Five for Friday: Finally Caught Up!!!

- 1 -

Lenora lost her first tooth! 

She looks adorable, but it make me sad that by baby girl is old enough to lose teeth.

- 2- 

Michael's Trip to Rochester

Michael was able to attend a conference in Rochester with several of his co-workers. He said it was a great conference, and they even had time to catch Niagara Falls and a few of his favorite eats.  While he was there, he also learned that he was accepted as a presenter at the big Deaf Education conference in February. He will be wonderful I'm sure! 

 Meanwhile at home, Conrad chose that week to keep me on my toes! At least he enjoys cleaning the messes he helps create.

- 3 - 

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

The kids and I got to celebrate my Dad's birthday with him with a fun walk along the Provo River to Bridal Veil Falls (ending with ice cream!). It has been SO much fun to be close to family again so we can do the little things with them. My dad also started helping the boys build a train track to appease Conrad's train obsession. 

Where's Hazel? 

  

 - 4 -

Grandma and Grandpa Visit! 

We've been enjoying an amazing visit from Teri and Tony this past week. They are here from California and we've just been trying to squeeze in all the fun we can. Tony has been designing an amazing chicken coop for the kids and started building it this week. It is going to be huge and incredible! 

 We also got to enjoy a day of skating with Teri. These kids are so lucky to have a grandma (and an aunt) that coach skating!  It was both Orson and Conrad's first time skating but they did an amazing job. The girls picked up where they left off and even learned a few tricks this time around. Such a fun day! 

 - 5 - 

Thanksgiving! 

We were so blessed to have both sets of grandparents join us for Thanksgiving this year! It was the first time we've ever hosted family in our home for Thanksgiving, and it was wonderful. TJ and Michael did a fabulous job with most of the cooking, planning, and organizing. In addition to all the grandparents, TJ, Alicia, Angel, Matt, and our good friend Judy joined us for dinner. We managed to fit all 12 adults (well 11 plus Hazel) around a huge table in the kitchen. I loved seeing it so full of so many we love. We are blessed! 

 Michael tried a panoramic shot. It's not bad, but check out the tiny stick ghost I became haha!

And with that I'm FINALLY caught up on our blog for the first time this year!

A Cold Halloween

The week before Halloween we got our first snow! The kids were so excited since we had almost no snow all winter last year. It snowed a few more inches and stuck around for a few days.

Halloween was so much fun this year, especially Conrad's excitement over trick-or-treat or "wick-oo-wheat" as he calls it.

Hazel and Eliza really wanted to be princesses with their bows from Heroic Youth. Of course they needed capes to complete the look. I loved how they turned out! They decided they were Susan and Lucy Pevensie from Chronicles of Narnia. 

Orson of course wore his beloved cop costume! Lenora was Cinderella, and Conrad was a WWII bomber.

The day after Halloween we were invited to celebrate Dio de los Muertos with our friends. It was such a wonderful evening. I love this Mexican holiday and the way it honors families present and those who have passed on. The kids wanted traditional face makeup for the party. It turned out so well!

Outdoor space is our favorite space

Here was our yard when we moved in. Good bones, but it needed some love and green... 

First up was a gate and the last bit of fence to keep Haley in the yard. 

Next up, getting rid of all the weeds that grew between photos to list the house and when we were ready to lay the sod in October.

Tilling and compost... 

Sod!

Already looking so much better!

The last project before fall was prepping my future garden spot. Weeding, tilling, and laying some ground cover for the winter. The soil is actually really good, and I'm excited to plant in the spring!

The kids helped a ton; Haley not so much.

A few more projects to come in the Spring including irrigation for the garden area, moving the fire pit, and of course the chicken coop!!