Halloween

Halloween was a nice relaxing day.  JJ worked and his staff dressed up as the "spice girls" and JJ was the chef. I was able to attend a class at the gym that I like and run some errands.  The boys carved their pumpkins all on their own.  Nolan did a 67 and Garrett did a face with a big mouth because he wanted to put a fire inside again this year. We had some chili for dinner before the boys went on their way.  Garrett was going to hang out at a friend's house and Nolan was heading out with some friends in the neighborhood.  That left us at home to hand out candy by ourselves.  We built a fire and enjoyed sitting together.  We didn't have very many trick or treaters and ended up with a lot of leftover candy again.  We are slowly getting less and less come down our street.  Nolan came home with tons of candy and had a fun time with his friends.  Halloween was another reminder that our kids are getting older.  I missed trick-or-treating with the kids together as a family.  It is really strange to not feel that old but then be reminded that you are getting older and so are the kids.      

Pumpkinland

We are on fall break for the next several days.  Nolan and I were both excited and ready for a break.  With Garrett still gone it was just us the first day. I asked him what he wanted to do over break.  We talked about a few things, and he brought up going to pumpkin land.  I told him he might be on the verge of too old for it but thought it would be a lot of fun.  He invited a friend to come with us. He brought LJ with us, and he was excited to be invited.  They had a lot of fun running around together and going through all the hay forts.  They loved the big tube thing that rolled on a track.  I ran into a friend from church there with her kids.  It was nice to have someone to visit with while the kids played.  This was most likely our last time going since Nolan is growing up.  I am thankful we went and were able to do something fun on a beautiful day.  I am realizing that there are a lot of activities that we are growing out of doing.  I think back to how old Lucy was when we did things, but she always had younger siblings.  It is a hard adjustment to move onto the next phase of life.       

Washington D.C.

Garrett was invited to go to Washington D.C. with JJ's parents.  It was a fun opportunity for him, and he was excited to go.  He has never been and really enjoyed spending a few days seeing the sights there.  Even with several things closed right now due to the government shut down that were still able to see and do a lot.  Garrett said they did a lot of walking.  He didn't give us many details about all the things they did but he did say he enjoyed reading the quotes and touring things.  He enjoyed spending time with his grandparents, and I am sure will always remember this trip with them.  This is the first time he has traveled alone, and he did a great job.  He had a direct flight there and back, so it made things easy.       

 

Playoffs

Nolans football team has had a great season.  They are undefeated and have never been scored on.  They were pumped to be heading into playoff.  It was also going to be interesting to play a team that would possibly give us some competition.  Nolan was pumped and was looking forward to his game all morning.  I saw JJ as they were getting ready to enter the field.  He said Nolan was doing a great job on his kicks during practice and was ready to go.  After the first touchdown we made Nolan had a beautiful PAT kick.  Right down the middle and that made me so happy.  He has been struggling and working hard at that and starting the game with a success was good.  During the second quarter they made another touchdown and while Nolan was kicking, he got hurt.  A player broke through and went for the ball.  As he was diving for the ball Nolan was also going to kick and the kids helmet hit Nolan right in his leg.  He was down on the field and as the play finished, we could all hear him screaming in pain.  JJ was down on the field and thankfully ran out to him.  I waited in the stands to see if he was ok.  They helped him off the field and I could see that his knee was hurt.  The trainer assessed it really well and as the game went on, he kept checking on him.  He had him try to walk and he could barely put any weight on it.  I was so sad for him.  He was looking forward to playing.  One of Nolans friends was so worried about him.  He came and stood by him while the trainer was checking him out.  His Grandma took a picture of him, he was patting Nolan on the shoulder and comforting him.  Nolan has so many great friends, he is so lucky! I could tell at half time that he was slowly improving and was going to be ok.  We ended up having several players get hurt and banged up during the game.  I am thankful that nothing worse happened.  Nolan was never able to go back in, but it was a fun opportunity for someone to play in his place.  We won the game 42-0 and would be heading to the Superbowl the next week.  The kids were so excited! It wasn't the game Nolan wanted but I am glad he is ok and when he did play, he did a great job.       

 

Pumpkin Patch

Monday after class Lucy got off the frontrunner at Grandma and Grandpas stop.  They picked her up and took her to the pumpkin patch with Rachel and her kids.  After the pumpkin patch they went back to the house and had dinner and frosted sugar cookies.  Lucy said Grandma was excited to have everyone over and spend time together. She said Grandma sent her home with a bag of treats, some cookies and the pumpkin she picked out.  I am glad Lucy has family out there to spend time with.  This is a special opportunity she has to make memories with them.  

 

Primary Program

Nolan had his last primary program.  Our littlest one is growing up and its hard.  Time goes by so fast!  Next year we won't have a kid in primary.  It was cute to watch him sing the songs and say his part.  I told him to make sure to smile every once and a while, so we knew he was having fun.  He said what if I'm not having fun, I said smile anyways.  I get it, it's not fun to be the oldest kids still doing the primary program.  He got to write his part and did a great job.  We helped him a little bit think of things to say.

" Next year I will be able to go to the temple.  I am still learning about the temple and what I will be doing inside.  I know I feel good when I do something for other people.  I am also excited that I get to be baptized for someone else.  I know this is an important part of Gods plan for his children.  I look forward to going to the temple to learn, worship, and serve.       

Homecoming Dance

Saturday was the homecoming dance.  It was a very rainy day unfortunately!  We have had such nice weather, and it has been really warm for this time of year.  It got chilly and rained all day long.  The storms moved in just in time to cancel Nolans football game in the morning.  He was disappointed!  It was going to be a team that would have been good for our team to play.  We have had a great season but have played fairly easy teams.  This would have been good competition for the boys, and it was Timberland!  They are one of our rivals.  Garretts dance group did pictures in the neighborhood clubhouse.  That was nice and easy for us.  Garrett was going to go with some of his guy friends but then his friend Alyssa invited him to come with her group.  There weren't very many guys, and it would help even things out a little more.  So, he went with them.  It was confusing to us all if Alyssa was interested in Garrett.  He thought about asking her to the dance but then didn't.  They she asked him kind of, and we were all confused.  Garrett assured us that they really were just friends, and he was right.  A family hosted the group at their home for dinner which was very nice of them.  Garrett said he had a really nice evening and was glad he went.  JJ and I snuck off to dinner at Outback after taking some pictures.  We have been wanting to spend some time together.  Life has been so busy lately that even getting out for dinner has been hard.  It was nice to sit together and talk.  After dinner we got Nolan and headed to the Smiths house to watch the BYU/Utah game.  It was fun to spend the evening with our friends watching the game.  Lucy was at the game and had an amazing time!  She waited in line for hours to get good seats.  It was an all-day thing, but she said it was worth it.  After the game they all went down on the field.  She lost her voice from screaming.