Fall Family Pictures

We decided to take some family pictures up near the Draper Temple. It was a beautiful little spot. Luke set up his camera and tri-pod, then set the timer and ran into the shot. We got a few good ones but it was difficult! After, he shot a few pics of just the girls and I.

Matching Dresses

My mom bought the girls matching dresses and they wore them for the first time today at church. I love the dresses, they are so adorable and they couldn't be on cuter girls!

Breakfast With a Witch

Jill treated the girls and I to breakfast with a witch on Saturday at Gardner Village. It was great fun! The witches walked around and entertained us with stories and spells. One of the witches handed out gummy worms, and another one walked around with a plate of fake vomit. The room was decorated perfectly for Halloween and it was really cool. I felt like I was in a movie, like the movie Hocus Pocus actually.

The Pumpkin Patch

It was our annual pumpkin patch party in Gramps garden. Ava and Tess picked pumpkins and Ava wore her Cinderella costume. Luke wasn't here this year, so I did the pictures, in case you can tell the lower quality and caliber.

The Pink Cast

Tess got her cast put on today. Luckily it's waterproof, so she can still take baths and get wet with no worries. She has to keep it on for 4 weeks!

Tessie's Arm

As you may know, Tess fractured her left arm in 2 places on Sunday night when she fell down the stairs. She's been wearing a splint this week until today when she got her cast put on. I'll post some pics later of the cast.

Ava really wanted to have a "hurt arm" like Tessie, so Luke bandaged it up. She wore the wrap to bed that night and everything. What a funny kid!

Conference Morning Post

Luke got a new camera lens, (thanks dad), and he took some pics of the girls this morning. Conference was great this morning. I feel cheerful and uplifted.

Arches

Wow, what a crazy trip to Arches this year! Some may have said that I "wimped out," but there was a lot going on this year. We left Thursday morning and ended up driving back home Thursday night. The odds were against us this year, and here's why:

1. Camping with a three-year-old and a one-year-old.

2. Crazy cold weather!

3. Ava getting sick and throwing up in the car. Yuck!

4. Driving Jill's Explorer without any heat. Yikes, that was a cold ride home!

5. Forgetting the "essentials bag" with toothbrushes, toothpaste, contacts, etc.

6. And the most crazy of all, Gramps crashing his truck in the park! Luckily he's ok.

What I've realized this year is how grateful I am for some simple things:

1. A warm house, and not having to be a pioneer. I never would've made it.

2. Health care and a good doctor.

3. All my in-laws and family who didn't wimp out and are true pioneers!

4. Answered prayers. We prayed for safety and protection on our trip and we were blessed with it. Everything worked out. Even our ride home. Today, we learned that the engine on the Explorer died. Imagine if that had happened while we were on the road Thursday night in the middle of nowhere? We were truly blessed to make it home safe and sound.