Family trip to SLC...

We decided to do a little family weekend getaway together in October! It was UEA wkd and we actually had Brooklynn which rarely happens so we jumped right on it and planned a little vaca! We headed to SLC Thursday and went straight to the Gateway Mall. There we went to the Planetarium! Kids had a blast -

Brooky is washed out but it was such a cute pic I still had to post it! After we were done at the Gateway we went and checked into our Hotel! Had dinner at one of my favorite places, Macaroni Grill, then back at the hotel we all went swimming together, very nice place! Friday we got around and went to the zoo! Spent pretty much the whole day there - kids were loving it there, big animal lovers in this family!

After the zoo we went and rested for a bit at the hotel before dinner. We went to a really yummy authentic Dominican place to eat in Sandy. Our friends from the Dominican Republic discovered it and we were going to meet them there but they had sick kids and decided to not risk it. But Brant came and met us after he got off work and it was a good visit w/him! I think it's more Porto Rican food but so close to the Dominican food it still felt like we were back there - Great place! It's been too long now I forget the name of it :( Then back to the Hotel again after a long day! The kids and Brian went swimming for a little bit but baby and I stayed back this time! Then we packed up everything Saturday morning and checked out of the Hotel, on our way back home we went to Lagoon which they call in October Frightmares! It was really cool to go during this time since we've never got to experience it before! Perfect weather - great fun and yummy food!! Once it got dark all the workers started coming out dressed in costumes and scaring people! All the haunted houses were opened up and we only went into the 'kid friendly' ones of course but they still got a little scare out of them which was fun!
Lately since being a mother I haven't been into haunted houses I've gotten wimpy but I think the old me kinda came out that night - I REALLY wanted to go to the Scariest one's and probably would have if the kids weren't there but that's what we do for the kids! I think it was better I didn't go though I probably would of had nightmares the rest of the week!!!
The kids had a great time on the rides and played lots of games! Brooklynn was barely short enough for the kiddy rides w/Spencer so it was great that they could go on all the rides together but for sure next year she will be too tall! Poor Spencer though he wasn't tall enough for some of the stuff Brooklynn went on he was very sad about not getting to go on the bumper cars...they had the kiddy one shut down to have the haunted house in for the kids so he was really upset but poor Brian and Brooklynn ended up in a car that didn't go at all and so they had to sit in it the whole time and didn't even get to enjoy it - just wasn't our year for bumper cars ;-)

Then we were off back to Logan - home sweet home! It was a great little trip but it's ALWAYS nice to get home and in your own bed!!! Especially when sleeping in the same hotel room as all the kids! Not the most joyful experience - but building good memories I guess :)

Fishing with Grandpa!

So many times Brian and the kids go fishing w/grandpa - I don't mind it since it's a chance for me to be at home and catch up on stuff around the house w/out interruptions from the kiddo's! Growing up I liked going fishing w/my grandpa and have the best memories from it so I'm excited that my own kids will get to have those same memories! Brian does ask me to go w/them often but these day's it's just not my thing! I haven't really 'liked' fishing since I was a kid - except deep sea fishing that was awesome I would do that again in a heartbeat :) So I usually never go but one Monday evening, last month, I decided to go and make it our FHE activity! All I need is a nice camping chair, warm coat and a camera and I'm a happy mom!

Didn't do any fishing, of course, but it was good to be there w/the family and watch the kids build those memories and be able to capture them on the camera! Brian even brought dinner and made a fire - really cool! So we roasted hot dogs over the fire and it really cooled off towards the end of the night so that fire was really nice to have! I must say that I have a very prepared and smart husband! He does a lot for our family and it's great to have him as my other half! There's a lot of times he (in subtle ways or sometimes not so subtle) ;-) reminds me of how important it is to do things together as a family and I the same w/him - I am so grateful to have him there when I need those reminders on the days I'm just wore out and tired and just want to stay home! There always needs to be balance and I'm still trying to figure that out w/life being so hectic but I have a great helper and love him so much! I am a very lucky woman :)

This happy little guy was so pleasant the entire night! What more can I say about this little jewel in our life - always a smile on his face, I just wish the pic wasn't so out of focus! He sat w/mommy most the time in the great camping chair to stay warm and he kept me warm too :)

The kids loved the fire too - and cooking their own hot dogs made them feel pretty darn special! Was a great October family night w/Grandpa and a few others in Brian's family showed up too - they all caught a TON of fish that night - not sure what was going on but they were biting like crazy so the kids got to catch a lot and that made it exciting for them! Here's one last photo I thought I'd share it was one of the times Brian went w/just Spencer and Grandpa, Brooklynn was w/Taber - they caught a lot that time too!

Here's to making many more memories as a family - but hopefully it won't always have to be fishing for mom's sake ;-)

Pumpkin Carving

For family home evening last week we did our traditional pumpkin carving night! Mom made Halloween cookies w/orange frosting and spooky sprinkles - grandma and grandpa came over to join in on the fun - and we got down n dirty w/our pumpkin guts!

Spencer and Grandpa did one together, well Spenc mostly poked holes in his but he had fun doing it! And our miss Brooklynn did it ALL on her own this year! Each year she's gotten better and better but this year was HER year! She cleaned it out, designed the face and carved it all on her own and she was VERY proud I must say!

This is a scary shot I must say - Don't get too close to this mad man! He even brought out the big guns for his pumpkin! Him and only him would use a drill on his pumpkin masterpiece it was hilarious! Such a Brian moment - wish I would of got a pic of it! And of course mom actually did it this year but is there pics of her of course not - she was too busy getting pic's of everyone else :)

Brook's was a pirate - mom's was pretty wimpy just a plain traditional smile, hey I like happy what can I say - Spencer and papa's was a happy goblin - dad's was a 3D goblin! Baby James was still just a little too tiny so he played w/grandma during the festivities!

Hope you all had your own fun carving night :)

Random Catchup Fun!

Meet Johnny Jumper - my friend!

(I really tried to post a cute video of him jumping in it but it keeps failing for some reason and I'm out of time so hopefully I'll try again later and it will work)

I can't believe James is 8 mths old already! Time just seems to be flying by before we know it he'll be going off on a mission! But till then we're trying to enjoy every second of this little guy's smiles and gentle spirit he brings to our home! A lady at church said to us today how cute he was and that every time you look at him he just smiles right back at you - every time! He really does and it brings such a happiness and calmness to our family and home - we love this little but chunky guy so much! I weighed him the other day and my scale showed him at 20lbs already, I thought to myself that can't be right but I wouldn't doubt it one bit he is HEAVY and already starting to grow out of his 6-9 mth clothes, soon I'll have to put him into 12 mth clothes but hopefully not too soon :( I always get sad anytime he grow's out of certain sizes of clothes and diaper's it's a reminder of how big he's getting and just makes me sad :( But he's healthy and happy so that's really all that truly matters!

Fishing the Fall Festival way!

Last month Brooklynn's new school throw's a Fall Festival every year and it's there biggest fundraiser for the year! There's indoor games in the classrooms, bouncy houses and slides, obstacle courses and tons of outside games, bake sale, auction, food, cotton candy, popcorn and lots of people! The kids loved it and had a blast! Grandma and Grandpa Hirschi came by to check it out for a little bit w/us to! It was a big success and a good way for me to get some much needed hours of my time and service to the school as well! Here's a few fun photos of that night!

Brooklynn w/her friend Ashley!

Sweet - you mean I get to have ALL of this!?!

Which it was way too funny - Spencer LOVES his candy so I thought he'd eat all of that for sure! Oh no one or two bites later, yuck I don't like this - say what?!? Spencer not like sugar!!! I think it was the texture, no complaint's from mom and dad that's for sure :)

While I was away this month on my Arizona trip dad was in charge so that is why you see two cats in the house and on the couch -- I guess when mom is away the mice will play! But of course the kids loved it! They were cat sitting for Chuck & Ginger that's where the kitten is from. We are pretty sure it's Jessie's kitten. Jessie went missing this past summer in Bear Lake for 2 mths, then when he suddenly reappeared to our yard he came from the field behind our house there. The next weekend we were there when Brian was on the four wheeler w/the kids he found this kitten in the field all alone. There was a black cat we always saw around in the field as well all summer so here's our theory! Jessie and this black cat got married ;) had babies and of course he couldn't just up and leave her while she was pregnant and then had his babies - so after a few wks of helping her and taking care of the kittens he said ok I've done my job, got to get back to my family before they move back to Logan, which we had by that time but still came on weekends! So crazy how the timing happened! So here's a kitten that looks exactly like Jessie and so of course Brian wanted to keep it - but there was no way I was giving in this time, NO WAY! So Chuck and Ginger took it and their kids love it! So we still get to see it but don't have to own it :) Mom is HAPPY!

And Abby had a little playmate for a bit to!

Waiting for the parade in Bear Lake to begin!

One of my favorite shot's of him :)

So fun to see some old and dear friends too!

Bloomington Lake Hike

These pictures are from the second weekend of September! I can't remember what they called it but it was the first year Bear Lake has had it and it was something fun to do in Bear Lake after the last big summer weekend! My friends the Watson Family came and stayed there for a week in a condo so I got to see them a few times! Mama Jan and Deanna came to our house and visited for a bit Labor Day Weekend. And D went w/us on a hike to Bloomington Lake w/Randi's Family! That was a lot of fun! Then the next weekend  I got to see the rest of the Watson clan, papa Joe, Shauna and Tim and their cute kids! Good times and good memories - I don't get to see them too much so it was really good to see them all in our neck of the woods :)