Halloween

Halloween’s not my favorite. And this year, was no different. We do love the Halloween party that the Hansen’s host and somehow the kids make trick or treating fun, no matter how cold it is. And this year especially cold. Over all, we made it through and even Scott dressed up. He was a “dorky BYU fan”. 

 

National award

I wish you could feel my radiating pride for this man. Scott was presented with the Outstanding Security Award from the Department of Energy this morning. This award is given to ONE team in the WHOLE COUNTRY. Scott specifically helped facilitate a technology that is now being implemented and utilized in other national laboratories around the nation. This has been recognized by Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. This is a big deal!! I’ve known Scott was good at his job, but being there today and listening to his superiors rave about his work and thank him for a job well done, was extremely eye opening. I’m so proud of him and so thankful to call him mine.

Impromptu Pumpkin Patch

October has been crazy. And I've wanted to get to the pumpkin patch time and time again, but we've been to busy with sports or the weather has been too cold. We found ourselves with a couple of free hours last night, so I took the boys to the pumpkin patch. I had submitted to the idea of just getting our pumpkins at Walmart this year, but when Tayden expressed interest in going to the field to pick them, I jumped at the chance. I feel like his years of this kind of stuff are fading and I want to take advantage of every minute I can.

It was expensive, but worth every minute watching the boys play and laugh together. The arguing and bickering has increased over the last year, so it was really great to watching them interact without any malice. It was two hours of straight fun!

First Deer

Last Monday Scott was trying to decide if he wanted to take Tayden hunting or not. The dilemma wasn’t in missing school (although I made it very clear all makeup work would be done before privileges) it was in football practice. It was the week of playoffs and Tayden simply couldn’t miss, which meant they would only go for the morning. Scott hemmed and hawed about what to do, but last minute (like 11pm) decided to take him. While Scott loaded the truck, I gather clothes and tayden slept soundly in his bed unaware of the surprise that waited for him in the morning. 

It turned out to be the right choice. Not only did they get to spend the morning together in the mountains, Tayden got his first deer. The week prior he shot a deer, but they couldn’t track it and it ended up getting away. This time, they found it and he could not have been any happier. 

I’m grateful for the jerky this deer will provide. And I’m grateful for the skill Tayden is learning. But most of all, I’m grateful for the memories he gets to make with his dad! 

Cache is Seven

Cache had a birthday a couple of days ago and boy was it great. Busy, attending a basketball game for Beckett and football for Tayden, but still so so great. 

My parents came up for the traditional shopping trip and then we made caramel apples afterwards. It was so fun and the boys loved making them as much as eating them. I feel so blessed to have parents that are invested in my boys. 

We woke up early on caches birthday so we could do gifts before we started running everywhere for his brothers. He’s easy and only really wanted a binder for his Pokémon cards. 

That evening Scott’s siblings came over for dinner and cake. We had fun catching up and the kids loved playing with their cousins. I can’t believe the only picture I took was of him blowing out his candles. 

We’re so blessed to have Cache in our family! He is always talking, always thinking and always on the go. And if you ever need a spooky story, he’s your guy. He knows a plethora of random animal facts and loves to hang out with his big brothers above anyone else. Happy birthday, Cachee Boy! You are loved more than you know!!

Wild Conference

As a child, I can’t say I have many memories of watching General Conference or particularly enjoying it. But as an adult, I can say with assurity that I really enjoy the semiannual weekends. 

However, this year topped the charts. We spent the weekend up at Snackards (official name of our property is Aston) AKA Snackies. The men got lots of work done between and during sessions, the boys played non stop and I got to enjoy a nice weekend in the wilderness. This place is truly becoming my happy place. I love it so much. 

I love this sequence of pictures. Look at Cache. 

This is my heaven. 

Conference was great and a testiment that the church is a living and breathing organization. More changes were made to accommodate the saints and prepare individual testimonies. The YW organization has dissolved the class titles and will no longer be known as beehives, Mia Maids and laurels. Each ward will be able to divvy up the girls as needed. This directly effects me because I’m the 2nd counselor in the YM presidency. The youth programs are also changes. I’m excited to be in the position at this time and see the changes first hand. I’m excited for my girls to work on their own testimonies and find the truthfulness for them selves. No longer are we agents to be acted upon. 

It was a great weekend and I can’t wait to spend many many more conference weekends in God’s Country. 

Tayden

The other week we were driving home from Ashton and went over a major bump in the road. The kind that makes your stomach drop, but I love the way Tayden described it so much more. He said, “Wow! That made my spirit jump”. I laughed at his cute cleverness. 

He has such a fun attitude. He loves to make people laugh and will do pretty much anything to make that happen. Like a pie in the face for no particular reason. 

The boy also loves his dog. Like an immense of amount. I often find him curled up like this. 

Tayden is a great big brother. He’s learning the art of teasing and is pestering his brothers more and more, but at the end of the day he loves his brothers. Especially the baby. 

I love Tayden and thank Heavenly Father for him everyday.