Better Late than Never

For the past week I have had some issues with getting this blog posted. Finally it is working and I can finally put it up. So as most of you were present, I don't have to put up too many details but we had a wonderful experience attending Jonas' baptism. He was very prepared and it went off without a hitch other than a few teenage girls not knowing the song they were asked to sing. Then of course we were able to go to Leslie's endowment session later on that evening. It was a very large session and she had many in attendance to support her and love her through her first of many temple experiences. It was too dark and so we were not able to get pictures of her. We then attended my Stake/Regional Conference on the next day. We were able to hear the prophet again giving us good advice on how to love and serve one another. Then we came back to my place and had a "light luncheon", which of course for Lizzy that means a batch of apple dumplings. We were enjoying a lovely Sunday afternoon and then the great "smoke out" occurred. The juices from the dumplings overflowed into bottom of the oven and the smoke was so strong that we had to run out into my front yard. So of course, that is when the fun really began.

The Culprits

In between all the excitement we were able to get a few cute photos of the kiddies. I love her blue eyes that seem so show up so well in the pictures I see of her.

Little Leah posing so well for me.

Brooks and Maren deep in conversation, probably about her favorite subject, the color pink.

Reunited and it feels so good.

Our little blondies.

Although she looks like she is in pain, this is a smile.

Essie May taking it all in.

She is so fun to cuddle with. And Lily isn't half bad either.

Becky and Lily

Lily is never lacking for arms to hold her.

So after the great smoke out of 2009 we thought we'd make the best of our time in the front yard and of course the games began. This was 500. It is something like Annie I Over in that you have to play it over something. We used Whitney's car. Josh and Noah in action.

My neighbors were probably wondering what in the heck was going on. If any of them was watching us pour out of the house it was quite comical and then all these games and things were even more entertaining to watch.

The game got so wild that the object we were throwing around, of course got hucked onto the roof. Hannah to the rescue.


One of the times Josh threw it from across the street and it actually made a basket as you can see. This was very good photography by someone with perfect timing. We all had a good laugh over that.

Of course, it landed on the roof several times. Hannah, only to happy to volunteer again. I think she likes heights.Then of course the human knot.

We never did become unraveled. We had to cheat a little bit.

A few others getting in on the roof action. I am pretty sure some of the neighbors were ready to call DCFS.

Since Les was on the roof she decided to get a few pictures from above. Notice Jonas and Gabes to the side. I guess they were not quite sure what the heck we were doing. We started off just making the letters and then we decided to time ourselves and get into postition as fast as we could. I wish I would have had a video of it. It was hilarious to see us throwing ourselves on the ground into certain positions. I had sore muscles the next day and figured it must of been because of these stunts.

Are we not the craziest, silliest, coolest, funniest, family you ever did see. And definately number 1 in my eyes.

Weekend with the Boys

So the long awaited weekend finally rolled around and I had to make good on the train trip that I had promised to Jonas and Gabe. Actually I was as excited as they were, just for different reasons. I decided to book a room at the Homestead in Midway. This was so fun to stay at this country resort. I had never been there and it was so much fun. We checked in and then they gave us a little fudge. We were even given a ride to our cottage on a golf cart. The boys loved that. Our cottage was very close so the ride was about 10 seconds.

The boys were all to eager to do the posing. This is the garden area outside of the main building. They were very excited to get in the pool.

They loved the window seat and decided that they would both sleep in it until I ruined their plans and told them they would be much more comfortable in their bed.

This was on the outside pool deck. Jonas was a good sport about being the girl. When we got back home, Jonas was trying to explain this to Stacy. He explained that he was a girl in a swimming suit and that Gabe was a boy who was very muscley like Andrew. It was very cute.

Taking a dip in the inside pool.

They wanted to try the outdoors hot tub. There was also a mineral bath there with the hot springs from the crater.

The outside pool. It was not heated and the boys did not want to get in it. However Gabe volunteered to push a little girl in. I think she let him do it too. Jonas and Gabe were very friendly with everyone around them. Particularly waitresses and train ticket ladies. Jonas kept on announcing to everyone that this was his break from his sisters. Everyone just laughed.

The boys wanted to play find Jonas and Gabe with this picture.

This is the door to our cottage.

At the Milk Cottage

We ate outside by the creek and the boys loved looking at the ducks and feeding them and looking at the big fish in the water.

At breakfast on the patio at The Homestead.

Then later on that morning we had to drive over to Heber to get our tickets and take the big train trip. The boys could hardly contain themselves.

The Engine. This is actually at the halfway point. We rode down Provo Canyon and then the engine had to go down the tracks a bit and then come back up and around some how and then hook on the front for the trip back. The boys were very interested in that process.

This was at the station in Heber. This steam engine was quite large.

On Friday before we picked up Gabe, I was talking to Jonas abot the trip. He was telling me that this was a great day. He was so excited to go on this little trip and he said"I am so excited that I get to go with my best friend. "

On the way down the canyon we rode in an outside car and then the way back they wanted to try the inside car.

Gabers

Jonas taking in the scenic view from the outside car.

So much to see.

The Fall foilage was perfect on the weekend. The colors were so vibrant and beatiful. That is what I was looking forward to the most. It did not disappoint

Passing Deer Creek Reservoir on the way down the canyon.

Beautiful!

This is the back of Timpanogoos. I am pretty sure this patch of snow never melts.

It was such a fun weekend. I am glad that I decided to do it. The boys were so well behaved and it was fun to do something with just them. I loved just watching their reactions to things and they had the cutest conversations between themselves that half of the time I was quietly laughing and did not want them to hear for fear they would get self conscious.

Today I had to speak in church and then sing in Relief Society. Needless to say I am a bit worn out and looking forward to a quiet week.