The most WoNdErFuL time of the year!! (Yes, I do mean Halloween!!)

As many of you know Halloween is my very favorite day of the year. I love everything about it!! The sights, the smells, the pumpkins, the costumes, the family, the food, the friends, the movies/tv shows, the eerie feeling in the air, the way the leaves crunch in the dark... I could go on and on... I've often thought that I should have been born into Haloweentown and had Jack Skelington as a best friend. Luckily my husband and daughter love it as well and the rest of my family and friends put up with my lunacy. Brian and I often leave about half our decorations up year round (the stuff that doesn't actually say "Happy Haloween" of course). This halloween we did the usual, carved pumpkins at home and at Michelle & Eric's house, had a ward Halloween party that Bri and I were in charge of planning with our fabulous activities committee, picked out Jordyn's costumes (yes that was costume with an "s" at the end, one for trick-or-treating and one for preschool and anything else that her giraffe costume was to warm for), went trick or treating with a group of friends (Rachel, Kevin & Zack, Brad, Laura & Carter, Dave & Ryan). We had a blast!! It was Jordyn's first year going with friends and we all had a marvelous night, then we came home to chili and bone breadsticks, handing out candy and watched the Garfield halloween special and "the Nightmare Before Christmas". Life is good!!

My little pirate princess =)

Jordy at her preschool party!!

Jordyn and her cute friends Tylee & Jennie

Carving pumpkins with Bri's family

Jordy & her D



Bri and his Mario pumpkin!!

The mini crew

Carving pumpkins at home (scary right??)


"PLEASE can we just go mom...?!"

The darling wild animals we went trick-or-treating with (getting a picture of the 4 of them was next to impossible!!)


My pumpkin, I thought it was rad. I like to pretend he lost the eye in a bar fight... hee hee

My pumpkin carving master husbands Harlequin Monster. SO AWESOME!!

Gardner Village Halloween Photo Shoot!!

Every year we take Jordyn to Gardner Village around Halloween time in her costume to take lots of cute pictures. These are from Halloween 2010. (Sorry I'm behind still!)

"Powell Lake" 2010 aka Lake Powell

We went to Lake Powell (or Powell Lake as Jordyn calls it) this last September with Brian's parents and his sister and her family. We stayed on a houseboat and spent a lot of time out cruising around on their smaller boat. It was a blast!! We all had a wonderful time and can't wait for the next trip!!


On an adventure!!

My little monster!

Jordyn and her batman pole on the top of the houseboat getting ready for some serious fishing!

2 cute bums!

Doing a little fishing from the tube

The real Jordyn...

The Jordyn mom makes happen...

Bri and his super awesome catfish...

Allen and his 1st striper!

Allen, Eric, Easton, Conner and Bri cliff jumping!!

Run for your lives!! Oh wait it's just Brian fileting fish.

Jordyn had a fabulous time playing with the stripers, poking their eyes, putting sticks in their mouths and putting mud on them... She is definitely her momma's girl!

What a cutie!!

The fam minus the picture takers aka Paula & Eric oh and there is a sleeping baby somewhere too...

Jordyn's 1st Day of Dance

In September Jordyn started dance for the 1st time. I was having a hard time finding a dance class that I felt was a good fit, they were either on Monday night (which I didn't want to do due to it being family night), to expensive, to far away or way to competitive for a 3 year old in my view. I mentioned this to Donna (Jordyn's preschool teacher and my president in primary) and she suggested a place called Dance by Dee that she knew to be really good and almost right around the conner from us. So I called and spoke with Dee and asked all my crazy first time mom questions and she was great and told me exactly what I wanted to hear so I made plans to go to her open house in a few weeks. Well it turns out that Brian had to work that night and I was a little leery about finding it alone so my dad agreed to take me. He took one look at the address and asked if her name was Diane, I said I had no idea but she'd answered the phone as "Dee". My dad said wouldn't it be funny if it's Diane Roburg, who does the Dazzle Dogs and had shared a booth with him at an expo. It turns out it is the very same Diane and she was thrilled to see my dad and to meet Jordyn. Needless to say I felt a ton better leaving my little girl with someone not only recommended by a woman I trust but who is also a friend of my dads. So now Jordyn goes once a week and learns lots of dances and gets to do a lot of really fun things with her cute little friends. It's just the right fit!! Some of the pictures aren't the greatest but they are too cute not to share!




Name shape!!

Heritage Park Outing

Early in September we had the opportunity to go to Heritage Park with Brian's parents thanks to a very kind neighbor of theirs who works there. He gave them 10 VIP type wrist bands and the invited us, my parents and Michelle & Eric's kids. We had a blast!! I hadn't been there for years, probably over 15, and a lot has been added. There are so many fun things to see and do and the kids had the time of their lives trying all the fun pioneer things. It's fun to do wash on a wash board now but probably not so much fun back in the old days =) Thanks again to Allen & Paula for a great day!!


Learning how to milk a cow

The big "kids" trying out the stilts (no they didn't break them... :)

Jordyn and Ella doing a little laundry

Our crew minus my dad and Paula, can you spot Allen?

Where one little girl goes they both must go =)

Ridin' the train!

Panning for gold

Found some!!

Me and the kiddos on the top of the big ship

Jordyn with her GIANT brisket sandwich

Is this trouble or what?

The kids with the school teacher (Easton was really enjoying the "dunce" role if you can't tell)

Jordy on the pony ride

"It's so fluffy I'm gonna die!!"

Jordyn & Easton

Jordyn's 1st Day of Preschool!!

My little Jordyn Bear started preschool this past August at Donna Gregory Preschool. Donna is a neighbor and long time friend of ours who has taught preschool for over 20 years and is WONDERFUL! She also happens to be our ward primary president which was nice because Jordyn already knew her so she was ok being at school with no mom or dad. She LOVES her school!! She is always bummed when it's not a school day, the 2 week Christmas break was terrible. She has done lots of fun things and learned about all sorts of interesting stuff. I'm so grateful that she loves school and is so smart!