"Is this a reunion?!"

Sunday, October 12

Our newest addition to the extended family was blessed on Sunday. Ryker is the son of Dave's older brother, Jason, and his wife, Meaja. Dave's parents, and Spencer, Allie and family came from California to Utah to visit for the event. Lindsay, Janene and Devin also drove up for the day. (It was just bad timing that Dave flew out to San Francisco for a conference on the very weekend that his parents came here. We missed him!) In the middle of Sacrament Meeting, Derek looked around at all the family and asked me "is this a family reunion?!".

The new family of four! Jason (Dave's brother), Meaja, M'li and Ryker.

Meaja and the man of the day, Ryker.

Grandma Judy and Grandpa David with all their grandkids. (Back Row) M'li, Emery, Taylor (Middle Row) Ryker, Grandma, Campbell, McKenna, Grandpa, Clayton and Derek (down in front).

After the blessing we enjoyed food and more food at Jason and Meaja's house. The cousins had a great time getting to know each other again.

Uncle Spencer (Dave's brother), Taylor, Uncle Devin, and Cousin Clayton. Taylor was attached to Spencer that day.

Ryker and proud daddy, Jason.

Tuesday, October 14
Grandma and Grandpa came down to Utah County and spent the rest of the week entertaining us. We spent this day at Devin and Janene's house and worked on craft projects and let the kids play outside. It's so beautiful out where they live!

Derek, Campbell, Emery, and Taylor.



Judy brought a few projects for us to work on. Here's the metal bulletin board that I decorated with scrapbook paper. I used a lot of advice and support from Janene and Judy. I am not a great "crafter", but I really love how it turned out!

Wednesday, October 15
Grandpa, Grandma, Clayton, Allie, Emery, Campbell, Taylor, McKenna, and I went to the Bean Museum on BYU campus. We went last year and Taylor was terrified. It's amazing what a difference a year makes. No problems this time. The kids ran from one taxidermy animal to the next. Great fun! It wasn't the same without Derek. I had to explain to him later that sometimes you miss out on fun while you're in school.

Thursday, October 16th

Another day...another museum! Grandpa, Grandma, Jason, Meaja, M'li, and Ryker met us at the "Dinosaur Museum" at Thanksgiving Point. Oh how the boys loved this one! Again, one year ago they were terrified of the T-Rex in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, but this time...no problems. Shwew! Taylor, cousin M'li, and Derek.

My little dinosaurs.

This was a fun activity for the kids. This "table" is full of sand, water, plastic trees, and toy dinosaurs. They keep the water flowing so that the kids are able to make rivers and little dinosaur scenes. They would have stayed here for hours, but we had to move on. I am always curious how long they would actually stay if we let them. I just don't have the attention span or the patience to ever find out.Grandma Judy helping M'li and Taylor with their rivers.
After I took this picture, I commented to Judy that "it's easy to make kids smile when they are happy". I feel like most of the time I am telling my kids to smile for the camera. It sure was nice that they were already grinning when I told them to look up. A happy child is a happy mom!Grandpa David giving McKenna a little taste of the fun. I hope not literally. :)After the museum we returned to our home and ordered Cafe Rio. Yum! Then we drove over to Dave's last softball game of the season. They were in the tournament and needed to win the last three games to take first. Well, they lost the first. Dang. Oh well, there's always next year! As if that wasn't painful enough...we came home to watch BYU get creamed by TCU. Goodbye winning streak. It was a sad night. Not only did Dave and BYU lose, but we also had to say goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa. It was such a fun week. It felt like we were on vacation as well. There is nothing like a week full of family! We love and miss you!

Wait...It Is Fall?!

I was going to title this "One Last Summer Picnic", but then I realized...summer IS over! You would never guess it by the upper 80's we've been experiencing and it's October! My sister is all about getting the most out of the warm weather before the cold hits. She hates the winter more than anyone I know. So she called me yesterday and asked us to come to the park since the weather should turn cold this weekend.
We sat on a blanket and talked while Taylor and Landon played on the equipment. It was a lot of fun and I would say "hard to leave", but a school class took over the playground and we gladly made our escape.
Taylor was being silly and wouldn't let me take his picture. This is the best I got of him.
Cousin Landon
McKenna chatting with the girls.

**One week after this post it was snowing. Got to love Utah weather!

Who Was the Wise Guy...

...that taught this girl to crawl??!!

It's a good thing she's so stinkin' cute!!

The Latest Installment...

Summer 2008
The neighborhood kids were out playing in the sprinklers and us moms were out chatting. Derek ran in to change from his wet swimsuit back into his clothes. A few minutes later he came to the front door stark naked. I screamed and ran to make him go back inside.
Mommy: Derek why aren't your clothes on?
Derek: I couldn't find any socks.
Mommy: Buddy, socks should have been the least of your worries.



September 27, 2008
Derek: Mommy, don't take drugs when you are pregnant, okay.
Mommy: Um, okay. Where did you hear that?
Derek: My teacher told me that a little Kindergarten kid's mommy took drugs when she was pregnant. And now he just screams all the time.

October 2, 2008

Derek: Do you think McKenna knows what death is?
Mommy: Nope, I don't think so.
Taylor: Death is when you go to Heaven.
Mommy: Well, you go to Heaven only if you are good.
Derek: Yeah, you go to Hell if you are bad.
Taylor: No, you go to Time Out if you are bad.