Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Sentimental Halloween...


Every year at Halloween I put out this little pumpkin
 that Chris made in the 3rd grade.
 He is almost worn out but he is so cute that
every year after Halloween is over I just put
him back into the Halloween box to save for yet
another year. Chris's name is just barely
legible and the back has a big hole in it.

But he reminds me of all of the cute little things that
the kids use to make at school and bring home
to decorate the house.
I remember not really appreciating them at the time
but I am glad that I saved a few of them.
Even though he is nearly worn out he 
is my favorite Halloween decoration and
I hope he will stay around for a few 
more years to come.
I guess I am just getting old and sentimental!!!

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Check this off my bucket list...

Our friends asked Wayne and I to go with their family to 
our local farm to check out their
corn maze!!!
We haven't ever been out to the farm before...
it was kind of amazing!!!


Their pumpkins were amazing...

They had a lot of fun things for the kids to do...


...and Wayne tried all of them!!!
They also had some amazing pumpkins
for purchase.....


They had a bouncy thing that Ethan 
was really good at but he didn't want to
look at me.
We also played volleyball and a bit of basketball!


We saved the maze for the end...
so it would be dark....and spooky....
and dark.......

Only in the south would you see a corn maze with 
a scripture reference included...
awesome!!!


I am really glad that they gave us a map because
we would have surely gotten lost without it...
(which we did a couple of times anyway!!!) 

We only finished about half the maze...
it was long and kind of buggy...but fun!!!
I am glad Wayne thought to bring the 
bug repellent...
More amazing pumpkins...
I kind of like pumpkins!!!!
Thanks Melinda for including us!!!

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Back from our fabulous trip!!!

We just arrived back from our fun trip to Salem, Oregon 
to see the family and to Utah to see more of the family!!!

Our first stop was Sunriver near Bend, Oregon 
where we all got together and had a fabulous
labor day weekend.

Our first activity was to rent bikes and go
for a nice long bike ride. Just gotta love
Quincy's helmet...it made her look top heavy
but still ohhh sooo cute!!!


Chris and Matthew decided to try out the tandem
bike. When do you get a chance to just be crazy!!!
(Oh, well...every time these two get together!!!)



We stopped for a break along the way
to check out the view...

Somebody loved her ride...

The next day we went to the water park
and had a blast!!!


We didn't get too many pictures here
because I actually didn't bring my camera
until later.


The little QT liked hanging out with her Grandpa


The next day we went to the nature center and saw
some otters being fed.

They had some really fun life size Lincoln logs...
Can you see Berkleigh trapped inside?

And then the kids made their own little cars!!!
They helped saw their own wheels...

...and then using a hand drill and no electricity,
they put them together.

When we first went into the park, we saw all the kids
pulling their little cars around with them. Berkleigh 
was so happy when we finally found the "craft table"
so she could have a car too!!!


The next day... horseback riding...
We were going to go canoeing too but we
 had to wait until later in the day...which worked 
out well because then the guys were 
able to come with us.

I am not sure what Merrick's horses name was
...maybe Molly....but Berkleigh's horses name 
was Houdini.



Of course the QT was too small to do most 
anything but she liked petting her pony!!


While the girls and Merrick were riding ponies,
the guys went white water rafting....


We could have taken the twins rafting but after 
seeing these pictures, I am glad we decided 
to do something else...but the guys had a great time!!!

Later in the day, we all went canoeing...




After canoeing we ate dinner at this fabulous
little Mexican restaurant right on the lake
then stopped at another part of the lake where
Chris decided to climb on the rocks.

He fell in... which was funny at the time until
we realized that he had punctured his foot on the rocks.
But it was a good thing we had a podiatrist with
us to take care of it!!!
Thanks Dr. Scott!!!


The boys know that if Mom has her camera...their
antics are likely to end up on the blog...
They just had to try out Quincy's ride....

This was the morning we left...
Thanks Chris for bringing a glow in the dark 
frizbee and some other balls because the kids
had a great time in our backyard!!!
We are Sunriver fans for life!!!
We may have to go back next year!!!
The next day, after we returned to Jen and 
Tyson's house, the kidos went off to the first grade.
They were so cute and we were so glad to 
be able go with them on their first day of school!!! 
Quincy is ready too...she has my camera case...

Our next stop....going to see my Dad!!!
He had just turned 102 the week before...so
we brought presents and cake!!!
 Love Chris' photo bombing!!!

He was really happy to see us and we were
happy to see him!!!

We spent the last few days of our vacation
with Wayne's family in Manti, Utah.
It was really great to see them too!!!
It was a nice end to our summer...
can't wait until next year...

Saturday, August 17, 2013

How many alligators do you see???

As promised I am posting our trip to the
alligator park.
This has to be the most amazing and creative recycle
I have ever seen.... gotta love the teeth...


We started out by seeing a few baby alligators...


A fabulous peacock who was obviously
 angry with her mate...

Some emu...
 

And the goats who were really 
excited to be feed....


Then we started to see more alligators.
Like this crusty old guy...
(so far I am up to 2 unless you want to count
the semi truck...then we are at 3 alligators!!!)


...and this one that was almost completely hidden!!!
 Doesn't he look like he couldn't possibly
move even if he wanted too!!!


Then we found these two...
 at first we could only see one, but then the second one
swam out a little closer...


More babies...
(are you keeping up? I will tell you my total
at the end of the post!!!)
 

Here is the mossy one...


OK...this is where counting gets complicated.
We went to the alligator feeding at 11:30...
and they were waiting...
 

Then more alligators started to show up...


...and then the boat came out and this
young woman started to throw out
pieces of chicken attached to a wire!!!


It was really quite a show!!!


Loved how the boat was all beat up from the
many 11:30 feedings!!!


As if we didn't get enough with one feeding
we had to also go to the other feeding.
This one was even more up close and personal...


And this time the girl slid the chicken out to
them on a fishing line.

OK...so how many alligators could you see!
However many you counted... that is correct..
You are the winner...
see me later and I have a real alligator
head for YOU!!!
(and you think I'm kidding!!!)