October

The first part of October Amy came up with the kids one day and we went to Draper park.  I am not out of that phase and it was fun to be with the little kids again.  We brought a picnic lunch and had a fun time!!

                                                                                                   

On Saturday, Oct 14 we had a partial lunar eclipse.  Kind of cool to see!

On Sunday, Oct 15 Samantha Brady had her mission farewell.  She is going to Columbus, Ohio.  Jacob had an opportunity to drive down there on the freeway.  He did a great job.  We need to get him out more to practice.

For fall break I wanted to get away!  We had Thursday-Monday and it happened to work out that Marcia had a friend who's condo was available at a pretty good price.  We got Cathey's to go and headed out on Thursday morning and came back on Sunday.  

We arrived Thursday afternoon and on Friday headed into Zions.  I almost always like Zions with it's easy hikes.  This hike we went on, we haven't done for 12 years.  It is after you drive through the tunnel and there are very few parking spaces.  So we tried that one first.  You can see by Jacob's face (and left hand) how excited he was. 

I need to stop being in the foreground of these
types of pictures.  It makes me look HUGE!

Here are 2 sets of pictures taken in the same place.  One in September 2011 and the new one in October 2023.   

My the difference between a 3 year old and a 15 year old!  Not to mention the difference for me!

After the hike we drove back down to the visitor's center to park and do a few more hikes, but could not find parking.  We drove into Springdale, ate lunch here and then went back to the condo. 

We really liked the condo, but the pool's heater was broken so the pool was VERY cold!  That didn't stop the kids from getting in.  They would go back and forth between the pool and the hot tub.  

Saturday morning Jason and Tom went on a bike ride.  Wendy and I stayed with the kids and tried to get them to do something.  Very difficult.  

When the boys got home from riding we went to see a scarecrow festival.  It was small, but fun to walk around.  Got us out of the house!

A friend, Michelle called me on a Saturday and she had an extra ticket to see Taylor Swift.  Asked if I wanted it.  It was a group of us, Michelle, her daughter, Marcia and her exchange student and some of their neighbors.  We went to Zuppas beforehand and then the movie.  It really felt like a concert, but more comfortable!  😉

All of us in front of the screen before the movie

  

Tyler's wife, Paige, is having a baby in January and Maddie threw a shower for her.  They had great food!