The Thrill of the Firsts

Ahoy and Yeehaw!

All hands on deck!

Or on your horse. Giddy-up!

Urban Dare- Happy Birthday Peter!

See those clues? Put yourself in Hollywood, read the clues, and figure out the fastest way to get to each spot, take a picture there or complete the dare, get on the phone and ask friends to google the clues, run, run, run. I saw this race advertised on line a few months ago and thought it was right up Peter's alley, so we had an "amazing race" with Becky and Joseph on Halloween for his birthday.

Clue #7- Shaking a dog's hand

Clue #1- Richard Pryor

Clue #7- Pretend proposal

Clue #3- Silver Spoon

Clue #11- On the Road

Clue #10- The clock

Clue #8- The big chair

Clue #5- The LOVE topiary!! (This thing was HARD to find!)

Finish line! Sweaty, stinky, happy. We came in 7th of 50- look out for the Lambs next year- we'll win the cruise! I love you Hubby! You've had a great 29 years!

Happy Hauntings

Meet Mr Pumpkin Head and The Conductor.

Sorry- it's the best one we could get right after Austin's nap!

The neighbor's bounce house made them smile!

My sister Karsen and I got to be chaperone's at the youth dance at the church- a fortune teller and Peekaboo Street. Great match!

We had a soup + rolls dinner at Bishop Grossen's before the dance. I love soups in the Fall!

A very creative costume on the right: blackmail.

I went as a nurse to the ward Trunk-or-Treat- and then I went to work. Creative, I know.

Last week we had our final goodbye party for Della, our favorite neighbor, who moved to a senior community.

It was a good excuse to get all the neighbors out- some of whom didn't know each other's names after years of being neighbors! Hence the name tags. But we LOVE our neighbors and they love us- well, they love our kids anyway.

Exchanges

Everyone should have an Allison S. in their lives. This woman is superwoman, hilarious, unconditionally loving, and stalwart in the faith. While Peter and I go to singing practice for our stake Christmas concert "Sing Noel" on Sunday nights, Ally takes our boys to play with her grandson over at her house, a boy she's raising even after already having 4 kids of her own. In exchange we take her two youngest girls (such cutie patooties) to sing in the children's choir. Her husband Mike was so generous tonight- he took these photos of the kids at the park for fun, burned up a CD, and had it ready for us when we came to pick the boys up- who does that? Anywho, tender mercies. Choir practice is MUCH easier when you're not chasing two active boys through the pews and trying to learn music at the same time!

Ally and Sladen

There is no "buddy" like a brother.

In flight

I love Ally's hands in this picture- go on, Gabe, you can do it!

Hey-o!

Sunset- And that's a wrap.

Favorite quote from Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

"I've come to believe that how we choose to live with pain, or injustice, or death.. is the true measure of the Divine within us. Some, like Crossen, choose to do harm to themselves and others. Others, like Kenji, bear up their pain and help others bear it. I used to wonder, why did God give children leprosy? Now I believe: God doesn't give anyone leprosy. He gives us, if we choose to use it, the spirit to live with leprosy, and with the imminence of death. Because it is in our own mortality that we are most Divine." -Sister Catherine, p. 307

Joy in the Journey

Our very attentive children during an effective scripture study. Live in the moment, find joy in the journey. Someday they'll remember...I hope.

Last weekend we had the pleasure of Uncle Geoff's company (including being treated to dinner at Roy's!!! Yes, the shutome was excellent, as was the souffle.) And to make it better, the Cougars won their game! Thanks Peter for organizing tickets!

Peter would die to be out at ESPN Game Day in Provo this weekend- anyone going?!

Flying funnels and hats with Gabe

His latest antics:

saying "da" to describe anything

climbing on tables

squishing his nose and breathing in and out really fast

pushing buttons

turning lights on and off

Austin and his play group buddies Charlie and Chase (Marissa wasn't there yet :( )cutting Halloween shapes out of cheese and tortillas- a bit easier than cookie dough. ;)

A proud creator of a "fall tree"

Translation of some Austin-ese:

ayibadit mo pees- a little bit more please (how much he eats)

tasey junios- Casey Junior (what we watch every day)

fwee- three (how old we talk about being every day even though b-day is still 4 months away)

pawt- park (where we go every day)

These pics are from way back in September I think, but we went down to Dana Point for the Tall Ships Festival with the Jensens and I forgot to post some pics of the amazing ships.

Maybe next year we'll pay the $30 to go on the evening cruise aboard the ships. Cannon fire included. Gorgeous.

Sleepy Gabey

The Hunter Family in Del Mar

Brought to you by PAPA!! After a recent heart health scare and a couple of coronary stents, we are SO glad to have our Papa around! Never take family for granted. Some of our favorite things about Papa are:

His big hugs he gives when he sees you

His story telling

His weekly letters he sends us in his own handwriting and trying to decipher them

The way he plans to make things special

His shuffle- it puts any newborn to sleep

The way he purses his lips when he thinks

Playing games and him heading off to bed half way through- early to bed, early to rise!

How much he loves learning from the Prophet and sharing stories with us about him

His precision and excellence in his surgical work

His emphasis on education

His counsel to help someone every day and how he lives what he teaches

His double-hand wave he gives when he waves goodbye

We love you Papa!

We had a family night out by the fire pit where the kids acted out scripture charades- I was quite impressed with the results!

Austin figured out how to act out the Tree of Life- his imagination is starting to really kick in: role- playing here we come! "Mama, you be the mom, and I'll be the Dad and Gabe can be the baby...Bye Bye, I'm off to work, have a good day mom!"

Roasting marshmallows out by the fire pit

Searching for cool things in the tide pools of La Jolla

I love the colors of the San Diego coast

Graham-bo

What does it feel like? And taste like?

The cousin hang-out- except for baby Wyatt who preferred the cuddly couch.

Dinner at Il Fornaio- Have you had their Sweet Potato Ravioli?!!!!
Cousin lovin
Beautiful sisters
Nana and Papa give the best tickles
In case you couldn't tell, Sophie really enjoys food! Just like her Mom!
And we finally renewed the Disneyland pass- so if we have any visitors in the next year, we'll go with you! We caught a cameo with Minnie in her Halloween regalia.

Silly

"Orange" you glad it's orange season?

The ritual post-meal wipe down

When Austin gets ahold of the camera...

So this is what we look like to him. ;)

His teddy bear back pack

Watching family movies on the computer

My beautiful YW group en route to the Newport Beach Temple.

Blast from the 2003 folk dance past

Emilee Tikalsky sent me these pictures from the college days...who's going back for the 50th CAW reunion?! We're debating...

One of the best parts of Folk Dance- wearing the costumes! The worst- all the make up! Me, Katie Rynearson, Morgan Olson sporting some of the more elaborate pieces

Em and Shane Wright, Peter and I in the courting phase- Yes, we both had hair. A wise man once said "God created a few perfect heads in the world, and to everyone else he gave hair." I agree! ;)

The Mek Hungarian men- Trevor Austin, Bob Gardner, Peter, Willis Pueblo, Greg Crockett

Nadiiyan (India)- Hillary Morgan, Alex Shadle, me, Emily Wright, Jasmine Gardner. No, I did not pierce my nose. ;)

Group shot at World of Dance performing Cry of the Celts (Irish). Oh, the days that I had awesome calf muscles!

Lollipop, Lollipop, Oh Lolly, Lolly, Lolly

Have you ever tried pinning down toddlers for a photo shoot?! When the going gets tough, the tough get suckers.

Thanks to Stephanie Johnson of Bella Dolce Photography for shooting these at the Montage for us!

Our neighbor Wes made the boys these wooden cars in his garage shop. A rare skill anymore.

Create

I needed this. Does anyone else struggle with not knowing more about our Heavenly Mother? I yearn to know her better so that i can more fully understand my future role. This talk helped me understand a little better what she might be like. A Creator. This talk too was helpful and answered some questions I've been pondering lately. Hope they bring you joy.

Labor Day in Texas- Go Cougs!

Superman!!

After missing our 6:50 am flight out of LAX last Friday, we were glad to arrive in Austin via Dallas on two stand-by flights to visit our old stomping grounds and friends. We were lucky enough to stay with the Gardners (Thank you!!) and had fun watching the kids play around together, eating delicious home-made Cafe Rio food and Chuy's, watching summer lightning storms and explaining thunder to Austin, enjoying a BBQ at the Walburgers where Austin jumped into the kiddie pool fully clothed, and catching up with friends at Mighty Fine Burgers. Talk about a deja-vu. By Sunday we had to remind ourselves that we do in fact live in California and aren't a "part of that world" any more. I hope they get more rain soon so that the parks can turn green again!

I loved these super hero costumes they had- they seemed easy to make- Halloween ideas...

Good ol' Gatti-land (lovingly called "germ fest" by Jordan)- who cares if you put money in the machine. The kids jsut like getting on the machines!

This is how we play Skee-Ball in our family. Totally legit.

Nakey growling lions- oh my! Don't worry, Gabe will protect us.

Both boys traveled well and Austin even got invited to come into the cockpit by the pilot out of LAX- are you sure he's not a terrorist?! ;)

What was the real reason for the travel?...

Cougar Football. BYU vs Oklahoma. Dallas Cowboys stadium. Peter was there. Possibly the most memorable day of his life.

Here's to a tradition of enjoying college football for years to come. Thanks Steve!

Happy Birthday Gabe the Babe!

Peekaboo!

Cookie Monster would have been proud of the cake eating Gabe did on his birthday!

Great use of a cardboard box- make it into and airplane!

Gabe is gnawing on a carrot, and he'll be gnawing forever because he still has no teeth!

Our favorite things about Gabers!

His giggly toothless smile

His speedy crawl when he's headed toward the bath or the toy room

His "Jesus" sign- one of the only ones he knows so far (he claps, signs please, thank you, and says dada)

His 2-3 hour naps

His easy-going temperment

The way lights fascinate him

The way he cuddles and rests his head on mom's shoulder

We love you!