October

In October, we drove down to California for Audrey's baptism. Lia and Laura and Kent played during the baptism. They practiced and practiced and it payed off. And hearing Lia and Laura practice the primary songs together made me so happy! Times like that make every dime we've spent (and will spend) on piano and violin lessons totally worth it! Also at the beginning of the month, Josh got yet another treat from our fabulous neighbors the Ah Mus, Megan thoroughly enjoyed her bubble bath at the end of a hard day, Nate went to Dads and Donuts with Laura, Josh got his Halloween costume in the mail, Laura and Megan and I went to the school carnival where Laura got to participate in the haunted house, Lia hung out with her long time friend Alexa, Nate and Josh got to go the BYU football game with Vince and Austin, and we revived Sunday night dessert nights with the Strouds and the Todds.

End of September/Beginning of October

At the end of September, I got to go with Megan on a field trip, we went to pack meeting, and I did my first bike event with my friends Jen and Jessica. It was the Goldilocks ride and we did 60 miles. It rained a good part of the ride and was a little chilly, but we had a lot of fun! And, we weren't even that tired after the 60 miles. That night the girls and I went to Women's Conference downtown with Janet. Megan was not quite old enough to go, but she really wanted to and we wanted her to come.We had a fun night together! That next weekend was General Conference. The kids dragged the bean bag and futon mattress upstairs and set up camp for the two days of conference. We went up the canyon in between sessions to see the leaves and have a picnic. For priesthood session, the kids and I went to Color Me Mine with Janet and Audrey (who flew in for the weekend). It was so fun watching them pick out and paint their pieces. Sunday night we had dinner with Nate's family to celebrate Nate's grandpa's 100th birthday. The grandsons were all given one of his guns and we shared memories of Grandpa Earl. I loved every part of the weekend!

September

In September, Laura played in her first piano recital with her new teacher. She played beautifully! We also spent time at Grandma and Grandpa Nelson's where Lia, Laura, Josh and Megan helped teach Austin how to ride a two-wheeler and got to go for a ride in grandpa's truck (Laura was in her "Paris" themed outfit that day--she likes having themes when we're going to Nelsons on Sundays). I also had LASIK surgery, which was awesome! I'd been having trouble with my eyes for almost a year and finally found out it was from my contacts. I had the surgery so I won't have to wear them anymore. After 30 years of wearing contacts or glasses, it's pretty great to be able to see without them. And lastly, Lia was sick--again. She's been sick more in the last year than all her other years combined! Thankfully this time didn't last as long as some of the others.