Recycle Car Competition

Makenzie has had the opportunity to participate in a few after school activities.  One has been making a race car out of recycled materials.  We had the district race car competition this past week.  Makenzie's group "Racing Rascals" won for her school, and got 2nd in the district!  She was so excited, as you can see from her face!  They were awarded medals.  

Thanksgiving in Utah

We had to take advantage of being "closer" to home and make a visit for Thanksgiving.  "Closer" is a relative term, as it was still a 16 hour drive.  We love our home of Southern Utah, and seeing family and friends.  We actually tag-teamed with our buddies here in WA to make the drive.  Byron is also from Southern Utah and they were planning on going down for the holiday too.  Score!  

We decided to meet up and do the St. George Turkey 10k Gobbler.  It was a chilly, but beautiful morning.  I used my sweat band as ear warmers.  I was numb the first 2 miles.  I made my goal of running under an hour, although I have had some shin splints trying to make an appearance.  Tyler so lovingly stayed by my side, although I know he had the itch to run ahead!  

 They had a kids run that the two older ones participated in.  They were frozen to the bone and didn't think it was that exciting.  It was really short.  But they were happy to get a t-shirt and sweatband out of the whole thing.

 Ellionna wanted to feel included.

My mom decorated the table so pretty.  

Here are the kids about ready to dig in.

And the littles had their own table.

We missed my younger brother joining us.  He got rear-ended the night before as he started the trek down from SLC.  There car was totaled, but luckily nobody was hurt.

Aunt Kari is the creative one and all the kids enjoyed making some turkey crafts.

We also enjoyed a second Thanksgiving meal with the Sherman family.  Sorry no pics were taken.

 We went down to the elementary to play one day.   I had to laugh because I found some graffiti with a name that we know.  "Brxon Barr and Lexi Sherman; Tick Tack Toe Masters"  Luckily it was good.... you often don't find that with graffiti.

We decided to stay in SLC one night before we headed home, so we could venture over to temple square and see all the lights. Of course, it was crazy busy!  The weather was quite warm and as you see from the pics, most of the kids shed their coats.

Overall, it was a great trip!  Making memories with the family is the best!

So a little side story for this next picture....
Jordan and Gavin were introduced to a certain youtube video while on vacation.  It was commentary of someone playing a video game.  Well, apparently the video scared Jordan full force.  The first few nights were pretty long with him.  He has never been so scared in his life!  Now, after a week, it is just getting old as he still claims to be scared.   So instead of Jordan turning to us for comfort, he has turned to Gavin.  Gavin so bravely has stated that he is not scared and will protect his older brother.  Gavin so lovingly will sleep with Jordan every night now, so help him feel better.  I'm happy to see this kind of bonding and brotherly love from these two!

Family Pics

Here's a sneak peek of some family pictures that we got done this past weekend.  I'm saving the actual family picture for our Christmas cards, so you will have to wait on that.

I think we have some pretty cute kids, if I say so myself!!!

True personalities right here!

11 years of marriage!

Happy Halloween

Halloween this year was a simple and fun one!   We did a night of pumpkin carving with our friends. The one picture we got is of Ellionna showing off Tyler's creativeness.  He has the artistic talents and patience to always do fun pumpkin carvings.  

Halloween night....

Mama cat and her kitty....

Our tough boys.

October activies

My parents came up for a visit!  And I only got one picture while they were here.  Papa Joe was so kind to play checkers and chess with the kids.  He mentioned that after a few games, the kids were learning the strategies and could possibly even beat him for real. :)

We took my parents up to Leavenworth, which is a Bavarian tourist town.  The pictures are a little blurry, but we had fun visiting the little shops.

I accompanied Jordan on a field trip to the city museum and then an apple orchard.  It's always fun to get to know the kids in his class and be apart of his education.

He thought long and hard about taste-testing an apple.  You see, this boy loves applesauce and apple juice, but will not eat a regular apple!  He took one little nibble and threw it away.

We love living so close to the church so that we can walk!  I had to capture Ellionna was using Tyler's head as a table, so she could color on the way to church! 

New Physician Family Retreat

We got to take part in a family retreat weekend for Tyler's new employer, and get to know some of the new employees from the last year.  We went up to Sun Mountain Lodge about 2 hours north of us.  It was spared amongst all the wildfires that surrounded it this summer.  It was a damp fall weekend, but it didn't stop us from getting out and enjoying the area!

Makenzie was ecstatic to find out that we could go horseback riding!  It was a fun activity with the older kids.

Jordan is all saddled up and ready to go on his horse named "Flag."

Makenzie was on a horse named "War Bonnet"

It was a beautiful foggy morning with the golden leaves!

The younger two had fun discovering the lodge.

The outdoor hot tub was a big hit!

 It was a beautiful view!

We can't but continue to express how happy we are to be here in Wenatchee and to have Tyler join a great clinic.  

Dog-sitting

We took the opportunity to dog-sit for some church members for a weekend.  

They have 2 dogs that could not be more opposite in looks!  There was plenty of love and attention that was given here!  Both dogs were very loving back, as well!

Ellionna took out "blankets", aka the kitchen towels, to keep them warm while they took a nap.  Ellionna then proceeded to be a puppy as well as she laid in the small dog's bed.

They joined in family prayer

and a little bit of Halloween festivities.  

We hope to find a dog to join our family permanently.... The promise was made to get one once we moved.

Conference weekend

We have gotten to know a great family in our ward.  We have plenty in common and a natural friendship has formed quickly.  I'm sure we will be forever friends with Byron and Monique Lott and their four kids.  Monique is from the area and her family has a vacation home by a lake.  We decided to take a little getaway for General Conference  weekend.  

Although it's October and the water was by far not the warmest, the kids were not deterred and played constantly in it!  

They challenged each other to jump off the dock.  It was like the polar bear plunge!  They all gave in to sibling pressure and did it!  

Gavin is taking a running start.  I missed his entry though!

 Makenzie thinking long and hard about it!

And then she did it!

You didn't have to wait for Jordan!

I tried long boarding for the first time!  It was a lot of fun.... because I didn't fall in.  Tyler tried after me though, and failed.  He got mighty wet.  I wish I had pictures of that, but I don't!

Plenty of things to do...

I think we did 10 loads of laundry while we were there.  The kids would be cold and change into dry clothes, but before you know it, they would be back down by the water and ever so slowing be drenching wet again!

There was a little napping going on... but of course not while watching conference. :)

We went on a boat ride.  The lake is so clear and beautiful. 

Here's Monique with her little guy, Deacon.   He is such a mellow, happy dude!

We may start making this a new conference tradition!