outta dodge

After spending most of October in 90*+ weather we were really craving some Fall relief. Cori took a Friday and a Monday off work last weekend and we headed for the hills in search of sweater-worthy temperatures and maybe a glimpse of Autumn color. Cori found us a little cabin in Heber. It was a great locale- not too far from home and close enough to things we wanted to see. And it was on a ranch which provided some diversions which were in walking distance- a certain benefit when there is a wee one who needs nursing and napping every three hours. We lit a fire in the fireplace every night, had hot cocoa, and wore comfy warm clothes that haven't seen the light of day for quite a while.

At the Bison Ranch there is a playground, a catch and release fishing pond, lots of places to ride bikes and take walks, a boardwalk western-style shopping strip (with an ice cream parlor we never made it to), and millions of stars at night. We even found a bit of fall color. There wasn't cell phone coverage, nor was there access to the internet, and we didn't mind at all. Well, Cori had to drive into town one night to send off some work email. He may have minded a bit, but I didn't!

New York strip, buttermilk potatoes and spinach salad. Who needs an ice cream parlor?

We took an unintentional day trip to the Petrified Forest National Park. We were looking in the little info book at the cabin about stuff in the area. It had listed simply, "Petrified Forest" and the driving directions made it seem pretty close. So we headed out. It ended up being a 90 minute drive and as we started seeing signs, we realized we were headed for a National Park. Cori had packed us a big picnic and I had packed extra diapers and a change of clothes for Eden (which we ended up needing) so we ventured ahead. Plus, we had just received the National Park Passports I had ordered for the kids (I actually had the forethought to bring them along, just in case- a miracle to be sure) and we were excited to get some cancellation stamps. Our trip to the park will get its own post...
On Sunday, we went to church in Heber. Then after a big family nap we loaded up and drove out to see the Snowflake Temple. It is so incredibly gorgeous in Snowflake, especially in the community around the temple. We really enjoyed walking around the temple and then driving around the big houses that afternoon. Cori and I talked about the piece of heaven that is being on temple grounds with our kids. How I love these people.


I had to include this little glimpse of Grace that Cori caught on film. It is so telling: the determined stance, the strong gesticulations with inwardly curved fingers, the consternation on her face... She was trying to get Grant to stand on the ledge with her for a picture. Grant was busy jumping off a speed bump.
We spent a morning at the fishing pond. The water level was quite below normal which, we think, was advantageous to our outing. With Cori's help both kids got to reel a couple of fish to shore and then send them back. It was Grant's first time catching a fish. Grace always surprises me with her attention span- she sat with her dad for the entire 2.5 hours we were there casting and waiting. Grant and I had to take a little break to the playground.

My favorite memory of the trip will be the night Cori made us a nest of blankets in the clearing behind the cabin. We bundled the big kids in their pjs and sweaters and carried them out to gaze at the stars. All four of us saw the same shooting star. That should grant some extra wishing power, right?

I took this picture (!!!) from our blanket nest.

joyschool was at our house today

halloween 2010

This year, the kids were sure about what they wanted to be for Halloween... at first. Grace wanted to be a pink pony. She has wanted to be a pink pony for the last 3 years running. And for the last 3 years running, I've decided that I don't have the skills to pull it off, and so I've talked her into other ideas. This year was no different. I appealed to her compassionate side and explained that with our new baby I wouldn't have time to figure out how to make her into a pink pony. She quickly decided that she would rather be a black witch's cat instead. And when WalMart had the costume for $12, I scooped it up and checked it off my list. I asked her if she wanted a witch's hat or a broom to carry with her so that people would know she was a witch's cat. She explained to me that she wasn't a cat trying to be a witch, but just a cat that belongs to a witch. No additional paraphernalia needed. She took it upon herself to be sure that people knew she wasn't just any old black cat.

At first, Grant wanted to be a 'spooky ghost'. I was fine with this idea, because it seemed like an easy enough thing to figure out. I didn't get the chance to try however, because Grant became incurably enamored with a pirate sword in the costume isle. So after weeks of ghoulish plans, he quickly determined that buccaneering was more for him. The day they dressed up for Gracie's school, he allowed me to give him a sweet mustache (pictured above). On the night of the truck-or-treat, he wasn't interested in makeup but bravely stuffed his cute little head into the eye patch and bandana provided with his costume. He LOVES the earring, by the way. All in all, it was an easy Halloween for all involved and the kids had a great time.

Halloween is a pretty big deal around here. I think it has to do with the fact that everyone has been hibernating indoors through the long summer. The weather cools off just enough to play outside in the evenings, and then its Halloween time. People decorate for it in our neighborhood with the gusto most reserve for Christmastime elsewhere. The kids opted to stay in on Halloween night to hand out candy. We had a lot of trick-or-treaters come through and enjoyed meeting so many of our neighbors.

blessings

This is what Sunday afternoons typically look like around here. I love it. I am glad that we were able to keep this afternoon and evening relatively quiet as well. Grace and Grant have been sufficiently Halloweened what with school parties and the big party at the Church. It was really the biggest affair - our ward was just split and it is still HUGE. On the way home from the trunk-or-treat, Cori said, and I quote, "God bless the activities committee. I hope I never have that calling here." Amen and amen. This week I am also grateful for:

• Cooler weather We are able to kill the a/c at night and open windows to let the cool desert night air into the house. It was actually chilly in our room this morning.
• Near project completion With the installation of the lawn, the back yard is all in (pictures to come). We just received approval from the HOA for our front yard plans and got on the schedule with our landscaper. Just another couple of weeks and the work will be done. AND we will no longer be the eye sore of our neighborhood. Our front yard is all dirt.
• A thoughtful husband who has had a rather crazy schedule. Between long work hours and evening meetings at church we hadn't seen a whole lot of him. He is very mindful of my sanity and was home every night if only just to grab a quick bite of dinner and to read to the kids. And this weekend has been so nice with him. Once the kids were in bed we worked on plans for our mountain getaway (coming up next weekend!), held hands on the couch and watched Halloween shows I had DVRd throughout the week. He even watched Project Runway with me! Am I the most exciting wife, or what?
• The predictability that comes as a baby locks into a schedule. I am getting back into the swing of everyday life, at last. Menus, cleaning house, chores for the bigger kids... It is refreshing to have the energy to be proactive and maybe even a little productive.
• A reaffirming message in our Relief Society lesson today in Church. We talked about simplifying life so as to keep a focus on the most important things. Over the last couple of months I had felt a little bad because I didn't do as much as I usually do for birthdays and holidays- this Halloween was especially simplified. In both my head and my heart I gave myself a break because, seriously, we had a crazy (not to mention expensive) Summer. And I know that the details I like to obsess over are really not important in the eternal scheme of things. But still, the feelings were there. The lesson today brought some mental snapshots of happy kids who know they are loved, special moments shared just in our little family, and experiences I have had with each of the kids simply because I wasn't too busy to sit and be with them over the last few months. I'll have time to do more next year. I am grateful that Eden came to our family when she did. Though the timing was a bit tight, I was forced to simplify. And today, I took time to realize what that has meant to me.

image diary 10.29.2010

feeling (maybe just a little bit) like fall

I wore a sweater the other day.

Not because I needed to, but just because I could.

For family night yesterday we ate fallish food and carved pumpkins.

This stuff makes me happy.

Pumpkin guts = gross.

Grant was definitely not into it.

Chili and cornbread = delish.

Grant was more into this.

Salty hot pepitas

Finished products - we're hoping the carved pumpkins last to the weekend!