Halloween Festivities

 We went to a pumpkin patch and let everyone pick out a pumpkin. Covid style with masks. 

This is what happens when you fall asleep on a Sunday afternoon in our house. 

We did some pumpkin carving. Thank goodness for the pumpkin carving kits they sell with the fancy knives and the cut out designs that we can put on the pumpkin and easily trace/punch with holes. 

For our youth activity that week we made caramel apples. They were delicious. 

One of the perks of working at an elementary is you get to dress up for Halloween. And it's cool. 

A little grocery shopping with Wonder Woman on Halloween afternoon. 

We had Jack O Lantern pizza....which was a lot more expensive than regular pizza and no one in my house even noticed or cared, so we probably will just have regular pizza in the future. Or maybe mummy dogs. 

On Halloween evening, Scott and Charles were at a neighbors with the other young men and put on a haunted house in a garage. 

Jane, Nora and I, along with Penny and some of their friends went trick or treating. Annabelle went with Annika in her neighborhood and Elisabeth stayed home and handed out candy until we got home, and then we met up with friends. 

Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef 2020

 It's Fall Break!!! Which means we head to one of the national parks. Our favorites are Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef. We decided to hit them both this year, a night at each, and our good friends the Wilcox family came along! 

We stayed in Bryce Canyon the first night (even though the pictures are all turned around and it shows Capitol Reef first), at Rubys Inn, and then we stayed at an Airbnb in Lyman near Capitol Reef. We of course stopped at the Pines for dinner and pie in Bryce, and we stopped at the little shop near the Capitol Reef visitor center that sells homemade ice cream, salsa and pies. And we went on lots of hikes, all pretty short. The longest hike was 3 miles. This was right near the end of my hip pain, and I was so grateful I was able to do these short hikes with everyone and not experience pain. 

Brian, Maren, Me and Scott

I preffered staying at the house so that we could all stay together, cook together in the kitchen, have room to play games and the kids could watch shows or play video games etc. 

We were neighbors for years in our last home, so our kids all know each other and get along well. 

Girls Preference Disney Theme, Lauren Daigle Hurricane Relief Concert, Bathing Penny in Winter

Elisabeth and some friends are doing their school dances in small groups since the school isn't holding them with this pandemic. Last month was Girls Preference. They decided to do Disney Themed attire. Elisabeth asked Tanner and they went as Pooh and Tigger. We decided to save her money and make the costumes. We bought yellow, white and black felt, an orange shirt and a yellow tutu, and everything else we had. 

Scott, Elisabeth and I made lunch for them and then they went out to dinner with friends. We made stuffed Ravioli, salad and bought garlic bread knots. 

Lauren Daigle, my favorite singer, had a virtual charity concert. She gave 100% of what they made to the Red Cross and other charities to help with those who suffered from the big hurricanes in Louisianna this year. 

The weather has turned cold. We normally bathe Penny outside in the backyard with our hose and a kiddy pool, but it's too cold for that now. Annabelle and I took her to a dog wash and groom facility and we washed her and dried her there. It went fine, but we think we'll mostly do it at home in one of our baths, and just clean the tub well after since she sheds. 

We love these cookies! You can find the recipe HERE.  We make them often and freeze half the dough balls for another day.