Happy Halloween 2008

This Halloween the force was with us!

Cole is Obi Wan of course! Brianna is a witch. Kade is a class clown(for reals). Riley is Voldemort.

The whole month of October Cole has been telling his friends about me being Princess Leia for Halloween. I waited until the day before to throw a costume together. It was worth it to see his face as I came in the room firing my Storm Trooper Gun.

Pumpkin Patch!

My Mom always figured out a way to get the greatest pumpkins to my kids in Arizona. From Utah to us every year we have received garden greats from my mom. This year was a special treat. We got to go home in the fall. We spent a morning at the pumpkin patch in Elsinore. We had so much fun picking the perfect pumpkins.

The workers were so busy that they let Mike drive the tractor pulling the kids. Did I mention I was a little scared myself.

The Red Hills

When I was young I loved to hike in the red hills above my hometown of Richfield. Looking over our little valley was always something that would bring me peace. In October when we were visiting my parents my boys and I went on a hike with Mike, Ryan and Dianna. We hiked up to bulls head ( a rock that looks like a bull). It was a beautiful day. And Cole was happy that we found 5 lizards.
I have proof that I hiked up there in 1988. We found my name and my dad's name with 1988 next to them. Funny thing, I can't even remember carving it into the rock.
You have to conquer "Lemon Squeeze". It's a narrow passage going straight up!

We made it. We're on top of the world.

Big Rock Candy Mountain Bike Ride

Our favorite thing we did while in Utah was the bike ride down the Big Rock Candy Mountain Canyon. I was loving the leaves. I haven't had the chance to go home in the Fall for a long time. It was so beautiful. We hooked Cole to my bike and everyone else had their own. Jon wanted to run so he got a head start. The trail winds through the canyon next to the Sevier river. Mike, Dianna, Wade, Kingston, Riley, Kade, Brianna, Cole, My Mom, Ryan, Jon and I had a very fun day!

The kids thought it was great to have Grandma Ogden come along. Mike was having a hard time with his boys. It was cracking me up. Wade did not want to sit down. He kept peeking his head up to look at everyone.

"Oh, the buzzing of the bees and the licorice trees". The Big Rock Candy Mountain is a mountain that looks like marshmallow cream and carmel were poured all over it.

5 days of pure joy!

In September Jon and Jeanna went to NYC to the US Open and we got to have their boys for 5 days. It was soooooo much fun.

Val Vista lakes was a hit! Mac says, "Look at Me!" The highlight of their visit was the trip to the Toyota car dealership where the boys played in the pirate ship. They asked if we could go back everyday!

3 Bathing Boys


Three men in a tub.
Jon and Jeanna please go on vacation again soon and send the boys our way.

Riley's 12th b-day

Happy Birthday Riley. This year our family went bowling for Ry's b-day. He turned 12 this year(can't believe it) and received the priesthood. We are so happy for him.

Chef Juan's Kitchen

Jon found a new hero, Bobbie Flay! Yes, he has been cooking up a storm. It started when we went to the Baja for spring break. He loved the food. We just happened to be at the library for FHE one night after we returned from Rocky Point. Jon picked up a Baja cooking book. He checked it out and our lives have never been the same. After a month or so we couldn't handle any more fish and shrimp tacos. So he dived into Cooking with Bobby Flay. We had the yummiest B-Q s ever! For Father's day we gave him a giant cutting board with a set of chef knives. He has also cooked Italian for a number of nights. Pasta that you would die for. However, right now Chinese Cuisine is all the rage in our kitchen. Jon works so hard during the day and cooking is something that helps him wind down. Hey, I'm not complaining!

Jon had fun cooking for my mom and dad in when we were in Richfield.

San Fransisco

The Highlight of my summer was the trip Jon and I made to San Fransisco. We went for our 14 year anniversary. I had never been there so we spent most of our time sight seeing. Over the 3 days we were there we estimated that we walked at least 20-25 miles and we biked 20 miles. It made up for the other thing we spent our time doing, EATING. Wow the food there is unbelievable. We found the best restaurants. Jon and I both love food so as we would sit eating breakfast and plan our day around where we wanted to eat. Our favorite place was this little Chinese restaurant in China Town called The Nanking House. We also loved the Italian restaurant called Trattoria Contadina. Of course we had to have the famous clam chowder in a sour dough bread bowl and fried fresh fish on the Wharf. And last, but not least we had to visit Ghirardelli Square where of course we sampled CHOCOLATE. Yes, it's a good thing we both love to exercise. Jon eats the best chocolate velvet cupcake ever from Kara's Cupcakes in Ghirardelli Square.

Did you know that the San Fransisco Trolley is the only National Monument that moves?
The highlight of the vacation for me was the 20 mile bike ride. Well at least the first 10 miles. Did you know that there are many thousands of hills in that city? We started on the Wharf and biked across the Golden Gate Bridge all the way to Sausilitto. The scenery was breath taking. We were planning on catching the ferry back to the city and we missed a turn. We ended up biking another 10 miles to Tiberon. I was really glad we did it even though the hills were tough. The mountains along that side of the bay were so pretty. I welcomed a chance to wear a jacket and soaked in every bit of coolness I could. When we biked into Tiberon we were tired and hungry. We waited in line for the ferry and it was full. So we had to wait another 2 hours. Let me tell ya, if your gonna be stuck somewhere, that's were you want to be stuck. A perfect little bay town. We checked the market for homes. Wow!!! I guess we will be staying in Arizona for now.
I hope this is the closest Jon ever gets to a slammer. We spent an after noon on Alcatraz island. We loved the tour of the jail. We wore headphones which guided us on our tour. It was very interesting and kinda freaky. All and all it was a great time.

The flowers on Lombard Street were the prettiest sight I have ever seen. Hydrangeas as big as my head.

Thanks Jon, for a week-end I will never forget.

The Most Wonderful Place on Earth!

When people ask me where I grew up I could say one of two places, Richfield or Fishlake National Forrest. When we went home this summer we had to visit Fishlake. We had a great picnic and went on the most beautiful hike. Uncle Mike found a water snake. I didn't let them talk me into keeping it. NO WAY not this time!

Twin Creeks

This is the view from our hike.

Kade collected wild flowers.

Richfield Fun!

We spent 2 weeks of July in Richfield this Summer. Uncle Ryan took the kids hiking a few times. And one day Grandpa led
Ryan, Riley and Kade on an ALL DAY ride. They went over the mountain all the way to Fillmore. They were incredible dirty and exhausted when they got home. They loved it.

A Richfield & an Antimony 4th

Volleyball and Horseshoes is a must at the King Family Reuion in Antimony.

4th of July Fun!

Nothing, in our family, is more awaited for than the 4th of July. It means a parade, park fun, diving for money, fishing for rainbow trout with your hands, candy and more candy, barbecue, Uncle Jer's firework spectacular, family and friends.
Crew and Cole wait patiently for the candy to be thrown their way.
TWINS!
Our family was in charge of the foot races at the park this year. Uncle Ryan and Riley pause for a photo.

Cole's favorite part of the parade is the National Guard Comes rolling by in the Army tanks.