Busy...

Life is busy right now... it always is, but since we have gotten back from New York I have felt like I have been running non stop between family, home responsibilities, work, relief society, and everything else and I am not finding the time to get it all done ... as I look at the calendar this week it is just as crazy... oh and BYU Basketball officially started this last week, which means we have basketball games at least one night each week until February... and the holiday are coming and I have lots of projects to complete... if only I didn't need lots of sleep.  Despite its craziness... I love my life!!! 

Here are a couple of things we have been up to...

We spent the weekend with my family in St. George for my mom's birthday.  We had a great time... the kids (even the big ones) played in the pool, we drove to the temple and walked around, did some shopping and the big girls went to Hairspray at Tuachan.   These were the only pictures I took... I think I am slipping.

 

We went and fed the ducks....

 

Played in the park trying to enjoy these last few days of warm weather...

 

New York Trip (Part 2)

 

I should have finished the post about our New York trip yesterday... as there wasn't too much left... 

 

Thursday October 4, 2012

 

Olivia and I went to Chase Farms and picked raspberries.  Nate and Daddy stayed home so that Nate could get a nap.   She thought it was pretty neat to eat the raspberries right from the bushes. 

 

Also on Thursday Olivia got her hair braided - it is so so cute.  A friend of our friend took me to a salon in Rochester and she got the full treatment- the nice thing is that is supposed last for a couple of weeks so that we don't have to fight with hair everyday.  If anyone knows someone in my area who braids, please give me a call. 

Friday October 5, 2012

We drove from Rochester to Kirtland.  We had originally hoped to run into my sister Chelsey who is serving a mission in the area, but she was transferred out the visitors center last week.  It was pouring rain and the kids had had enough so we made it through a quick tour of the Kirtland Temple and then a short visit at the visitors center... here are two of the sister missionaries that served with Chelsey until last week.

 

 I could not convince Nate to eat anything but cookies and chocolate (his new favorite word) all day, but I figured when he got hungry he would eat.  When we got to the hotel in Akron, Ohio he saw some leftover pizza sitting on the coffee table so he climbed up and starting eating away... silly boy.

 

We flew home on Saturday... poor Liv was not feeling well and slept most of the way home.  We had a 30 minute connection in Denver for our Provo flight and I was sure we were going to miss it.  Thankfully the plane taking us to Provo was also delayed and we made it home on Saturday night by 9.  It was such a fun trip... but it is good to be home.  I was off today due to Columbus day and it was nice to get laundry done, grocery bought, and get back to somewhat of a normal schedule before heading back to reality tomorrow.  The kids must have had fun because they pulled out the suitcases and played "going to New York" (Liv learned this from Lillian who taught her how to play "going to Utah"). 

Here are some pictures of the kiddos in the airport/on the airplane-  These were taken on Scott's phone and I am not sure how to flip the last two.

Nate charmed the flight attendant and she let him go into the back and play... those dimples do it every time.

New York (Part 1)

I am so glad that today is general conference- not only do we get to hear from our prophet, but we just got back from a fun filled busy week in upstate New York, Canada, and Ohio and I really need a day in my PJ's.  One of Scott's best friends and his family live in Rochester, New York and they were gracious enough to let us come and stay for a few days.  They have a little girl (Lillian) just older than Olivia and the two became fast friends- Olivia cried and cried when we left for Ohio on Friday morning.  Here is the highlight of our adventures:

 

Saturday: Sept 29, 2012

 

We went to the grape festival in Naples.  While there we got to experience Cindy's grape tarts (my favorite), grape pie, and grape ice cream. 

 

 

Sunday:  October 1, 2012.  Sunday was a rainy day.  After church the kids played and the adults caught up.  That night we got to visit our friends, Jack and Melanie Christiansen.  Jack is serving as the mission president in the Rochester, New York mission.

Monday:  October 2, 2012

On Monday we visited Power's Farmers Market.  While there Olivia got to ride a spooky (not too spooky says Olivia) tractor ride, the kiddos feed the llamas, we looked at pumpkins, and had some pumpkin donuts.

That afternoon we drove to Canada so that we could see the African Safari in Guelph.  The normally three hour drive took us a little over four hours thanks to potty breaks, dinner, and gas stops.  The last hour Olivia and Lillian who had been playing so well all afternoon decided they had enough of each other.  Also Nate had had it with his car seat.   Let's just say mommy was as ready to be out of the car as the kiddos.

Tuesday:  October 3, 2012
The drive to the safari was breathtaking- most of the leaves had turned and the colors were amazing.  The fall colors were one of the main reason I wanted to come East this fall and I was so happy we didn't miss them.   The African Safari was so much fun... we saw Elephants, Lions, Baboons, Giraffes and lots of other animals in their "natural" habitat.  At one point we had an ostrich pecking our window and a baboon on the roof- awesome.

 

 Wednesday: October 4:

On Thursday we drove to Mt. Morris in search of antiques for me along some more fall leaves... while there Olivia and I did a small hike to an amazing waterfall (Dad stayed with Nate who was sleeping in the car).  It was so pretty- the leaves were changing and falling from the trees.  Olivia keep saying to me "the leaves are falling??" as if she had never seen that happen before - she probably doesn't remember last year.  She kept stopping and picking up her "favorite" leaves.  I found a fun old breadbox that cost me a small fortune to send home, but will be perfect in my kitchen.  As we were leaving Mt. Morris on our way to Dinosaur BBQ we got into a small fender bender- thankfully everyone was okay and our insurance covers damages to the rental car.  Our rental car was a 2013 Ford Explorer and I have decided I want one- someday.  Stay tuned for more adventures.