Two of my favorite people............

MY DAD and............

My Hubby!

Happy Birthday Dad and Happy Anniversary Russ! You are probably asking yourself why I would get married on my dad's birthday? Well, I don't know if this is the best gift to give your dad on his birthday (especially since he had to pay for it) but, if it were my birthday and my daughter was getting married to a very special person that would make her happy for all eternity I would be glad to share this day and pay for my own gift. Although, these two special men are very different in personality, there is one thing that they share (well, me of course) but, also there love for there families and the gospel. I am truly blessed to be the daughter and the wife of two of my favorite people. I love you both! Amber
PS. This is a day early, I just had time at this moment and I didn't know when I would get a chance to post again!

Traditions

Grammy and Papa sent a Halloween package for the kids

The kids thought it was Christmas!

The kids playing in the leaves.

Halloween party. Decorating Cookies

Brynn decorating her cookie.

Donut eating contest

Green Slime

Kids in there costume

Pumpkin Patch

Jaxon (Clone Trooper)
Giraffe

Skunk

Jaxon, James, Avery and Brynn



Daves Party!

Every year since Jaxon has been in our family we have gone to the same Pumpkin Patch. It' s more like a farmers market but nonetheless it is "Tradition". I have been reading "Spookley the Square Pumpkin" to Brynn, so when I told her about us going to the Pumpkin Patch she said, "I want a Pink one". You will have to read the book if you haven't already. I grow pumpkins every year and this year my pumpkins were very odd shaped. Which fit perfectly with the book. Jaxon loves tradition and picking out his own special pumpkin. I went to Jaxon's Halloween Party at school. It was a Carnival theme. The kids went around and played games and got tickets for them and then got to buy things with there tickets. It was a hit. The kids love the leaves. I remember loving to rack them into a pile and jump into them. I love the sound still of crunching leaves! My friend Liz and I had a Halloween party for the kids. Liz went all out. She had a donut eating contest, pin the nose on the Jack-o-Lantern, Dunking in Jello, Silly String, Bean Bag Toss and the kids decorated cookies. She had all sorts of prizes. The kids had a wonderful time. Halloween was perfect. You could not of asked for better weather! Brynn was a little timid at first but once she saw what the reward was for just knocking on a door, she loved it! It is tradition to go over to our friend Dave's house. He serves hot dogs, scones, hot chocolate, and has a band going. It is always fun. Russ helps cook. Marcus and James came trick-or-treating with us this year, which was great! Jaxon then got up this morning and went to his friend Caden's baptism. He said it was fun and that he wrote some silly thing on a card for him. There is a ton of pictures!

Our Trip to Lava Hot Springs

This past weekend my dad was going to come here to Utah from California, and then we were going to head to Blanding to my Grandmas house. My dad decided that he would wait and come for Thanksgiving because my grandma would be coming here to Salt Lake for Thanksgiving and then he could see everybody at once. So I was a little sad because I was really looking forward to of course seeing my dad and grandma but also just getting away for the weekend. Russ had already planned on going deer hunting and I didn't want to ruin his plans but I really wanted to go and do something. So he decided that we could as a family go up to Lava Hot Springs when he got home on Saturday. Russ took Jaxon for his 1st deer hunt. I was very nervous. The thought of guns going off and how cold my little boy would be spending the night in the tent made me uneasy. It turned out well. Jaxon and Russ had a great time. They didn't get a deer, so all is well with me! Anyway, we looked on the internet to see if Lava was still open this time of year and it is. It showed pictures and it was only $15.00 for a family. Sounded Great, until we got there! We pulled into the town of Lava and theres a sign "Mineral Hot Springs, Open to the Public". It didn't look like the pictures that we had seen on the internet but we went ahead and checked it out. We went to pay and the lady said that will be $42.00. I thought that was a bit pricey, thinking it was only $15.00. Well we had come all this way and the kids were expecting to swim, so we forked out the money. We changed into our swim suits and all was great until some couple, I'm assuming started to get it on in one of the pools. I don't mean just making out but making babies! I was in shock and kept thinking this can't be actually happening. So I asked Russ "Are they?" He replied, yes there doing the nasty or something like that but of course more crude. So I could see that everyone was feeling very uncomfortable and I was just hopeing that Jaxon wouldn't look over. I kept thinking to myself Should I go and saying something to them, oh theres noway or should I go and tell the management. I waited hoping that someone would. I don't think anyone ever did. So what did I do? Nothing. I still fell bad. I should of stuck up for me,my kids, and everyone else there but I didn't. I was just in shock and couldn't believe what was really going on. Wow. What would you have done? You probably wouldn't have done nothing I am sure. So all in all the kids were oblivous to it all and we still had a great time. I still can't get that horrible image out of my head though. Oh, and then I said to Russ as we were leaving lets go and check the town (which was all on one street) and as we reach the top of the street there was the hot springs that we were suppose to go to. Why? Oh well!

The kids are so excited for Halloween! Me and my friend Liz are having a Halloween Party together on Friday. It should be lots of fun. I will post pictures after Halloween. Check back!

It's getting cold...........

Brynn wanting to go out in the snow.
I just had to put Avery's leg warmers on. I love all her chubb that hangs out.
Jaxon playing his games. He's so handsome.
Brynn playing "Reader Rabbit" on the computer
Brynn playing out in the snow. She still had her PJs on.
Jaxon and Brynn out in the snow
Russ decided that the kids couldn't have all the fun, so he joined in.
Avery watching the kids from inside.

I can't believe that we have had our first snowfall. I do love the snow though. We just stayed in all weekend. Friday Russ and I watched movies (Made of Honor and Leatherheads) both were good. I did take the kids swimming at the Rec Center on Saturday night. Russ stayed home with Avery and watched BYU. Brynn loves the water and has no fear. It was scary. I had to watch her every move or she would just go under. Sunday was Stake Conference or as Russ calls it "Get out of Church Free Sunday". And yes we did stay home. I thought that it would be best not having to chase Brynn around the building. So our weekend was lazy but good.

What have we been up to?

Avery is 7 months
Brynn riding the Carousel at the Hogle Zoo
Riding the train
Brynn scared of the elephant
Russ and his cousins at White Clouds (Yearly backpacking Trip)
Pyper,Avery, and Ashlynn (cousins)
Avery starting sitting at about 5 months
Brynn on her first Pony ride
Kennedie and Brynn @ Wheeler Farms
Brynn cooling off @Wheeler Farms

Jaxon playing soccer (Russ is coaching)
Avery trying to crawl (she is crawling a few crawls now)
Jaxon @ Grandparents Day (I went and took pictures)
Jaxon singing to the Grandparents( I volunteer in his class on Mondays)
Jaxon holding Pyper on her blessing day. Avery just sitting there.

What have we been up to, is the question everyone has been asking. We have been busy since school started just like everybody else. I don't know how you all find the time to do all that you do. I just get tired thinking about it! I will just post pictures of what has been going on since the last post and then I will try and be better about keeping up on it.