Fall Break in BL

Kaye and Allan were very generous and allowed us to stay in the cabin in BL.   Originally it was just going to be Shan and I but then Mylissa's plans changed so we invited her and of course we invited mom, dad and Marilyn.  Dad had "too much to do" so he didn't come.  Matt and Robby couldn't come up until Friday after work.  Shan and I headed up Wednesday night around 5:00.  We stopped at Madox for a quick hamburger and yummy shake.  We finally got to the cabin around 9:30.  Mom and Marilyn had arrived a lot earlier in the day.  Mylissa came up the next the day.  Mylissa ended up going home Saturday morning because she and Rob had a meeting with an area seventy in the afternoon.  Rob was called as first counsel in their new stake presidency.  Marilyn went home with Mylissa because she had church obligations on Sunday.  Mom went home Saturday evening when she heard about Rob so she could be at their Stake Conference.  Matt and Robby both went home early Sunday afternoon so it became really quiet by late Sunday afternoon.  It was actually really nice to have the quiet time.  We talked about staying until Tuesday instead of Monday.  My boys talked us into staying until Tuesday.  Kaye said we could stay as long as we wanted.  She was so sweet about it.  It ended up being a good thing that we went home on Tuesday because we spent half the day on Monday cleaning.  Then Tuesday morning all we had to do was a quick vacuum job so we were out of there by 10.  We stopped by Kaye's on the way home.  We stayed almost two hours just visiting with them.  It was so good to spend some time with them.  They are so sweet!  We stopped by Madox for a quick hamburger and shake.  We were really rushed because Chase had to be home by 4:00 for a birthday party.  We made it home at 3:50!!!  

There were still a few leaves left on some trees.  Kaye's oak tree in her front yard was beautiful!  The boys needed to do a service project for the reading triathlon challenge so Saturday morning everyone went out and raked up the leaves.  We even planted a few daffodils that dad sent up.  It looked so much better.  We love watching the animals at the cabin.  There was a group of 4-5 moose that stayed in the same place so throughout the day we would look through the binoculars and watch them.  They were really far away so you had to use the binoculars.  But we saw a couple of moose that were by Kaye's cabin while we were there.  We saw one on Friday night and then Sunday while we were out walking, Chase spotted one on the hill.  

Mom brought up a bunch of her classic Halloween books.  On Thursday night, Grandma read some Halloween stories with the kids.  It was such a sweet moment to see them all snuggled up to her listening to her read.  One of the books she read was "Tilly the Witch."  That was one of my favorite Halloween stories as a child.  While Mom was reading to the kids, Marilyn held Tanner for me and rocked him.  I love these sweet pictures.  

My van was packed when we came up.  I always try to bring my road bike when we come up here.  I looked up the weather and decided I could get some biking in. I'm so glad I brought it because the weather was beautiful!  On Thursday it was a little cold when I started but eventually I warmed up and shedded some layers.  Mylissa was able to come with me on Friday.  We went out to the North Shore.  I love going with her.  She was feeling very stressed about Rob's interview and was wondering what would happen.  At one point I asked her what music she was jamming out to.  She started to laugh and said "Primary songs."  She said it's the only thing that has brought her some peace.  It was very sweet.  Every day was a little warmer so by Monday, I was biking in just my shorts and shirt, no jacket.  I had to stop and take a couple of pictures.  I love how beautiful it is up here.  The first picture is me at the North shore and the second picture is me not quite to the South shore.  

We brought up a few crafts and activities for the kids to do.  They worked on some puzzles, did sticker pages, and lots of coloring.  Chase enjoyed reading Kaye's Genius Book of World Records.  On Sunday, the boys and I went for a long walk.  On our way back, Chase spotted a moose on the hillside so when we got back the cabin we loaded up the van with us and Shan and the girls and went and found a beautiful moose.  

Even Sophie likes to go moose watching.  Kaye is very sweet about us brining up our silly dog Sophie.

Halloween Spirit

Kip came over and brought this shirt for Tanner.  She and Jeff were out Halloween shopping and found this little shirt.  She was so sweet.  She said "I hope you don't mind but Jeff and I found this shirt and wanted Tanner to have it."  It's been perfect for the Halloween season.  He wears it about every other day.  He's definitely gotten his use out of it.  I get compliments all the time when he wears it.  How cute!  Thanks Kip!

The Life of a Dog

I looked out my back door and saw Sophie laying in the sun like this.  I thought "oh, the life of a dog!"  She looked so content and happy laying in the grass soaking up the sun.  She's one lucky dog!

Chase's Fall Soccer Season

I had been taking pictures and video during the game but I wasn't catching anything spectacular so I had just turned my phone off when Chase went down and scored this goal!  Luckily our neighbor caught all the action and sent me the photos.  Chase scored an awesome goal!!!!  These pictures capture the goal!  Chase has really developed into a fantastic soccer player.  He's built upon his foundation and is getting better with his fundamentals.  His ball control is better.  He's a great defensive and offensive player!

GOAL!!!!!  GOAL!!!!!  GOAL!!!!!!  I love the high five to Raeder after the goal.

This season, Chase wanted to try playing goalie!!!!  So coach would let him be goalie either the first half or the second half depending on the team we were playing. If it was a really tough team, coach told Chase that he needed him on defense and wouldn't let him play goalie.  It's been nice to let other kids have a chance to play goalie.  I get really nervous when he plays goalie because it's a lot of pressure!!!  But he does a great job at it!  He's realized how important team work is.

Pumpkin Walk

Chase and Bridger's elementary carried on the tradition and had the pumpkin walk.  It seems like each year it gets a little earlier which is good because some years the weather has been horrible!  This year the weather was beautiful!  No one was buying hot chocolate when we were there because it felt like a summer day.  But I'm sure during the evening they sold some.  Matt was on vacation so we went over right after school.  I had been over at the school a couple of times helping the boys' class with their pumpkins.  The boys did a great job decorating their pumpkins.  Bridger told about how Mrs. Halls asked him to help a little boy pick out a toy frog when they were selling cookie dough.  A couple of weeks after the pumpkin walk, Bridger's pumpkin had turned all moldy.  It was oozing down our front porch.  So I told Bridger that we needed to throw it away.  He had a melt down and started to cry.  We said a little goodbye to his pumpkin and then he threw it away.  But he came inside with his sign.  He said "I want to keep this forever."  He has such a tender heart.

Chase's class theme was how to show good sportsmanship.  Chase wrote:  I can have good sportsmanship when I say good luck before my soccer games.  His pumpkin was a BYU fan with crazy hair.  His teacher was the referee (very creative).

"They're spooky and they're creappy. The Adams family."

Tanner 5 Months Old

Tanner is five month old.  I love his cute smile.  Luckily he stays pretty happy.  I just have to keep him well fed, clean diaper and enough sleep.  It's that simple.  When one of those elements is off, he's not happy.  He still likes to chew on his fingers.  I'm so happy I captured him chewing on his finger.  He loves his older brothers.  I try to make him laugh but Bridger and Chase are the best at it.  They do the silliest things and Tanner will laugh and laugh at them.  He holds his bottle and can put it in his mouth now. He would try to hold his bottle but it would be too heavy.  But now he holds it the whole feeding time unless he's too sleepy.  He also loves Sophie.  If he hears her collar, he'll look to see where she is.  He tries to reach out and touch her when she walks past him.  He's really good about Sophie's kisses.  When she licks him he just puckers up or laughs depending on his mood.

Tanner's had enough pictures!!!

Art Projects

 Chase has been learning about Greek mythology.  He had to build the parthenon.  So we glued the giant marshmallows together and then he painted it.  Looks good!

 At parent teacher conferences, the boys showed us their artwork.  Bridger has been learning about adjectives in school.  They had to draw themselves and then write some adjectives about themselves.  Bridger wrote that he is:  eight, orange, handsome, funny, helpful, nice, happy and strong.  I love his spiky orange hair!

Chase has been learning about perspectives in art.  He chose to draw three objects and then make them look dimensional.  He did a great job!  He is really developing his art skills.  At parent teacher conferences, both of their teachers just raved about them.  They are such good boys!  They work hard in school and are nice to everyone.

Bridger drew our family on the doodle pad.  I love how Matt is holding Tanner above Bridger's head. After he drew it, he came up to me and said "take a picture mom."  Life is not just about the big moments.  It's the little moments in life I want to remember.