The Great Pumpkin

Mariah and her family came over to go to the Elsinore Pumpkin Patch.  We got there pretty late with everybody getting off work but it was perfect.  We were able to ride the train when we got there.  I was a little nervous because the kid driving the tractor was going in like high rabbit speed- if you don't know what that means sorry- and there were not any seat belts.  Sam was sitting behind us and I thought we might lose him a couple of times.  

We took the wagon ride out into the patch. There were tons of pumpkins.  We got a huge load with all the kids.  I don't care about the carving of the pumpkins I just want the seeds.  I didn't know there was a gourd part of the patch that they take you too as well.  I wanted to get some but we are moving soon, yes you heard it here first we are moving again, and I didn't want to move all of them.  

Once the pumpkins were bought and loaded we all headed into town to Pizza Hut.  Sawyer was excited to eat there with Sam again.  He loves Sam.  We ate there months ago with Sam and all of Mariah's family but every time we drive past there he says, Sam eat pizza mom.  Sawyer did really well eating with all those people which is surprising because he get distracted super easy, he was just happy to be one of the crowd. 

BYU v Aggies

The time has come again when Utah State played BYU.  It is always fun to go to these games.  There is such an excitement in the air and it always attracts a lot of people since it is an in state game.  We decided after the last football game that we would leave Jaylee at my mom's since she didn't like the noise and the people at the game.  BYU requires a ticket for kids above 2 so Sawyer got to stay at Grandma's too.  I don't think he was too put out though.  He barely even noticed we were gone since Grandma let him go pick up the golf balls in the field that Grandpa Dan hit out there for him.  He thinks that it is so much fun, Grandpa Dan thinks it is nice to have someone do that hard work for him.  

Travis and I headed up to Provo sans children.  That was the weirdest thing for me.  I haven't been without my kids for a long time- kids I am still getting used to the fact that I have kids..plural. When we got to Provo we stopped at the mall.  It has been such a long time since I have been in a place with a lot of stores.  (sigh, I miss living in the city) We didn't get much time to shop though because traffic was NUTS- I don't miss that- and we were going to meet my old roommate from BYU-Hawaii, Maresa.  We had so much fun together when we lived together.  I felt bad though because she was excited to meet my kids and we left them home.  I was excited to meet her husband but he was out of town so I guess we will have to get together again, hopefully soon.

Maresa came with us out to dinner.  A guy at Travis' work told him about a great Pho place in Provo that he "just had to try" so we went there.  I felt so out of place, I have seen this kind of food before but I have never eaten it, why I don't know because I love Ramen noodles.  Gross I know but sometimes I just like noodles.  Shoot, I can't even watch Kung Fo Panda without craving noodles.  We had fun eating and reminiscing.  We headed back across town to go to the game.  

We parked far away in hopes that we would be able to get out quicker. We got to the game and realized we were sitting not too far under the band.  They should put a little note with your tickets when you are sitting by the band to bring ear plugs.  We actually ran into a few people we knew.  During half time we met up with my other old roommate Lori.  Now her and I caused a lot of trouble together.  We really had some good times.  Good Ol' Snow College. The game turned out to be a pretty uneventful game.  The score was 3 to 6 BYU won.  Next year Aggies, next year.  Krista, met up with us after the game.  She was supposed to have a mission reunion at the Y but they got stuck in traffic and it took them 5 hours to get from Logan to Provo.  I don't know what the problem was but HOLY COW. 

We headed down to my mom's after the game. We got there super late but poor Mom was still up trying to get Jaylee to settle down.  She was like asleep but not in a deep sleep.  Apparently she just needed her Mama. 

It was General Conference so we got up and listened to the messages from the Prophet and Apostles.  We were all really surprised with the announcement of the lowered age to go on a mission.  There were a lot of other great messages shared.  In between sessions we all headed down to the tennis courts to play.  We played doubles, Dan and I against Krista and Travis.  We smoked them, thanks to my excellent skills, okay it may have been Dan's skills. 

Later in the day we exercised our skills at Boche Ball.  My mom really showed up.  She beat us all.  It was fun and a lot of laughing went on.  I learned I really need to lift some weights or learn to throw better.  

Golfing Mom

We stayed until Sunday and enjoyed being together as family.  We played, ate, talked, ate, laughed and had a good time, did I mention we ate.  I swear that is all we do at my mom's, it helps when she is a good cook.  

Who is enjoying this more do you think?

Yum ice cream

Pine nut Hunting

Travis' Aunt and Uncle had their LDS Mission farewell the last weekend of September.  They got called to the Boston Temple Mission, so cool.  We headed over the mountain to spend the weekend and visit with family. We started by heading out west to pick pine nuts.  I love pine nuts! They were everywhere out there.  It was addicting to start picking them.  I had a hard time not picking them all up and moving from tree to tree.  Travis' cousin came with us and helped entertain Sawyer which was nice.  Although, he didn't stop him from eating juniper berries and pine nuts with their shells. You live you learn right.  We collected quite a few nuts but sadly we have already eaten them all and it has only been two weeks. 

We headed back into town and the kids took much needed naps.  Sawyer was exhausted. After the pine nuts were cleaned and the bad ones separated out we were able to watch the Aggie Football game.  

That night was the worst night sleep for my kids for a long time.  Jaylee got up at 3 AM.  While I was feeding her, I heard a little, tired "Mamma".  Yep Sawyer got out of bed, that never happens.  I had to  go lay down with him to get him to sleep.  Next thing I know, Travis was waking me up because he couldn't find me and was worried.  We all settled back down and then Jaylee got up again at 6 AM, are you kidding me?  I guess we can't have good sleepers all the time.  Jaylee just likes playing games with us.  She was a super good sleeper now she is NOT!!! 

Sunday was the farewell and luncheon.  Jaylee was not her quiet self in church which meant I got to spend some time walking the halls with her.  Silly child.  The luncheon was crowded but it was good to see everybody.   

On our way back to our house we stopped to return some toys that Sawyer took from my sisters.  We stopped by the farm and saw Heidi and Carolyn.  It was fun to see them.  It has been ages since 1. I have been to the family farm, and 2. since I have seen my cousins.  We also had some more time to burn so we stopped by my Aunt Phyllis' to visit.  

Tired little cowboy

Hunting Season

It is that time of year again, the time when I am husbandless and the little time he is around the talk is about big racks and large size.  I am not talking about football season at Hooters I am talking about Hunting Season, although it is football season as well so we really have a hard time finding time for anything else around this house.  The first hunt of the season for us started Sept. 15, however we had to go to the South Sevier Homecoming Football game because it was against Beaver. Beaver really brought their A game and cleaned the field with the Rams.  Travis was excited about that because people at work were heckling him about being from Beaver.We headed down to my grandparents for the big elk hunt on the Dutton with my Grandpa after we decided there was no way South Sevier was going to win.  Travis went down to help out with the spotting and carrying out of the elk, which meant me and the kids got some quality time with my grandma. Although Sawyer was pretty distraught on Saturday morning when daddy and Poppa were gone without him.  He went running through the house in hysterics.  We just got to relax at the Grandparents most of the day.  We looked at animals, we fed animals, we played on the swing set. I realized while playing on the swing set how out of shape I am after having Jaylee.  I thought I wasn't so bad this time because I have worked out so much more this time but lo and behold I am so weak.  I tried to do a flip on the rings and I could barely kick my legs up over my head.  I decided I better work on my arm strength then and there so I did some modified pull ups. I whipped out 20 or so.  I thought I may not be as weak as I though. WRONG. I don't think I could use my arms for three days afterwards.  

On Sunday we decided to go for a picnic up in the mountains. Birch Creek was our destination.  Mariah and her family were going to meet us up there.  We had a great little thrown together lunch and got to explore a bit and see our old forest service projects.  The boys shot arrows, had stick races down the creek, played in the dirt while we enjoyed the lovely weather.  

Sawyer loves his cousins. A LOT if you can't tell

Hanna loves Jaylee, she rolled right over to her

Maybe she loves her a little too much

Save me Mom

Utah State Aggies All The Way

Travis has been talking about the Utah State v. Utah game since last Spring when they posted the schedule so he insisted we get ticket to the game.  I didn't object because it was a great excuse to get out of Sevier Valley and go back to my beloved Cache Valley.  Man, I miss that place (sigh).  

We decided to make it into a little vacation and excursion.  We left Thursday morning to head up North.    Our first stop was at Cabela's, of course, hunting season is just around the corner.  Also, they have a great display of animals.  Sawyer was in hog heaven.  It was funny walking through the store because he would just yell out the name of the animal.  It kind of caught a few other shoppers by surprise. He loved the aquariums and the shooting game.  He didn't really get the point of the shooting game though, he just liked pulling the trigger.  After Cabela's we headed up to Draper to eat.  We were all starving.  It was nice to have a variety of options for eating again. After eating the baby had to eat so Travis and Sawyer went to See's Candies to get us a treat while I fed the little one.  Yum is all I can say.  We headed to the Aquarium in Sandy after.  Sawyer thought it was awesome.  He was all over the place.  I have become that parent that is yelling and chasing their kid all over the place.  He had a ball though.  We thought it was pretty cool as well.  I even got to tough a shark and a ray.  They felt different than I thought they would.  Sawyer didn't even make it out to the freeway before he fell asleep.  

We headed up to Perry to stay with our good friends the Hollands.  It was fun to visit with them.  It has been ages since we had been up there.  The kids had a fun time playing together.  We ordered out from Maddox's that evening.  If you are ever traveling up I-5 it is worth the stop at this restaurant. 

Friday morning Travis headed over to Newton to go muskie fishing at an unearthly hour.  We stayed at the Hollands because there is no way I get up before the sun to go fishing.  When Travis got back we ate lunch and headed over to Logan.  I had such a long list of things I wanted to do but I only got to accomplish a few of them.  The people and traffic was nuts in the valley, but not only was it the big game but the LOTOJA was that weekend too.  Who planned that? We were able to go to campus and fulfill Travis' order from work of game day shirts.  We seriously had like 20 shirts to purchase for people at his office.  Krista met us at the store and we all headed to Aggie Ice Cream.  It was just as good as I hoped it would be.  The line to get in was ridiculous though.  Krista and Travis headed down to the game to save seats afterwards.  The lines to get in were insane.  Apparently, they were only letting in 6,500 students.  I went to get Sawyer something to eat and I needed to feed the baby before the big game.  It took me forever to get from the school down to the McDonald's on Main St. there was so much traffic.  

The game was so crowded.  We got to sit next to our old crew of people, The Rowley's - our old and very missed neighbors, and Kyle and Charele. We were all piled in like sardines though.  It was nuts.  I thought I would be able to feed the baby somewhere during the game but there were people everywhere.  I thought I could ask the First Aid station if I could come in there.  They obliged but it also doubled as the Security Station as well.  The officers game me some privacy and stood in front of the glass door for me but they had to bring some unruly drunks into the office.  It made for an entertaining nursing experience.  I would be a liar though if I didn't say it was a little awkward.  However, it is not like those drunks will remember it in the morning.  Sawyer really enjoyed the game and did pretty good.  Jaylee on the other hand did not enjoy the game as much.  She would sleep or yell, mostly yell   There wasn't a happy medium.  

Look at all those people. We need a new stadium

A good moment

We won, in over time. Go AGGIES

I am so done with this Mom. 

Love my Aunt Krista

Peach Days in Brigham City were on Saturday.  We headed over there with the Hollands to watch the parade and partake of the festivities.  It was packed.  There were so many people.  We had a ball though.  We ended up running in to a few people we knew in Logan.  I love catching up with people.  Bear River Health Department had a Breastfeeding Trailer for Mom's.  I thought score but the AC wasn't working.  I about sweated to death but it was a nice idea.  Sawyer and Travis went on a few of the rides while I fed Jaylee.  Sawyer had a great time on the Carousel.  He kept telling his horse to "Get Up, Yah Yah.  Faster Faster."  He is hilarious.