What we were up to last year

It is fun every once in awhile to look back and see how things have changed both in how kids have grown and the different activities from year to year. Here we our first snowfall last year on October 6- the kids were so excited they had to go out immediately. The snow was earlier than this year which came on Oct 28. Neither snow stayed long as kids were out playing again on the 16th.

Miriam was soo excited to push Rachel on the swing. I love having a "Jones pumpkin patch" ie all matching pumpkin shirts. I was definitely glad winter wasn't here to stay.

On October 8 we went to a cousins birthday party. He always has a party and this year he did a Halloween dress up one. Miriam was Snow White, 3 pics above of her twirling. Daddy and Mommy went Hawaiian as you see Eric on bottom left holding tiger Rachel. This may have been the only time we put her in a costume otherwise it was typical Halloween clothes. Aaron was the snow leopard as you see him on bottom right next to some haunted pillars, Aunt Nicole always goes way out on decorating the parties. We even have Grandpa dressed up as a cowboy of sorts. Another cousin was Hermione, we had some way cute costumes there. On top right you see Miriam, Aaron, and another cousin peering through the window at the swimming pool longingly- they do that every time we go there. Other pictures are the birthday boy with his cake and one of the games they played.

On October 7 weekend we went up to Logan to see Eric's friend Nate York. We went up after work Friday, stayed the night and then Saturday the guys went hiking. This picture is the kids eating french toast. Poor Aaron squashed smack in the middle of 4 girls. Zayda on the right is only 8 days older than Miriam. Then Kelcie is like 6 months younger than Aaron. We did Joy School together and hung out till the guys made it home from a cold hike (encountered snow). We went to dinner at Chuck-a-Rama including my cousin JJ and wife then headed home.

We made our monthly (or so) trip to Delta on October 14. One of the first things they always have to do upon arrival is go down to the toy room to plan, and often its to have a tea party. Miriam loves tea parties though this one is more unusual to have some dollies as guests. I loved seeing Aaron "cutting the bread".  Poor Aaron got stuck in a slightly feminine ghosty shirt to match Miriam, but he doesn't mind. Somehow we don't usually get a lot of pictures in Delta.

It has become a tradition to go down to the Red Barn in Santaquin to go the hay ride and pick a pumpkin from the patch. Every year they seem to add more attractions. We gathered up the cousins for an outing on October 13, 2011.

It was Rachel's first time and Miriam took good care of her. Middle top is Miriam and Aaron on the hay ride over. On the right they are picking their pumpkins- Grandma has a rule that you have to be able to carry your own pumpkin. Bottom corners are Liz helping the kids through the maze of old storage containers. Sure glad the big kids help out! Middle left is an own tractor they added this year for kids to "drive" on.

I'm not sure if she was dressing up on October 18 or just getting ready to be a missionary. The hat is from her Strawberry Shortcake costume, and the dress is from her dress up trunk. I love that she still wants to carry around her Book of Mormon.