More Fall Fun

We decided to have a small, easy, baby blessing at home for Talmage. We got special approval from the bishop. ;) It was so nice to use Jaxon's blessing outfit again after so many years. Our parents came to show support.

We have a rather huge tree in our front yard, and it never drops any leaves until end of November. And all within a week. It's crazy.

Where'd she go?

Ugh...science fair...don't ask how late Travis, Jaxon and I were up the night before.

Violet is so kind...and honest. It's always good to feel appreciated.

("You make the best food, maybe not in the whole world, but you do make it really well!")

Fall in a Flash

We had a very full fall! I feel like we've never been busier. Here were some highlights!

If you tell Violet there's a contest, she's the first to sign up to participate. She hadn't had much luck up to this point (not even the monthly library coloring page contest), until she entered the pop bottle contest for the school fair. Basically you decorate a pop bottle any way you want. She planned it all out and it had multiple drafts. Travis helped her put it together.

She got second place in the 2nd grade category. Travis and I were so relieved that after so much trying she FINALLY won something!

We went to the school fair later that afternoon.

Jaxon went to the Space Center for the first time. He LOVES it. Like father like son.

Smart aleck math.

We went to probably my favorite restaurant ever- Leatherbys- for my birthday. My friends and I have a girls night out once every few months and we always come here, so I've been wanting to take Travis for a while. Everybody loved it. Ginger ordered a banana split from the kids menu. Her reaction was priceless. :) Our waiter was actually a former student of mine. As if I didn't already feel too old that day...

We had to get Talmage's pumpkin patch picture before it was too late, so the day before Halloween we ran down to Jakers and had some fall fun.

Talmage didn't feel like cooperating much. Ah well, at least we got it.

The next day was Halloween! Talmage donned Jaxon's first costume as Superman. So glad I finally got to reuse that. Jaxon for the first time didn't really care what he wanted to be. I told him he didn't have to go trick or treating if he didn't want to, but that if he did he'd have to dress up. He was disappointed but finally wore all black and found a pointy stick so...something scary anyway. Violet was a mummy, Ginger was a ghost, and Ivy was a cat.

We love going trick or treating with cousins. It makes it so much fun.

Also during our busy month of October, Violet had her acting class at the Hale Center Theater. It was her experience gift she got at Christmas. She had so much fun, and was able to wear her mummy costume. The kids did a really good job.

And we did enjoy our fall break, albeit a week late...Travis got the dates mixed up when he booked our Park City condo. Oh well! So we technically got two breaks. It was just what we needed for some R&R.

 

Fathers and Sons Backpacking Trip

Travis and Jaxon went backpacking with the Wendels a couple weekends ago and had a blast. 

Jaxon couldn't stop talking about the lake and fields of crazy rock formations that they climbed over and through. He especially liked drinking the lake water from Brad's pump filter.

They were also able to catch lots of fish!

I'm so glad they enjoyed themselves.

Meanwhile the girls and I got Happy Meals, a first for us. Looks like everyone had a fun weekend. :)

Jaxon Turns 10

 Jaxon is now in the double digits! A decade old. :)

We love this quirky, intelligent, funny kid. He's Spock one minute and Goofy the next. Definitely keeps us on our toes. He's such a good, patient, thoughtful big brother. Crazy to think what he might be doing in another 10 years!

First Day of School 2021

 Jaxon is going into 4th grade

Violet is in 2nd grade

And Ginger is in her second year of preschool. Here's hoping she catches up on her English before kindergarten next year, ha ha.

And then when they're gone it's just these two kiddos at home with me. In a messy house. Oh well.

This was kind of strange. Last year I would write a "would you rather" question on Jaxon's lunch bags in order to help him talk to others at his lunch table (help him socialize). I haven't had to do them in a long time because it actually worked and he made some friends. :) But Violet started doing her own just for the heck of it. Some of her questions have been a little...out there.

More Summer Pics

At first I thought Talmage kind of looked like Jaxon

.

But it wasn't long before he started to get his own look. Brown eyes. Definitely more bald.

Ginger just waltzed into the kitchen being Ginger.

So many memories in this swing.

I may not have always been on top of their summer homework (especially after Talmage was born), but they definitely read a ton.

Violet's very sensitive to thematic elements in movies. It's not unusual to hear Violet break into, "Oh no! No, no, no!" when a character is in peril, and end up in Travis' arms. I don't remember what movie we were watching this particular movie/pizza night, maybe 101 Dalmations?

Watching Violet ice skate.

While entering the library, Ginger insisted that she run ahead and try to hide. Nice. Our girls think that even if we're in the same room, as long as I'm not looking directly at them they're somehow invisible.

Toptal gifted us some merchandise to say congratulations. :)

We went to Splash Summit and Ivy was quite taken by this lone duck waddling around.

 Travis wraps our kids like burritos. Cute. :)