What do you do on the first day of snow?

Off to the zoo you go!
I'm pretty sure that going to the zoo was to make ME feel better about getting my flu shot. I Hate shots & my arm still hurts. I think Fred used the zoo to bribe me....
It was definitely chilly but nice that it wasn't crowded.
Tad & the Rhino
Even the animals thought it was too cold!
We didn't stay long. It started to snow again when we were leaving. I've heard that the animals are more active in the colder weather. I don't know if they really weren't because it was lunch time or because it was cold, so I guess we'll have to go again next month!

FALL is FULL of FANTASTIC fun!

We had a great long weekend! Thursday we did a little Christmas shopping then met my family in Logan for the PUMPKIN WALK! I went one time in college for an FHE and ever since then I've been hooked! (For those of you who've never been, they use pumpkins to make scenes. Sounds slightly lame, but once you go, you'll think it's amazing!)
How cool is this tree made from corn (and Crystal of course)!

Monsters Inc & Madagascar
They have one area with carved pumpkins. I guess there are 2 areas - this one with the cool carvings and then the whole path has hay bales with carved pumpkins lit lining the paths.

Friday we went to the PARK. My little guy is TOO independent - he won't hold my hand to walk in the park, he wants to go by himself.

Then, since Daddy couldn't go to work because they were doing computer maintenance, we met up with my bestest friend Jen to celebrate her birthday!
Tad loved the MAYAN and watching the water and divers.

Then we found a new place I may ---- probably am hooked on! FROGURT! It's self serve frozen yogurt (16 different flavors) and a 50 toppings. You make your own and pay per ounce!

I met Jen my first year of college and I swear we were meant to be twins!

Saturday morning Fred, Tad & I took some of the scouts for a HIKE.... in the rain.

Tad of course loved it. Fred & I realized how out of shape and old we are!!! It rained harder the further up we went and stopped when we got back down. The boys did awesome - I figured they'd run ahead of us, but they were good about stopping and waiting until they could see one of us before running further.

Saturday night we went to the GRIZZLIES HOCKEY GAME with Crystal and one of her old roomies. First we stopped for BBQ, then off to the game. The seats were fantastic, the game was pretty good, they won (6-4), but the best part was when the other team's goalie went to hit the puck down the ice and pegged his own team member in the head. :} I was disappointed there weren't more fights- I guess we'll have to stick to college games!

Sunday we went to Fred's parents' for HOMEMADE RAVIOLI!

and.... Monday our BASEMENT FLOODED because of all the rain. :}

Where have we been?!

I didn't realize it's been so long since I posted. So, here's the picture version of the past few weeks.
Tad sleeps in the corner of his crib.


We drove up to Logan to see the leaves and took a few pictures. Too bad it was so dark by the time we got up there.

Tad loved trying a piece of sausage - he's still not a fan of textures, but we're slowly getting there.

He loves to hang out and jump on the bean bag chair and will sit on it to watch part of a movie.

He's mastered the stairs, but insists on walking up or down them if someone is nearby to hold his hand.

Tad helped us test the grapes so we could juice them. We LOVE grape juice! We have 3 different kinds of juice so we get a variety of colors when we juice them.

He also "Helped" mom wash tomatoes to make sauce and salsa. Really he just splashed in the water.

We had Nashaela & Paul over to paint pumpkins. Tad knows how to turn on the hose by himself and loved playing in it while we cleaned off the pumpkins.

We each painted our own, then a couple one.







We've loved going to the treehouse museum and took daddy with us this time.

I never lose him by myself, but he walked off a couple of times with both of us distracted - maybe the museum isn't just for kids!

So, in a nutshell: Tad growing, teasing, playing, helping mom & being daddy's buddy. More pumpkins to come.... we've got a busy weekend planned and a lot more pictures!

A Family Day!

We finally had a family day-- ALL day! I was going to make Fred take me for a canyon drive to see the changing leaves. Then I got a craving to go to the zoo - I think I'm addicted. I packed a lunch and we headed out.

Tad seemed to enjoy sitting outside to eat and did really well even though it was nap time. He was asleep within seconds of being loaded back in the truck.

I think sometimes Fred & I have more fun than he does. (Look how huge he is when I'm holding him! He's very tall.)

We enjoyed a nice drive through Emigration Canyon and East Canyon. I told Fred it was time to head home and he defiantly turned the opposite direction. We ended up in Park City and did a little shopping! Then enjoyed a third canyon, coming back through Parley's. I had planned to stop and take our usual Fall family picture, but Tad was asleep and I didn't see an "amazing" backdrop. Don't get me wrong, the leaves were pretty, I think they might need another week or two for more to change.

I make Fred drive up to see the leaves every year during the last week of September since that's when / where he proposed.

We ended the day with a nice family dinner and Daddy & Tad coming with me to ward volleyball (we're a challenged group- lost both games). Now that Tad is peacefully asleep it's time to catch up on some shows that Fred & I don't get to watch together.

Unfortunately, all the things we didn't accomplish today are on my mind. I already have plans to get up before 7am on Saturday to get things done. I think "A day to sleep in" might be on my Christmas wishlist.

Proof I listened to my mom as a kid.

I spent Monday canning- almost all day. I don't mind doing it, but Tad seems to mind. He played well as I got everything ready. As soon as I stood in front of the sink to start peeling pears he'd wiggle in between me and the cupboard and push me away from it. So, after his afternoon nap, he went to play at Grandma's. Then, while I knew he was happily playing I not only finished my pears and fruit cocktail, I also made a batch of tomato sauce and peach pie filling!

See, I really did listen when my mom tried to teach me how to can. When I was little I thought it was the end of the world to have to can (everything but pears - I'd sneak some bites and was pretty happy).

Now, I'm proud to say we bottle so much we have to buy more bottles every year. (If you hear of anyone getting rid of bottles, we'd love more!)

This year we made: Nectarine & Apple Juice, Apple & Peach pie filling, Peach jam, Tomato sauce, Fruit cocktail, Raspberry jam, Peaches, Nectarines, Pears, for a total of .... 150 qts, 74 pints, & 53 half pints.

Unfortunately we still have stuff to bottle, but grape juice is our FAVORITE to drink & Tad has lived on butternut squash for the past year, so I guess we better do it.

Fred wants to learn how to can meat - I'm still not sure, I think it'll look gross on the shelf. Either way, I'm not taking it on by myself! If any of you have amazing things you can, we'd love to try new things. (Carmel Apple jam was a bust last year!)

Now if only we had room for everything!