Pie Nights.

 We decided to start a new tradition now we are in UT. It is not my original idea (because it never is), so a big thank you to the DeDens who hosted for many years in CO.

Hello, Pie Night.

We held TWO.

One for the Goldsberrys (on Nov 15), one for the Syddalls (on Nov 22).

The whole idea is to enjoy Thanksgiving pies before Thanksgiving. That way you can eat lots of pie (until your belly is so full) instead of trying to cram it into an already full belly.

Goldsberry Pie Night:

Syddall Pie Night:

They were both so fun. I think this tradition is a keeper ♥

Celebrating mi padre.

One of the reasons Bill and I wanted to move back to UT was to be closer to our own family and our extended family, especially our "aging parents." (I consider myself an "aging parent," so do not want that phrase to imply I think my parents are really old haha.)

Well, my dad went and aged some more, and we were so glad to be able to celebrate with him.

Taylor and Lynnea came into town that day (they drove straight to Bountiful), and we were so happy that they could join us. Grandma and Grandpa G hadn't been able to see them the last time they had come to town, so it worked out perfectly.

Mi mamita made a yummy dinner, then mi padre blew out candles on his cake.

We thought it was hilarious when Grandma pulled out some matches to light the candles... it was a match box from Austin and Britt's wedding. 

That was nearly 10 years ago.

(could not get mi padre to crack a smile, though)

(For whatever reason, when I put my iphone camera on a timer, it takes a burst shot, which gives me a boatload of pics... all of which are a bit blurry. Boo. Gotta figure that out.)

Mar's friend Jonah stopped by to meet Grandma and Grandpa, and he and Mar sang for us.

V took 500 pictures on my phone ;-)

Tay and Evie shared their musical talents with us, too.

These pics of NJ are so funny. I don't know why she was so unhappy...

(could it be that she had had a very long day of travel followed by lots of over-stimulating togetherness with somewhat unfamiliar people? possibly)

but her momma got a smile out of her.

It was so amazing to be able to spend time with family as we celebrated... aging.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

 

Just a little parting shot before hitting the hay... 

we were so excited to have Tay, Nae, V, and NJ staying with us for a while.

A walk around my favorite block.

 Wednesday, Nov 3

When we decided to build a home close to the Saratoga Springs Temple, I wanted to walk around the temple every day. Have I been as consistent as I had imagined? Nope. I need to do better. However, I feel so blessed to even occasionally take a walk around this beautiful block. This particular day I walked around the block 3 times.

It is a blessing and a privilege to have this be my block. I am so excited for this temple to be finished and look forward to regularly walking here to attend.

A week later I snapped this pic of our house. I was trying to throw a Christmas card together and wanted to put a pic of our house on the back... and hadn't taken one since we moved in. So I headed outside to get one.

A few days later (Nov 11) we were happy to see a flag on our lawn in commemoration of Veteran's Day. Thank you to whoever put it out for us! ♥

So far I have loved the wonderful neighbors we have met, and I am excited to have the street built out and finished. I'm hoping the temple will be done this summer. I can't wait!

Mar moves out.

 At the beginning of November, Mar made the big move out of our house to her college apartment. She had been worried about finding an available contract before she started school in January, so my girl hunted one down at the Old Mill. Our good friend Rebecca told us that those apartments were where Steve Young lived back in his BYU days and were the highly desired place to live back then. I don't think they've been updated since then (the early 80's, right?), but Mar has a private room, private half bath, shared shower, and an atrium and pool out her glass slider. Who could ask for anything more? The few occasions I have been there it has felt like an old college apartment with the smell of old fruit and dirty dishes wafting through the air (which, I might add, is better than the smell of rotting broccoli - the lingering memory of my brief college apartment experience).

Mar was glad to get in a couple months before starting the semester so she could acclimate.

I had gone with her to pick up her key and drop a load of her things off on Monday morning (Nov 1). We got her bed put together, hung up some clothes, then she had to head to work.

The next day Shi met Bill and me there and we helped Mar finish situating her room before she had to, again, head to work. We made a list of additional needed items and I ran around that day gathering them.

Later that evening after Mar was off work, Bill and I headed back to drop off a few more things.

 It's such a crazy, bittersweet time when a child moves out, however THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT because I don't live 8 to 12 hours away from my college student... I only live 30 minutes away. 

I love that.

I'm excited for Mar's adventures ahead, and know she is going to rock this college gig.

Halloween festivities.

 Saturday, October 30

Halloween on a Sunday in UT is different than in CO. There would not be a question of when to trick-or-treat outside of UT - it would be on the 31st. I had read somewhere that the general consensus in UT was to trick-or-treat on Saturday. I honestly think it's awesome that so many people have a desire to keep the Sabbath Day holy. I personally think Halloween should be celebrated on the last Saturday of October rather than the 31st ANYWAY.

Britt had invited everyone over to her house for trick-or-treating on Saturday. Lex and Jason had literally just moved into their Saratoga Springs home the day before. Bill and I didn't think we would get many trick-or-treaters because the finished homes are few and far between, but we left out a bucket with 27 full-size candy bars since we would not be home to hand them out.

Mar and her friend Jonah were getting ready for a party when we left.

I nabbed this pic off of Jonah's mom's FB page... a little blurry, but you can see that Mar is black Spiderman, Jonah is Jack Frost. No connection there haha. Mar said they won the best couple costume at the party because everyone thought it was funny.

Britt had made a yummy dinner for everyone; Shi was early enough to help put the snack tray together. I had hoped to get there early to help, but ended up being a wee bit late because I forgot I needed to put out my candy and that took a few minutes I hadn't planned for.

This was the best chicken chili ever.

After we ate, the kids got ready to go.

M didn't love wearing the mask and gloves for his costume, so this was probably the only time he had it one all night.

B was Supergirl

Scarlett was Spider Gwen

Cal B was a reluctant ChickFilA cow - Shi and Kody were ChickFilA workers.

L was a Power Ranger.

The pics are a bit of a mish-mash. That's what you get when you hold the baby and send the hubs out to snap pics haha.

I got to hang out with this precious babe for about an hour. Bill came in after snapping pics and handed out candy. It's a team effort.

When the festivities were over, we headed home. I had to snap a quick pic of Britt and Austin's house - so festive and fun!

Sunday, October 31

We had a family dinner after church.

Shi, again, put together the snack tray.

Lex and Jason couldn't make it because they had to finish cleaning their townhome, and Jason's sister and her family were visiting. We missed them, but I know there will be lots of dinners to come. I love that we live close enough to see these people more often.