October in Review...backwards

We had our 3rd annual neighborhood pumpkin painting party! (This year it was actually more than just as and the Haderlies!) We had already decorated pumpkins with Nana and carved this big pumpkin because it was left over from preschool, but that didn't stop the kids! Taft spruced up our jack-o-latern and Alyssa added red hair to her pumpkin.

Diaper shipment came. Taft decided to take a nap in the box. 

Erik and Alyssa went on a bike ride (Alyssa)/run (Erik). They went about 8 miles. 

Joel takes interest in various things for an extended period of time. October's interests include the animal bingo game seen below and the Magnadoodle. We play pictionary with him. He also often requests that we draw dogs and cats. I have been encouraging him to draw and he is starting to create some interesting drawings.

Kent and Joel were particularly handsome one Sunday. I think it is interesting how different Joel and Kent's eyes are. I love both of them so much, though!

Pumpkin has been the theme for baked goods this month. Pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin spaghetti sauce, pumpkin oatmeal cookies, pumpkin donuts, pumpkin pull apart bread. We finally finished the last can of pumpkin I bought at Kroger...over 2 years ago.

Grandma, Grandpa and Porter came to visit. Here we are pictured at Mt. Bonnell. We also tried Rudy's BBQ and ate at Torchy's. Sandy's Custard will not be repeated...I don't think it was custard. We squoze in a trip to Sam's Club, went to the Texas Memorial Museum, and played 5 Crowns. It was a fast and furious 2.5 days!

Kent...and those eyes...and that smile. I am a mother in love!

And Joel. I love him too! While at the playground Kent was sleeping in the stroller. Joel really wanted to look at him, but I told him no and took him away several times. Shortly after another little by started walking towards Kent. Joel became very attentive and said, "No! Dent, no!" He may not want to comply to me, but he sure will enforce the rules if need be.

On this particular morning we brought balls to the playground and rolled them back and forth and up and down slides. Joel and Taft took great joy in the game of it!

The kids got their spoils for the HEB Summer Reading Program 2019. I love when they gather together and do little projects. Sometimes it is drawing, other times it is building with Legos. They all participate at their own level, and they have a wonderful time!

Kent likes blueberries.

Joel likes to steal Kent's blueberries when his blueberries are gone.

At the beginning of October, over conference weekend, we participated in the First Archibald Revo(e)lu(a)tions Bike Ride. Our family rode 8.5 miles from Highland Village to Denton, Texas, and then took a commuter train back to Highland Village. At one point Erik was pulling Taft on an assisted bike and Taft had a trailer attached to him with Joel in it. Kent rode in a carseat in a trailer I was pulling. Alyssa and Taft stayed mounted on a bike seat for the full 8.5 miles! It was fun and memorable! We even got treats delivered by a drone!

We also saw cousins. Good news! Kent has caught up to Clara!

I thought Taft was particularly cute because he spread his blankets over himself so neatly. He also lined up his Duplo creations next to his bed! He is a man of order and it shows in the details. 

Also, Joel got Lasik.

That wraps up our October, except for the culminating events of Halloween and the Daddy Daughter Camp Out. Maybe those will be featured another day!

Cheerio!

General Conference Donuts Live On!

We succeeded in making donuts again for General Conference again this year! We went the simple way - canned biscuits fried in oil. Alyssa and Erik were the chief chefs and I ate happily!

The week prior to conference I taught the nursery kids "Follow the Prophet" during singing time. During general conference Alyssa started singing "follow da prophet, follow da prophet, follow da prophet..." I was impressed that she remembered the song we had only sung once before and that she was able to connect it to listening to the prophet's voice!

I have been listening to conference since the beginning of October and Alyssa recognizes that I am listening to it! Yesterday she asked me, "You listening to the prophet, mom?" Yes, indeed I was! I have felt so keenly our need for a living prophet today. He helps us know the will of the Lord! There are many ideas of how we should live. Often times the minority voices are heard the most and they beckon us to live according to the world. Thus, Hallelujah! we have a prophet today! I will hearken to his words! By following the prophet we truly won't go astray.

Easter and General Conference

Easter was a nice, relaxing day. I finished a dress for Alyssa and a skirt for meself in the nick of time. I kept thinking of that talk that President Uchtdorf gave and he talks about the best uses of our time and admonished against staying up late to make the perfect hair accessory for our child for Sunday...in my case it was my skirt...but it all turned out very well.

We are grateful for the Savior's resurrection and that He still lives today! We love watching the Bible videos ("Jesus Moomies"). My particular favorite is the story of Jesus appearing to Mary. She does not know right away that it is Him, but as soon as He says her name she knows! It reminds me that the Savior knows our names and He loves us very much. He is calling to us and we just have to choose to recognize Him and rely on Him.

The following weekend was General Conference. It is amounting some grand traditions! We always want donuts on Saturday morning so we always try to make them 30 minutes before it starts. Maybe next year we will start in advance...hint...hint. But all in all they were still delicious fried bread!

We set up our full size tent in our office room. We wanted to be like King Benjamin's people from the Book of Mormon who pitch their tents towards him when he gives his GC address. Alyssa thought it was pretty much the best thing in the world and sat through pretty much the whole first session. 

For the second session Erik developed a movie projector using an old LCD computer screen and an overhead projector. It was like watching conference in a movie theater. (Don't be too jealous because now there is a overhead projector permanently set up on Erik's side of the bed and it makes it very difficult for me to make the bed...) Alyssa drew some pictures on Elder Nelson's face. No disrespect intended.

We are grateful for General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! It is such an inspiration to hear the prophet and apostles and other general authorities of the church speak. I was definitely inspired and have been enjoying the sweet tones of their voices everyday since. We have a great work to do in building the kingdom of God upon the earth. The work is in our homes, it is through our callings, it is amongst our friends and peers! We must be anxiously engaged and the time is now! Yipppeeee!