October in a nutshell

Craig and his fellow YM leaders took the young men to the Saturday sessions of General Conference and the Priesthood session. They also participated in the Scouting for Food drive. He has traveled to Boise four times this month also. Jessica enjoyed 2 - 4 day weekends from work and started her Christmas sewing. She is very excited to see her Yankees go to the World Series! Ryan joined the Guard on the 22nd, and went to his first drill on the 24th & 25th. He finished up soccer, the boys took 4th place at State. He has gone on a couple of field trips for school to ISU's Library and the Bannock County Jail. Courtney went to work with Jessica, as she did fulfilled her job shadowing assignment for school. She loves this month as Halloween is her favorite holiday! Joslyn carved a pumpkin and is enjoying Red Ribbon week at school. She was able to spend the night for her friend, Olivia's birthday on the 16th. Her class went on a warm field trip to Lava Hot Springs and she received her glasses as well this month. Chad has earned his Bobcat award in Scouts. He received a certificate and a coupon for Sizzler's for perfect attendance for the first 6 weeks of school. He and Joslyn did a great job in the Primary program. We had a great time at our ward party on the 9th with great food and dancers to fit our Polynesian theme. Tendoy's Fall Carnival was also great fun with games and prizes on the 23rd.

My baby is all grown up! Or so he thinks!

Ryan just left for his first RSP drill (RSP stands for something, but it's basically the kids who have joined the Guard, but haven't shipped to Basic Training yet). Let me back up - Ryan joined the Army National Guard on Thursday the 22nd of this month - October. This was totally his decision, Craig was even trying to talk him out of it! He doesn't ship to Basic until next July and he is going to Fort Benning, Georgia. Georgia in July - what could be more fun?!?! From there he will go to his AIT (Advanced Training) for a year-long school, I'm not sure where. He is going to be a radio repair technician (I think). He is very sure of himself and his future plans, I just wish I was!!! Craig took pictures of him swearing in and this morning when they were getting ready to leave, but my computer thinks it already has too many pictures and other things to let me download them!!! But I will as soon as possible!

Century's Homecoming 2009

Ryan, Autumn, Taft and Christina

Ryan and Autumn

Autumn with her shoes off and bending her knees!

Taft and Christina

Our Family

Our Family

Us with Grandma Nila

the gorgeous flowers my Mom brought - they've lasted all week!

All about Chad

Papa helping Chad with his new Hot Wheels set

Uncle Duane and Aunt Norma enjoying birthday cake and ice cream

Grandma helping Chad put his new puzzle together

CHAD!

Chad's birthday party

I just love this picture - he's so cute!!!

Chad's Baptism

Craig and Chad

Ryan, Craig, Chad, Courtney, Joslyn and Jessica

Our family, plus Grandma Nila, Papa, Aunt Myrna, Uncle Duane and Aunt Norma - they are Chad's great-great aunt and uncle! It was So nice to have them all there!

Our family

Chad turns 8 and gets baptized!

Chad turned 8 on the 5th of September and was baptized that day!

I love this picture!

With Craig standing there, you can get some idea of how out of control my garden is - but my motto is - "It it grows, I'll water it!"

Craig got the fence done and both sides of our are now stained too!

Sunflower waiting to open

sunflowers are just happy flowers - who doesn't love them?!?!

the shed gets concrete!

We finally got the concrete poured for the shed, now we just need to put up some walls and enclose it!!!

Ryan is cleaning up the edges

Garden

Our garden has gone wild! The pumpkins and spaghetti squash have come from the very back to the zucchini and the spaghetti squash has started to climb up the sunflowers - so we find them hanging from the sunflowers!!!

the corn next door has finally had a growth spurt!

I might get enough for 1 meal - but that's good enough for me!

Spike

Chad found this porcupine on the 31st of July by our garbage cans, which are under my carport!!! We called animal control - they said they only did dogs and cats! They suggested we call fish and game and they said he would "just wander away" WHAT?!?! We live in the middle of town! So we called them back and told them to come and get him! TRhey did about 45 minutes later. He didn't do anything, just sat there, very calm. But when the f & g guy tried to slip the noose around his neck, he kinda freaked out - who wouldn't?!?! He left a bunch of quills behind, that are kinda short - about 2" long and half black and white and kinda greasy! We only had him for a short time (it really seemed long enough to me!) but we named him "Spike".

July/August

Looking over my last couple of posts - so much has changed! My garden is like a jungle and the vegetables are AWESOME! Lots of crookneck, zucchini and spaghetti squash, peas, beans, and beets. The corn is actually growing, the carrot tops are so pretty and the pumpkins are starting! I've had tons of apricots from friends - so lots of yummy freezer jam! I cut my hair and donated it to Locks of Love - 24 inches! Ryan turned 17 on the 19th - we had a breakfast party for him here then went to Grandma Nila's with stops along the way to see Grandma Anne, Grandma Turner, Uncle Jim & Aunt Lynne and Aunt LenaGean. Grandma had a party for him in Papa's bar and then we spent 3 1/2 days in Vegas seeing some old friends - Kim Abbott and family - so fun!, Aunt Benn , Aunt Kim and kids, hanging out by the pool, and seeing the sights! Then back to St. George and nice and cool Cedar City for Jacob's baseball tournament. A quick week, but loads of fun! Joslyn had her tonsils out on the 31st. Hydrocodone obviously doesn't agree with her so once we got her to quit throwing up (after a trip to the ER that night), she did pretty good - LOTS of Popsicles, jello and pudding. Craig's dad, Ralph had a stroke, that scared us, but he's doing really good now - it's amazing the medical knowledge that they have now! Started getting ready for back-to-school - buying supplies, new clothes and shoes, etc. I went back to work on the 19th and the kids start on the 24th. Ryan got his driver's license TODAY! I am a basket case! It's hard to let them just drive away - so I followed him (discreetly - he knew I was, just not any of his friends) when he had to go to soccer practice - it's 10 miles one way and on the freeway! But he did AWESOME - didn't speed, used his blinkers, was a very responsible driver! He will be a senior and has already started soccer practice - he's going to play goalie for the JV team and they have a game tomorrow! Courtney has done lots of babysitting and went to girl's camp and read more books than I thought possible - I am having a hard time keeping up! She will be a freshman - she's kinda nervous about being a the high school, but she knows where the library is now, so that set her heart at ease. Joslyn went to Activity Days camp and lots of fun Activity days, has ridden her bike and played with friends. She is starting 5th grade and they are the oldest this year! Chad has ridden his scooter and played in the water - EVERYDAY - but Sunday. His friend, Zhigy has moved back so he is happy, happy, happy! Craig has done tons of work on the house and yards - he's amazing! We've been blessed to see lots of family and friends and spend time with them. Chad's baptism is coming up on September 5th - he is very excited to be "drowned" as he puts it and start Scouts and 2nd grade. I have loads of pictures but they are going to have to wait.

Chad's Glasses

Chad's reading teacher suggested we have his eyes checked and sure enough the boy is blind as a bat! Well maybe it's not that bad, but he does need to wear them all the time, hopefully this will cut down on the 'accidents' the kid has! Example - running into walls, falling down, tripping!

He is SO excited to wear them too - probably because now he can actually see things! Who knew!