Carving Pumpkins

As our tradition goes: we carve pumpkins on the Monday night before Halloween. Even though we are sharing a house with Steve and Faith, we had to continue on. Riley and I are more patient and worked hard at our masterpieces, thanks in part to some kits sent to us from Grandma Payne. Others weren't quite so patient. The pumpkins speak for them selves.

Josh's-his looked better in the light because it had pheasant feathers as the hair.

Carla's-it's a profile of a witch.

Riley worked hard and did most of it himself.

Madison was so proud of hers.

Mom helped Alaina with her skeleton portrait.

Grandpa's Last Home Football Game

Steve is retiring from teaching at the end of the school year, so this is his last season as head football coach. He has been coaching for 33 years. We had a surprise party for him after the last home game and invited all his old players. The school gave him a plaque. It was a good day.

With his assistant coach Dan Ralphs.

Mr. Woodworth thanking him for all his years of service.


Steve and Dan and some of their boys they coached.

SURPRISE!!! Actually it did remain a surprise until about half an hour before the game started. Pretty good if you ask me.

Now What???

I Guess it is Almost Official

We have finally made a decision. Yes I know miracles are rare and sometimes unfathomable, but one really did happen. We finally decided where to buy a home. We are headed to . . . . Pocatello. Yep, right back to where we came.
For those of you who don't know, we finally sold our home in Pocatello on October 2nd. We were suppose to close on September 6th, but because on incompetence and backed-up paperwork, it took an extra month. We were headed to St. George-bring on those warm winters. We even went down 3 or 4 times to look at dozens of homes and made offers on three of them. Then we started looking everywhere else: Brigham, Willard, Lehi, Saratoga Springs, and Denver. Nothing felt right. Paperwork on short sales was taking way to long (maybe it was a sign from above), but everything pointed back to Pocatello.
We wanted to stay close to family while we could. And why not stay close to wonderful grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends? So we looked in Pocatello a bit (looking at homes got to be a chore by this time) and found one that worked. It is in the same area. Different school and ward, but same stake. Everyone gets there own room (except me-I get to share with Josh :)) and we will have more space.
If we have learned anything from all of this, it is knowing that we have our plan and the Lord has his and somewhere they have to fit together-somehow.
We close the first week of November and will move in soon after. If anyone loves to strip wallpaper and paint, come on over.

Alaina's Birthday

Alaina wanted to get up with the other kids and open her presents before they went to school, so her hair is looking a bit frazzled in the pictures. She is now a big 4-year-old.

A Dora watch from Grandma, just what she had been asking for.

She had to reach clear to the bottom.

She loved her strawberry birthday cake. She even did the sprinkles all by herself if you can't tell.

Riley's first hunt

Riley shot his first birds this fall. They are ruffed grouse. He had a good time, hopefully he doesn't become as addicted as his father. . .