Catching up...hmmm.... it seems like I have been doing a lot of this lately. :p well October was a very busy month for us and it seems like it always is so beware this probably will be a long post.
We'll start with a couple weekends ago.
Saturday October 23- I have been wanting to get together with my sister for awhile now. So I had sent an e-mail out awhile ago and today was the day. So I headed down to the Corner Bakery by Rice Eccles Stadium to meet up with everyone. My sister Kari was already waiting and as soon as Nancy and Shelly met us we went in to have lunch. :) It was a lot of fun, it had been awhile since I have been with my sisters one on one like that so it was good to talk and catch up with things. Unfortunately we were missing 4 and we missed mot being able to see them. Denese had just come up 2 weeks ago for Addi's wedding and couldn't make that drive again. Jill had Super Saturday and since she was in charge of it she felt like she couldn't skip out. Heather had relatives in visiting from South Carolina (I think) and our soon to be sister in law Mina lives in the Philippines. Again we missed you all and we were talking about making it a monthly thing so we'll try and catch you next time. :0)
After the lunch I headed home to start to get things ready. We had a Halloween party that night with some family and friends. It seemed to be a success. We played games that I think were more enjoyable for the kids than the adults, dinner, dessert and prizes. :) Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures. But everyone dressed up and had a good time. After people filtered out till it was just our friends Karen and James and their little girl Danielle we decided to pull out Rockband and played till about 1:00AM. Ahhh Good Times! :D
Wed October 27- This was our wards Trunk or Treat. I showed up at the church around 4:30 to find 2 pirates busily ma
king scones. :) I found the other members of the activities committee and we set to work setting up tables and decorating. We had people outside getting their trunks decorated and ready and we were inside making sure all the tables had everything they needed for the food and that the games were all set up and ready to go. The Young Women were in charge of the games and started to show up to help set those up. then it was time to get tables set up for the people who were going to be bringing Chili for the cook off. We had A LOT more than last year and had to keep finding places to put all the Chili. Karen brought her little girl and when they showed up I decided to stop fussing over everything and go do some trunk or treating with them. We had a few awesome trunks this year and everyone seemed to have a lot of fun. The Chili was extremely good and the Danielle really enjoyed the games. I did feel kinda bad for making Karen and Danielle wait around for me while I helped clean up. After everything was done and it was time to go home Karen came over to hang out...which was really fun...till I "decided" it would be fun to fall down the stairs. I was showing Danielle thi
s little parachute Donald we have and how he floats down. Well I couldn't get the right effect just standing so I had to get height. I went upstairs and let it go so she could see how it floats down. hen I went down stairs to go get it my right foot went under me while my left foot came out from underneath me and the next thing I knew I was half way down the stair s with a searing pain and Karen asking if I was ok. It hurt SO bad. Karen helped me down to the coach cause I felt like I was going to pass out and we got a hold of James. He left work early (only about an hour but still early) and came home. Karen didn't want to leave me because I was really shook up which I am extremely grateful for. James got home and after thanking Karen numerous times her and Danielle headed home while James put some stuff on my foot and wrapped it in towels then put ice on. He said it should be better by the next day.
Thursday Oct 28- It wasn't better. I called in to work and told my boss what happened and after making arrangements for my student employee to come in to cover and letting my teachers know it was off to the doctors office. James had to go to class and then work so my father in law was able to take me. After waiting, talking to a nurse then the doctor, then waiting some more, x-ray, waiting we finally found out I severely sprained my ankle. The doctor wrapped it in an ace wrap and I got crutches. *blah* So I am getting around...very, very slowly and I am in pain but it's ok. at least I didn't break it. :D
We'll start with a couple weekends ago.
Saturday October 23- I have been wanting to get together with my sister for awhile now. So I had sent an e-mail out awhile ago and today was the day. So I headed down to the Corner Bakery by Rice Eccles Stadium to meet up with everyone. My sister Kari was already waiting and as soon as Nancy and Shelly met us we went in to have lunch. :) It was a lot of fun, it had been awhile since I have been with my sisters one on one like that so it was good to talk and catch up with things. Unfortunately we were missing 4 and we missed mot being able to see them. Denese had just come up 2 weeks ago for Addi's wedding and couldn't make that drive again. Jill had Super Saturday and since she was in charge of it she felt like she couldn't skip out. Heather had relatives in visiting from South Carolina (I think) and our soon to be sister in law Mina lives in the Philippines. Again we missed you all and we were talking about making it a monthly thing so we'll try and catch you next time. :0)
After the lunch I headed home to start to get things ready. We had a Halloween party that night with some family and friends. It seemed to be a success. We played games that I think were more enjoyable for the kids than the adults, dinner, dessert and prizes. :) Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures. But everyone dressed up and had a good time. After people filtered out till it was just our friends Karen and James and their little girl Danielle we decided to pull out Rockband and played till about 1:00AM. Ahhh Good Times! :D
Wed October 27- This was our wards Trunk or Treat. I showed up at the church around 4:30 to find 2 pirates busily ma
king scones. :) I found the other members of the activities committee and we set to work setting up tables and decorating. We had people outside getting their trunks decorated and ready and we were inside making sure all the tables had everything they needed for the food and that the games were all set up and ready to go. The Young Women were in charge of the games and started to show up to help set those up. then it was time to get tables set up for the people who were going to be bringing Chili for the cook off. We had A LOT more than last year and had to keep finding places to put all the Chili. Karen brought her little girl and when they showed up I decided to stop fussing over everything and go do some trunk or treating with them. We had a few awesome trunks this year and everyone seemed to have a lot of fun. The Chili was extremely good and the Danielle really enjoyed the games. I did feel kinda bad for making Karen and Danielle wait around for me while I helped clean up. After everything was done and it was time to go home Karen came over to hang out...which was really fun...till I "decided" it would be fun to fall down the stairs. I was showing Danielle thi
s little parachute Donald we have and how he floats down. Well I couldn't get the right effect just standing so I had to get height. I went upstairs and let it go so she could see how it floats down. hen I went down stairs to go get it my right foot went under me while my left foot came out from underneath me and the next thing I knew I was half way down the stair s with a searing pain and Karen asking if I was ok. It hurt SO bad. Karen helped me down to the coach cause I felt like I was going to pass out and we got a hold of James. He left work early (only about an hour but still early) and came home. Karen didn't want to leave me because I was really shook up which I am extremely grateful for. James got home and after thanking Karen numerous times her and Danielle headed home while James put some stuff on my foot and wrapped it in towels then put ice on. He said it should be better by the next day.Thursday Oct 28- It wasn't better. I called in to work and told my boss what happened and after making arrangements for my student employee to come in to cover and letting my teachers know it was off to the doctors office. James had to go to class and then work so my father in law was able to take me. After waiting, talking to a nurse then the doctor, then waiting some more, x-ray, waiting we finally found out I severely sprained my ankle. The doctor wrapped it in an ace wrap and I got crutches. *blah* So I am getting around...very, very slowly and I am in pain but it's ok. at least I didn't break it. :D
Pictures never do it justice.
This was us the spectators. :) Can you see us?
Sunday October 10- Our last and final event for this big weekend was Elijah's baby blessing. My niece Erika had her second son blessed this day by his father Craig. ti was such a beautiful sacrament meeting everything. The blessing was followed by testimony meeting and both Jill (Erika's mom), Byron (Erika's dad), and Craig had a chance to bear their testimonies. It was also a beautiful day for it as well. After we had a chance to go to Erika's house and visit with family again and to see cute little Elijah in his blessing suit. Overall it was a great weekend to spend with family and to share in their joy at each of these celebrations.
My brother in law Nathan's birthday is this day...or was this day. :p (oops) Nathan is a fun guy who taught me all I know about rock crawling and jeepin. I had the chance to live with him and my sister for a few years and I got to know both of them really well. Nathan is a good guy with a big heart.
This little guy was a surprise to us when we got the call 2 years ago that Nikki had he baby. It'll always be easy to remember this ball of energy's birthday. Ethan was born on our anniversary 2 years ago and he has been so fun to have around. He is very curious and very mischievous but when the day is over and he's exhausted he loves to cuddle up with his mom and fall right to sleep.
This petite girl has a lot of heart in the small body...although he Dad says it's fiest and fire. :) My niece Cierra will be celebrating her birthday this day and whatever you might call it hear, fiest or fire this cutie catches your eye and wins your heart the moment you meet her. She's such a sweet girl but will tell you what she thinks and whats on her mind. :0)
This photo is a little outdated but I just realized that out of all the family functions that have happened I don't have very many pictures of her. my niece Tianna will be celebrating her birthday this month as well. Tianna is another sweet girl that just loves to be loved. She loves spending time with friends and family. She has a sweet smile that she willingly shares and a hug for whenever she sees you.
This Sweet mother of two has her birthday coming up. Erika and I are only 4 years apart so it never seemed like she was my niece more like a younger sister. She is a wonderful mother to her two little boys and a loving wife to her husband Craig. She loves spending time with her family and watching her boys grow and sharing in their new adventures.
My niece Lindsay gets to celebrate her birthday close to her sister's. Lindsay is a Senior in High school and loving it. Lindsay loves to joke around and have fun. (in fact this is the only photo I could find without her making a funny face. :p) She loves hanging out with friends and she is very excited for her Senior year to be over so she can get to college.
my beautiful sister Kari gets to celebrate her birthday and I hear that her husband has a special treat planned for her. :) i lived with Kari for a little while before I went on my mission and we got to know each other very well. Kari loves spending time with family and she loves seeing them happy. She is a wonderful wife and mother. 
Nancy gets to celebrate her birthday this month and hopefully get some well earned R&R. Nancy is such a kind person she makes you feel loved and special from the moment you meet her. She just married off her oldest son this past weekend and once again deserves some much needed R&R.
Once upon a time (4 years ago) I met a man. :) A man that at the time I didn't realize how much I needed him in my life. We dated for a short while before he proposed to me. I knew I loved him very much and 
