More October? Halloween coming next week.

I'm two days late getting my post up.  Sundays in December are pretty intense for musicians. (Jeff says for their families, as well).  This Sunday I had 4 different practices in 4 different locations.  

Now, on to the pictures from more of October.

When we picked apples at Gma Clark's, Blake became infatuated with her Halloween decorations.  Especially this giant, mutant spider.  He spent the whole time standing under it and making sure it wasn't real.  Grandma had attached it to her light fixture with a strong elastic.  The spider would bounce up and down when you gave it a tug.  Blake got brave enough to give it a tug by himself.  The elastic came off the light and the spider fell on top of him. 

😨

He was pretty freaked out but recovered very quickly and kept playing with it.  We spent weeks hearing him retell the story and explain to us that the spider wasn't real.  He was a pretend spider.

 One of the businesses Jeff works with in Real Estate, hosted a Fall Event at a corn maze in Springville.  The kids played on a slide, went through the maze, rode a hay-ride tractor, and picked out a pumpkin to take home.  Their favorite part was this enormous pool of corn. 

Series of photos depicting Blake and Josh at the dinner table:

Caleb went to a bday party for a kid in his new class.  When we got to the house the Dad told us that the party was at a local park.  He said I could drive him there or he could take him.  I was late for another appointment so I asked the father to take Caleb.  I was pleasantly surprised when, without hesitation, Caleb got into this ⬇ vehicle and drove away with someone he'd never met before.  I tried to get my camera ready in time to get a picture.  He's sitting in the back seat, behind the driver. 

October 2016 jr

Kyle celebrated his 13th birthday.  He got a Lego set, a fishing pole, some camping/scout accessories and this.....

Our district has a virtual space center manned by students.  You are placed in this room with a monitor and computers.  You are sent on "missions" with the student actors helping facilitate the story line.  Kyle got to do one of these missions with his friends.  They have done two of these missions with their class.  (He was super sweet and invited Katie and a friend of hers.)  They had a 4 hour mission and ended up accomplishing the goal.  

This was my view from outside.  I could listen and watch what was going on.  It was cute when the "aliens" were breaching their "ship".  Katie and her friend dove on the floor and were cowering in each others arms.  I also loved watching Kyle mentor Katie and her friend with protocol.   

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Our city just completed an "All-Abilities" park.  It has equipment that is accessible for all kids.  It has smaller stairs, higher fence with only one entrance, a swing built to house wheelchairs, and many more fun ways to play.  Here is Caleb on a modified zip line.  He did really well with all of the park

Here is a baby swing attached at the top to an adult swing.  Kyle and Blake thought it was a scream!

We go to the Hogle Zoo every year during our Fall Break.  The temperatures are cooler and every animal is out and visible.  It is also nice not to fight huge summer time crowds for a good view.  Here we are in the kids' favorite exhibit.  The reptile/amphibian/arachnid/insect house.

Katie and Caleb weren't scared to take a picture with this fabulous gorilla statue.  Blake wouldn't get close to the statue or even enter the monkey house.  We think it was because he watched the live-action Jungle Book movie with a monstrous monkey in the story line.

We went and picked all the Gala and Granny Smith apples from my parent's yard before they froze.  Here's Katie helping Caleb get one out from the fruit picker.

Blake loved helping with his Tonka Truck pretending it was a construction site.

October 2016

We drove up to Strawberry Reservoir to watch the Salmon run.  These are a fresh water species.  I think they are called Kanokee.  They aren't very big but it was fascinating to see them swim upstream and prepare spots for eggs.  The local city passed out free hot dogs, drinks, and cookies.  It was a great day.  Josh and Kyle tried to find a spot to fish but it was windy and had no luck.

Caleb attended a cub scout meeting for all kids turning 8 next year.  They had 2 police cars, a police motorcycle, a fire truck, and an ambulance.  We are excited and nervous for him to join scouts in February.

In early October, we went camping for a night with Jeff's Uncle Bart.  Brandon and Melissa joined us, as well.  They rented us a small cabin on the shores of Hyrum Reservoir.  We had a huge fire, visited, fished, and did some crafts.  It was a great experience to spend time with them that wasn't a baby blessing or baptism.  

Blake and I went to Katie's class for "Read with Me".  Just look at that hug!

Just in case you missed seeing Blake's piles.  (I clean this up every night and he brings a portion of it all out again.  There's always a new formula, however.)

Joshua went on his second date.  He was asked to the Sadie Hawkins dance by a sweet girl in our ward.  I snuck this picture out the window as they left.

Homecoming, State Fair, and the Dentist

We've discussed in an earlier post about Blake's compulsive need to have piles of stuff around him.  Sometimes he calls it his house.  Sometimes it is the same 20 random things for a week.  Sometimes it changes hourly.  Regardless, he always has his things and he knows exactly what they are and what order they are piled onto themselves.  

This week was a "Mommy Jewelry/Animal Sanctuary" week.

Joshua's first date!  He asked a girl named Lydia (to the left of him in this picture) to his Homecoming dance.  He and his friends took them to an escape room, had a homemade (by all the moms) Italian dinner in a backyard, went to the dance, and watched a movie afterward.  Jeff and I were helping in the kitchen and kept sneaking glances to squeal.  It was so cool to see him take this step.  

Here is their official picture.  He had such a good time.

Caleb had his second adult tooth come in before the baby tooth in front of it was loose.  We had to make an appointment at the dentist to get it removed.  He wasn't very calm for this appointment but luckily, our dentist is aware of his struggles and made it super quick.  

Utah State Fair had one afternoon reserved for groups with disabilities only.  We got free parking, entrance fees, breakfast, and as we found out soon, free rides.  Caleb surprised me on this day.  He will ride the carousel at the zoo only if it is on the stationary bench.  He rode the helicopter, bumpy monster trucks, train, spinning dragon, a "whip you neck around the edges of the circle" car track, and even the mini roller coaster.  We saw the animals and just had an all-around wonderful day.  

This was actually our last event in Girl Scouts.  Each year we have a "Bridging Ceremony" for the girls who are moving into the next age group.  It was more emotional than I thought it would be.  There are 3-4 girls that I loved dearly and will hate to be away.  They gave me a Girl Scout Build-a-Bear and a BIG BIG HUG!  

We had to say goodbye to my brother Bradley, his wife Carrie, and his two little girls Haylee and Kaitlynn.  I will miss having a sibling so close.  It sure made holidays a lot more fun.

We went camping over Labor Day weekend up by Payson Lakes.  We went with our trusty friends; the Thomases and the Bonneys.  We had some caterpillar webs that were hatching above our kitchen area.  Randomly, a caterpillar would be found on a child.  Some would run screaming and the others would be happy to have a friend.  Blake, Kyle, and even Caleb would hold them.  

Here is Ken Bonney.  He earned $20 from Chad Thomas because he ate one of the caterpillars whole.  He put the little guy in a spoon of yogurt and had to chew 5 times before swallowing.  He complained of a fuzzy mouth for a few hours after that.  It was pretty gross.

We drove home on Nebo Loop towards Nephi.  We stopped and saw Devil's Kitchen (a teeny tiny Bryce Canyon-like area).  

School Starts

First Day of School Pictures.  It took about 12 pictures to get Caleb to look at the camera and do something resembling a smile.  It took me 4 more than that to get the 16 year old to do the same. 

Aaargh!

Just like the reluctance from the picture above, I had to convince Josh to let me take a picture of his Driver's License.  I had to be quick and this was the best I could do.

Jeff is smiling only because Blake is on his lap and Blake makes every one smile (most of the time).  We finally got dental insurance and Jeff was able coerced to go get some work done.

I have gone into Caleb's school to eat lunch with him a couple of times.  This helps me know what their "chicken patty sandwiches", "pizza", "pears", or "cookies" actually taste like.  This helps me understand what he could possibly eat at school lunch instead of the home lunch pears/string cheese/crackers lunch I pack him.  I don't want him to go hungry but school lunch with peer pressure is a great place for him to expand his food repertoire.  This day Mom, Dad, and Blake came.  Caleb was so happy.  They are quite the duo.

Josh and Kyle caught some crawdads at Manila Pond.  They brought them home and we cooked them up for dinner.  The crawdads freaked out the little boys when they were crawling around the bottom of the bucket of water.  After they were cooked and stopped moving, we convinced them to touch one. 

I love Caleb's face in this picture.  It looks like he's suppressing a dry heave.  (Speaking of dry heaving--Kyle must've been coughing in the back ground but he appears like he's about to barf) 

Here is my school buddy going to "Mom School", as we call it.  The little ones have a hard time when everyone gets to put on a backpack and go to school.  We tell the littles that they get to go to "Mom School".  That means we go to the grocery store and talk about stuff.  (Math, Colors, and Reading)  We goof off and wrestle.  (P.E.)  We help with cooking.  (Home Economics)  We hunt for bugs and talk about birds and clouds.  (Biology and Science)  Most importantly, we get lots of love and attention all to ourselves.  (That isn't official education curriculum but it is the most important one of all!)

I had to ride in one of the motorized carts because my foot was still super sore.  Blake liked riding in my lap and steering.  I also had him walk along side me and grab stuff of the shelves to put in the cart.  He must've been nervous because he insisted on holding my hand the ENTIRE time.  I had to take a picture of the sweetness.