Trick-or-Treating 2014

Nathan Creates

Nathan received a little sample pack of "Play Foam" at school in a Halloween goodie bag from his teacher.  He has literally had hours of fun with it.  This mind just does not quit.  My favorite thing he made was this..."Elephant at Elk at the Watering Hole".

Yesterday after school during Nathan's "down time" he decided to cook his own dinner.  A plastic cup (cut in half), tin foil, and a skewer later...and he had his new invention.  Unfortunately, the sun just wasn't in the sky long enough yesterday to help it make much warming progress.  :)  Don't worry, he had it back out in the yard this morning before school.  (Yes...with frost on the ground.)  Hope springs eternal.  :)

Off to School

The boys asked me to take this picture.  :)  

First crisp, fall morning with their winter caps and their new souvenir sweatshirts.

Dad and Mom's New Calling

An incredibly special day we will always remember.  Had the opportunity to be with the family inside the temple (just behind the recommend desk) while my parents were set apart to be in the Logan Temple Presidency.  Don't feel like I can put into words what the experience meant to us!  

So neat to share it with John and Valerie and their family and 

so missed Carol and James and their family!  

Progressive Dinner at Our Place

Each year our neighborhood has a Progressive Dinner.  The last stop of the dinner is held in someone's backyard...a place for everyone to gather for dessert.  This year there were almost 40 couples who attended.  We had the dessert portion at our place.  It was a great excuse to get our yard ready for fall.  :)  We were lucky that the weather was remarkably good for being so late in the year!  It felt like a lot of work to get both the yard and house ready, but turned out to be a fun, filling thing!  

Fall Recital

Both Nathan and Joshua are taking piano lessons from Janae Rosado in our ward.  They are each making such great progress!  This was Joshua's first recital.  You can tell, it was Halloween songs and all the students came in costume.

Carving Pumpkins

Kids couldn't wait so we carved them a week early.  :)  Can you guess whose is who's?

Jakobe

Got to go see our newest nephew, Jakobe, for the first time.  

Such a handsome baby and awesome parents!

Just love them all so much!

Favorite New Spot

We've been wishing for a place to go that wasn't too long of a drive, but felt "up in the mountains".  Fernwood, fifteen minutes from home, is just what we've hoped for!  Picnic area, woods for exploring, and a longer hike trail head we'll try next time.  Had a fun night eating hot dogs, Twinkies, and avoiding "horse pump".  (As Aaron called it.)  :)

Our "Princess Witch"

Today is Elizabeth's last day of school before Halloween.  Her off-track starts after UEA next Monday.  So, today is her Halloween Party at school.  She'd love to be Elsa from Frozen this year.  But, haven't been able to bring myself to buy the "itchy" dress at the store that I know would just bug her 5 minutes in.  :)  

Last night I told Greg the best thing he could do for me was to help me figure out her costume from stuff we already had at home.  5 minutes later they surfaced with her wearing this...her "Princess Witch" costume.  (Boots added this morning at her insistence.  We had suggested white Sunday shoes.)

Thank goodness for a Dad that can create the costume and convince the child they would love to wear it!