Fall 2016

Well...what is it they say?  Better late than never?  I hope that's true.  Here are some random pics of our Autumn experiences.  It was actually quite a busy season with Leah's and Dax's birthdays, a vacation to Moab, Thanksgiving and Leah's baptism, but for the purpose of someplace to drop random pics, it seems like a relatively uneventful Fall.

 

Dax has learned to pout and cry when he doesn't get his way.

Luckily, he is still a very loving kid.  He loves his Mother.

Molly and Sarah took Emerson and Dax to HeeHaw Farms.  Look at Dax's
face.  What a punk! 

Leah is mastering 2nd grade like a boss!  She loves her glasses and for some reason in this
school pic, she has a crooked Wallace and Grommet type smile.  She's still a cutie.

Leah and Dax, along with their cousins got to use their Boondocks Bucks
that Uncle Jake and Aunt Erin gave them last Christmas.  They all had fun.

Marley is getting fat.  She seems completely content sitting in her kennel all
day.  This is a rare photo of her playing. 

Dax singing in the car wash.

We had lunch with Caitlin and her family...where are those pics?!  Anyways, they always
shower the kids with gifts.  This time Leah got a 10 foot snake.  I have no idea what is all
over her shirt.  Snake poop?

Sarah and Leah made a trip to Colorado for Leah's cousin's baptism.
Dax and Daddy had a fun boy's weekend.  First on the agenda, way
too much ice cream at JCW's. 

Leah and her cousin, Lily.  Lily was baptized a month before Leah.  They are about the same
age and get along very well. 



For Thanksgiving, Leah was tasked with decorating a turkey any way
she wanted.  She expressed much gratitude this Thanksgiving for the
service of those brave men and women of the US Armed Forces, so
she chose to make the turkey an American soldier.  I love this sweet
and sensitive little girl.

Sarah's cousin, Olie, got married.  Here am I and Aunt Kate
(and a blurry Jake) posing for a selfie at the reception.

 

Here is Sarah and I at the reception.  It was no shave November, or Mow-vember,
so I sported a beard all month and up until Christmas. Am I a lucky dude or
what?!  Look at that beautiful woman by my side!

 

Another selfie with everybody. 
L to R: Josh sneezing on me, Marie, Me, Sarah, Erin, Molly, Jakes eyebrow

 

This kid loves to laugh.

Fall means family portraits for Christmas cards.  I hate getting my pic taken.  I have such a beautiful
family though and Sarah does such a great job with our Christmas cards. 





The kids photos are used by JCPenney Photo Studio in their advertising album.  Leah is proud.



Of course, it wouldn't be Fall in Utah without the leaves turning and falling. 

Of course, it wouldn't be Fall in Utah without the snow falling.

I love playing with these two.

And of course the tradition of "Daddy Daughter Paradise Bakery Soda
and Cookie Day" continued through the season.

Leah talked us into roller skating at her school party.

Dax has a bad habit of coming out of the bathroom naked.  It doesn't
matter where he is or who might be around.  He waltzes out of the
bathroom with underwear and pants in hand, saying, "I need help".
We've been working on him dressing himself.  At least this time he
got his pants on.  They're backwards, but they're on nonetheless.

The kids had their first eye appointment.  Dax's eye stayed dilated for a long time.

 

Leah ended up getting glasses as she has a stigmatism.  She said her retina is
shaped like a football because we watch too much football in our house.  ;)

 

Dax didn't need glasses, but he found some to wear anyway.

 

Mom and Dax had a fun time at Thanksgiving Points Farmland.

 

Sarah took the kids to the aquarium. 



Dad's were on both of our minds this Fall as both of our Fathers died
in November.  It has been 2 years since my Dad's passing and 14 years since
Sarah's Dad's passing.  We are constantly trying to speak of them in such a way
that the kids will feel like they know their Grandpa Bud and Grandpa John. 
Obviously, they knew my Dad, so the key is to keep whatever memories they
have alive and in their memories.  With Sarah's Dad, it's important that they
get to know him even though he is gone.   

 

Fall is a great season in Utah.  We did not enjoy it enough, but we had plenty to do that kept us busy.