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.