The Pumpkin Patch

Every year when it is time to carve pumpkins we go to the same little pumpkin patch (even when we grew our own this year). Its been kind of a tradition to find the perfect pumpkins at this little nursery. They have a teepee, spooky room in the back and lots of fun and scary Halloween decorations. Here are some pictures from that night.

McKaleigh is almost always the first to choose, she is very decisive and knows just what she is looking for. Here she is sitting and waiting for the boys to choose their pumpkins.
Alex usually gets sidetracked playing in the straw, looking at the decorations and spooky things all around.

I made Colton stop and take a picture...he is the most indecisive one, so he had to stop looking and smile for mom for a second. His theory is that the taller the pumpkin the more "guts" he might have to get on his hand and arm when he is cleaning the pumpkin out, so he was looking for just the right size.
All three of our kiddos!


This year Alex wanted to wear a glove when scooping out his pumpkin...it worked really well! The big kids just tried to avoid any goo at all costs, but I think it is inevitable. During the carving McKaleigh dared everyone to eat some "guts" (which no one did - even Roxy tried a piece that fell on the floor and spit it out!). Colton was very focused on carving and letting everyone know about his theory of pumpkin size and "guts".
Here are the finished products! McKaleigh carved a witch, Colton a guy with a scar and Alex wanted a skeleton.

What a cute porch!

Grandma Cindy's Visit

Usually Grandma Cindy comes to visit for the birth of a baby or baby blessing. The kind of unwritten law is that she stays at the home of whoever is having this event - and that means...it is not our house. Although we did try to coax her down when we adopted our dog! This month Grandpa was out of town for business in Japan for two weeks, so Grandma decided to come down for a fun trip and stay at our house for a week. It was so much fun to have her here! Usually McKaleigh and Colton talk grandma's ear off telling them all about whatever the goings on are and Alex just kind of hangs out...This time Alex would not leave Grandma's side! He is not a really huggey/lovey kid, so it was surprising to find him...in grandma's bed in the morning, waiting outside the bathroom door for her, sitting in the kitchen puzzling and reading with her. They really bonded this week!

One of the nights she was here we had Uncle Bri and his new girlfriend up for dinner and had a fire at our new backyard fire pit area. I just love this little patch of fun out in our backyard! The kids love it that we can go sit and roast marshmallows or just sit by the fire whenever! (p.s. there is now grass that has grown in between the cracks in the flagstone, and it looks beautiful!).
For two WHOLE days Grandma Cindy, Alex and I baked cookies! We made about 100 sugar cookie cutouts - and frosted them one day. And then added some homemade granola to the mix for a little afternoon snack!

Then we decided to make peanut butter kiss and gingerbread pumpkins another day. Here are Grandma and Alex (who was our expert kiss unwrapper and dough tester!). It looked like we had enough cookies to last months, but alas, by Monday (about 5 days later they were all gone!).
One of the days the boys and I (McKaleigh had a babysitting job) went down to Utah County to have dinner with Uncle Dan and Aunt Sheri. The kids all got along so well together - they played soccer, Beyblades, and of course Uncle Dan got us all to go on a short hike! Then we had dinner around their fire pit!
I did not get a picture of this, but should have...Grandma came up on Wednesday for McKaleigh's first choir concert of the season. McKaleigh looked great and I know it meant so much that Grandma came back up to see the concert!

It is always so fun to have my mom here just to visit, shop, bake and chit chat with. I wish she lived closer...she did sneak in a comment to Alex that it is now his turn to come up to visit her at her house for some more fun!

Hooray For Cozy Weather!

(Pictures Coming Soon)

Now I know that most of you are not really ready for COLD weather, but I sure am. I love it when a cup of hot chocolate sounds perfect for breakfast, when we can have a fire in the fireplace, when I can wear my fuzzy slippers around the house or when I can snuggle down under the covers at night. Yes, I am ready for COLD Fall weather - not Winter, just a nice cold spell!

I can't say lately, but we've just been really busy. If its not U games and Concerts or backyard projects, then we are out and about trying to have a good time with the kids! We have finally completed our flagstone patio (yeah!!) and have enjoyed fires and marshmallow roasting, watched McKaleigh's volleyball games, played some Wii and Playstation, have watched alot of Netflix, and studied our brains out - all of us. McKaleigh is getting ready for braces, which she seems really excited about (I don't think she knows what she is in for). We are trying to decide whether to sign Alex up for indoor soccer and Colton will begin basketball soon. Karate is in full swing, as are choir concerts and McKaleigh is planning a big Halloween party in our backyard for her friends. Brett is in and out of town quite a bit and we are looking forward to a visit with the California cousins this weekend. Grandma Cindy is making a visit (and staying for more than 2 nights with us) and it is much anticipated. We are excited to carve pumpkins (we grew our own this year) and make Halloween cookies - Fall is a great place to be! Life is good, I couldn't be happier!