HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

One of my favorite restaurants -

Look what has opened in our neighborhood and look even closer to see who is working behind the counter.


Kayli is an official saladmaker at Paradise Bakery. We visited her last week and she was busily helping many customers. She puts together various kinds of salads (my favorite being the Greek) but, they're all great. Hopefully she won't mind our frequent visits...the cookies are just too hard to resist!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACOB!!!

How about a little Pizza?
We met Grandma and Grandpa at THE PIE for a delicious birthday dinner. The Pizza was huge -- The Giant 23". Ryan was here this weekend for a wedding...so it was an extra birthday bonus to have him celebrate with Jake.


The girls love being with Uncle Ryan!!


Jake, I can't believe you are growing up so fast...but, I am so proud of the young man you are becoming. Happy Birthday!!! I love you, MOM

Breakfast for Lunch!

Always a favorite on my list ... breakfast for lunch ... french toast with butter, cinnamon, powdered sugar and syrup. Yum Yum!

No Water Needed

Putting the boat away this weekend reminded me of this picture I took in August:

Harrison, Alli, Jenna, and Jacob just hanging out on dry land...the weekend before our annual trip to Bear Lake. I get the biggest kick out of the look on Jake and Harrison's face. Do they look excited or what? Hours went by and this foursome was having the time of their life just being in the boat - no water needed. I don't think anyone will notice how overly anxious they are about boating and we sure won't have to worry about using up much gas. Fun Times!!

Darby Was Here

The girls couldn't control how excited they were that Darby was coming to play afterschool. Yippee!! Darby came with her Dad last weekend and the girls had a blast!! Friday was even better because she was able to sleep over and play the next day too. The girls played american idol, house (of course), lost girls, space games, and dress-up. We even dragged her with us for family pictures and another cousin's baptism...whew...what a good sport. Darby is so fun to have around and seemed to enjoy everyone. Hearing her sing every word to Camp Rock songs at 11:00pm and as we drove places in the car was pure entertainment.

Lunch with Grandma

Kayli finishes school really early on Mondays...so we went to lunch with Grandma Barber. Grandma seemed delighted with the whole idea and we let her pick the place. Do you recognize the corn bread?
Yep...Marie Calendars...I didn't know MC still existed. We all enjoyed soup and salad. The servings were huge. After lunch we went back, sat on her front porch swing and visited until we had to leave to get the little girls off to dance. Memorable times. We Love You Grandma!

notes about snow

We woke up this morning to three inches of snow and 31 degree weather. Ouch! So we went to church with jackets and sweaters on. During sacrament meeting Sara drew a picture of a snowman and wrote a note to Kayli:

SNOW MANS can MElt
Snow mans can Be Big So Big
SNOW mans can Be a Boy
SNOW mAns can Be a girl
SNOW!!!!!!

Kayli writes back:
I don't like snow.

The writing continues -
Sara: I like SNOW
Kayli: Why?
Sara: CAuse its Fun
Kayli: But it is Cold
Sara: No!!
K: Yes!
S: No its Not
Kayli: Are you going to make a snowman?
Sara: Maybe I will
K: The snow is going to melt
S: No itS Not
K: I want it to melt
Sara: I do Not Want it to MElt
Kayli: Do you want to make hot chocolate?
Sara: yes! I Do want hot chocolate
Kayli: OKay! Let's make it

Interesting how perspective changes from a 6 year old to a 17 year old. At least they both agree on hot chocolate. :):)

What I Like About Fall

leaves changing colors
crisp autumn air
fire roasted garlic tomato soup
football games
hot spiced cider
walking over leaves and hearing them crunch
homemade chili
scents by the river
vine ripe tomatos with salt
turning the fireplace on
anything made with pumpkin
thanksgiving
family together times

Family Pictures

Well the weather was chilly but, the sun was in the perfect spot. These pictures were taken at Centennial Park in American Fork. I thought they turned out great and the photographer Maggie made taking them stress free.
OH, I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!

Homecoming 2008

A couple of weeks ago Kayli went to Lone Peak's homecoming dance.
Excitement was an under- statement at our house. We went shopping for three afternoons to find the most perfect dress with matching shoes. Kayli tried on about 20+ dresses. I should have taken pictures of all of them and we could have made a movie like 27 dresses. She really loved the one she found and we all thought it looked beautiful on her.


A picture of their whole group. They all looked great and had a lot of fun!



Austin Smith invited her with this shirt that she was supposed to wash and find out whose name was left after all the others washed away. Cute idea.
Kayli answered him back with a homemade chocolate chip cookie pie. Yummy!!

A Rainy St George Marathon

Derek, Bryan and Dan. Bryan's wife took this picture coincidentally when Derek and Dan were passing by Bryan. She didn't even know they were all friends. Seconds before crossing the finish line.


Madi & Britney had a lot of fun cheering under the big umbrella.


They're all wet but they keep on running ... Snow Canyon - Mile 16!! Way to Go DB!


This is Derek's fifth St. George Marathon. AMAZING!! We had to celebrate by making a huge banner that covered the garage at my parents house.


At the finish line. Derek achieves his best time of 3:35. Notice the umbrella again...it rained the entire race. All of our efforts of hiking in the rain and cheering in the cold...pay off...the kids get Blue Bunny Ice Cream Sandwiches. Yippee!!


The runners start to spread out. There are 5,000 in all. It's a 2,600 ft drop in elevation from the start in Pine Valley to the finish line at Worthen Park in St. G. Beautiful scenery all along the route.