Halloween Weekend

Menopause the Musical
Carving Pumpkins - Bella

Jared and Pinja

Ryan, J.R., Shyann, and Felicia

Jackie and Jennifer

Party Poopers

David, Connor, and Carter

Josie and Aaron

Jacob and Felicia

David and Taylor

Blurry Picture of finished pumpkins

The whole gang

Bella and Connor - they were too busy to come with the rest
Shrunken Head Cider - Baked apples

Notice the teeth on this one!

It has been a very fun weekend. Yesterday Brad, Amy, Scott and I went to Menopause the musical. Brad thought it would be fun for me because I have entered into the dreaded state of menopause. I have suffered through the migraines, exhaustion, and hot flashes. It has not been too horrible and the hot flashes only lasted about one month. I understand that they will most likely come back every now and again but I am enjoying the break. The musical was very funny and they re-wrote old popular songs with lyrics that fit the play. I really enjoyed going and after Brad and Amy took Scott and me to Squatters Pub. It was good food and we all said we would go back again if we have a chance. Yes Kellen, Scott ordered a Black and Bleu burger. I don't think he loved it as much as the burger at the Wisconsin Pub, but it was pretty close.

Today we held the annual pumpkin carving activity. We had a good crowd come. It is still very chaotic but fun. We decided that it would be easier if everyone brought their gutted pumpkins to carve so it is a bit easier. David is hosting next year and so we will see if we remember. There were no injuries or tears. Everyone seemed to really have a good time. Shauntel made an apple and lemonade cider with floating shrunken heads made from baked apples with Tootsie Roll eyes. It was very creative and fun. She always makes the party even more festive. We also ate Dunford Donuts. I have been losing the weight I gained while going to school and I have decided that every ten pounds I would reward myself with a chocolate Dunford. I reached my second ten pound goal (20 pounds so far) so even I was able to indulge in the chocolatey goodness.

What a fun and great weekend. We miss Whitney and Kellen but they will be able to be with us someday. Thanks kids for the fun time!

End of the Year Midnight Swim

We decided to have an end of the summer season midnight swim party and movie night. We didn't really wait until midnight, just until dark, about 8:30pm. It was Saturday, September 17, 2011. It was great fun. We swam in a 99 degree pool. It was great. It wasn't even cold getting out because the water was so hot that it actually felt good stepping out into the night air. Jake and Felicia made homemade icecream. They are quite the experts now. Scott baked peach cobbler in the dutch oven. It was not quite right so we will have to work on that. David came with his two boys, Carson and Carter. Jennifer was out of town helping paint her mother's house so she and Connor were absent. Brad and Amy came but wouldn't swim because they didn't want to be cold while watching the move after the swim. Ryan, Shauntel, J.R., and Shyann were also in attendance. Ryan didn't swim because it was the bib University of Utah vs. BYU game for 2011. Utah won 54-10. Go Utes! Barry came with his daughter MacKenna. I love him so much, he is a funny guy! Josie didn't get to come because it was Homecoming for Bingham and she went to the dance with Aaron. We then watched a movie outside on the patio. It is the only time we did this this year. It was great fun with popcorn and candy as treats. The movie was Soul Surfer. Some liked it, some did not. I liked it. It was a great fun and we decided to make it an annual tradition.

Shy

MacKenna
Shy and MacKenna together

Carter

Carson

Grandpa dutch ovening peach cobbler

Party poopers but they made icecream so all is forgiven

Party Pooper - wouldn't swim

Party poopers - wouldn't swim

Playing the Ipad after his swim

Watching the UofU beat BYU during their annual rival game

New Hair!

Just wanted to share my new hair style. I cut about 8 inches off. It is very freeing and feels so healthy.

Starting Up Again

Whitney has asked that I start blogging again so that she may see my photos while she is in medical school in Wisconsin. It is also a good way to share photos with my other girls as well because they are the subject of most of my posts anyways. As you can see, I have not blogged since December 2009. That is a long time ago and I am going to do some flash back posts to catch up. I will start with the most recent and work my way back to December 2009 and so it will take a few posts because so much has happened.

We have just spent the day today in rememberance of 9-11. What a sad day that was in 2001. After dinner today we all went to the Healing Field in Sandy to see the flags placed in honor of each person who died on the tragic day. It is a good reminder of how people come together in a tragedy and also how blessed we are to be able to celebrate our patriotism. It is truly a somber experience.

We also celebrated Labor Day last week. All the kids came for breakfast that morning, except Whitney and Kellen of course. We sure miss them when we get together. We also held our annual BBQ. We had grandma Orgill; uncle Barry and his daughter McKenna; uncle David and aunt Jen with their boys Carson and Connor, poor Carter was home sick with his grandma Colleen and both were missed; Jared and Pinja; my niece Angie and her children Austin and Janessa; Shauntel, Ryan, J.R., and Shyann; Brad and Amy; Jake and Felicia; and Josie and Aaron and their friend Chris (Brown guy). It was great fun!

We also celebrated Oktoberfest 2011 the Saturday before Labor Day. It has become a family tradition to drive up the canyon to Snowbird Ski Resort and attend Oktoberfest. It was a great year this year. Scott, Jackie, Shauntel, Shyann, Brad, Amy, Jolynn (Amy's mother), Jake, Felicia, and Josie attended this year. Ryan and J.R. ditched us and went dove hunting in Green River, Utah. I would be really upset but they brought back delicious watermelon and cantaloupe and so all is forgiven.

We enjoyed German food, well some of us did. Shauntel was definitely not a fan and so we decided that if she comes again she will head up the stairs to the American BBQ and get a burger instead of the Oktoberfest fare. I personally love the food. It is different and I only eat it once a year so it is a treat for me.

We enjoyed eating, dancing, bubble machines, cutouts for picture taking, face painting, talking with the yo yo man, watching the balloon man make Shy a beautiful butterfly, shopping, and buying Scentsy (Amy) and a purse (Josie). It was a fun day and as always, I loved spending time with my kids.

Arriving