Zoo Lights

 We went to see the zoo lights this last week. We had actually planned to go see the lights on Temple Square, but then some family wanted to plan a big family trip to go see them all together later in the season, so we opted to go see what the hype was about the zoo lights.

 It was REALLY fun. Everything was so pretty, and we even got to see some real animals. They had reindeer there, and we just happened to catch them right as they were taking them out for the night, and so they walked them through the sidewalks and right past us. It was really cool to see. We also saw some other regular zoo animals.

This last picture was actually earlier that day when we stopped for lunch. We were shopping, and went to Zupas to eat. While we were there, in came Santa, and Mrs. Claus! That was a fun thing to see while we were eating!

We had a great time seeing the lights, and enjoying a fun family day together! Now we know what the zoo lights are, and I would recommend going to see them!

Trimming the Tree

 We waited several days to put up our tree because I didn't feel like getting out my Christmas stuff with a house full of people. So we waited until our company had left. The girls did a lot of the decorating and they did a great job! It's fun to have kids old enough to help out.

It was Sunday, so the girls were already in their fun Christmas skirts that their aunt made them last year. It was a beautiful tree. We're glad to finally have it up.

Getting a Christmas Tree

 After Thanksgiving, while all of the family was still in town, we took a day to go up into the mountains to get a Christmas Tree. This is a family tradition for my little family, and we have converted a few of the other relatives to real trees as well. So we went up to get 4 Christmas Trees. The kids played in the snow while we hunted for the perfect tree.

 Here we are with our tree.

 After we all got trees we went looking for a good sledding hill. We had a blast sledding. It was a fun time, and good to share our tradition with relatives.

Catching up on November

 My very awesome dad was put into the Stake Presidency this last month. Well technically he was already in the Stake Presidency as the executive secretary. But now he is a counselor. He really is such a wonderful guy!

My girls got some awards at school. Tessa for her citizenship, and both of them for all of their hard work during the summer reading program. They even got trophies, and t-shirts! :) *proud mama*

Thanksgiving was excellent. Crazy. But excellent. We had it at my house with my side of the family. There were 33 people in my house for Thanksgiving dinner, and it was SO crowded, and noisy, and wild. But it was fun. Next time I will make sure we reserve a church months in advance...Just sayin. ;) But no, it was a lot of fun. 

 The missionaries came to our house for dinner. I hope they didn't think we were too crazy. We had wall to wall people, and tables all over the house to accommodate turkey eaters.

We put the wild children in the basement! 

It was a fun, crazy Thanksgiving!!!

Catching up on October

 Just catching up...since it's not Christmas time. I'm sick...first time I've called into work sick this year, and so I thought while I am forced to rest I would work on my pictures and catch up on my blogging. We had a fun Halloween. We took the girls to see great Grandma and then to my parent's ward trunk or treat.

 As you can see they were thing 1 and thing 2 for Halloween. I had a fun time making/putting together their costumes this year.

I also was able to go on a field trip with Maggie in October to the Black Island Farms. We had a great time! 

And Josh DID end up getting a deer this year! Hurray! We sure needed the food storage. 

Playing in the Leaves

 Tonight for FHE we decided to go to my dad's house and play in the leaves. We had a BLAST!! 

I remember doing the exact same thing when I was a kid in this same back yard. We really just had a great time!

Fall Happenings

 We haven't had a lot going on at all lately. We're back in school and back to work, and back into the daily swing of things. I thought I would post a few pics though of a few of the little things that have been happening around here:

 We took the girls to the "touch a truck" fundraiser for their school. They were able to see lots of fun vehicles, and climb inside them.

 I decided to make over my tiny little kitchen pantry. The walls were icky, and the lining on the shelves was old and taped on with painters tape from the previous owners...ya, we've lived here for 5 years. lol. So I finally thought it was time. It took my five hours to rip it apart, paint it, and put on the shelf lining, and then get it all back together. I thought it turned out pretty cute. I also made the little sign to hang up in the top of it.

 Maggie lost her two front teeth. Tessa lost hers months ago, and they have been taking their sweet time to grow back in. But Maggie's both fell out on the same day, and have been growing in very fast. 

We got their school pictures back, and I just giggled at their little toothless grins.

 It's October now, and that means Halloween! We love Halloween at our house, and we had to pull out all of the Halloween decor, and even our t-shirts. :)

Josh has been hunting every chance he gets. We hope to get something this year...we didn't get anything last year. But either way, we just really enjoy being out in nature. I love hiking around the mountains with my husband.

And that is about all that has been going on! We're looking forward to Halloween and even snow-Which will be here before we know it. (We actually had snow already this week but it melted by late morning.)