Pumpkin Patch

Each year we try and take an outing to a pumpkin patch.  Our children are getting older and I'm realizing how this may be a fleeting tradition. 

Our weekends were PACKED for the whole fall and we were worried we wouldn't fit it in, BUT when Columbus Day rolled around and we really didn't have anything else going, we convinced Dad to take a longer lunch and come join us.

PLUS it was a chance for us to show him our favorite Chihuly glass sculptures.  The weather was AWESOME and we were not alone, but we had a great time!

 Que photo roll:

Painting and Prophets

Whew!  I am trying to recommit to spend some time each Sunday evening updating this blog, I can't believe it's been a month!

But it's been a BIG month.

My calling in Public Affairs has been incredibly busy and if I admit it, it's taken over 20 hours a week for the last 6 weeks or so, my children are a bit starved for attention and have watched a bit too much television BUT I'm still learning how to balance and most of the time my calling doesn't interfere with raising my family, but there are times of the year when I just have to grin and bear it.

But we did find time to squeeze in some fun family time, lets catch you up!

Painting and Prophets:

The first weekend of October is always a special time for us Mormons as it's an opportunity to sit for 2 days and listen to our living prophet and apostles and hear what God has inspired them to share with us to help us learn and grow.  This is always a fun weekend for our kids as I gather activities and listening games to help keep them engaged.  Conference for them is 4 2 hour sessions over 2 days.  They're still so little so we've got packets of coloring sheets, bingo cards and more.

One activity we added this year was buzz word buckets.  I had 5 buckets each filled with different snack foods.  Each had a photo attached to a dowel with a buzz word to listen for.  If the kids heard the word (Prophet, temple, scriptures, family, etc) then they could have the treat in that bucket.  THAT was a great activity for the session that runs from 11-1:00 because it helped stave off hunger until the end of that session.

BUT this year was even more exciting because of a historic announcement.  The age at which missionaries can begin their full-time 2 year or 18 month missions has been lowered.  Young men can now serve at 18 and young women can serve at 19!! This is incredible.  I served a mission, and it was one of the BEST decisions for my life.  I learned so much and it's prepared me so well for many aspects of my life.

When I think of the "hastening of the work" and how much more prepared these youth are now, and the responsibilities that will be theirs, I am excited.  Particularly I think of more returned missionary women raising families, influencing another generation of valiant spirits, the long term effect of this will be significant.  

Further, the likelihood of my girls serving missions has just gone up as well, which thrills me!

Then on a not such a spiritual note but something that means a lot to me.....WE PAINTED!!

This weekend uniquely didn't have any soccer games scheduled and we were just going to be sitting around listening to conference, so we decided to start painting the inside of the house.  We've had the cheap, easily marked up builders grade paint on our walls since we moved in.  Raising 4 kids is hard on houses and our walls were AWFUL looking.

I've been paralyzed at picking paint colors and knowing where to start, but I've been searching and testing paint colors for a few weeks and during conference we got at it.  I took charge of the kids and conference activities, and Stephen (along with his sister Rachel for a bit) really tackled some painting.  We've made progress, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the color we chose.  I can't wait for Christmas when Stephen has a big block of time off and we can get even more done!