October

So far, October has been a good month ... gorgeous weather for the most part, good family fun, a business that's getting busier and busier (more about that later). 

Steph bought a zoo membership, so we've been able to go to the zoo quite often.  Here's some photos of a couple of the most recent visits.

Kaiya and Teague had another soccer session, both on the same team again (probably for the last time).  They have both REALLY made a lot of progress in their soccer skills! 

Kris began her job at Nuemont University as an English Professor (the only one at this point, I believe).  Of course, her students absolutely love her ... as if that would ever be in doubt.  I think she gets a bit of kick of teaching creatively to a bunch of computer geeks.  You know, get them to use their right brains.  The head honchos have given her a VERY nice corner office that would make many executives I know green with jealousy.  I'm so proud of my darling baby!

My mom's 74th birthday was in early October, so we went for a drive up to Heber City for lunch and then over the Alpine Loop.  I was hoping for the fall spectacular that is found on this drive, but I guess we were a bit early in the year for it because the leaves hadn't really started turning enmasse.  Plus it was a bit cold and dreary that day.  Oh well, at least she got to go for a drive over the Nebo loop shortly before with my Aunt Ev and cousin Lynn, and I guess that was pretty good. 

This past weekend was the Las Vegas Ragnar relay, which Steph ran in.  We didn't go down with her, but Kaiya and Teague spent a few days at Grammie's ... which was almost as much fun. 

I picked up the kids on Wednesday afternoon after a couple of business meetings, and boy were they excited to go!  Steph and Mickel said they had been outside ready to go for an hour and a half before I got there.  I think part of the excitement was the fact that because Steph needed the truck for the Ragnar, the kids were going in Grammie's car.  This is a rare treat because of the necessity of transferring the car seats.  Now Grammie's car is nothing special, you understand.  It's just exciting for the kids to be able to ride in it.

On Thursday, I had my regular stint of watching Atticus all afternoon, so I had all three of them.  For some reason Atty was a little out of sorts (didn't feel very well) and then Kaiya and Teague were a little out of sorts that they didn't have Grammie's full attention.  Nothing serious - no brawls or anything - just not enough Grammie to go around. 

On Friday Kaiya had a birthday party to attend.  This was a Halloween-themed party, so we had to leave early enough to get her Wendy costume all situated.  But I think she's a dead ringer for Wendy!  Here she is, ready to fly ...

Teague got to go to lunch with Grammie at the restaurant of his choice (McDonalds, of course ... since they only get to go there on a VERY limited basis).  And we had the extra treat of Daddy being off work and joining us!

After lunch, it was time to go get Kaiya, and to get Teague into his Peter Pan costume since we were then going trick-or-treating at the Little Haunts at This Is The Place Monument.  I have to say that they received a LOT of compliments on their costumes!

This was the first time I've been to TITP, and it was a lot of fun!  Although there weren't really very many stations with treats AND when Kaiya and Teague went back a second time at a couple of them they made comments.  But otherwise, it was very fun and of course the kids were happy that Daddy was able to come with us.





As Summer Comes to an End ...

The days are definitely getting a bit cooler, and it's almost always still dark when I go for my morning walk.  Yes, fall is definitely waiting in the wings.  I love this time of year ... the days that are cool except for the very middle, which are still warm.  Winter hasn't reached her icy hands into me yet ... every year I dread that just a little bit more.  But, for now at least, the weather is just right.

I must say that I have enjoyed this unrequested vacation that I've had, even as I become busier and busier with our new business and other ventures. 

So here's a small snapshot of how the rest of my summer went:

I went with Steph and the kids to the Parade of Homes' "Up" House in Herriman.  Very, very cute ... although I don't think I'd want to buy it.  It seems you'd have people gawking at it all the time!  And apparently they did have the balloons attached at one point, but when we went the balloons were all in a closet. 

My mom and I went to a celebration for my Aunt Ev's 80th birthday.  Wow!  What a gathering.  It seems like just yesterday it was an 80th birthday party for my grandma.  This is my mom on the left and Aunt Ev on the right.  And the next photo is of Aunt Ev and Uncle Lindon, who came down from Washington.  Uncle Lindon recently lost his wife, my Aunt Kate (who was the baby sister of mom's family). 

I went to Lagoon with Steph and her family, which is always fun.  Kris and family weren't able to make it this time, but hopefully next year.  Apparently I didn't get any photos, however.  Oh well.

As I mentioned before, I decided to implement a special "Grammie date" for my grandkids' birthdays, and just recently it was Kaiya's 5th birthday.  I asked her if she wanted to choose something, or have me surprise her, and she wanted a surprise.  So I decided to take her to the Afternoon Tea at Grand America.  She loves to play tea, and one of the first things she purchased (and planned and saved for) with her allowance money was a tea set.  So mom curled her hair, and Grammie gave her a new party dress, but she still didn't know where we were going.  I think she was a little nervous about it when we left, and she kept asking me if we were going to a party.  I wasn't sure how much she really liked the experience, but when I asked her if she wanted to choose something for her next birthday, she said yes ... tea.  So I guess she did like it.  We decided, however, that next time we want Mom and Aunt Kris to come too for a girl's day out, and hopefully sometime before her next birthday!

This was some kind of blossom/plant that "flowered" in the glass of hot water, and made a kind of tea.  We decided that it was fun to watch it open up, but we'll pass on drinking it.

Sterling recently ran in one of the Ragnar relay races, called the Red Rock Relay, I believe.  For those who are not familiar with the Ragnar events, a team of 12 people (or 6, called super teams and each person has to run twice as far) run a course that is approximately 180-200 miles.  So each person runs A LOT.  The Red Rock started near Brian Head resort and ended up at the entrance of Zion's National Park.  I went down with Kris and Atty, and we met Sterling at the finish line.  What an accomplishment!!  And Steph has a Ragnar coming up next month.   I think they're a little bit crazy!

Here's Sterling's "fake finish."  He told us it would be about 5 minutes before his team assembled to do the official crossing of the finish line, and then all of the sudden they were doing it.  So we didn't get any good pictures of the real thing.  This is his reenactment.

Sterling with his team.  Also one picture of one of the many interesting teams, this one with chicken heads.  Another team all wore tutus. 

We stayed in a great condo in St. George, and had fun just relaxing (especially Sterling after the race - I think he was pretty wiped out).

We decided to drive home through Snow Canyon, then up Highway 18 to Cedar City, which was the way that the relay race went.  I didn't realize that the Mountain Meadows Massacre site was along this road until we came upon it.  Apparently there had been a dedication of the new marker earlier in the day, since that day - September 11 - was the anniversary.  We missed that, but stopped for a few somber moments.

So Sterling's driving along and all of the sudden pulls over - he had spotted a HUGE hairy tarantula walking across the road!  We made a somewhat poor attempt (but successful in the end) to help it across the road.  Sterling wanted to take it home, but it was not about to cooperate!  I think Kris was pretty relieved at that.

This past weekend I went to the Utah State Fair with Kris and Sterling and Atty.  I only go to the Fair once every several years, and when I go I always remember why I don't go more often ... too many people, and too many weird people.  But it's always interesting!  Atty liked the animals, but even though Kris was initially gung-ho to see them, caged animals always make her sad.  Plus, of course, they stink. 

And, of course, there's always the butter sculptures ...

But I think my favorite was the fine arts entries, especially from the kids.  Amazing!!  These were all done by kids age 11 and younger - the last one age 7.

I really, really had a craving for a weird fair food item.  However, the line was way too long at the booth that was selling the truly weird stuff (maggot melt sandwiches, chocolate covered scorpions, etc.), which was probably for the best.  We ended up sharing a cheesecake-stuffed scone.  YUM!!