Random October Things

We made a few fun Halloween crafts. These were ghosts to hang on our trees.

We visited the fire station

Picking out pumpkins

This was at the Eastman Halloween party. The boys loved carving pumpkins.

Halloween

I know I say this for almost every holiday, but it's true, they are so much better with kids! It is especially true as the boys keep growing and understanding more. This year they were cowboys which they loved. They rode their horses around the house saying "wee-ha" for weeks before Halloween. I also taught them some cute Halloween songs but I'm not going to bother trying to get them to post. We had practiced trick or treating for a few days prior. So they were petty excited for the big day. We first went trick or treating to grandparents houses. Instead of saying trick or treat they just walked right in and straight to the toys. However, once we took them to our neighborhood they started to get the hang of it. By the end they kept asking to go to "another house?!". It was so fun! They got tons of candy which we are still trying to ration out!

Grandma Empey

Last month Ryan's grandma Empey passed away. I feel blessed to have been able to know her these past 6 or so years. She was such a welcoming and sweet lady. I have enjoyed hearing Ryan and his family share experiences and memories about her. Ryan wrote down a list of things he wants to remember about her. I'm glad he did so we can teach our kids what a great woman she was. She will be greatly missed, but I think our greatest comfort comes from the Plan of Salvation and knowing she has been reunited with her eternal companion and many other family members.

Race

At the end of Sept we ran in the temple to temple relay with my brother, his wife, and some of their friends. We started at the Rexburg temple and ran to the Idaho Falls temple. In true Idaho fashion, it was windy and quite chilly. We had a lot of fun though! I'm glad my brother let his out of shape, slow sister run with them!

Us just parked somewhere in between exchanges. My dad was our awesome driver!

Ryan starting his leg

Whitley

Me

I ran the last leg and Jeff and Ryan decided to run the last mile or so with me. I was really tired so I'm glad they jumped in to keep me going!

"Oh Funny"

That is a phrase Kegan says that just makes me laugh. I guess its just the way he says it, but I have no idea how to even describe it. So just take my word its pretty cute. 

These two bring joy and laughter into my life while testing my patience like its never been tested all at the same time. It is crazy to see how much they have changed in just a few months. These are just a few pictures that show the random and funny things they come up with. 

 This is now the preferred way to go down slides

 When I fold laundry they usually grab Dad's socks and put them on. Then they say they are going to go play soccer. Ryan and I have been playing a lot of soccer with different groups and teams, so they think these are the perfect size for soccer socks.

 One day they lined their chairs up like this like they were on an airplane. It made me laugh.

 My mom is in school and she wears reading glasses. So now they ask to do their "homework", which means they get their notebooks and colored pencils and draw. They always have to wear their potato head's glasses to help them see. 

I just noticed Braden had a white pencil. That one is "broken" and "daddy fix it". They think their dad is invincible and can fix anything and everything. If a train isn't moving- daddy fix it. If their cookie breaks- daddy fix it. One day one of the trucks that they were using to build new houses in our neighborhood broke and there were a few guys working on it. I told them it was broken, and they said with no doubt or hesitation "daddy fix it".

 Kegan packed his bag full of cars, got his hat, and said he was going to work. They pretend to go shopping, to church or to grandma's house a lot too. They always come and give me a kiss and a hug, then say "see ya! have fun!"

 Just a random occasion when it seemed best to play with a pool floatie in the driveway while wearing a helmet.

They had on their paint shirts, then put washcloths over their heads and were laughing hysterically. I'm not quite sure what they were "pretending"

In addition to these pictures there are a few other things I want to remember...
- They have started talking a ton! There is never a quiet moment in the car anymore. On Sunday their nursery leader stopped me twice to tell me how much they talk and that they could understand them so well. That made me a little nervous wondering what in the world they were saying...
- They love to sing. They ask me to sing during every meal and car ride. We sing when we wake up and when we go to bed. Aside from me always singing, they love to sing too. It usually ends up being a mash-up of a few different songs like Twinkle twinkle, ABC's and Happy Birthday or something like that. When they go to bed, they usually lay there and sing to themselves. They also seem to think that any book that doesn't have pictures is a hymn book. They will open it up and start singing. They love to sing the hymns in church, and the people in front of us usually turn around to look.
-They talk to each other and pretend things, and somehow they understand what is going on. I always think its funny when they understand a word that I can't pick out. Like when Braden asks Kegan to get something for him, and Kegan will go get it and I'm left wondering what he said. I'm glad someone understands! They are best friends and can't stand to be apart. They other day I had to take Kegan to the doctor for his allergies, and I decided to leave Braden at home. BIG MISTAKE! He screamed and cried for Braden the whole way there and during the entire appointment. It was so embarrassing. They thought he was scared, but I don't think they could tell he was saying "Braden" in between the sobs. Once we were in the car headed home to see Braden he calmed down. When Kegan leaves the room, Braden usually notices before me and asks for him. I hope they always stay good friends.
- They say the funniest phrases. I wish I could remember them all now! But one that I hear a lot is "Watch this!" Which is usually followed by them jumping off of something, or climbing, or standing on something... They have no fear and are too smart for their own good. Braden has figured out how to take the child locks off doors. It is so hard to keep things out of their reach!
-They love to pretend to "make dinner". Almost every toy or activity turns into cooking. They cook their cars, legos, playdough, sand... you name it-it becomes a food.
-Aside from being expert mess-makers, they have started to be good little helpers. Since they have a way of getting to most things, I can ask them to bring me things. Its starting to come in handy! They still tend to get lost on errands, but they are doing better!

Camping

This past weekend we went camping with Ryan's dad. They bought a trailer this summer, so it was fun to go use it. We went to Island Park, and it was nice and cold! Ryan shared a bed with Braden, and I shared a bed with Kegan. We both hope to avoid doing that again for a long time.

 The boys enjoyed throwing rocks into the water and could have done that all day if we let them. I love this pictures because I can just picture Braden in the top and then Kegan in the bottom one saying "what's that?" while pointing.That is the question I hear 50 million times/day. Even if they know darn well what it is, they ask. They also ask "what's that sound?" about 20 million times/day.

 Saturday morning we went to a little dam and walked around. It was gorgeous!

Every walk we took was about 10 minutes longer than it should have because of this... The boys thought they had to pick up every rock and stick they saw. Their pockets and hands were full! They had a hard time parting with their precious treasure. We told them they could only bring home one rock and one stick! However, just today I was visiting teaching and while we were talking Kegan reached into the diaper bag and pulled out a big rock. Apparently they have secret stashes that I'm not aware of.

Fair Time

I love the fair...food. I could spend so much money eating there! This year we decided to go on the rainiest day. When we woke up it was overcast, but then by the time we made it to Blackfoot it was pouring. Ryan and I had ponchos, then I used grocery bags to make little coverings for the boys. We looked great. But don't worry, it was worth it!

 

We saw the animals and tractors too.

 After a few hours, we had enough and headed back to our car. But of course, it wouldn't start. The boys had been playing in the car while we prepared to head out in the rain and had turned the brights on. We didn't notice until we got back our car wouldn't start. Luckily my brother Jeff was working at the Reed's Dairy booth and was able to come help us out.

Utah

We have taken quite a few trips to Utah to visit family these past few weeks. This is at my grandma Dahl's house. The boys had fun wandering around my Grandpa's farm, seeing the tractors and horses, and getting rides from Dad. They would have loved to see my Grandpa Dahl actually working out there.

 We met up with our good friends the Edvalsons at the This Is The Place Monument. It was miserably hot and not the best activity for three 2 yr olds, but we still had fun getting to see them!

 The best part for the boys was hands down the train. They loved it, and are still talking about it. "We rode train, remember?" Kegan always "reminds" us of things. These are some conversations we have had lately... Braden: How bout we get ice cream. Me: No, not today. Kegan: Its Sunday, remember? (if I say no, Kegan usually associates that with it being Sunday for some reason. Its funny.) Braden: How bout we go slides? Me: No, we have to go home now. Kegan: Its Sunday, remember? I promise I do say yes sometimes!

 But back to the trip... the trains were a hit and for days after they would fight over who got to wear the one train shirt we own. Why do we own 2 of most things including clothes? For that very reason!

 This is the little train they got to ride. Devin and Ryan looked so funny riding it!

 Panning for gold/splashing in the pond with a pan with cute little Avery

 This was the other highlight. Since I am deathly allergic to horses, Lindsay was nice enough to snap some pictures. It looks like they had fun! They still say they rode a brown horse. I guess most horses are brown, but it is funny that they remember that.

 More fun at the Dahl great-grandparents house

 Ryan and I snuck away one evening when we were down there for one of our favorite burgers. As you can see, it was on the Food Network's show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. We love it. My grandma Atkinson was nice enough to let the boys stay at her house so we could have a little break.