It's the Great Pumpkin

Every year Tara plants pumpkins as part of her garden. She spends a lot of time cultivating the seeds and each year we hope to produce our Jack O' Lanterns from our own little pumpkin patch. For some reason we keep coming up empty. This year all the little pumpkins came in, but only one full size pumpkin developed (and it was green!). So in spite of Tara's hard work we had to look to Grandpa for this year's pumpkins.

Tonight we got together with Alicia's family to carve a few faces and have some Halloween fun. We thought we'd get a lot of help from the kids this time around, but knives and Alex still don't mix. That's okay by me though cause even though I'm not the world's best carver, but I sure can gut a pumpkin. Regardless of the skill involved, here's a look at our pumpkin family.

Trunk or Treat

Last night was the annual Trunk or Treat and the biggest haul of the week. Tara and I always try to get involved as we dress up and deck out the van. We were both a bit unsure as to costumes this year so Tara wore a Red Sox outfit and I put on a suit. I was originally going to be a vampire, but I think I ended up as Operaman.

Overall it was a pretty fun evening. The kids played a bunch of games in the Primary room and I even joined into the costume parade. Big D stole the show as the chubbiest skeleton you've ever seen. Let's take a peek at some of the fun times for the kids (and us).

Diary of a Jazz Fan

I tried watching the entire Jazz game, I really did. After watching Carmelo Anthony steal the ball and throw it down on Paul Millsap I gave up and went to bed. The Jazz gave it a good effort, but we weren't any match for the Nuggets on the road. Do I think the Jazz are destined to lose 82 games this year? No. Do I think the Jazz are going to struggle without Korver and Miles? You bet. We started the fourth quarter with all bench guys and the Nuggets went on a 10 point run. We have a good starting five, but when you're playing Wes Matthews (first time I've even heard of him) and Eric Maynor (could be good, but probably not ready to play yet) against a quality team on the road - you're in trouble.

It was a rough ending, but still it was awesome to watch the Jazz again. Professional sports bring a different level of excitement. Since the Red Sox lost early this year I've been dying to watch something besides the yankees. So, now that hoops is back, "You gotta love it, Baby!"

BTW- Here's a little something to get you excited about Deron Williams (classic!)

No Room

For the past two weeks we've been making a really big deal out of Scout/Young Men's training that was was being held downtown. We'd made flyers, phone calls, and last minute texts to ensure most of the Stake's leaders would be in attendance. As far as we knew everyone would be there. The problem was - everyone else was there as well. When we arrived at the meeting there was a mass of suit wearing scouters milling around the Tabernacle. I guess when you invite all the Stake, Ward, and Scout leaders across the valley to attend a meeting - they actually show up. Needless to say, with the building full we headed home for the shortest meeting I've ever attended.

Photos of the Day: Fall Leaves

A couple days ago I took the kids outside to begin raking the fall leaves. I guess we didn't get very far, but we had a great time!

Something Extra

The other day I walked into the living room to find Dede crying on the couch.

"Kennedy what's the matter?"

No response.

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

"Are you sad?"

"Uh-huh."

"Why are you sad Sweetie?"

"Cause E.T. went home."

Who would have guessed E.T. could still make little girls cry almost 30 years later.

Co-Op Dad

Today I took the day off to spend time with Kennedy. That's not very unusual, but this time I spent the morning with Dede at school. Her class asks that parents volunteer several times throughout the year in a co-op. Tara's already been a few times, but this was my maiden voyage. Now, I'm no stranger to the classroom. It seems like much of the past ten years for my have been spent in or around schools, but this was the first time I've helped out with a bunch of younger kids. It was great!

The kids are so excited to have new adults in the classroom and I think they really liked having a dad to play with. Miss Fidge and Miss Allyson put me right to work as I cut, pasted, and glued several little projects. It was ok to have some mindless work, as it gave me a chance to watch Kennedy in her element. She really loves school and it was fun to see how involved she is. This girl is certainly no wall flower!

My station for the morning was the pumpkin seed station. Basically, we cut open a pumpkin and I had the kids scoop out some seeds to take home and plant. The kids loved getting messy and I loved playing around with each group. Young kids are so fun and we had a wonderful time.

Photo of the Day

Our tiny hands
(Can you guess which one belongs to Big D?)

That Was Easy!

So a few weeks ago, we decided to get serious about potty training Alex. We had made a few half hearted attempts during the summer with the potty training, but after one or two accidents, I was always done, deciding he wasn't ready, or that I just wasn't ready to deal with it. So when I had a few days with a fairly clear schedule and time to hang out at home, we went for it. We don't do the pull-up thing at our house, so Alex started right off with some new sports underwear. He loved them and off he went.


Day one: some accidents, but not bad.

Day two: more accidents, mommy almost gave up.

Day three: potty trained!!

Just like that, Alex was done. No diapers, not even at night. Alex has had a couple of accidents and I've caught him dropping his drawers to pee on the tree outside, but he is doing awesome. I guess he was ready. Now only one little guy in diapers. My babies are growing up!!

Entrada

A few months ago I was asked to participate in a weekend retreat down in Moab for work. This sounds like a no brainer, right? Then, the pot got even sweeter as the retreat involved GPS activities so each participant would be getting a GPS. Can this get any better? Finally, the word retreat was a bit misleading because the training was to be held at the Entrada Field Station and there wasn't any lodging. This was camping. For some that may have been a deal breaker, but you know that doesn't bother me.

The trip was great. We had a wonderful group of teachers and other technology trainers from around the state. Most of the people I already knew and it was a fantastic chance to make some new friends with those I just met. I have to say that you really get to know someone as you sit around a campfire together. I've been in a lot of meetings with the trainers, but there's nothing to compare with sharing stories by the open flame. It was awesome.

As part of our training we went around the ranch and created various maps using the the GPS to mark coordinates. Our groups split up and identified pioneer dwellings, fence lines, irrigation paths, and more. I know that part doesn't sound that exciting, but it is a great example of the power of GPS and GIS (a mapping software). I know the managers of the ranch were very appreciative of our efforts and they hope it's an example of future projects that can take place at Entrada.

One of the crazy parts of the weekend was the fact that we had electricity and wireless Internet out there in the middle of nowhere. How often can you say you were checking your fantasy football team while laying in a tent one hour away from a paved road? It was new for me, but a nice way to "rough it" in the desert.

20 years....

20 years ago, I was a junior in high school. This kind of freaked me out when I realized that my 20 year reunion is next year. I am getting old. The reason I bring this up is that I received a phone call from an old high school volleyball teammate a few weeks ago. The high school athletic director was trying to round up the 1989 volleyball team. It so happens that we were 30-0 that season and won the state championship. We were pretty good. I wish I could say I was a star, but I was just a role player. Anyway, the school district had chosen our team to become members of the Nebo School District Hall of Fame. Wow, I know! Pretty impressive, right! I didn't even know that there was a Hall of Fame for the Nebo School District, but we are officially a part of it now!



We attended the volleyball game at Springville High and they gave us a little award before the match. After, we all went to dinner and caught up on what everyone was doing. It was great to see everyone and find out what they were all up to. I couldn't believe that it had been twenty years since I had seen some of these friends.


These girls were my best friends. They made my high school years so much fun. I loved being a part of these teams and making such great friends. Some people say they would never want to go to high school again. I actually wouldn't mind it. I loved my years playing sports with these people and totally enjoyed the fun times we had together. Go mighty Red Devils!!