Fall Break - Malad Idaho

October 2014

We were lucky enough to be in town for Malad High School homecoming which was super awesome because my baby sister Aubrey was Homecoming Queen.  

We drove into Malad minutes before the Homecoming Parade started so we were able to see her strut her stuff in her fancy dress and the boys got some candy which made their day. 

We had a good time at the football game snuggled up in blankets and chowing down on Red Vines.  Aubrey was beautiful in her red sequin dress, I'm sure she'll go down as one of the most glamorous Homecoming Queens in Malad High history. 

Grandma always stocks her cupboard with Apple Jacks and the boys eat it for breakfast, snacks and anytime in between.

We took a day to hit up Logan and it's sights.  We ate pizza on a blanket under a tree at the Logan Temple and then explored the grounds.  Grandma showed us a little trail that runs along the side of the grounds and we were all smitten with it.  Bracken was especially impressed with it's magical atmosphere.  He found so many treasures along the path that he couldn't contain them in his pockets and hands.

We also visited Tio Kendal, toured his bachelor pad house and met a few roommates including the pet snake.  Kendal took us to a park where the boys could run, play and use up a few of their many wiggles.  

Every night Grandpa set up the fire pit and we ate woofems till our tummies were full and happy.  Nathan especially prided himself on being the reigning woofems champ, he out ate everyone every night.  Bracken loved cooking the biscuit cups slightly more than eating them, he loves anything that allows him to play with fire. 

Grandpa planned a special fishing outing for Nathan.  Nathan was so excited he didn't complain once about having to wake up before 5 a.m. to hit the lake in the cold, early morning.  He loved everything about the fishing expedition.  The hot chocolate was the "best" he'd ever tasted.  The fish were "huge" and he caught the "biggest"!  Nathan was one happy little boy! 

Tia Aubrey is such a good aunt, the boys love her.  She's such a good sport about playing with them.  They love her and she loves them and tickle wars just come with the territory. 

General Conference

October 2014

Fall Break

General Conference happened to land on the first weekend of our fall break. When the stars align you have to seize the opportunity, so we did!

Nathan, Curtis and I attended the Saturday afternoon session.  Nathan was so excited, a little overwhelmed with the masses of people, but mostly excited!  We waited in line to enter the Conference Center for a very long time.  Nathan and Papi entertained themselves trying to photo bomb the wondering photographers.  They were determined to get their pictures in the General Conference issue of the Ensign.   

Once we made it through security and to our seats, we immediately felt the peace and reverence that comes from being so near the Prophet and the General Authorities.  Nathan was so cute with his notebook and colored pencils sketching pictures and taking notes from the talks.  I am so glad we took him.  It was a special experience for Curtis and I to share with Nathan. 

After the session we walked through Temple Square to the giant Desseret Book Store downtown so Nathan could check out scriptures and cases to see what he would like for his 8th birthday.  He loved browsing the bookstore and picked out a CTR tie tack as a souvenir.

While we were attending our session Bracken and Marco were able to hang out with Grandma, Grandpa and Tia Aubrey.  They walked around Temple Square and the boys were of course fascinated with the ponds and fountains.  Grandma wanted Bracken to see the Christus in the visitor center.  At first Bracken was reserved and timid about the beautiful statue of the Savior, but in typical Bracken style he asked questions, soaked in the answers and gradually made his way to the statue for a closer look.        

Later in the afternoon we all met up at Great Grandma King's house for dinner and visits with cousins and family.  We spent the night at Grandma's and enjoyed a relaxed morning listening to the Sunday morning session of conference at her home after sending Curtis on his way back to Arizona.  Yavapai College does NOT have fall break so he needed to be back for work Monday morning.  We were sure glad he came along for the weekend trip.  It was a very memorable General Conference.

Preschool Field Trip - Fire Station

October 2014

Young boys and firetrucks, a perfect combination.  

Our little preschool group really enjoyed their tour of the fire house.  The big trucks, loud sirens and giant tools were right up their alley. 

Preschool Field Trip - Mortimer Farms

September 2014

It's pumpkin patch time again!  

We visited Mortimer Farms with our Preschool Group and had fun in the warm Autumn weather.  The boys were thrilled with our tractor trailer escort around the farm.  We walked through the corn maze, picked out pumpkins and petted some goats. 

When everyone went out in the field to pick their pumpkin, they headed toward a spot saturated with little orange pumpkins.  But not Bracken.  He traipsed out into a sea of large green leaves.  He was on a mission to find a BIG pumpkin.  I was sure he would come up empty handed, the farm usually makes sure that all the pumpkins in the picking field are about the same size and not anything that you would consider big.  But his perseverance paid off. 

He found a BIG pumpkin!  He hunted through all those scratchy leaves and found just what he was looking for.

Marco of course fell in love with the first little pumpkin that he came to and it was a bit deformed.  I had to do some fast talking to convince him that a different pumpkin would be better.  I reasoned that a nice round pumpkin that sat up straight would be easier to carve or paint and he eventually agreed and picked out a pumpkin that was more attractive.  Yea for cute little pumpkins!