Overton Carnival

I love the Overton Carnival.  It's normally a week before Halloween and the games are easy for kids and most importantly they have popcorn, for ME!  I remember something like this when I was little, maybe at the fairgrounds though, the nostalgia level is high.  However, no one wanted to dress up in my awesome blue bunny costume constructed out of footsie jammies and a rolled up sock pinned to my bootie.  I don't remember all of my costumes but probably won't ever forget that one.  Surprisingly no one else was a blue bunny that year.  And no one was Davy Crockett the next year.  Anyway, Jack was a little scared of the spook alley and of course Jara thought it was "laaaaame."  Elise was really old enough to get it and can throw pennies like a professional gambler.  (The dangers of growing up in close proximity to the world's gambling destination.)  Jack was able to pop two balloons with darts which is quite an accomplishment for a kindergartner.  Jara was old enough to play and scamper with friends.

Collecting her loot.

Red Riding Hood's basket was very convenient.

The super hero, RRH and a real ninja.

Fall Family Fun

Sundance Canyon, Provo

I think I need to relocate.

At the beginning of the month we met in this lovely place with all of Jed's siblings.  It is the first time all of us have been together in over a year.  

A little ski lift ride up the mountain.  Elise sang "Book of Mormon" stories in her monster voice the whole way down the mountain, very entertaining.  I think she was a great ambassador for the church.

At the BYU alumni park.  Lisa's alumni that means we were legal.  It was amazing!  The entire place was made to look like a western village, with authentic antiques.  Jed kind-a wanted to pilfer the real-deal barbershop chair but decided not to endanger Lisa's alumni status.

Elise in the slammer. 

She played with Jed the entire two hours we were there.  He was exhausted afterwards!  I think his ears may have been ringing too.   Her excited voice is a little bit louder than usual.

Jack having fun with all. the. boys.

The pony was a little worse for wear after we left.  Old mare.

All the cousins.  All 15 of them.  Count go ahead. 

Our lovely mountainside retreat.  Complete with a basement to trap/entertain children in, pool table, hot tub, sauna, theater room, seven bedrooms and most importantly a giant dining table.   

Phoenix Trip

Phoenix Zoo 

 I have always wondered why LasVegas doesn't have a zoo.  Every city needs a menagerie of exotic animals not dancers right?  Well now I know the answer:  It's too infernally hot to subject people or animals to such nonsense.  Nice try anyway Phoenix.

Elise safely sequestered behind a Plexiglas window lovingly looking into the eyes of a "monkey with a red bum-bum."

Jack and the elephants.  We want a pet elephant.

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Elise and Rodney taking a little break in the shade.  The mom's thought a little break to the zoo between baseball games would be fun.   

The real reason we braved the heat of Phoenix in October.  Baseball.  Jed has come out of his 20 year retirement.  He still has it folks.  You're looking at the game 1 MVP.  Three days, five games, and a  chance to play in Tempe Diablo stadium.  A team of people from the valley, put together by Rodney's dad, traveled to Phoenix to play in the National Baseball Association tournament, i.e. old men world series or something of that sort.  They were the only team that had families with them.  It makes for a good cheering section.  During one of the games someone yelled "Go Pirates"  Elise very indignantly put her hands on her hips and announced, "those not pirates, those DADDY'S!"

I think I like baseball a little more now.

Three and Maybe a Few Months...

She turned 3!  (Maybe two months ago)

Anna and Elsa, of course, made her day.

We had chocolate lasagna, she prefers ice cream to cake.

A little overwhelmed with her big day and the paparazzi.

Cooking up a little trouble with her sidekick.  Clothes were missing, she stole a big kid pair of shoes and I'm hoping that is chocolate all over her face as opposed to mud.

I love her little personality and voice.  There is no one like Elise.  She is, in her own words, a "curious bird." 

My favorite Elise quotes from the past month:

"DADDY, DON'T THROW MY ELSA OUT THE WINDOW, seriously don't."  (After Jed threatened to send Elsa to the side of the highway, somewhere in the middle of Arizona, if she used it's plastic head as a weapon one more time.) 

Directed towards a little boy swinging around a shiny, blue baseball bat.  "That's a nice bat, but don't hit me with it, I got NUMCHUCKS!!!"  (She's really advanced in the making connections department.)

"YOU WANT ME TO DONKEY KICK YOU??!!"  Jack got a little too close.

"You want hot sauce?"  One of her friends likes the potty words.  She used to like them too until she had to say hello to her little friend hot sauce.

She had her well check-up this week and besides being a little inept at pedaling a tricycle, minor details, her stats and milestones are good.  And the doctor volunteered to keep her should I ever want to go away.  Should I be flattered or concerned? 

Last Lake Day

This year we called it quits on September 20th.  A day that was dreadfully hot.  Apparently Nevada missed the memo about fall.  Typical.  Anyway it made for a beautiful lake day.  It was the calm before the storm that day and I have never been to the lake when it has been so, so glassy.  

Jed taking advantage of the perfect water. 

We want a refund, this retriever doesn't fetch and she did not leave the safety of her floating lounge chair.  Ruby says no to the lake.  Elise couldn't even bribe her into the water.

Softball Champions

Oh wow!  Summer softball league champions.  I've sat through many a basketball game for Jed but never softball, it was a fun time.  Although it was August and Logandale, which doesn't normally equate fun.  Jed is always looking for a hobby and at least this is one where he doesn't have to travel or spend money!   My favorite part about watching him play is watching him run and his cat like reflexes, both rather impressive and unusual for a 6'5" man.  Watching him slide in basketball shorts and then trying to convince him a week later I should saw his leg off to save him from gangrene was not so fun.  (Don't worry he has recovered and managed to avoid a peg leg-miracle.) An extra bonus; he seems to behave better in softball than basketball.  I admire his calmness, things that would make me rage don't even phase him.  I'd ask him about it afterwards and he'd be completely nonchalant about it!? There is a reason I don't play organized sports, parts of my character I have long tried to bury would resurface.  Having a weapon (say a nice wooden or aluminum bat) probably wouldn't be good for me, or others.

Sometimes We Escape

In September Jed and I escaped, twice!  That's right, a whole two dates!  Which is rather monumental.  We realized we hadn't been anywhere alone together since my birthday back in July.  I'm really interested in food at the moment and so both dates involved food and no one singing "Let it Go" in the car, even though that is so precious.   

We hit up the buffet at the Cosmopolitan one night after a temple trip.  The dessert was worth it.  Although, afterwards I thought Jed might have to rent a wheel-chair to roll me out of there.  

We might have been the only people drinking lemonade, and Jed may have been the only golden unicorn in the place.  I think he was trying to make me laugh so I wouldn't cry in pain due to my own bad eating choices.