October 2014

Dear friend,

This month began with our second annual OcTOBER conference weekend.  The kids and I headed up to Denver a few days early to enjoy time with the grandparents. 

 

 Summer will talk with my dad for hours.  These two went to the circus and had a ball.

 Elias joined us Friday night after work and the Tober fun began!  We absolutely love that place.  Conference was amazing and it was fun to spend some time with my parents.  

 The rest of the month was pretty standard: 

trips to the park with friends, 

sharing a smoothie while getting our oil changed, 

 

nap times, 

 unauthorized snacktimes, 

sharing special treats as a family, 

obsessions (we finally had to take off the handle to our pantry because Boyd is so obsessed with brooms.  He wants to carry one around everywhere and they are so gross.  We can only sweep when he's asleep.  And both boys love shoes!  They will often take off their pants, but they always want shoes on.)

 

 playtimes, 

 trips to the children's museum

 reading time (we still go to the library each week for storytime and then to check out 22 books which we read dozens of times before returning a week later)

 strip-down spaghetti dinners (the kids love these so I try to do them about twice a month.  I did mention that we had one to a large group and raised a few eyebrows as half the group didn't know I had children.  It's only the kids that strip!)

 trips to gymnastics (Boyd loves the balls and Smith likes crawling through things.  Summer loves the trampoline and she absolutely adores bubble time at the end.  They have these tiny, long-lasting bubbles that fill the room.  Summer dances around in a fit of giggles while Smith crawls silently on the floor sticking out one tiny pointer finger, popping one bubble at a time with the most determined look on his face.  Meanwhile, Boyd is looking for the balls they just put away.)

 a trip to the temple (Summer is our best little missionary; she tells most people she meets that she will be baptized when she's eight), 

 and picnic lunches with Daddy.  (It's been a little chilly lately, but we have learned that we can all fit in the back of our new minivan.  It makes for an intimate little family picnic.)  

We were thrilled to have a visit from Elias' dear friend from college!

 

Halloween was a lot of fun this year since Summer got really excited about it.  

 We made spooky treats for the ward party, 

 and she spent hours on her pumpkins.   

Here are a few silly videos of the boys.  

We love you all and hope things are going well for you and yours. 

Always, 

Elias, Brittany, Summer, Boyd & Smith