Kevin and Coral bought BYU 'All Sports' passes together before school started and have been enjoying attending all the BYU home football games. Kevin has taken each of the other kids in turn, but only got pictures at the game India attended.

India, Marissa, and Coral posing with 'Cosmo' the Cougar mascot. They even saw themselves on the big screen.

Yesterday, my turn came up. It was cold, windy and rainy, BYU got their *bottoms* handed to them by TCU, Coral and her friends showed up late, leaving us to watch the first half alone, and I don't really like football anyway- other than that it was a good time.

Leith wrapped up his Fall soccer season Sat. I am sad for it to be over. He and the other boys are so cute out there and have really developed their skills. Coach Quinton is the funniest and coolest coach we have ever had. He is basically a stand up comic pretending to be a kids soccer coach. In the last game, one boy was sad to be rotated out of play. The coach told him he had to sit down because he had kicked the ball so hard that he was afraid the other team would be scared of him. His coaching style is so positive and so funny that we have gone home on an endorphin high after every game.

Fall Fun

I love sunflowers...

Uhh, Coral, who is the cute Scotsman?
Oh, that's right, it is Jack's piping buddy, James, in town with his very nice friend Rita(not pictured) for Labor Day. India had a great time with them all in Park City and we always love their company and piping!

Katherine's Lake on Labor Day. It was crowded, but beautiful. Diana hung out with us Sunday night for the piping and dessert and then hiked with us Monday morning.
Then, we grilled with the DeLanges in the afternoon- I guess I was too busy cooking and chatting to take pictures!

My parents came from Texas in September to visit and to go to Idaho to see my Grandfather and Aunts and Uncles. I am always happy to have them here to spend time with my kids-even when I am sick and can't enjoy it properly. We went to see the Victorian art exhibit at the BYU museum and the Church Art Competition entries in the Conference center-really amazing artworks that can be seen online if you aren't here to go see them in person. We attended a September 11 Memorial Concert at the Draper Historical Park featuring Peter Breinholt and David Tolk. It was a lovely evening with great music.

I love going to Idaho. It is one of the few places from which I have childhood memories that is still accessible to me. When we drove through on the way to Yellowstone in August, the fields were all green and gold. This time the harvest was underway- so interesting to see it all. I loved seeing the 'Aunts', too. Thanks, Karen, for hanging out with us and many thanks, Nyla, for letting us invade your house!

I tried to grow this 'Vining Purple Hyacinth' from seeds I got from my mother in Texas. I don't think the growing season is long enough here. I started to get blossoms and a few tiny bean pods before it started to freeze here at night. I will try to start them earlier next year.

Kevin ran with Leith in the 'Fun Run' fund raiser at school.

During the Fall break from school, I took the kids to the work out station at Draper Park. Niall and Leith are fascinated by the exercise equipment-India not as much, but she participated anyway.

The same day, we drove down to Santaquin to a fruit orchard where we have bought really great pumpkins before- all colors and varieties. Unfortunately, they had none this year. We were bitterly disappointed. They make cider donuts there, but only sell apple cider in a 'slushy' form. It was cold enough outside that warm cider would have made more sense. I guess we are still pining for cider mills like we enjoyed in Michigan. Apple Hill in CA was better than nothing, but the weather was too hot. Here, we are just plain out of luck on that Fall tradition.

We picked up Coral in Provo for lunch and shopping.

She and India had to sing with a favorite childhood album they found in the car.

Fall porch decor...

I joined Leith on his Kindergarten class field trip to the Fire Station.

Coral was a bridesmaid in her friend Maren's wedding. They seem a little young for this sort of thing- actually, they ARE too young!!

Halloween-a bit early....

Our church Halloween activity and 'Trunk-or-Treat' was held on Oct 20th-a little early, in my opinion, for having costumes ready and getting into a Halloween mood. However, the costumes all came out pretty fabulous, if I do say so myself!
India as pretty fancy witch...
Niall as the Hugh Jackman version of 'Wolverine'-complete with spiffy side burns.

Leith as 'Ron Weasley'-his own idea, featuring red hair and 'Scabbers' the rat. I am congratulating myself heartily on the amazing hair and eyebrow transformation.

More witchy-ness!

Wolverine and our very cool pumpkins. We grew all but the two big ones in our garden. Thankfully, none have been stolen this year, but the season is not over yet.

The cutest 'Ron Weasley'ever!!! Leith won a prize for his costume at the party.

I actually don't see the need for a 'Trunk-or-Treat'(an activity where families gather in a parking lot and trick-or-treat from car to car) in this area. It was great in Michigan where the weather was uncomfortably cold for small children and where not everyone at church lived in a neighborhood that would be good for trick-or-treating. My favorite memory of this activity was when Coral invited her best friend from school, Natalie Johnson, and her family to join us. Several generations of their family live in the Detroit area and are active members of the Church of Christ-great singers and Bible literate. When we arrived at the church for the Halloween party and 'Trunk-or-Treat', our own, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Missionaries came to introduce themselves to our friends. One of the Missionaries had taken the sheets off his bed and made himself a Moses costume. While 'Moses' and his Missionary companion chatted with the Johnsons, a group of adults dressed as Egyptians entered the room. The Missionary/Moses excused himself briefly to greet the Egyptians by raising his hands in the air and shouting, "Let my people go!" I will never forget the look of shock on the face of Natalie's mother, Marsha. It was quite a 'Missionary' moment.