October 2013

• October proved to be busy for our family. Between Todd and I working, school for the girls and Todd, soccer, basketball, and Halloween the month flew by.
• In the beginning of October we took a drive through the Alpine Loop to see the fall colors in the mountains. We also stopped at Cascade Springs and hiked around the falls and ponds. We definitely needed a family day and it was nice to get out and enjoy the mountains.

• We took the kids to Hee Haw farm for family night. The kids had a blast even though it was a pretty cold. Slides, mini-train rides, corn maze, petting zoo, etc... I think the best part was when we played tag as a family all around the hay bales. Our kiddos sure are fun! 

• Early in the year Todd put in for deer tags with his Dad, Uncle Craig, and cousin Eli. Unfortunately, Uncle Craig passed away before the hunting season but the guys still wanted to go and Todd's brothers joined them for a real guy's weekend! For two weekends in October Todd headed up to the mountains...too bad he never shot a deer! He was really bummed but hopefully he'll get another chance next year.
• October was also the month for our first of two fundraisers at the elementary school. Since I'm the PTA secretary this year I was put in charge of part of the food. Todd was gone hunting so pretty much Addy and Brynn were on their own at the Otterfest but they said they had a great time! Cathy was kind enough to watch Bodee for a bit and then brought him over later in the evening so he could eat and play games.
• Reflections is a nationwide contest for students. Kids can enter various areas and their projects are judged at various levels; school, council, state, national. Addy entered the 3-D Art category and won at the school level. She made a gold medal out of clay and wrote about how it relates to the theme: "Believe, Dream, Inspire". She was SO surprised that she won and SO excited! I was super proud of her:)

• Just a beautiful day at the park with my buddy!
  
  
  
• To prep for Halloween day we had to go to lots of pre-parties. Grandma Bassett's Halloween Party of course and we also stopped by the Legacy Center's Halloween Party with the Hackett clan. The girls had more than one costume so they just wore what ever they felt like at the moment!

• Brynn getting ready to go on her kindergarten field trip to Hee Haw Farm. (Again!) Cutie!

• Todd bought Spam for his hunting trip but he never ate it so he broke it open for the kiddos to try. They said they like it! Yuck!

• Sometimes Bodee likes to wear Superhero shirts and play on the iPad. Oh Wait!...like everyday!

• Amy and Milo had given us some awesome unlimited passes to Boondocks last year for Christmas. We hadn't used them yet so we finally took a trip over there. It was a good time. The bumper boats were a tad cold but the race cars were awesome as well as the arcade and laser tag. The kids even made it a few holes on the mini golf course. 
• Bodee waiting patiently in line:

Addy went to a cooking class at Thanksgiving Point for with her friend Reagan. They loved it so much and got to decorate an apron, chef's hat and make Halloween treats. I dropped the ball on pictures but I did one picture of one of her treats.

• October brought the end of soccer and the start of basketball. Both girls did great this year in soccer and Addy really fired up her aggression level. She also did a pretty good job at goalie. Brynn, just plowed through everybody!

•  Halloween brought parties at school and some great trick or treating around the neighborhood complete with a few spook houses! Lots of candy later and the night was a success. Todd took the kids around for the first bit but since he had school that night he had to leave and Merri let the kiddos hang with her while I handed out candy. (Can pretty much Todd is the coolest dad ever since he dressed up as a superhero with Bodee!)

•  This is just makes me laugh. How can they sleep with each other's feet in their face? 

September 2013

• September started off with a bang! On Labor Day we went for a hike to Bridal Veil Falls up Provo Canyon. It was a perfect day and a great hike for the kids.

• The kids thought it was cool to see so many fish in one little pond.

• Since October of 2012 I had been working for our city's recreation department. I worked on average 5-10 hours a week and the job fit in pretty well with our family's schedule. Unfortunately, the lady who ran the department (there was only two of us) left the first of September, and it was an overnight, unplanned leaving. This meant that I was put in charge of the department until they found someone new. I didn't know very much about how the department ran in many aspects but I was about to find out as I took on this 30+ hour a week job. Two days after I was put in charge of the department I left for Wisconsin to support Sarah in her first Ironman! The job would have to wait!
• Sarah was seriously amazing! She had been training so hard and for so long and it was awesome being there to cheer her and so many of the other athletes on. 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run = 140.6
• Gerren, Mom, and I saw Sarah come out of the swim and start her bike, Then we traveled up north of Madison to Mount Horeb and were able to catch her twice on the bike. Mom's cousin ran one of the aid stations in Mount Horeb so we met Pat and talked with him for a bit. We made fun signs to cheer her on and I even made it in a Youtube video someone made of the Madison Ironman holding one of the signs:)

• SO inspiring watching all these people cross the finish line! Here she comes with the Wisconsin capital in the background. Sarah crossed in under 15 hours!

• Love all these ladies! 

• Me with my sweet niece and nephew, Kailei and Koty:)

• Dane was kind enough to take on the Mr. Mom role while I went to Wisconsin. I invited him along since he was waiting for BYU-I to start but he insisted on staying with my kiddo while Todd worked during the day...I think he was more than ready for me to return:)
• The day before I left to Wisconsin Brynn brought home a paper from kindergarten saying she was the Star of the Week, that next week! Luckily Aunt Amy came over and helped Brynn make a poster that talked all about her. They did a super cute job together!

• Mid-September brought a few more bits of change. Dane moved up to Rexburg to start BYU-I and Todd also started the Pathways courses through BYU-I. We were sad to see Dane leave but I know he was definitely ready to begin the 'real college experience'. Todd has learned lots of lessons in time management as he as chosen to take classes and balance life and me working:)
• Girl Scouts also started again in September. Addy became a Brownie and Brynn is now a Daisy! It's fun to have them both in the troop together. We had a Bridging Ceremony for all the girls going into Brownies and welcomed the new Daisies into our troop.

• At our elementary school each teacher chooses one student each month to receive the Ollie Otter award at the monthly assembly. Mrs. Cowley chose Brynn as her first student of the year! Brynn was so excited (even though she didn't even know what it was at first) and was invited up on stage in front of the whole school where Mrs. Cowley talked about what a positive and happy attitude Brynn has. She said Brynn is always eager to participate and helpful to her classmates and her teacher. It was such a special day for Brynn and we were so proud of her. Addy was also happy for Brynn even though she has not yet received an Ollie Otter award...it was a good lesson in how to be happy for others:)

• Brynn received a free kids meal to the Brick Oven so she and I went on a special. She got A LOT of food! I think she took two bites from each plate and took the rest home in boxes. It was a fun afternoon for us to spend together.

• Bodee hanging with Amy and being a rough and tough boy

• On September 28th I ran my 7th marathon. Merri, my neighbor and favorite training buddy and my sister Gerren ran it as well. Sarah flew in as ground support and Dane drove down from Idaho to see his favorite sisters. We stayed in a hotel the night before and got up early to drive to Huntsville. The start line was FREAKING COLD! I ran with Merri until mile 16. (At mile 16 we were on track to easily qualify for Boston) At mile 16 I told Merri to go on without me (sniff, sniff). Merri placed second in our age group and qualified for Boston. My last 10 miles were rough and came in at 3:53. Not a horrible time but it was sad for me since I was on track to qualify. Beautiful race and good times with my favorite girls. I loved having my sisters around for the weekend. I wish as so many times before they we all lived closer to each other. Talking on the phone a couple of times a week just doesn't always cut it.

• Our pass to the Children's Museum expired at the end of September so I thought I'd take the kids for one last time. They each invited a friends so we had a full car. Bodee brought Emerson, Brynn brought Maya and Addy brought Hailey. The kids all had fun and we stopped for Happy Meals on the way home. Fun times!

• Sometimes when I was in school I felt like my math was in Chinese since I could barely understand it sometimes. Then I looked at Addy's math homework and I thought, 'Wow, her homework really is in Chinese!" She is doing very well in Chinese this year!

• Merri and I took the kids to a Salt Lake Real Game. It was a really fun night. I just laugh the whole time I hang out with Merri! I'm so glad for her friendship:)