It really feels like the month of October was 3 months long! We have had so many things take place--it's almost silly.
So rather than write a long post with all of the specifics, I thought I'd go with the "a picture paints a thousands words" approach and post our October photos with captions.
Blogging/journaling really is something I miss doing, so I am hoping I make more time to write in November.
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| The kids made caramel apples one Sunday--the easy way (with sheets of caramel). |
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Dave and I took the kids to hike Donut Falls for the first time ever.
(The kids went higher than we did--and said it was amazing.) |
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| Part of the "Falls." |
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| The kids on their way up to the reservoir at the top of the hike. |
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| The fam. (Minus Jay, who was at work.) |
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| The climb. |
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| Before we hiked Donut Falls, the kids and I hiked in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It was gorgeous. |
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| The gang. |
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| Zu took all of the photos. |
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| Big Cottonwood Canyon. |
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| Lu, Jr., and Papaya. |
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Zu and Lu had a lot of volleyball games in October.
They did great and learned that they love volleyball. (Dave was one of their coaches, so that was way cool.) |
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| Bam as "Wednesday Adams." |
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| Lu's cat, Obi Wan. |
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| Tending our favorite little person, McK. |
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| It's kind of amazing how much happiness/joy she brings into our family. |
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| Papaya and McK. |
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Fall is my favorite time to recipe-find.
This Sprite Apple Dumpling recipe (Pinterest) was actually great. |
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| More volleyball. |
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| Volleyball. |
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New Halloween decoration made by me:
kinda gross--okay, a lot gross--plastic magnetic cockroaches on a metal door. |
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Jr. is taking a Foods class this year and has learned a lot of great skills.
He made us shrimp scampi one night and it was awesome. |
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| Bam's cat, CityKitty. |
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| Zu, practicing a new song to play at church on Sunday. |
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| Jr and his friends before the Homecoming Dance. |
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| Papaya took the kids (and Harriet) on a Sunday drive to the Draper Temple. |
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| Obi Wan is still a kitten ... and still very much interested in the guinea pig (Amelia Pond). |
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I had back surgery to repair a ruptured disk in my back (a result of an old Survivor injury), and our church/ward family made us the most amazing meals during this time. We were so
so so grateful. It's kind of humbling to see just how much that support helps. Wow. |
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| The same friend who made the tomato soup also brought home-canned peaches, homemade bread (for grilled cheese sandwiches), and yummy peanut butter/chocolate bars. |

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| Pumpkin carving (this is the first year I can remember when everyone was able to carve solo). |

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Home for Halloween this year: Jay. (Back from mission this past June.)
PS: We learned he's allergic to pumpkin. Hello hives/rash. |
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| Jay and Laur. |
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| Our neighbor taught us to make this great taco dish (after she made it for us one night). |
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| Turns out the phone entertains the cat. |
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| Papaya and Bam taking McK to the aquarium. |
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| Papaya and Bam--with McK, who was really REALLY afraid of the fish. |
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| Our neighbor's tree is sporting the ombre look this year. |
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| Papaya and Jay, on a drive to Brighton. |
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| Turns out snow IS coming our way this year. |
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| Drive to Brighton (no snow at the lower elevation). |
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| Jr. as Spiderman. |
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| Harriet as Cheerleader. |
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| Zu as Liv Moore from iZombie. |
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| Lu as an old-school bank robber. |
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| Bam as a zombie. |
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| Papaya as a vampire. |
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Which brings us to NOVEMBER!
Ah . . . a new month.
(PS: Dave set up the chalkboard for me this month since I am not super agile after back surgery.) |
