Family Visits

 October is so fun with the oncoming Fall, harvest, and Halloween activities.  Our month started with Kyle's birthday.  He got a bike and is super excited to ride to work. 

I found a farm where I can get raw milk.  I went on a tour with the kids.  Hazel called everything a dog, then she called everything a chicken.  Apparently she doesn't know her farm animals, especially goats, but I set her straight.

Danny came for a visit.  While he was here we went to OMSI (science museum) and I participated in my first Turkey Shoot.  I've been resisting using a shotgun since I was 12 years old and we started shooting in my grandparents' backyard.  I finally did it this year, and I didn't break any bones!  I did hit several clay pigeons, and my armpit was sore for days after.  It turns out Kyle's been holding out on me. He got 12 out of 12 in the competition; I didn't even know he could shoot!  His gun-toting friends were all shocked as well (because he beat them).

Then Hazel got this crazy virus.  She threw up once each evening, for 9 days.  I was super grateful for the doctor who told me it was just a virus, because the once-a-day thing had me thinking of very creative explanations, none of them good.

Dillan got to participate in his first primary program!  He didn't sing at all, but he felt comfortable in front of the congregation and did a great job with his line.

 Kyle's is the BYU, Dillan wanted a scary pumpkin, then Hazel (she drew the nose herself), then mine (the nose is the stem, so you can only see it's eyes and eyebrows in the dark).

 I separated out the pumpkin seeds to roast later.  She was eating them raw out of the bowl.  I tried one, they are so chewy and fibrous.  And she was just munching away!

Dillan (below) wanted cheeks cut out, then he wanted ears, so we used toothpicks to hold on the "ears" that used to be cheeks.  It turned out great.

One tradition we have is to go to a pumpkin farm each Halloween season.  The kids love to ride in a wheelbarrow, see pumpkins in their natural habitat, and pick out their own.  We carved them a few days later.  The kids scooped out the middle and told me what they wanted their jack-o-lanterns to look like.  They also got to draw some feature by themselves, then I cut it out for them.  They all turned out so fun and different.  And they rotted so fast in our rainy weather!
Next we were graced with the presence of my parents and my sister Shelly!  We had lots of fun stuff planned, most of which was botched by the rain and fog and a closed highway.  But!  We went to Powell's Books for the first time, Dillan got a skateboard, and Hazel got some legos, and we enjoyd playing games together each evening, and swimming in the hotel's pool.  They love their presents, thanks Grandma and Grandpa!  We even went to a skatepark, and Dillan was able to sit on the skateboard and roll down the slopes.

While they were here Dillan got the same virus as Hazel.  I have never done so many loads of laundry in the middle of the night!  I was sure grateful for our own washing machine.  Luckily, that was the end of it--one night, and he was fine the next day.

 Hazel is becoming very musical.  She loves to play the piano (especially after she sees me do it), dance, and sing.

 Dillan's new skateboard, he's totally in love.  This is what he is always grateful for in prayers.

 The kids are sleeping and the visiting adults resting.  We are good at wearing out our visitors!

This is the day before Halloween on the way to the church party/Trunk or Treat.  Dillan was allowed to eat 3 pieces of candy.  We offered him $5 to throw away the rest of his candy.  He loved it, and I loved watching him dump a bucketful of candy into the trashcan.  Candy was such a treat and he bought a Lego Space Rover.  Yay!  I'm excited to continue that tradition.