Family Pictures...

We finally ventured out and tried a different photographer. We've gone to Melanie Paxton for about 9 years now. We have a lot of friends who have gone to Peek-a-Boo photos in Pleasant Grove, so we thought we would give them a go. They are really wonderful. We shot the kids' pictures in a big field of leaves over by the Developmental Center, across from the Timpanogos Temple. After that, we went over by Micron and shot a couple of family pictures. They turned out nice.

I had a fun idea for a Christmas card and Katie even sat with me for about 2 hours creating it! She was so sweet to help me.

The only problem with these pictures are that the kids look too grown-up...it makes me sad!

How does time go by so fast???

Wow! Time just goes by faster and faster... It just seems like yesterday when I created this blog and swore that I would keep it current. Things get busy. I look at the dates and realize that it was just the beginning of the craziest summer I have ever had. It was filled with sports camps, EFY, Gir's camp, youth conference, high adventure, trips, etc. There really wasn't any time to post pictures, comments, or to even breath. Then fall hit without any warning. The storytelling festival, school starting, Halloween...our crazy lives. I will now try and catch up a bit...at least before those holidays hit.

Andrew's new passion.....Lacrosse!

Andrew has decided to play lacrosse now. He played football for 3 years, but wanted to try something new this year. He is playing for the Lone Peak J.V. team. He has really loved it! Their team had a great season and would have been ranked in the top three, but they didn't end up having play-offs...so we will never know. We didn't realize how violent the sport was, until we watched his first game.




The point of lacrosse (for those who don't know), is to get the ball (very small) into your net, which is at the end of a very long stick. You have to then keep it in there, while you run to the goal as fast as you can, and throw it in. Sounds easy? Well, then there are a million guys (usually all bigger than you) trying to hit you really hard with their sticks to make you drop your ball, then they get it and start running to their goal with it. That is my extensive knowledge of the game. Oh well, if Andrew is having fun...that's all that matters.



Andrew has met some fun friends during lacrosse. Matt & Brennan to name just a couple. The boys got together for Halloween at Brennan's house. They wanted to go to a neighborhood haunted house and to trick-or-treat. Brennan's mom told them that they had to wear costumes if they wanted to go out. She brought out the costume box, which included many costumes that belonged to Brennan's younger sister. They were brave and bold. They dressed up and had a fun time. Unfortunatelly for them, we were at Baba & Grandpa's house (with a camera) when they came to the door trick-or-treating! These are priceless pictures, one of those times where you were in the right place at the right time (with a camera)!

Halloween Fun...

Halloween this year was so much fun. Janessa decided to dress up at the last minute. She and Lizzy went to school together in their costumes...aren't they just adorable? She was someone from the 7th Harry Potter book (I can't remember who) and Lizzy was Medusa.



We really got off easy this year. Harrison wanted to be a baloon head (something his older brother Andrew came home as one day). Nathan actually wanted to be a ghost, "a sheet with holes cut in it," were his actual words. No complaints here! When we watched Charlie Brown, he was excited that they were all wearing his costume!




We had a fun dinner with the kids before they went out to trick-or-treat. This year was nice, it didn't seem as rushed as others. I think it is the fact that daylight savings time was delayed. I vote to keep it that way! More time for the kids to have fun.





Bruce & Carolyn came by with Elizabeth. She was a cat, and an adorable one! I think I took more pictures of her than my own kids! I miss having a little girl around. The kids adore her. She runs so fast, it is hard to catch a picture of her...I was surprised I actually got some. Rick hung a huge spider from our light above our front porch. He attached it to fishing wire and he dropped it on kids' heads as he opened the door. Elizabeth was just giggling and giggling while it got her. Rick also loves to have the fog machine going and scary music (which we forgot this year).


We ended the night at Baba & Grandpa's house. We had some nice surprise trick-or-treaters while we were there. See "Andrew's new passion...Lacrosse" blog to see the pictures.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Janessa's First Girls Camp

Janessa got to go to Girl's Camp this year, even though she wasn't quite 12 years old. She was thrilled! We went to Heber Valley Camp up above Heber and really had a great time. There were moments that I think Janessa would have rather not had her mom at camp, but we both survived!

This was the night before camp...Janessa was so excited after she packed her bags!

There were so many fun girls who came to camp. Also lots of great leaders!

Janessa was in the "Princess" cabin...how appropriate!

It really took this many leaders (plus two Priesthood leaders) to watch out for these girls.

Janessa was Harry Potter in the campfire skit.

They had so many fun activities to do at the camp. Here we were at the lake, we went out on canoes. The Bishop tipped his over, but he was the only one...luckily!




>We got to do a ropes course, everyone was so adventurous!

Rick & Andrew's High Adventure...

Rick and Andrew went on the trip of a lifetime this summer. They went with the boys in our ward down the Green River on canoes. It was a trip that lasted the entire week. They camped along the shore as they went. Most of the dads went and the Young Men leaders. The Bishop and his counselors all went as well. They really had a wonderful time. They even got to stay with Grandma & Grandpa Cozzens in Moab the night before they left on the trip. We feel extremely blessed to have such a wonderful ward, an amazing Bishop and great leaders that care so much for our son.




The best part of the trip for most of the boys was the night Andrew started screaming that he was trapped in a milk jug and couldn't get out! He gets a little claustrophobic in tents sometimes.

Last day of Soccer!

Today was everyone's last soccer game. We are kind of excited to get our Saturdays back. Harrison was the goalie the whole game, he does such a great job of it. When asked how many goals he stopped, he replied, "a million." I'm not sure that's quite accurate...but we'll let it by for now. Harrison really enjoys sports and he is so good at them. He is fast and loves to race everyone. This soccer league has been a lot of fun for him because he gets to see so many friends at the games.