September and October

What a fun and busy time of year!  We love the fall.  

Here is some of the fun we have been up to:

A few days after Clark and Maria left us in August, we did a science experiment that Clark had suggested.  We added some food color to our baking soda before dropping the vinegar over it.  Lucy said, "This thing Clark said is fun!"

...................................................................................................................................................................

Our next visitors were Steph and her kids.  Ryan was away hunting, and Steph came to can some spaghetti sauce.  After some canning the first morning we took a picnic to the park and played for a couple of hours.  Then the kids ran in the sprinkler in the backyard for about a minute and got too cold.  They had snacks on the back porch.

And Sam thinks he's a princess. :/

The next day we went to Tracy Aviary and had a great time!  It was as good as the zoo for me.  It was a beautiful day with warm weather.  As soon as we got out of the car, we went to take off Lucy's sweater and realized that WAS her shirt.  So she was just a little extra warm that day.  There were tons of varieties of birds, great displays, and fun things for the kids along the paths.  Like this hideout:

We went to a bird show at the end that was very cool.  The birds ran and flew all over the little room.

Steph was so nice and helped me can my peaches before they left late the third night.  We love having them.  It was so much fun to have Clark's family and then Steph's  right after.  We love visitors!

..................................................................................................................................................................

With the few leftover peaches from canning, we made a pie.  I will be sticking with peach cobbler from now on though.  The pie did not compare!  But we definitely had fun making it! 

Sometimes I wonder how my house gets so messy.  Then I look at pictures like this and remember that I am just not real strict about what my kids get into.  Why were my children at least not wearing aprons?!  Why do I not think ahead?!  Last night I remembered the importance of having a clean home.  I made yet another goal to clean up right after the mess is made.  The kitchen is always a disaster but starting today--no more!  I WILL be a responsible housewife and mother.

...................................................................................................................................................................

Eric took Lucy to the Daddy Daughter Dance again this year.  The young women of the ward chose the theme '80's Night'.  They had a lot of fun, ate yummy snacks, and brought home some awesome glow sticks to play with which Sam appreciated very much.  

Lucy took her glow sticks to bed to be nightlights.  But she got a little rough with them and I went into her room when I heard her whimpering.  She had bitten the stick and her clothes and blanket were glowing.  I threw that one away and made her keep the rest on her nightstand.  The kids were disappointed when the glow was gone in the morning but I was happy to throw them away before any more glow juice escaped!

...................................................................................................................................................................

We went to Vernon Reservoir to do some fishing.  Eric caught a few fish and the kids loved reeling them in.  Eric cooked our tinfoil dinners and one of the fish in a fire pit.  Our dinners were a bit overdone, but the fish was amazing!  Sam couldn't get enough of it.  And we were sad that we had only one.  After dinner, Eric tried to catch more that we might take some home, but no dice.

The kids played on the big rocks near the car before and after the fishing.  The rocks were horses.

..................................................................................................................................................................

Conference camp was great once again.  I was pretty cold the whole time, but I think I was the only one.  Eric and his dad did some hunting on Saturday and Monday.  We went to a spot we hadn't been to before and there was a great fort for the kids.

The carpet was a great addition to the tent this year.  The tarp of years past was kind of loud and disruptive, and the quiet of the carpet was great.

.................................................................................................................................................................

The night we got back from the camping trip we went to the Jazz scrimmage.  It was a grand time.  When we first sat down, I had the thought that Jeff and Brianne may have come, so we should check.  I looked for the phone in my bag, and when I didn't find it I assumed I had forgotten it.  I didn't even think to mention it to Eric who actually had the phone.  We found out afterward that they had texted to see if we were there and we completely missed seeing them!  I was so bummed.  

...................................................................................................................................................................

Eric went fishing at the "Berry" and brought home three large trout.  He filleted them all.  I breaded and deep fried two of them and pan fried one in butter and lemon pepper.  It was all so yummy!

...................................................................................................................................................................

Eric went hunting with his dad, Wesley and Josh in the Beaver Mountains so the kids and I visited my family in Wyoming for the weekend.  Before we left on Friday, we went to the Pumpkin Walk at the Benson Grist Mill near our house.  The kids enjoyed the hay bale maze and trick or treat.  Sam was completely freaked out by a boy in a green body suit with a scary mask.  Poor child.

We packed up and left after dinner and got to Evanston at 9:30.  We stayed with Janet and Randy so I could take Monte and Tessa's pictures in Woodruff at 8 AM for their wedding announcement.  Such cuties.  Three of my favorites:

Mom also asked me to take pictures of Sylvie and Eli.

Eli is graduating this year!  Wild.

 Such cute subjects I got to photograph.  So fun.

On Sunday night we got the news that Eric had a deer!  We waited to travel home until Monday night, though, so I could take Eli's senior pictures.  On Tuesday, we packed the meat that Eric had cut off the carcass on Monday.  It went fast and even the kids helped.  I asked Lucy to write on the packages for me.  I wrote out "DEER ROAST 14" and she copied it onto each package.  She got tired of it after a few of the "DEER STEAK 14" packages, but it was helpful while it lasted.  And, of course Sam likes to do everything Lucy does.  "Mom, I write too?"  So he did. :)

(This morning he had a paper and pencil and asked, "Mom, spell Dad?"  I'd say D-A-D, and he'd draw tiny circles.  "Like dis?"  "Yes, Sam." :)  I can't get over the cuteness that he exudes daily!)

Lucy writes letters every day.  Her favorite activity is typing.  She gets on Word and types random sequences of numbers or letters, copies them to her paper, deletes them and starts over.  She is getting very confident and writes them more quickly now.

..................................................................................................................................................................

We went to the Trunk or Treat at the church on Friday.  It's always so crowded.  Sam was overwhelmed and teary until Eric picked him up, and Lucy was distracted by all the kids and we were trying to rush her through so we could go home.  But they were so excited to have their candy at the end.  And I am hoping we can give it all away this Friday on Halloween!

Izzy and the Lion.  Lucy wanted to use a bag with a face for trick or treating.  I think she had seen one at the store.  So I thought we should make one and I thought it would be fun to paint a ghost face on it.  She chose pink and I chose blue for Sam.  I penciled a ghost face on it, but she kind of ignored that and just painted over the whole bag.  She likes it though and still calls it her ghost bag because you can see the pencil marks through the paint. 

 ..................................................................................................................................................................

In other news, our garden is pretty much cleared out.  On Saturday, Eric took out all the tomato plants and corn stalks.  I picked a grocery bag of peppers this morning because it frosted last night.  I hope it's not too late for them. :/  So all that is left in the ground is carrots!

And THAT is our September and October!

...................................................................................................................................................................