Day of the Dead

Today much of the world I live in celebrates Halloween.

I've never been a Halloween girl. 

So when the seminary council planned a temple trip for the youth we jumped on it! 

This morning my kiddos got to serve the dead on the day of the dead.

I can't think of anything better to do than that. 

Tonight Corban is with Sambo and Makenna will be trick-or-treating with some friends from church.

I'll be driving the girls around. 

One good thing- still no snow! 

And it's beautiful outside right now. 

Also, I might enact the mom tax and get some kit kats.

We'll see.

 

Full Monday

My dad came out today to deliver some lights.

We decided to get a 4 generation photo for fun. 

Even though Makenna isn't Sam.

He also brought Jamie to play for a little while.

And Afton was here all day. 

Makenna didn't have school so she has been home as well. 

It wasn't exactly a relaxing day, but it was a good one. 

I love my dad.

I love Jamie.

I love Afton. 

I mildly love Makenna. 

Just kidding. 

I really love her. 

More than mildly. 

Corban let me get a shot of him in his costume. 

Tomorrow is Halloween. 

Boo...yah! 

We are going to the temple to do some work for the dead. 

On the day of the dead! 

What could be better! 

 

Empty Nesters

We got a little taste of being empty nesters today.

We sat down at the beginning of sacrament and realized we had no kids sitting with us.

Corban was up preparing to pass the sacrament.

Makenna's calling is to direct the music so she was on the stand.

And Brittan went to singles ward. 

We actually have about 6 years until all our kids really will be old enough to be on their own, but man this is coming way too fast. 

We planned it though.

When we got married we decided that we would have all our kids by the time I was thirty so that they would all be gone before I was 50. 

It seemed like a good plan at the time. 

It might still seem like a good plan.

But I'll have to get back to you on that one. 

 On a side note, the snow we got went away really fast and now its' been raining for days and days. 

The lake is also not frozen anymore either.

I'm good with it. 

It will all be covered with snow soon enough. 

 

Temple and Roo

Tonight we went to the temple with Dave and Rissa.

When we go to the temple together Makenna usually babysits their kids.

We had a great time at the temple.

I was a bit distracted, but it was still a good session.

I especially love sitting next to Matt in the Celestial room and talking about life as we know it and what we need to do to solve the problems that weigh heavy on us.

Once we got back to the house Ruby showed me all her missing teeth.

And then she tried to pull out another one! 

It wasn't even loose!!!

She is a crazy that one! 

Then when it was time to go I told her good bye and she spit at me.

Gotta love her!

Our Missionary

Let's see.

How can I put this nicely?

When it comes to sending mission updates and pictures Dallin is...

basically the worst! 

Not even joking. 

In one of his most recent emails to me he said, and I quote, "im not really sure what to talk about this time around with you"

Ya.

Also, this week his email said, "Also i cant find my camera right now. i know its around here some where"

Obviously, I am not getting pictures and the emails are kind of lame.

But

the emails exist and really cool people in the mission send me text messages with my boys face smiling back at me. 

The mission president keeps a blog and I steal pictures from there of Dallin. 

I don't mind the lack of correspondence. 

It's not about me.

He is bringing the gospel to people so they can enjoy the blessing that we have always enjoyed.

That is all I need. 

He's pretty much a big deal.

I do look forward to my first hug when he gets off that airplane in a little over 8 months. 

Also, he is serving as district leader now.

 

Country Living

I've mentioned before that we live pretty far from town.

We do have neighbors all around us, even though their houses are usually miles from ours.

There is one family that owns a bunch of goats.

Like a lot of goats! 

When I went to get Makenna from the bus she was having fun with the goats.

Every once in a while they get out. 

I laugh every time. 

This is the epitome of country living.

And I love it! 

 

Zombies and Afton hugs

Last night we were treated to a play on How To Get through a Zombie Apocalypse. 

Makenna was so great. 

She is an incredible actress.

It was a funny, funny play. 

Sam, Dustin and Afton came to the play too. 

Matt was able to get some snuggle time too. 

 Also, we had an incredible sunrise.

I love the sunrises in Alaska in the winter. 

 

First Snow

 Here it is:

The annual first snow picture!

Last night on the way home from getting Makenna at the dance, it started to snow. 

 This morning the world was a little quieter. 

I love how snow seems to insulate the world. 

It makes it look clean and bright. 

The sun was shining all day which helped to clear the roads but mostly made the world more beautiful as it sparkled off the snow. 

And just for fun, in church I took a selfie while I was holding Ashley's baby. 

She slept the whole time.

It was beautiful! 

 

Spirit Halloween

Tonight Makenna had a stake dance to attend.

We live 40 minutes from that building.

So...we had to find things to do for the three hours she was there. 

We ended up going to this seasonal store called Spirit Halloween to find Corban a costume.

He wanted to be the Flash.

It was $45.

I told him to see if he could come up with something else.

We found a Finn and Jake costume for $24.

I felt better about that.

The music was awesome and we had a ton of fun playing with all the stuff.

I'm not a Halloween person.

I never really have been. 

My kids do their own things with their friends that night now. 

I'm good with it. 

Aunt Kim and 5 degrees

Matt's Aunt Kim came to visit a friend in Anchorage who had just had surgery and so we got to have the chance to meet up with her.

She's been here for a week or so but I have been so sick we just couldn't make it happen until last night. 

I love aunt Kim! 

She has always been so kind to us.

And she is a delight to be around.

It has been about 4 years since I have seen her. 

She's the best! 

And this morning it was 5 degrees when we went to seminary.

5.

That feels like it didn't take that long but actually it is right on schedule.

Here's a few more pictures from dinner with Kimmy.

 

Celebrating Him

Today Matt turned 46.

That is crazy talk to me. 

How did we get so old?

So basically I suck at birthdays.

It might have something to do with feeling like all my birthday's sucked as a kid, but regardless I really don't celebrate other people's birthday's well. 

There was one time when I did plan a week long celebration for his birthday and that was epic. 

And there was that other time when we celebrated with a cake fight.

We loved that one. 

But generally I suck. 

This year was no exception. 

Matt had a meeting tonight so I tried my best to stay awake until he got home. 

The kids and I all went and got him gifts at Target.

And I made him a Boston Cream cake. 

It was low key. 

But I adore him. 

I am so grateful for our relationship. 

I am so grateful we are still living this crazy life together. 

He's kind of a big deal to me.

Happy Birthday Honey!

 

What I ate today plus some stuff

I am a genealogist at heart. 

I love all things family history.

I was thinking yesterday about the food I eat and wondered what my a day of eating for my ancestors looked like. 

Then I decided it would be fun to document, every once in a while, what I eat in a day.

So here it is:

Breakfast: I had hashbrowns with garlic, onion, and salt and a banana

Lunch: Leftover Quinoa Black Bean chili with avocado, corn chips and olives

Snack: Apple with pumpkin hummus (I LOVE that pumpkin hummus!)

Dinner: Sandwich with hummus (not pumpkin), olives, avocado, sprouts, cucumbers, and kale 

It was a pretty good eating day. 

 I generally follow a Whole Food, Plant Based Diet. 

I feel better that way. 

I can no longer have dairy at all.

My body doesn't like it.

But I do eat meat occasionally. 

Then this evening I took Corban to swim lessons and on the way I home I took a picture of him at the inlet pull out.

It's beautiful this time of year, even though it is getting cold. 

 

Freezing

This morning the temps were in the teens.

I always think it happens so fast, but it actually happens at almost the same time every year.

Corban and I went down the lake to see if was starting to freezeit.

It is. 

The past several days I have been getting more and more sick. 

First it started with a scratchy throat, then runny nose and sneezing and now all those things plus coughing.

Not fun! 

I was exhausted at noon so I laid on the couch and woke up two hours later. 

I hope I kick this really, really soon.

I don't do sick. 

 The highlight of my day was when my dad brought Jamie out for a quick visit.

I hope she doesn't get sick but it was fun to see her.

I pulled it together long enough to visit.

We don't get to see her as much as I'd like.

She asked if she could come live with us again.

I told her if she ever got really, really sick of her family she could.

Then she said she was already really sick of them. 

I love her! 

 

Stake Conference

Last night we had the adult session of stake conferenec

I had a hard time paying attention.

So I decided to take pictures of Matt. 

He didn't want me to take pictures of him.

I think he wanted me to pay attention. 

I did get two things out of the two hour meeting.

That counts right?

The first was a story this lady told about an experience she had in the sacred grove.

She went there while her family was on this huge church history tour.

She had come looking for answers to prayers.
While she was there a woman came up to her and told her that she felt prompted to share her testimony with her. 

She told her how people come to the grove always looking for what they can take but what if people came looking for what they could leave. 

This woman was leaving her testimony with this sister. 

She went on to explain how those comments changed the entire trip for her. 

Each place they visited she thought about what had been left to make them sacred- sacred grove: a prayer; Martin's cove: lives; Carthage: Joseph and Hyrum's blood. 

She then testified about how we can make our relationships and places we visit sacred by what we leave there and not what we take. 

It was really beautiful. 

The other was a story about this family going on a family picnic at Provo river in the mountains. 

They had a great picnic, flew kites, and enjoyed each other all afternoon. 

When they were about to get ready being done one of the little boys stick boats floated out too far in the river and tried to get it. 

The current swept him up and carried him off. 

The dad jumped in and tried to swim after him, while the mother with the other child, ran along the bank trying to get to him. 

No matter how hard they tried they could not reach him and then he went around the bend out of sight. 

Just around the bend was a college student who had been fly fishing. 

He had heard the commotion and once he saw the boy in the river he dropped his rod and retrieved him.

The boy was fine besides a little cold and wet. 

The testimony was that the college kid was in the right place at the right time and we each can be the same if we ask Heavenly Father to help us be in the right place at the right time to save someone. 

I loved both of those things. 

Today...I can't remember what I got out of it but if I come up with something I will share it later. 

 

Friday Feels

It's been raining lately. 

A lot.

Like, I feel like I might actually live in Seattle.

I remember one year that we actually got way more rain than Seattle got.

I think this year is trying to compete again.

This morning as I drove through the puddles I decided I had to stop and get a picture.

I needed to find the beautiful in the muddy mess.

I think I achieved that goal. 

Then after Corban and I got home from his field trip to the rock cimbing gym, the sun came out. 

So I spent a lot of time down at the lake. 

I took the next picture and it made me think about walking in the sky.

 The leaves are all gone, but it still feels like I can be mindful in these moments before the snow falls and love every minute.

And just for fun, here's a shot of Corban on the rock climbing wall.

He made it all the way to the top.

I kind of like him. 

 

Swan Therapy

There are two swans that have been enjoying their autumn days in the swampy area which is on the way to town from the farm.
Today they were close enough to the road that I pulled over and took a few pictures. 
They seem to not have a care in the world.
I may have wished that I could be more like those swans today.
I also may have told Matt that I wanted to escape and go on an adventure away from here.
Sometimes life feels very heavy. 
Especially on those days when you are carrying the burdens of others. 
I wonder if my help even helps sometimes. 
Then I am reminded that it's not about me. 
Even still, there may be times when I want to do what the swans did after I started taking their picture and bury my head somewhere. 
Bottoms up! 

 

All Things Pumpkin

It's pumpkin season! 

I love pumpkin spice and all things pumpkin.

I found this recipe on the internet that is a pumpkin spice hummus. 

It tastes like pumpkin pie. 

It is seriously so good. 

I ate it with apples for lunch yesterday and breakfast today. 

I seriously love pumpkin.

 

Carrots and Swimming

Yesterday was a doozy of a day.

I don't know exactly what it was but I was irritated and on edge. 

I was talking to Corban as we drove in to his swimming practice and mentioned that I didn't get anything done all day. 

Then I corrected myself as I remembered several things I did do:

I washed and packaged all the harvested carrots- 5 gallon bags.

I did a load of colored clothes.

I helped Corban with his school work.

I worked on my 4 generation research project

and

I made woodland recipe cards.

 There were several times during the day though that I was just frustrated and irritated. 

Interesting how I perceived that as not accomplishing anything. 

I ate my feelings though- pretzel rolls and chocolate.

That felt like a fail as well.

There were two moments though when I felt like I could get it under control.

Around 2 o'clock or so I decided to open my scriptures.

I love that spirit of the Book of Mormon.

The scriptures I read didn't apply to what I was feeling or going through but when I read the first one I felt a peace, like I was visiting an old friend, and I felt the storm calm.

The Book of Mormon truly has an influence that is magic.

Then I did a little meditation before bed.

I was glad for the moments to breathe and then sleep.

Today will be better. 

 

Only A Few More Minutes

It's in the 40's here.

But this afternoon was gorgeous! 

Gorgeous.

And I couldn't not be in it. 

I decided to take a walk to the bus to get Makenna.

It is a mile there and a mile back. 

I love that walk.
Especially when it is so beautiful outside. 

Trapper joined me. 

The mountains are now capped with snow

Most of the leaves are gone. 

Snow will soon fly.

But I am being mindful of what is happening and my place in it. 

I love autumn.

I need some hot cocoa to enjoy I think. 

Dinner tonight was roasted zucchini and corn tostados with homemade hummus. 

It was really, really good. 

The corn and zucchini came directly from our harvest and the neighbors harvest. 

I also put sunflower shoots on it. 

It was so good I ate three servings. 

I love good food and autumn. 

Fog and Food

This morning we woke up to lots of fog and it was pretty cold! 

We had some things to do in the greenhouse before we ran into Anchorage to deliver some lettuce and I was complaining because I was so cold. 

But the morning was so beautiful and sunny! 

Matt and I abandoned the kids and went to Anchorage to deliver lettuce and stock up on a few things for the coming months. 

I do like spending time with that guy. 

We ate at Middle Way cafe which is one of my absolute favorites.

I tried this beet cake and it was so yummy. 

However, the sandwich Matt got was the best and we will be replicating that as soon as possible at home.  

 

Sociology and Ice Skating

This morning I had to get some Sociology work done.

I didn't really want to. 

Instead I took selfie's of me not wanting to do it.

I was so unfocused I got a C on my reading exam.

And I didn't even care. 

I graduate in December.

I am taking my last two classes. 

When all is said and done I will have a certificate, two AA degrees and one BA. 

I love learning.

But it's time to be done with school for awhile. 

Only two months to go. 

This afternoon Corban and I took a field trip to the ice skating rink.

I pushed him around the rink on a chair for awhile.

Then I just pushed the empty chair around because if you didn't know...I suck at ice skating.

It was fun though. 

 

Reflection Lake

By Thursday's I am mostly done.

I am usually so, so tired from getting up at 445 every morning and then running none stop until 9 pm. 

But, since I spend all day in town on Thursday's I have to figure out how to get a workout in.

Today I decided to walk around Reflections Lake before snow falls.

It was not a bad decision.

It was so incredibly beautiful. 

I just walked around the lake in awe.

I stopped at one point and just took a moment to watch the ducks swimming and the leaves being rustled in the breeze.

Seriously so peaceful.

I am trying to be more mindful.

I'll get back to you on what that means later. 

For now, enjoy the photos I took.