Weekend at the Cabin without Mom and Dad

Our kids are very blessed to have some pretty awesome grandparents. Geoff's parents started this tradition last year and it is something the kids really look forward too. Geoff and I really look forward to it too! They went back in October for three days and had the best time. I knew what was happening almost every minute because Nicole learned how to text with her Grandma's phone. Every time she got a splinter or the went on a treasure hunt and even the occasional, "I miss yous". I hardly had time to miss her. It was fun to get those cute messages from her.

The kids with Grammy Jo and cousin Natalie (and Coco).

There was lots of quad riding. Katie riding the quad with Grandpa and Coco.

The kids found a tarantula by the lake and were playing with it. Katie is all girl and spiders are not her friends. She was trying to climb up Grammy's leg.

Joey and Grandpa after his catch.

Nicole was really into it. She loves to fish.

I don't really know where she gets this, but she loves to play with bugs, catch lizards and cut the heads off fish. See her lovingly look at her fish head.

Joey preferred to hold his fish in a bag. They brought the fish home and they got to eat them the next day.

Nicole is the true nature girl in the family. She loves being up at the cabin.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa White for the fun trip to the cabin. The kids can't wait until next year!

Our Temple Tree

On Saturday we had a special experience at the Mesa Temple. Each primary in our Stake was given the chance to earn money to buy a tree and plant in on the temple grounds. The kids earned money by doing extra jobs and turned it in at church. Our ward's tree is right in front of the temple president's house. This is the before shot.

Nicole and Haylie trying to stay warm. We were there early in the morning and it was chilly.

Bishop Hamblin trying to break up all the roots. Our spot was full of rocks and big roots from a huge tree nearby. There was a lot of symbolism in this activity. It was neat for the parents to watch as well as the kids.

Nicole waiting for her turn to dig.

Maddie hanging out on Daddy.

Maddie was a grumpy girl, but I do love this picture. And I do love him!
Nicoles turn to dig.

Joey getting into it.

Katie with a little help from Bishop.

This is the after picture.

Our tree took a little bit longer to plant than other wards. But each group was faced with a different challenge. We had the roots from another tree, one ward hit a pipe. Some wards had bigger trees to plant and needed a bigger hole dug. But in a little while the temple had 11 new trees to help beautify the grounds.

The primary in front of "our" tree.

I think it would be fun to maybe come back over the years and get pictures of the kids in front of their tree. I hope it is something they won't forget.

Carving Pumpkins, Costumes and Candy, Candy, Candy!

I know Halloween is a fun time for my kids. Not so much for me but I go along with it. We started the week carving pumpkins. Joey had to do the whole thing by himself.

He did a pretty good job. The nose did fall off a few minutes after it was finished.

Nicole was a baby this year. She was part of a set of quadruplets. More on that fun story to come.

Joey was an army man.

Katie was a cute cat.

Maddie was Tinkerbell. She loved her costume. She had a huge smile on her face when I put it on her. She is all girl!

Nicole and her friends decide they wanted to be "The Cluff Quadruplets". We live next door to a family with one year old quads, so they were each one of the babies. They were so cute in their diapers and pacifiers.

Here are the girls with the real quads at our ward trunk or treat. The babies were dressed up as M&M's. They were so cute.


This was after trick or treating. Maddie was done with pictures by then. She just wanted the candy.

It's too bad they figure out what all this candy and treat thing means so fast.

"I'm just going to have one more!"