Halloween Costume Preview

Tonight while I was making dinner Charles was keeping himself busy by drawing on the dry erase board. Here is one of his many pictures. Can you tell he has Halloween on his mind? He included the resident cat Ffinlo and decided that he could be Lucifer from Cinderella.



Visit us again in a few days for the actual pictures of the kids in their costumes.

Rock Canyon Hike

Last weekend we went for a quick hike on the Rock Canyon Trail, which is only about a quarter-mail from our house. Here are some pictures:

Charles was amazed that this tree matched his shirt so well, and asked us to take a picture.

Joey had fun climbing up a small crevice along the trail. We did not have as much fun watching him do it. He had zero fun realizing that getting down is a lot harder than going up.

Once Charles got up a little ways and turned around, he just wanted to stay. We eventually got him down.

Joey wanted to be in on the 'tree matching your shirt,' but this was the best we could do.

Tori was increasingly frustrated that we wouldn't let her climb anything, so we finally told her she could climb this rock. She didn't waste any time.

Joey found a grasshopper along the trail that was missing its two hind (jumping) legs, which made it very easy to catch.

Tori even got brave enough to pet it, which is no small feat considering her fear of bugs.

When we got back home it was so nice that we stayed outside in the back yard, where Joey and Tori and their cousin Jonathan got a wagon ride from Uncle Jon.

Charles was on hand with his typical 'huge grin for no reason.'

A few action shots of the boys playing football.

Our favorite time of year

This post may set a record for pictures, but we've been busy enjoying the arrival of autumn in Utah. Here are a bunch of pictures showing what we've been up to:

Having Liz's 'special recipe' Homemade Tortilla Soup. We will patent this someday.

Enjoying the animals around the house, whether they be inside, like Ffinlo the cat...
Or outside, like the deer that decided to use the backyard to rest...
or the raccoons, who like to raid the cat dish at night.
Last Friday we went to an apple orchard/pumpkin patch to pick apples.
Tori was very excited about picking apples and putting them in the bag. She even posed a few times.

Joey was also good for a pose or two.
And Charles in the pumpkin patch, with his patented 'thumbs up.'
Tori still posing...
The boys wanted to see if they were strong enough to pick up the big ones.
Charles looks like he wishes Joey would lift more and pose less.
With the gourds, Charles had an easier time.
This was going to be a picture of Joey with a few gourds/squash, until Tori crashed the shot.
And then Tori by herself, with a death grip on her own gourd.
Saturday afternoon we headed up the Canyon to Vivian Park, where the kids played on the train.


And Joey slid down the snowplow a few times.
The Provo River at Vivian Park, looking up the canyon.
Earlier that morning (much earlier), my brother Jon and I went fishing at Payson Lake. Here is Jon clearing the first fish curse, only a few minutes into the (frigid) morning.
We caught a bunch, and brought home four fat ones for a fish fry.
We also found a great place to get cheap pumpkins with big stems--our favorite kind.

Tonight the Lesues invited us and the Wihongis to Gardner Village to see the witches.

And take a few pictures around the village.

Here's the gang, which includes almost all of the UT-based cousins.