee and I told him to just go behind a wall since the bathrooms were too far away. Turns out he pooped instead! Left a huge log on the grass by the parking lot.

3. Kids were bored waiting for the adults to eat so they poked sticks around in the gas fireplace. An employee told them one of the owner's of the Country Club was very nervous watching the boys play around the fire.

Maybe we will try a public course or putt-putt golf next time?

First Day of School

Dane is in First Grade this year. He is finally going to school all day! His teacher is April Nielson and she is really great. Dane LOVES her already.

To get to know the kids in the class better they each have a Life Box day the first month of school. They are to decorate a small box and put 5 things in that represent them. Dane chose a giraffe, a BMX trophy, a dirt bike, a Lego, and a picture of Grandma Sherrie.

Ian is at CCNS again this year in the 3's class with Mrs. Stephanie. Of course he LOVES it! All of his friends from last year are in the same class this year so it is great to see how much they have all grown. Abbey and Sam are at CCNS this year too! They are both in Terry's class and loving it too. It is fun for Abbey and Ian to see each other at school.

Last Day of Summer

On the last day of summer vacation Dane, and his buddies Patrick, Daniel and Julien, got to have a ski jumping lesson at the Olympic Winter Sports Park in Park City. Lucky kids, right?! I want to trade places with my kids some days, they are fortunate to be able to do some really cool things.

The boys had a 3 hour lesson that started with an introductory video. Then they put on their gear (helmets, wet suit, life jacket, ski's and boots) and practiced skiing down a carpet ramp. Then they practiced jumping into the water without ski's. The water was so very, very cold! And then finally it was time to put it all together and ski down the big ramp!

Dane and all the boys loved it and did so well! Dane loved doing 180's.