Swine Flu

It was only a matter of time

I thought it'd be from preschool or the kids...but it was actually Ty that caught it first...poor thing. He's had it the worst. Totally out flat. Carter got it the day after, but not near as bad as Ty. Tay is healthy as ever...and I still feel pretty good too. Tender mercies. Silver lining of all the yucky is getting to spend uninterrupted time all together...just us. Even if Ty is kinda out for most of it.

My lil bro Caleb entered the MTC today. We were supposed to pick him up from the airport and drop him off at the MTC, but with the hysteria associated with swine flu and him entering the MTC, it didn't seem the best idea. So my sweet bro Chris and his girlfriend Lisa drove all the way from Idaho to do the honors. We at least got to see him for a few minutes...outdoors in the clean air...before he left for 2 years. We said goodbye to Chris 4 years ago under similar circumstances...I was 6 months pregnant with Carter when he left for Brazil....and a month later, Surprise! Hope not everything is the same this time around...little baby boy, you keep cooking! We want Uncle Caleb to hear only positive things about you.

Hungary is lucky to get you, lil bro.
We love ya!

October Festivities

We spent an evening at Cornbellys and had a blast. Carter and I didn't finish the maze, but Ty and Tay did great. The kids loved all the activities...except the haunted creature...I think Carter got a whole 5 feet in before he decided it was too scary. I'm with him...I hate scary things.

The jumping pillows were a huge hit. Ty's told me forever he doesn't want any trampolines or swingsets in our yard. He said he'd make an exception for one of these...so we looked it up. Not happening...until we have an extra $12,000 to throw down.

We bought the kids light-up swords and wands and they put on a little show on the stage...great entertainment

Hanging out in Cinderella's carriage

Ty left out of town one week for work, so Sara came up to hang out with us. She was a good sport and made caramel and chocolate apples with us. Brought me back to my high school days working at Spitzes Candy Shop. Thanks for a good time Sara...I always LOVE our conversations.

We painted our pumpkins early in the month with Ty's Aunt Karen and waited until a few days before Halloween to carve. I thought painting would be the most fun for the kids, but they had a blast carving as well.

Carter made a scary face
...and Taylee made a heart
Loving Crayola's window markers...so easy to clean...hours of fun
Carter was so excited his good buddy Noah was a dragon for Halloween...it helped make him a true knight

Taylee was definitely a true princess. She insisted on being pulled in her carriage (wagon) and would lose at least one of her glass slippers every time she got out.

The Princess and her Knight

We had a blast with Jamin/Shanda/kids...thanks for coming guys! I forgot to take a picture of our little meal, but we had some yummy halloween finger foods.

One fun Halloween!

And one tiring month...leaves you plum tuckered out

I love November...so glad it's here!

Wedding

I didn't think we had pics from Kayla's wedding, but I found some on Ty's computer from his IPhone. When Kayla gets her professionals, I'll post some more...she was so pretty and we don't really have any good pics of her. Carter was also the ring bearer and there aren't any pictures of that...so I'll post that later.

These are the practice cakes I made before we left for Spokane. Double layer Red Velvet with cream cheese frosting middle.

The final products. Ty and Isaac were lifesavers and spent the time and armwork tinting the fondant while I worked on the rest of the cake. I thought they got the colors just perfect.

This isn't a great picture, but it kind of shows Kayla's hair. I had so much fun doing a rope braid on both front sides and then all up in curls in the back with pearls and flowers. Kayla had this gorgeous green and gold silk tied into her hair and it really sparkled.

Ty's family are all great dancers....we had a blast with the dancing at the wedding. Carter was so excited to dance with a little girl, Lily. Taylee tried to cut in, but found another partner, Gideon, instead.

All the sisters/sister-in-laws got pedis/manis. It was Taylee's first time and she was so cute about it all. She picked out her favorite color hot pink.

Weekend at the Farm

For labor day weekend, we drove up to Neola, Utah to stay with one of Ty's old mission companions, Anthony Whiting, and his family. Don't know where Neola is? Let's go one town larger... Roosevelt? No? How about Vernal? Neola is about an hour outside of Vernal. It's a tiny town, but really pretty...so much land everywhere!

The Whitings have 3 kids, 2 of which are our kids' ages. The kids all know each other from mission reunions and get along really well. Carter and Taylee were so excited for this trip.

We got to Neola in time to attend church...and everyone was so sweet to us. The primary was sooo well-behaved. I was blown away. There were a lot of kids, but they were so polite and reverent. Whatever is in the water there, we need here.
For dinner, we picked fresh vegetables from their amazing garden.
Then we checked out their land and all their animals

and of course played and hung out

This is Carter's very favorite dog. He wants a dog just like her. Why? She was super pregnant (in fact, she delivered 8 puppies the night we left) and wouldn't jump on him. That's all Carter looks for in a pet....one that will leave him alone.

Making homemade ice cream. The moon and stars were amazing outside

I thought this picture was so cute. Two old mission companions back to work. A guy from their mission in San Diego had moved to Roosevelt, so they got dressed and went to visit him and share a message.

Taking a ride on Anthony's motorcycle.
Visiting the Vernal Temple
Merilynne's family has a dairy farm, so we dropped by. Here's Ty helping milk the cows...I couldn't stay in very long because of the smell, but Ty was a trooper and helped for awhile...and had cow poo on him the drive home to show for it.

Taylee checking out all the milk being stored

and petting all the farm animals...she was in heaven with so many animals

Merilynne gave both kids a drive around the farm

they thought they were pretty neat

It was STINKY! I don't think I could ever adjust to the smell of a dairy farm...at least not with pregnancy sense of smell

While the guys were milking the mama cows, we helped feed the baby cows

and the kids helped shovel some hay...well, I don't really know how helpful it was

We went skeet shootin'....no-Ty, Anthony, and Merilynne went skeet shootin'. I couldn't even hold the gun up...so I watched and took pictures

We discovered Ty has a pretty good shot

Little country gal

Thanks Whitings for a fun weekend!

A week later for Family night, the kids wanted to go back-so we did the next best thing...visited Thanksgiving Point Farms