Breaking Fall 2019

Oh Fall Break! This year, the kids got an entire week off school so we decided to take full advantage. Fortuitously, Chaden Stephens was getting married (in Idaho) and we have spent a few past fall breaks there so we knew we would have fun. We checked the kids out early on Thursday and made the drive to Meridian, Idaho. We LOVE staying with Doug and Amanda.

Friday we helped with wedding prep- LOTS of ironing chair covers for me and the dinner that evening. It was pretty random and felt a little weird because the bride had made a comment, "I didn't know we were inviting our friends to the dinner." Most of the Iund's didn't come (Yvonne was the only sibling)- not sure why it was a big deal.

Saturday morning was the wedding. It was cold, rainy and windy so they didn't get a chance to take any pictures at the temple. The ceremony was beautiful. I was particularly touched by the idea that we make covenants in the temple vs saying "vows". Vows are between two people who are imperfect. Covenants include the Lord who never wavers. The reception was at the church and we showed up and didn't stay long before the Bride's husband asked Doug to have his "friends and family" hang out or leave because we were taking up too much room (rude much?).  We left and took the kids to get Mod Pizza and came back to clean up. Amanda was pretty disappointed that the Bride's family was so mean. I felt bad.

Sunday we went to church- their ward is super small! It was great to see Kingston watch Dallin as he passed the sacrament. He's a good kid and really did well to take care of my boys-even sending them home with his rubix cubes. We went and walked around the green belt (Above pic)- the fall colors were unbelievable. Utah kind of missed Fall this year. It was warm, single digit temps and then warm ago ao everything went into shock and just dropped.

Monday we headed to the weirdest little place all Cleo's Ferry. It was this weird little "museum" out in the middle of nowhere. There were statues, bird houses, a prayer closet, a prayer garden, life sized animal replicas, peacocks, collectibles, a sepulchre replica (say that 10 times fast), and a one mile walk that was free and you could just take at your own pace. We were the only people there but the kids loved it. Totally worth the drive. That night we had dinner with Doug and Amanda, watched movies and played games.

William Shakespeare

My Dawgs at Cleo's Ferry 

 Tuesday we spent the day at Wahooz! It's like Boondocks but had WAY more stuff and on Tuesday it was $20 for unlimited game time on everything. Dallin and Kabrynna decided to come and hang out with us for a while and I think the kids loved it. We were the only people there for a few hours so they rode the go carts over and over again, played unlimited arcade games, rock wall, laser tag and Enzo helped himself to the ball pit (Which I didn't pay for but I wasn't going to go in and get him).

That night we went to our favorite Idaho eatery- Fork. We went there with Doug, Amanda and Chaden right before he left for his mission. We miss them living so close and spending so much time with them. They have immensely blessed our lives and we hope to have many more Idaho trips at their house.

Freak Alley

We came home from Idaho for one day, did laundry and packed up Thursday morning to drive to St George. We hadn't planned on going (I didn't want to miss another week of church) but I am so glad we did. The weather was amazing and it had been TOO long since we had been to the Hurricastle.  It was in the high 70's while we were there so the kids played outside (while I worked on Friday), we walked to Walmart, watched Halloween movies, walked around the Scarecrows at the Red Cliff Reserve, had pot pies, went to the children's museum where they were having a free even with prizes and Kingston won a backpack full of school supplies, rode the carousel,  played Cover your Assets and slept in. We weren't ready to come home to cold- it was SNOWING the day we left. We stopped at the Creamery in Beaver on the way home and the grill of the car was a sheet of ice. Side note: the Creamery was DELISH! A notable stop for next time for sure. 

Kingston solving his rubix cube (which he learned FINALLY how to do on this trip) on the carousel. 

Red Cliff Reserve. Notice shorts and flip flops.

It was hard to come back after such a long break- probably the longest we have had in awhile. The Kia was an awesome road tripper (we had G and Chris ride home with us. A little cramped for me the whole ride in the back but we managed). Also, our saving grace was the Target toy catalog that Enzo read at least 25 times. The kids are great travelers- here is to our next adventure!

E L E V E N

Mckinley Reese- HOW ARE YOU 11?!? Another year that just zipped by. You are all things preteen. You love to cook, bake, frost, whip, crack, chop, toast. For your birthday, we got you a cake decorating class  (it's in Nov) and I am sure you are going to LOVE it. You love to draw, color and paint. You have become quite the artist and really amaze us with your comics and stories about far off lands, strange animals and everyday life situations. You love being with your little lady posse. You love squishees and have decided that maybe, just maybe dolls aren't as scary as you once thought. You have decided that sleeping in is now glorious and that Fuller House (Full House sequel) is the best show on TV.

I love that you are confident and strong willed (sometimes I love that). I love that you like what you like and aren't afraid to be yourself. You have found your feet with Math and watching you find success makes my heart happy. You have found a love of shopping and bargain hunting.

It's your last primary program year. Last year for a birthday sign. Lots of lasts that make me sad but SO many firsts that we can't wait for. We love you more than Pickle, more than 10 AM wake up calls, Hershey's, Kimmy Gibler and more than 25 minute showers. WE LOVE YOU!

Another birthday dinner at Thai Land. 

*GUTS*

Since Mc discovered graphic novels, she has been hooked. It changed the way she read. It changed the way she drew. Raina Telgemeier has ALWAYS been a favorite. Mc has all her books. She reads them over and over. Raina also illustrates for other books- we have those too (Babysitter's Club). When I heard she was coming to town around Mc's birthday, a plan ensued. I invited Bree and Brynlee and we made our way to Provo Library. Of course Mc was less than thrilled when we pulled in, ("We are going to the library!?!") but was SO excited once I broke the surprise. We got in line 2 hours early and got FRONT ROW seats. It was SUCH a fun night! Shannon Hale and LeuYen Pham were also there- local graphic novelist and illustrator. They talked about the creative process, where their ideas come from, took questions from the audience and then did portraits of each other while we watched. Mc got a signed, early release copy of Raina's new book and was enthralled with the entire evening.

It was fun to take Mc to see someone she admires so much. I hope that she will always follow what she loves and maybe, someday, I will be there in the audience watching her do the same thing.

Mc finished her book before the evening even started. 

I saw Raina sitting there in her cute Chucks- she reminded me a lot of Mc. 

Rainia's impromptu drawing of Shannon. 

Meet & Greet

Devils & Tiger Sharks

Another successful soccer season in the books! Kingston really excelled this year! He's in an older division this year where they play on the full sized field, have goalies and referees. He really had a strong little team. Cash played on his team and some of his neighbor friends he has played with since we started (Mason Richman, Kyle, Addison Willard, Samantha Huntsman). He hustled this season and scored goals almost every game. He thrives as a Forward and we had so much fun watching him.

We weren't so sure that Enzo would like soccer. I remember putting Kingston in this young and he would just whine, then say his feet would hurt and complain until he got a snack. Enzo was a completely different kid! He scored in his first game- he tasted victory and from then on was all in. 

One of the best soccer Saturdays- Kingston scored 2 goals and Enzo scored 3!!

Hulk fan club. 

Devils.