Happy Halloween

We had a great time with all our Halloween festivities last night. Our dear friends Chris and Annette Stevens are moving in a couple of days so we volunteered to take Sage for a few hours while they packed. We are so sad to see them go and know for sure that Jack is really going to miss Sage. The kids were supposed to carve pumpkins together, but it kind of turned into Ty carving pumpkins while the kids danced in the garage to a Baby Bach CD. Precious.

Then it was costume time... Where did Jack go?

We went to our ward Trunk-or-Treat that night and Jack got to see all his friends in their cute, cute costumes. It was a lot of fun and the ward did a great job of setting up fun carnival games inside, too.

Jack with his medieval cousins: Ethan, Gavin, & Trevor

If you haven't gotten it by now, Ty was Mr. Clean. Can you see the earring?

25 on the 25th

This week we celebrated my 25th birthday! We had already kind of celebrated the weekend before in Oak Creek Canyon with Mike and Lois, so I didn't do anything too out of the ordinary. All I really wanted was a big, fat chocolate cake, so that is exactly what I made myself. I guess this is what happens when you let Jack do the sprinkles while you take pictures...

Oops!

Nothing mom can't fix with a knife!

Jason's Deli for dinner with my parents

Jack loved helping me open presents

...and blow out my candles.

Oak Creek Canyon

For the third year in a row, we have met Ty's parents in October for a weekend camping trip in beautiful Oak Creek Canyon. It's so nice to only have to drive about 2 hours to get gorgeous fall leaves.

Ty took this as I was patiently waiting for him to finish his nature shots. Good thing I was bundled up or I might have been a little grumpy...

Granna and Jack searching for earthworms

The Woods Boys (loving Jack's smile in this one)

The October birthday girls

Build-A-Bear

Last Thursday was a big day for Jack. Not only did he get to go to Build-A-Bear for the first time, but he also got invited to a 7-year-old girl's birthday party! Jack's friend Sage was so sweet to think of him and invite him to her party. It was hilarious to see Jack and Benson surrounded by all these cute older girls!

Benson, Sage, and Jack

Columbus Day

Federal holiday = awesome.

Why? Because your two favorite boys take you on a lovely morning South Mountain hike.

And then your husband decides to make you a fire pit as an early birthday present.

And what good is a fire pit without a Dutch oven dinner to go in it?

Dutch oven #1 contained this little beauty: Chicken Cordon Bleu. We weren't really sure how it would turn out since the recipe isn't necessarily for Dutch ovens, but it was well worth the risk. We added some leftover mashed potatoes and broccoli to the side for a perfect dinner.

And Dutch oven #2? This piece of heaven: Mississippi Mud Cake. In fact, it was so heavenly that it wasn't until the cake was half-eaten that I remembered I still needed to take a picture for posterity's sake. Recipe here.

Papa's Glasses

You think Jack could be an engineer, just like his Papa?

Little Man

Jack and I went through a box of hand-me-downs a couple days ago. Most everything won't fit him for several years, but we did come across a hat and tie that fit him perfectly now. He tried them both on and ran to the mirror to check himself out. When he came back he said, "Now I'm a man! I'm just like Daddy!"