October

How to entertain your 2 year old during church.  He looks so big to me in this picture.  EZ took this other picture.  I love how they learn to pose for a picture.  

Big cheesy smiles!  Bruce has also started to love getting his back scratched.  He purposefully lays down on my lap, lifts his shirt, then directs me to scratch it.  

Meanwhile EZ found a stamp and covered himself in ink.. 

 

 
Did I ever mention we got a dog?  We adopted him from a local animal shelter.  He's about 3 years old and some type of Australian Cattle dog mix.  Also known as a red healer.  He had already been trained and named.  We don't know what his story is exactly but we think he was abandoned.  He's a sweet heart and such a good dog.  We couldn't have gotten better.  The boys love him and always ask to have their pictures taken with him.  Even if Max isn't always up for it, he's still a good sport! 

 Ninja gear at the dollar store.  They love ninjas!

 Stylin little dudes!  Just the cutest brothers.

Pumpkin patch time!  It was definitely a step down in this small town, but the kids still had fun and there was plenty to do.  

Bruce took a while to warm up to the activities..

 

 

 

Pumpkin painting time!  EZ really wanted a Kirby pumpkin so I "helped" him do it and he loved it!  Bruce did the purpley smeary one next to it, with Dad's help.  I was thinking about how much EZ also loves Mario so I decided to try and paint Mario.  He turned out well so I continued to fill up the pumpkin with other characters too.  It got Bruce excited and he asked me to do a Sonic pumpkin.  So, I did that too.  Then to fill that one up I added some more Nintendo characters, the Bubble Bobble dragons.  I think I did pretty good.  John says I have a special talent for painting pumpkins.  I enjoy drawing but just don't do it often.  So, when I get the urge and there is opportunity, I run with it! 

 

 

My parents got us all these tie-dye shirts and EZ is probably the only one who will wear his!  This other pic was at EZ's last soccer game.  He was a bit sick and didn't feel like playing but we still wanted to go and support the team.  Bruce was just adorable and put his arm around his brother. 

 So yeah, I couldn't resist and I got Bruce a Bumblebee costume.  It is stinkin' cute on him!  It's also too big so we might have these two sport these costumes next year too. 

  As we were pulling out other costumes to look at and decide on, the boys found Bruce's costume from 2 years ago and they put it on him to surprise me.  He still looked cute in it and had us all laughing.  He was running around slapping the padding in the belly area over and over. (Pic on the right is from 2 years ago)

EZ wanted two costumes this year so why not right?  We used the ninja stuff we got at the dollar store and this turtle shirt he already had to become a ninja turtle.  I found some fabric to tie around his head, elbows, and knees but by the time he got home they were to his wrists and ankles.  It was a little ghetto but he didn't care.  The school also had a "parade" where they walked all the kids down a street so parents could come look at them and all the costumes.  Made them feel special, probably!  

They don't do much trick-or-treating here so we went to the ward Trunk-or-Treat.  They had a chili cook off as well so it was fun and yummy!  I contributed for the first time too!  It was the first real cold night of the year but that didn't stop us.  We are not too excited for winter and hoping it is more mild here than in Utah.  We had one morning of snow, more just frost, on the ground and on our cars.  I couldn't believe it was so early!  But it must have been a fluke because every other day has been just perfect and beautiful.  With Halloween over, we're getting excited for the other upcoming holidays!  How early is too early to decorate for Christmas?    

September

These two are already getting excited for Halloween!  EZ fits better in his Optimus Prime costume this year and Bruce fits perfectly in the Superman costume that we have.  I think it would be cute to get Bruce a Bumblebee costume to match EZ.  We'll see.

Our best friends from Utah planned a trip to see the Grand Canyon and also visit us.  We're about 3 hours away still but close enough right?  We decided to take the day and see it with them.  What a site to behold.  It was quite remarkable and pictures just don't do it justice.  Here are some anyhow. 

 

Daredevil John... doesn't it make you so nervous?

 

 

On our way home we stopped at a gas station and saw these amazing geodes.  Again, pictures don't do them justice.  They were so sparkly!

 
The next day we went to Holbrook to check out the petrified wood shop.  It's pretty amazing what earth can shape into.  The kids mostly liked the dinosaurs out front.  I'm not sure why they are there, but still fun to look at.

 

 
So sad to say goodbye. 

 
EZ came in one day with a suspicious look on his face and he kept saying "Hi" to me and waiting for me to notice something.  When I asked him what was up, he said he'd found some scissors and gave himself a haircut.  Now, I'm a hairdresser and do not leave scissors out!  I've seen the damage that can do over and over again.  EZ went into my bathroom and opened a drawer that did have some scissors in it and he snipped the front of his hair.  It wasn't really that bad but I had to document! 

 
Snuggle time!

Our apple tree produced SO many apples this year.  My parents claim it has never grown so many before.  It was a rainy summer though so we attribute that to it.  We had to give many away and there were lots that fell off because we couldn't get to them enough.  Bruce would chow them down too, usually more than one at a time.  They were smallish after all.  We also planted some squash in the back yard and it was impressive how big those things can grow.  We couldn't eat it enough to keep up.  It was really nice not having to buy them though so I think we'll try again next season.  We just need to learn how to garden!  It's a project I should do but also want to be lazy and not do!

Trying to finish up the year and get back on track.. more to come!