November 2018

Tyler and Darren tried to get a good hike in before it started snowing.  They made it up to the top of Mnt Olympus just as it started coming down.  So then they had to run down the whole thing to avoid the storm.  

Darren and I are trying to get out on a few more dates.  A Jazz game in a suite was sure nice.  Also I listened to the new book "The Saints".  It was free on the LDS app and great to learn some new things.  I bottled pumpkin one night and made some pumpkin seeds.

Ella is getting more comfortable with new friends.  She got to spray paint and tear down some walls at a friends house who was demolishing the house the next day.  Also, she is finding a few more friends at school.  Tyler and Ellas school had a nice Veteran's Day program.  It was nice to have Pat and Seth come down to celebrate the day.  It made all the difference to have a Veteran with us.

I got to go on the first ride of the season ... in November ... with friends.  I sprained my ankle in May and re-sprained it August.  So there was no riding for me this year.

I hosted but didn't plan, a FRIENDSGIVING feast.  I didn't even decorate!  Everyone brought something and we enjoyed each others company.  Abby made an iPad at school one day.  Tyler practices all the time.  He plays organ occasionally in church.  Grandma took Tyler to the symphony.  He came home excited and eager to tell me about the new instruments he saw.  Tyler also took a class to get his art merit badge for scouts.  He had to take a bunch of pictures for it.  I loved the one of the piano.

Ellas choir also sang at the Draper Tree Lighting Ceremony.  She was cold but they made it.  Ella graduated from the DARE program also.  

Thanksgiving 2018

We had such a nice long weekend.  I love it all.  Its not often we just get to hang out with Darren for more than a little bit.  So it was rather hard to have him head back to work on Monday after 4 and a
half days of fun.

The Sunday before we had family dinner at the Allens.  Darren cooked an amazing turkey.

The day after Thanksgiving Darren and I hiked/ran up Draper Ridge.  It was a beautiful day.  Darren came home and took the kids out biking.  The girls are always asking him to go so it was a perfect opportunity.

On Saturday we drove up to Sundance to get our season passes.  We got to walk around in the cold.  Then we took our neighbors, the Dowlands, climbing.  Great family.  

Abby got invited to a birthday party that they made gingerbread houses.  Fun girls that live around us.  

One day we climbed with our cousins the Allens.  Abby and Asher got really popular as soon as the phone came out with a movie on it.

We went to Logan for Thanksgiving Eve and Day.  Grandpa took us on a really pretty hike that was at the base of First Dam.  Ella taught us about using different filters for pictures.  There was a small cave the girls and I hiked up to.  We had a wonderful feast Seth prepared.  I made rolls that turned out to be rancid, so I quickly made a fresh batch with good flour!  And Darren loves to get out a lot, so while Abby and I took a nap he took the kids out on another walk.  

The kids wanted to help Grandma and Grandpa set up their Christmas tree in Logan.  Then we came home and set ours up.  So glad for their enthusiasm.  I dont do too much with decorating but kids just jump in and make it all work.