OCTOBER FESTIVITIES

What Jackson was NOT for Halloween:

We found this awesome costume during our first trip to the LA DI. Yep, found a lot of things we didn't really need. 

We made a trip to Idaho for the ELK HUNT the last week of October. Here we are with Jackson's pumpkin. I wielded the knife but I drew little shapes for Jackson to choose from. I like his happy choices :).

Here's Katie's awesome Octopus costume. (Thank you Pintrest).

We had a family Halloween Party at Judy's house Sat night before we left town. Here is Jackson after rolling around on the floor trying to pick up Candy with duct tape.

Jackson and Katie in their costumes. Jackson wanted to be Batman, although I don't think he really knows who Batman is. Thanks for the motivation, Liz, to make the holidays more fuN :).

Steve got his elk on Day 1 of ELK CAMP. Good Job Husband! And good photography Jay, what pretty fall colors!

(Vegitarian=code for "lousy hunter".)

While we were in Idaho, we were able to go pick apples with the family, it was a perfect afternoon! The apples were DELICIOUS! (And we had lots of apples for apple sauce, juice, pie filling...etc).

Earlier in the MONTH:

I had the brilliant idea to take not One, not Two, but THREE little kiddos on a 5 mile hike... called Echo Mountain Trail. It ends at an old hotel on the top of a mountain. Really cool, but WAY TOO LONG. We had Brooklyn with us that day since her mom was in the hospital w preterm labor. Everyone we passed said, "Wow, you kids are so inspiring" or "You are the most athletic kids we've ever seen"... NO, we are the most stupid parents you have ever passed...!

But it is beautiful and really cool at the top. And everyone was in good spirits :) Here are the stairs going nowhere.

Here is Jackson riding around on his sweet new bike, and Katie riding around around on her sweet... thing.

Jackson started Preschool :) We do a preschool swap, each week focusing on a letter. Here they are telling you that A says "AH!"

I think I've already mentioned that Jackson is in a very awkward in between phase- he won't take naps (at home at a regular time anyway) so every so often he falls asleep at random times and in random places...

Happy Halloween and bring on the Holidays!

where did september go?

Well, I should start off by saying, thanks to everyone who participated in a special fast for our family, Steve and I were cleared for work today. Jackson contracted Ecoli on our trip to Idaho in August. THANKFULLY it never became serious, and he has been asymptomatic, but we have all been giving stool samples every week since then, and because we were all positive, I have been unable to work and Steve unable to see patients. But today we were cleared, yay! And hopefully we can get rid of the bug for good.  So since we have all this mandatory free time, what have we been up to?!

Well, Jackson has been practicing his "mad face". Lately he likes to give everyone his mad face especially strangers and the camera.

Unfortunately, we are also transitioning him out of nap time and he has major meltdowns almost every night at bedtime, during which he gives us a real mad face. We are just going to have to buckle down and put him to bed earlier... no more party life for Jackson!

Katie is cute and sweet as ever, she is starting to grab for things and play with toys.  Had to include the wipes here because I remember Jackson doing the same thing!

Jackson's horse is pretty cool too. Speaking of which, we lost Maximus!! Where are you Maximus?!

We also caught Katie sucking her thumb recently!

We did take a pretty little hike last week together. Here's Jackson with his little friend Brooklyn (her mom is on bed rest with twins!!).

Cousin Alex has been in town getting some dental work done to prepare for his mission. It's been fun to have him! The kids went with Steve to the school while Alex was getting his wisdom teeth out. 

( and here's Jackson giving the camera his mad face!)

Again, thanks to everyone who has been praying and fasting for us. We have felt strengthened and blessed. Here come the holidays!

Katie's First Campout

Friday night was the Daddy-Daughter Stake Campout. Steve wanted to take little Katie, so away she went. Steve won the award for youngest daughter. She was the littlest bug there.

And here are just a few cute ones:

She rolled over about a month ago several times, but hasn't rolled over again since. She is a happy little thing. We like her a lot.

Jackson turns 3!

Can you believe how time flies, little Jackson is three! This year he knew his birthday was September fifth. And his grandparents sent him some presents from Idaho and he knew that he had to wait until his birthday. So the morning of his birthday he came in to our room bright and early asking if he could open his presents. (NOTE: He refuses to wear pajamas. He wants to wear his "shorts". And this particular morning he has last night's dinner on his shirt...)

Thanks for the new socks and tie Nana and Papa!

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Boyle for the awesome Mitt and Tent!  And Jackson of course LOVES his farm gummies!

WE had a few friends down to swim in the pool with us.

I made some green cupcakes which Jackson got all over his face of course (not much has changed since he turned one I guess...)

Here is Jackson while everyone is singing Happy Birthday- I love the look on his face. It looks like he sees his whole life ahead of him and he's determined it's going to be great!

Here's Steven's Steaming Hot Throwback Swimmingsuit!

We love you Jackson! Happy Birthday! And thanks to everyone who helped make it special!

Here is a short trip down memory lane:

Jackson's first birthday- wearing UCLA colors at a Blazing HOT USC game.

Jackson's second birthday- friends over at our apt. It was a little crazy!

We love this little guy! Did I mention that already?