Halloween

The cutest little witch - Bella 6 months

I swear all of our Halloween pictures look the same every year.  I guess at heart we are traditionalists.  This year we had Cierra as a pirate, Bella as a butterfly, Rylee as a Dalmation and Elizabeth as a good witch.  From carving pumpkins to trick or treating to the church's trunk or treat it is always good family time.  

Rylee is an .... egg?

Rylee got a kick out of using my vest to pretend she was being an egg that hatched.  Today we had a chicken,   a dinosaur, a snake, and some unknown bird that could fly and peck the second they hatched.  Sometimes I wish I had one ounce of the imagination and free spirit that my children exhibit.  

Never know what is on the camera!

So frequently as of late whenever my Mom comes she forgets her camera.  With the digital age it is not that big of a deal as she uses my camera and I get her the photos.  Well the girls often use "Grandma's" camera to take the pics they want as well.  I really never know what I am going to find.  Usually pics of their beds or a toy.  When I looked at these pics I wondered how I could be in the same house and be completely shocked as to what they were doing with Grandma.  

Elizabeth turns 8

A special birthday for Elizabeth.  Turned eight on Tuesday during the week and was baptized on Saturday.  Andi & Jimmy, Brooke and Kaydence, Grandma Gretchen, Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Judd and Nanny Jen were all able to make it.  Andi did a fabulous talk on the Holy Ghost and gave Elizabeth many things to display in her room or to use to help her remember this wonderful gift.  Nick wrote a talk about baptism specifically for Elizabeth and Mom read it (almost without tears).  We had a slide show of Elizabeth of pictures since she was a baby and a nice luncheon afterward.  It was difficult for Elizabeth as she had always planned to have Nick baptize her.  She had a wonderful experience during general conference that confirmed to her that her Dad should baptize her.  It was a spirit rich day and one we are so grateful for

Pumpkin Picking on a GRAND scale

Bryan & Diana Birkrem sharing their pumpkins

So every year the Birkrems plant pumpkins for two reasons, 1) it is an easy low maintenance crop that comes up instead of weeds 2) to share with others (this is probably actually the #1 reason as they are very giving people).  Well this year we decided to go help them pick pumpkins.  628 pumpkins later we shared some yummy watermelon and brownies.  Each girl had the chance to have their pick at the pumpkins they wanted and Momma got some for pies and baking as well.  Afterward we went to the mall as Matt needed a new suit and Nick some new pants.  We were hot, sweaty, and quite frankly looked like the dirty, unwanted step children but at the end of the long day it was a good tired for it had been a wonderful day.