Local Octobery Stuff

While we really miss Logan and it's Pumpkin Walk, Western Heritage Center and the other fall activites up there, we throughout October we found some local fun to do closer by.

This is at a little family farm in Payson--The Country Farm Fest

We were so glad Daddy could come with us... conveniently it was right by his work.

The girls loved rolling around in the corn kernals

Oh the bounce houses!  Linaya did NOT want to be left out! 

Pumpkinland

Saturday the 12th we met up with my dear friend, Janelle, and her adorable little Ellie and went to this cute place in Orem. 

 Do all kids love sticking their heads through holes in wood? Mine sure do! 

 I'm not sure why Janelle and I didn't get a picture of ourselves together....... but, as usual, it was super fun getting together with her. After Pumpkinland we went shopping a bit and had lunch at our favorite, Cafe Rio! Yum yum!

Hay Ride at the Red Barn with Adelia's Preschool
Just a mile from our house is the Famous Red Barn.........which really does have the BEST ice cream ever! My latest addiction-- apple pie ice cream. 

October is seriously one of the best months of the year!!

Moroni-- and Angel Among Us

We have a unique opportunity to live so close to a temple that is under construction. Shortly after moving to the area, construction began on the Payson Temple, so you could say we have watched its progress from the ground up! Nearly every day, and any time we go anywhere (even just over a few houses from ours) we see the temple. [I wish you could see it from our house but the slight curve of the landscape blocks it from view.]

During Tianna's fall break from school we learned that they were placing the Angel Moroni atop the temple on October 10, 2013 at 11 a.m.  How lucky we were free and able to go to this historic event just 10 minutes from our house.

When we arrived there was a definite feeling of excitement in the air.  I had the thought that it was not only the anticipation of the crowds gathered to witness the Angel's placement, but also from the spirits on the other side of the veil that are anxiously waiting their work to be done inside this sacred house of God.

Another awe inspiring thought came from the amazing cloud  formations in the sky (as you can obviously see in the pictures)  The clouds were literally circling the temple... the storm brewing just beyond the city.  It was a very vivid and real depiction of the saying "The Temple is a Refuge From the Storm."  It was also interesting to note that the rains held off until just minutes after the Angel was in place and then the rain fell........ and fell........ and fell all day long and into the night.

The view before the angel is up 

When seen on ground level it's easy to see the statues are much larger than they appear when they are high upon the temple's steeple. That green in the foreground is a rather tall wall surrounding the construction zone. 

 3 excited girls

The crew preparing to lift it

AND placed! 

 I am so grateful my children could be present at such a unique and beautiful event. 

 That VERY rainy afternoon we went to SLC to see the witches and eat dinner at Gardner Village in West Jordan. It was very stormy which was kind of nice because it wasn't crowded at all.

General Conference

Conference was awesome, as usual. Loved so many talks but my favorite was Elder Bednars talk on tithing. i loved how he mentions blessings for paying an honest tithe that you don't really even think about. It gave me a lot to consider and a lot more to be grateful for. 

We went up to the Cabin for the "festivities" as I like to think of it. I love General Conference weekends so much, they might as well be official holidays, in my opinion. 

This year Luke's sister's husband had an elk tag, as did some of my brothers, so we invited the Bingham's up to the cabin while the boys did some hunting.
Chris got his elk on Saturday... yay!  

Here's a look at our random pictures from a fun weekend: 

Aden wasn't even inside the house yet when he showed Tianna his first loose tooth and she YANKED it out of his mouth! Glad he was happy about it because........oops. Apparently teeth pulling is yet another personal boundary breach for my child... 

And this picture just cracks me up. Monica kept him happy in the backseat on the car ride by feeding him licorice.  You do what ya gotta do, right? 

The leaves were stunning... pictures do not do them justice! 

And well, Linaya is just cute. I have to post random pictures of that darling face.

Seven

As per our new tradition (and the kids don't let me forget to do it!) We decorate the house with streamers and get their birthday presents ready while the kids are in bed. They love waking up on their birthdays to see how the house looks.

Obviously some of the streamers didn't survive the night this time... 

 BIG 7 YEAR OLD

 this year she pretty much just got clothes. She also wanted a fashion designer art kit.
On a side note, I really had a hard time this year with how mature she wants to be. She went from a Strawberry Shortcake theme last year to "Peacock" this year.... which basically meant she wanted it to look sophisticated. She didn't want round toed cowboy boots, she wanted pointy-toed boots. All her clothes have to look teenagery and she pretends she doesn't even like pink anymore. *sigh* I'm really not ready for my 7 year old to act 17!

 We also scored her this adorable bag for school at a yardsale. Best $4 spent!

 Grandpa and Grandma Frandsen gave her dark pink cowboy boots. She was pretty excited!

It was early.... 

 Off to school in her fancy new boots and bag

 The cute primary leaders in our ward put out one of these signs for every kid's birthday......... and let me just say, we have a LOT of kids in our ward. They are so busy!

 After school her best buddy, Anna, came over to spend the evening with the birthday girl.

 Another birthday tradition is to choose what we eat for dinner. She requested fajitas! Another OLDER kid choice. Last year it totally would have been like mac and cheese or pizza!

 One last surprise from Daddy. He wanted her to have a watch........... and she says it was her favorite gift! (Daddy is such a softie. Just about every year we are done with present giving and then he gets another gift in mind and just has to get it for them. They don't realize how spoiled they are to have a such a great dad)

We sure love our Tianna bug. She is so kind and thoughtful...always leaving us notes and gifts around. She is a huge helper. Her teacher says she is like a mini-teacher at school. She loves learning and does super well in school. She doesn't like Spanish or Math but she loves reading and art and LUNCH! (according to her, her favorite subject is lunch) 

Tianna is such a great girl and we are so grateful to have her as our BIG baby girl.