We took advantage of a sunny Saturday and went raspberry picking. We always have a good time and pick a few yummy berries. Stockton and Molly won't even eat them but Brynn loves them just plain and Justin and I enjoy them as well. Our favorite is to roll the berries up in crepes with whipped cream, buttermilk syrup, and a sprinkle of powdered sugar. We also enjoyed them with some vanilla bean ice cream and homemade hot fudge. Oh my, that was so delicious!
Stockton loves writing letters and forming words with his letters. I would say his obsession peaked around the end of September when he would literally sit for hours at the table or computer desk (or anywhere he could find a hard surface) and ask me how to spell certain words.
He has become very good at writing all his letters and spelling his whole name (first and last) correctly. He can spell Mom, Dad, Molly, Brynn, and love. He can also write all his numbers, although some are backwards. This is a welcome home sign that he made when Justin and I were gone for a work thing.
Brynn likes to play "piano lessons." She always has to put a piano book up to look at and I often catch her writing in it. I guess she watches me teach my piano students...12 of them now!!
Brynn also loves cutting. Give that girl a piece of paper and a pair of scissors and she is easily entertained for a long time.
I threw this FHE together one night last minute. I tied a long piece of yarn from one doorknob to another doorknob that stretched the length of our front room. Then I blindfolded the kids and had them try to get across the room without holding onto the yarn and then they could try while they held on. It was supposed to represent the Iron Rod. Not sure any of the lesson actually sunk in, but all three had a great time!
Justin had the AFCU Management Retreat at the Zermatt Resort in Midway for all managers. They stopped doing this the year Justin became a manager and just barely started up again this year so he was excited to go. I go to go as well, since spouses are invited. My sweet mom came and stayed at my house for two days and I really, really appreciate her doing that! And the kids absolutely loved it!!
Justin went to a few seminars while I attended the classes and activities they had scheduled for the partners (clean eating and a craft class for me). We ate meals together and a few of the presentations were for managers and partners. They put a ton of work into the seminar and I was super impressed with the whole thing and was glad I got to go.
The afternoon of the second day, after it was over, they gave us passes to the Park City Canyons resort to ride the Alpine Slide and the Alpine Coaster. Just our luck it was the coldest day of the whole month, probably the whole season and started snowing as we made our way over there. We went anyway, but the slide was closed. We did the coaster twice, grabbed a raspberry caramel at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory then did a little shopping at the outlets before heading home. Of course the next day was sunny and 60 degrees. Oh well.
Another word about Justin's work. Back in August, he was offered a position in Roy. It was a little bit of a pay cut but it was close to my family, where we would like to end up someday. That was a tough decision! He was offered it the night before Molly started school...I was a bit of an emotional wreck that night. Long story short, we ended up not taking it and staying where we were-us in Spanish Fork and him commuting to Heber. We felt that it was right for our family and that this was where we were needed for now. A few weeks after that, Justin was promoted to Market Manager at AFCU. He still manages the branch in Heber but he also manages the Park City branch (who has it's own manager, he is just her direct supervisor). Justin now reports to the VP rather than a different Market Manager. Anyway, I am super proud of him and his accomplishments and the success he has had and truly feel like the Lord is guiding us each and every day and in every decision. Now for the potentially big decision about staying here or moving to Heber sometime next summer. Decisions are hard!!
Molly had a fun soccer season this fall and we all had fun watching her. But I will say, games on weekdays sure make for a crazy month! It's always a bit of a relief when it's over.
My Grandma Elaine passed away the last day of September. I was lucky to grow up just right down the street from her my whole life and so I have lots and lots of memories of her. Riding my bike down to their house and finding her and grandpa out sitting on the porch. Seeing their faces at all my recitals and a lot of my soccer games. Watching grandma and grandpa hold hands or seeing grandma sitting in the middle of the little pickup truck next to grandpa rather than by the window. Visiting them in St. George where they would go for the winter. Going to her house on Christmas Day and sitting around the kitchen table with my cousins. Being in the temple with grandma when she received her endowment and when she was sealed to grandpa. When she came to our house right after Brynn was born. Those are the nice memories...there are a lot of funny ones too. We all laughed at grandma's "farm talk," which was really a lot of bad words. She had a tendency to interrupt and to say exactly what she was thinking-and she didn't talk quietly! I could go on and on...I'm just grateful I was so close to her growing up and have so many memories of her.
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| Grandma, me, Brynn, Molly-April 2011 |
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| Grandma and me- New Year's Eve, 2008 |
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| Molly, Grandma, me- her birthday party, August 2012 |
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| Grandma and Brynn- March 2011 |
Molly decided to try ballet this year. No other forms of dance, just ballet. The place I ended up finding is very technical...pink leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, hair in bun, classical music only. I don't think it was quite as exciting as she was thinking it was going to be but she seems to like it. I told her she could quit after Christmas and try something else if she wasn't loving it but she wants to keep going. I think it's good for her to get a taste of everything-just as long as it's not all at the same time!!
Finally, here is Molly on "nerd day." I didn't really know what to do but Justin took the assignment and ran with it. He spent a lot of time making a pocket protector and he even let her wear his glasses to school (lenses removed, of course). She wore Stockton's shirt. I think she looks like a pretty cute nerd!
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