Our Halloween 2009-

Ava picking out our pumpkins.

Halloween Day-

Although I don't have any pictures, we started the holiday off with an incredible breakfast. Thanks again Daniel & Sarah. It really is a shame we don't take more pictures of the food we eat- that was so yummy!

Ava was a cute little lady bug again this year. She loved the costume. A couple weeks before we found a bunch of real ladybugs at the river that she was brave enough to let crawl on her hand even though it gave her the willies.

Owen has been talking for weeks about being Batman for Halloween but .... then we found this Power Ranger costume and that was that.

We went to a fun Halloween Carnival at the Whittier Center.

With yummy homemade rootbeer.

Dallin Paul & Patrick hung out in the kitchen during the Halloween festivities. Notice on the counters you can see a few of the hundred cakes that were given out for the cake walk.

Cousins happy to celebrate the day of sugar together!

Red Power Ranger & Spiderman keeping everyone safe.

Lady bug & Kitty starting to feel the sugar :).

Notice poor Matt rubbing his sore back- turns out a few days later he went to the doctor and he's got Shingles. Bummer. Not so fun in addition to being a cripple.

Poor Matt & Happy Birthday

In October Matt had surgery on his left heel to remove a bone spur that was huge. It was a painful hook of bone that would sometimes rip into his achilles. Here's a picture before surgery with the bone spur-
Matt has spent a lot of time in bed with his foot elevated and both Owen & Ava have spent hours hanging out just chillin with their Dad.
Thankfully, the recovery is moving along and yesterday was his first day to work without crutches.

And while recovering, Matt had a birthday!

Here's the kids hanging out with Dad on his birthday.

Owen wanted to get Matt an Optimus Prime Transformer for his birthday. He was so excited to give it to him. And because Matt's such a nice guy Owen even gets to play with it every once in a while.

Hooray for Fall!

We've been so happy to finally have some warm days to enjoy fall before winter comes.

For a couple weekends in a row- we got to enjoy some cousins playing & entertaining each other-


After Ava's nap one day, Becca was here and went down to get Ava. Ava came up with her socks on her hands. We thought it was pretty funny and random. Ava hasn't done it since and I'm not convinced it was Ava that did it :).

Last Attempt to catch up on some stuff till I get behind again :)-

Summer-

Ava discovered where I used to keep my make up. Doesn't she look pretty? Silly girl. I never had to worry about my makeup being in an easy to reach spot with Owen. Girls are so different!

Ava's first haircut. Don't be fooled by her "okay with this face" she wasn't happy about the snipping by her ear until she got to hold the spray bottle- worked wonders and still does when I do her hair! Thanks Lexie for taking pictures.

We were lucky to go to Seven Peaks for the first time with cousins & some family. It was so fun! Thanks again Toph & Emily Ann for the invite.

At the free lunch at the school with Dallin Paul. He loves him some lunch on styrafoam!

Owen eating Grandma & Grandpa's raspberries.

September

Owen helping peel & slice the apples for applesauce & dried apples. He helped me for sooo long. He peeled enough apples to fill up our whole fruit dryer almost!

Owen & my mom freezing corn. We did a ton- I think like 30 dozen ears or something. It was a fun & long day :).

Ava & Owen- monkey see, monkey do.

Michael, Patrick & Owen enjoying a hot dog roast & fire at the river.

Our sweet Ava.

We are pretty serious when it comes to eating good corn on the cob at our house.

These two pictures were taken at a park in Brigham City from a get together with some of Matt's high school friends minus the High School Friends cause Matt didn't check his email for a couple days and they'd cancelled- oops. It was fun anyways though we played for a little bit and then enjoyed a yummy dinner at he Idle Isle (sp?). Good Times.

Huckleberry Picking-

This is from way back this summer when we went up Strawberry Canyon and picked huckleberries. It was so pretty & a lot of fun but definitely not quick work.

Picking berries from the little bushes all over.

It was fun to play & be up in the mountains.

Madalyn "helping" That's my bucket that I put all the huckleberries I'd picked (about 1 1/2 cups) after a good hour.

After we had a campfire & dinner just down from where we picked-

Owen still having a blast.
Two lucky girls with Grandpa.

It was a lot of fun and we are looking forward to doing it again next year.

A few of the huckleberries went in a smoothie the next morning and the rest went into some raspberry freezer jam- it is sooo pretty & tasty too.

First Day of Preschool-

Owen started preschool at the end of August with 3 other kids that live close. He has it twice a week where he rotates going to each of his friend's houses a week each time. That means, I only teach 1 week out of the month. So far, it's worked well and has been a lot of fun. Owen loves being with his friends and I kind of love running errands with only one child and having fun with Ava.

Someone told me it's all happening at the Zoo-

We love a trip to the zoo. We finally made it this year in August-

Gotta get a picture by the lion.

Doing what a rhino says.

Owen rode this eagle on the carousel last year and wanted to ride it again.

The baby giraffe was so cute.

Owen & Ava-

Train ride- Owen & Matthew.
If you look close you can see Owen's chapped lips from licking all around. It kind of became a bad habit for a little while so we talked about how it was making sores around his mouth and he was trying not to do it. Then one time he licked all around his lips and I reminded him not to lick his lips and he said, "But my body just does that."

Ava & Emily

Owen Turns 4!

On August 20th, Owen turned the big #4!
We are lucky to have you in our family. We love you very much.

To celebrate, we partied all day long-

He woke up at 7:00 (which is early for Owen ) cause he was so excited. Daddy went to work a little later so we could have a big yummy breakfast together. We were extra lucky when Grandpa surprised us and we got to eat with him too. Owen got to open up some new underwears.

We went to the park and came home for a fun picnic in our backyard with Cheetos, Owen's favorite.

After Ava's nap, we went swimming at the Aquatic Center with Michael, Madalyn & Becca. Owen went down the big slide all by himself!

Then we picked Dad up from work and went bowling.

After a McDonald's dinner we came home to a lot of people that love you and had a party. I had asked Owen what kind of cake he wanted and all I got out of him was that he wanted a sugar cake. So, that was easy.

Grandma & Grandpa Huff

Grandma & Grandpa Phillips.