October 2018

General Conference -Women's Session. Went out to dinner before the session with Alexa, Miriam, and Kaylee. I love my girls!! Four more years and Millie will be able to join us too!

Awww.... kids are so cute when they beg for things as I'm standing in the check-out line of the grocery store. Too bad I rarely buy them stuff they want on a whim... especially when they beg. But, I took a picture to show them that I still think they're cute... even though I'm not buying.

Joseph turned 43 this October and we celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary. I bought him a T-shirt he's been wanting ever since he completed his Physic's degree. I also bought us tickets to Hale Center Theater to watch The Scarlet Pimpernel (one of our favorite theatrical musicals). We also took a little miniature vacation and ran away for an evening to a luxurious hotel. We had a wonderful anniversary/ birthday celebration! I'm so grateful for my very best friend in my life!

I couldn't resist posting these. Very few people see this side of Joseph. Oh how I love this guy!

I always think it's cute when the kids use my camera to take pictures. Kaylee loves piano, especially Beethoven. And ya gotta love that she took a selfie with my reading glasses. :)  

Kids playing with Piper, our little bonus child through the week.

On October 12th, we celebrated our one year anniversary since Amillia came to live with our family. We decided to make it a tradition to go out for ice cream at The Creamery to celebrate this occasion. It just so happened that we also had Brendon and Emily with us on this day. I'm very grateful for Amillia in our life - we love her! And I'm so glad we are still in touch with our former foster kids, Brendon and Emily.  I will always love them too!

Kaylee took these pictures. She wanted to give a (one-year-living-with-us) present to Amillia by wrapping up some old hand-me-down's and toys. Millie loved it!

As always, every week, the kids take turns visiting dad at his work. I don't always have pictures of these moments so, I'm glad Micah and dad took some selfies this time. 

I love these memories that will build strong relationships forever! Priceless!

Micah made a "space guy" costume for Amillia out of cardboard - complete with a laser gun and hand grenade. She loved it!! I'm so glad the kids take such great care of her.

Miriam and Lucy - giving each other facials. 

We had a real great time visiting my cousin, Lora, on her farm. We spent a couple nights and visited my aunt and uncle down the road too. This was our kids first real experience on a farm. I wasn't able to get photos of them with the cattle or horseback riding but they did it and had a ton of fun with that. Miriam especially loves horseback riding!

 Chandler refused to come with us on our little farm trip. (He said he's allergic to farms.) I laughed out-loud!... Whatever, we let him stay home. He loved having the house completely to himself. We wished Chandler would have come with us though. He really missed out on some of the best people in the world and some pretty awesome experiences.

Back row: Shane, Micah Miriam
Front Row: Audrey, Millie, Olivia, Kaylee

My aunt Mary is the closest person I have left to my mom in my life. Her mannerisms and her voice so often remind me of mom. I love Mary and my uncle, Mark. Growing up, I have many wonderful memories visiting them on their farm. It's been 19 years since I've stayed overnight there. I want to make sure I don't let that much time pass again before I visit again. We never know how much time we have left. Better to take advantage of being with our loved ones every chance we get! This life is so short!

Micah blew this balloon up to the MAX... and then had fun stabbing it with a knife. I must admit, I don't like balloons blown up that far. My anxiety over it all began when I was quite young: My older brother made a sport out of scaring me any time he had a balloon. He'd get right up in my face and corner me, blowing up the balloon until it exploded into shreds in my face. He found it quite hilarious. I hated it! But my brother couldn't get enough of my reaction.  Hence my trauma...

 Micah at least gave me time to cover my ears and step back a few yards before he stabbed this balloon. I can only handle so many heart-attacks in one lifetime.  

Kaylee's 4H Mentor, Casey, celebrating FHE night the week of Halloween. We carved pumpkins and made festive treats. Miriam's 4H mentor, Caroline, came too along with her husband, Thomas. My kids are so blessed to have these amazing friends in their lives!

Halloween Pics - Kaylee, Miriam, and Amillia are the only ones who dressed up this year.

I did some face painting at my sister's work for her Halloween carnival. She always does an amazing job as the activity director. Alexa was there too dressed as Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Micah came and showed off his Infinity Gauntlet he made from cardboard.