3 Weeks in Virginia

Paige's husband Zach has been deployed with the Air Force in Africa since July. I was able to come to Virginia for 3 weeks to be with Paige, give her a little break and spend time with my cute nephews.

The first few days were so much fun! I love these little boys so much and the weather in Virginia in the Fall is absolutely beautiful!

Then I got sick. I was so tired for about 4 days, throwing up and not able to eat anything. Such a terrible time to get sick. I basically quarantined myself in my room so I wouldn't get anyone else sick but I was so sad I was leaving Paige on her own when I was supposed to be there to help!

 Feeling much better for the Ward Trunk or Treat party. Paige put together this amazing family costume. It was really fun.

Love this sister of mine so much...even if everyone in her Ward thought I was her mom!

Watching Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin

While the older boys were in school Ali and I had some fun adventures on our own to give his mom a little break.

At the playground with all the kiddos

This little face is the cutest!

The Ward Primary program, best Sunday of the year. All the boys did such a great job with their parts and singing the songs with all the other kids

On a ferry boat ride over to a pumpkin patch

The pumpkin patch was definitely at the end of the season...there weren't any large pumpkins at all but the boys managed to find a few small pumpkins and squash to bring home

Hyrum mailed me my election ballot from Oregon so I could vote in the Presidential election. The results were NOT what I wanted at all but I'm glad I got to do my part.

Carving and painting the pumpkins

Paige and Ali and I went to historic Jamestown. What a really excellent place to come and hear and see how Westerners lived when they first came to America. There was also a great Native American village with handcrafted homes and tools. The volunteers did such a great job explaining everything.

Halloween night, the boys are ready to trick or treat!

Paige stayed with her older boys who were so much faster than Ali. I got to help this guy trick or treat and it was so wonderful. He really loved it!

Paige took a little weekend break to the coast by herself so it was just me and the boys for a few days. I'm so glad I could give Paige that break. Being a single mom is no joke and she does an amazing job but we all need time to reset and recharge.

We went to the Mariners Museum...what a great place! The boys each got a map with a scavenger hunt and we found 17 out of the 20 items!

Graham drew a pirate ship with a Mommy and baby sea monster:)

We went to a fantastic petting zoo "Hunt Club Farm" the boys had a blast!

I caught a couple of chicken so the boys could hold them. They were so brave

Their favorite was the bird house. They had little sticks with honey and bird seed on them and the birds would fly down and land right on them to eat from the sticks. They all loved this!

After the farm we went to Virginia Beach. We had to stop for some yummy ice cream first!

The boys were cautious at first but they all ended up fully playing in the water. Remy was way out jumping in the waves. Not bad for November!

We went to Virginia Living Museum and the boys had a great time dressing up

Playing around at the museum

Ali turned 3! Paige did such a great job with his cute birthday cake.

It was so hard to say goodbye to these boys and their mama. I'm so glad I could stay for so long and I hope I was able to give Paige a little break and help her out a bit. I wish they didn't live so far away but I'm grateful I could make it work to come out.

October Fun

 I was traveling a lot during October but things were happening in Oregon as well.  

After a full summer of zoom meetings for his Japanese tutor while she was in Japan Julian finally got to meet up again with her in Portland to learn. Hyrum took him out for dinner to celebrate.

I hosted book club. We read 4 short stories and discussed them all. They were all spooky stories, of course

Julian is doing such a great job driving. He is taking drivers ed and doing well in that class.

There was no school on a Friday so Julian and I met up with my friend Cami and her daughter Malia for a hike around Silver Falls State Park. Malia and Julian are in the same grade and it was fun to hear them chatting together the whole hike.

After the hike Julian and I went to Corvallis to say hi to the twins

We took the Skinny Dan out of the water for the season. It's always a sad day when we take the boat out of the water but we had gorgeous weather, so that was good

Katrina, Steve and I went to a bar in downtown Portland full of other Bills fans to watch a game. The Bills WON!!!

Julian and Hyrum out for a walk on Sauvie Island

Hyrum took the boys to a pumpkin patch to pick out some pumpkins. I'm sad I missed out on this tradition, I was in Virginia helping Paige with her kids.

Silly boys:)

Apple cider donuts for the win!

The twins finished pumpkins

Hyrum and Julian went for a bike ride...

...it was a "bit" muddy

Julian carving his pumpkin...

...turned out GREAT!

Happy Halloween! Julian was the official candy passer outer again this year!