Halloween 2012

The day started off with our traditional Halloween parade at the school.  I dressed up too because sometimes I am just a nerd and like to do that.  Love it when people don't recognize me. 

Then I helped in Ethan's class with the party with my mind-reading math game.
Then it was so nice and warm, we went over to the Wilko's for hot dogs and put on costumes.  I need to find the other pictures of Taylor and Carissa too.

Sophie is 11!

Sophie had a pretty low key birthday!  We did the traditional treasure hunt with clues around the house to find her gifts and opened them in the morning.  She wanted an ice cream cake so we had a yummy one with a small birthday party with friends to play games and watch a movie.

 L-R:  Ellie Anderson, Sylvie Weichers, Sarah King, Sophie, Claire Sudbury, Laura Lundahl

To build or not to build

We stumbled upon Pleasant Grove and it felt like Centerville (home) where Taylor and I grew up.  We didn't want to move that far south but so far feel good about building a house with a company that is building close to the elementary school.  This is the lot we are considering.  It faces south.

 You can tell how excited Carissa is.  Sophie didn't even get out of the car until later.  This is looking North.  Love the view of the mountains and the horse back there we named Buster.

Boise Idaho

For fall break this year, we thought it would be fun to visit Taylor's cousins in Idaho and visit the open house for the newly remodeled Boise temple.  We stayed at Heather's house and then her oldest daughter Mattie came with us to the open house.  It was so beautiful and I love all the details they put into it to make it unique to Boise.  The spirit was so strong and it was so peaceful.

Then we changed clothes and decided to go to a top tourist spot in Boise... the old prison.  We didn't plan it like that on purpose or even think of it until the end of the day but the stark difference between the two was astonishing.  It almost seemed like there were ghosts there and the creepy feeling was palpable.  The different stories about criminals and the history of the prison that you could read as you walked through were fascinating but eery.  There were still fixtures in the cells and paint peeling from the wall.  Interesting fact:  The prison was open for 101 years and closed the week after I was born.  Thinking of the days and years many people spent here wasting away their lives for bad choices made was sad.  I want to continually seek for and have the peace and holiness I felt in our first field trip of the day.   The old prison was a creepy Halloween thing to do. 

 Of course we still had a fun time exploring and looking around as evidenced by the kids goofing off. 

Park City

I feel like the month of September was spent traveling more than being at home.  We had a 'free' week to use with Marriott since we booked our Phoenix June trip on a promotion.  For less than $150 we got a week at the Marriott Mountainside Resort in Park city.  It did not disappoint.  The colors were spectacular and our room was right down from the kids activity area and the pools.  I didn't take many pictures but we had a blast.  We stayed the weekend until Tuesday and then came back up to swim and play Thursday evening since we live so close.

We took a day off of school for an all day pass on the Alpine slides and coasters and other fun stuff! 

 This is at the top of the mountain before going down the Alpine slide.

 

 

Family Pictures

We got family pictures done early for the Christmas card.  We went to Memory Grove on Saturday morning and had a great time.  Then we went over to the Saturday Market.  I can't believe how fast the kids grow!

Taylor took Ethan to New York with James and Savannah.  They went to the US Open. 

Statue of Liberty.

 September 11th memorial

 A Yankees game.

Shopping

Central Park

 Museums and Broadway shows.  They packed a lot in for just 4-5 days. 

I got to stay home and Jen (and Logan)and Cathy flew in to sleep over and play for the weekend.  Laura came down and spent the night with Rachel too so besides Logan and Gabe, it was a girls weekend!  We ate out at Outback Steakhouse and got it for free (due to Laura's chicken being doused with lighter fluid or something), laughed hard and had such a great time.  As we left Outback steakhouse and my sisters were mortified, I stated that I thought that went pretty well.:)   

Even when there was major stress as they tried to catch their flights and we had to get Cathy's uniform she left in mom's car from Marcia's house and even ran back to get the stroller for Logan left in my garage.  It took a lot of coordinating at the last minute but it worked and they made their flights home.  I wish we would have taken some pictures together.