Fall Fun

We had a busy but very fun October.  We were lucky to have family and friends in town visiting throughout the month.  I think we had more outings last month than we had the whole previous year put together.

During Samara's fall break, we were able to finally visit the children's museum at Gateway, which is awesome!  I heard they are building one in Lehi and I'm so excited.  We also made it to the pumpkin patch/maze and cornbellies.

Pumpkin Patch

Despite how unenthusiastic they look, they did enjoy the pumpkin patch and activities. 

Cornbelly's

 Cornbellies is so fun.  I can't believe how many fall/halloween/mazes/haunted house type things they have here.

Hotel Transylvania

Movie time with cousins.  We love our cousins who are close by and we love when the others come to visit.  

 Pumpkin Carving

What is October without pumpkins galore?  We carved a little too early and they rotted.  So we did it again and Ben was a little tired of being the resident 'carver'. 

I thought everyone like mashed potatoes but neither of the girls do--even when they are little ghosts.

Riverwoods Fall Festival

Riverwoods shopping area is trying to re-invent/promote themselves.  They have various fun activities and festivals.  This was the first year for this one.  There were food and crafts stalls, a petting zoo, bounce houses, and carriage ride.   Thank you Lena and family for a fun evening and the cute photo!

BYU Museum of Art

The BYU Museum of Art has awesome free programs.  Art projects are the best especially when there is no set-up or clean-up involved on my part!  Lizzie and I went to a toddler program called "Van Gogh to Play Dough" and loved it.  The first Saturday of the month is an open family day.  We all went to together and were apparently so cute and coordinated that they featured us on their website.  :) 

The Secret of the Wings

 The new Tinkerbell movie was a straight-to-video release so we held a premiere on early out day with a few neighbor friends. 

It's a cute show and was a lot of fun, even if the kids didn't like my gingersnap pumpkin ice cream sandwich cookies.  Such unrefined palates in kids these days.

Colonial Halloween Party

My sister-in-law hosts a themed Halloween party every year.  This year it was 'The Headless Horseman' theme set in colonial America.

The party was great and every detail was perfect.  It was held in a barn and we had a horse carriage ride.   I would NOT have fared well living in that time.  The clothes are so cumbersome and uncomfortable...not to mention the itchy wigs.  Ben said, "I don't know how you people with hair do it.  It's so uncomfortable!"  Ha!  Thankfully, real hair is much more pleasant.

The Dinosaur Museum

Our friends were here visiting from Singapore so that has been a good excuse to get out.  We've loved having them and wish they didn't have to go back.  The day after Lizzie said, "I wanna see Noah and Gage again and eat Cheetos with them."  Forget the dinosaur bones.

Wheeler Farm

Be warned that when they sell you food for the ducks and geese there and tell you, "Be careful.  The birds are wild and aggressive," they are not kidding. 

Thank you Malia for these two photos.  The latter one is an all-time favorite!  It totally shows Samara's personality.

Halloween Train Ride

We went on a train ride on the Heber Creeper and it was so fun despite the stale pumpkin cookie they gave us.  Isn't their baby is so cute?!  I think she is wondering why Lizzie is glaring at her mom and why Samara thinks she is an "air bender".  

Is there anything cuter than kiddos in their costumes?!

The train was 100 years old so we didn't go too far.  It was a but rickety but was scenery was lovely. 

 Afterwards, we got to paint pumpkins, which was great because the girls could do it all on their own (as opposed to carving).  Lizzie loved pumpkins and told everyone that day, "I'm  dough-ing to da pumptin patch to get a pumptin dats not too hebby!"  Unfortunately, all the pumpkins were too heavy for her so she may have smashed a few when she dropped them.  There was also a haunted train car--small enough and just spooky enough for little ones.

Yay for fall!  We are already looking forward to next year.

Tricks and Treats

We had a busy and fun Halloween.  Can't my kids stay little forever?

 The girls woke up with a letter and box of health-ish cold cereal (a treat since they typically get oatmeal for breakfast) and a letter from the Great Pumpkin.  The Great Pumpkin told them he'd leave a new toy in exchange for their candy if they left it on the front porch Halloween night.  They picked out a few favorite candies and had plenty of treats during the day.  The Great Pumpkin left some bristle blocks and they are thrilled with them.  I did this as much for me as for them because I have NO control when it comes to little chocolate bars.  None.  Zero.  I didn't want to end up with gestational diabetes!  We got the costco bag of the bite-sized chocolate bars and I think I ate at least 50 in the course of two days.  They are evil!  They stare up at you with their chocalatey eyes saying, "eat me!  eat me!  I'm so small.  Take just one more."  Then the butterfingers feel bad you ate the snickers and the PB cups feel left out and before I knew it, I'd eaten a zillion of them.

At first, Samara reasoned that Linus must have sent the letter.  But then she said, "I think you're the Great Pumpkin, mom.  The letter looks like you made it on the computer and the Great Pumpkin doesn't even have any arms to make something on the computer."  She was thrilled to trade candy for a toy and Lizzie doesn't know any different yet.  I think it will be a harder sell for her in the future. :)

Lizzie and I got to help out at Samara's class party.  Samara promptly found a place on the rug for Lizzie.  I love when they get along!

We were in charge of the craft center and made haunted houses.  Love that designer/blogger.  Her stuff is so sweet.

I love seeing the cute costumes everyone choses. 

In the afternoon, we were off to the healthy trunk-or-treat.  We went last year and will definitely make it a tradition.  Each trunk has a game they have to play before they get their treat or toy--a little delayed gratification.  The kids all seems to appreciate what they get more and have fun playing the games.  And it's nice for the girls to have treats that I don't mind them eating.

Cute Cousins

 I sure love my little trick-or-treaters!

We did a practice trick-or-treat in the morning and I asked Lizzie what do you say after someone gives you candy (meaning "thank  you")?  She promptly replied, "Can I eat it?"  Me: "No, we say thank you."  Lizzie: "Otay, mommy.  Tank ooohhh!  Now, can I eat my lolli-pop?  Right now?"  She is a delightful girl!

Lizzie doesn't care about getting quantity.  She is all about the moment and opens the treat the second she gets it. 

And why not?  Especially when they are those little chocolate bars.  

Then we were off to the ward trunk-or-treat.

I made the flyer and I think that is how Samara knew I was also the Great Pumpkin. :)
It was nice to not have to worry about dinner.  But it was a little redundant to me that they gave out ice creams bars for dessert right before everyone headed out to the trunks, no?  Do you really need dessert when you are getting a bucket full of candy?

I'll end with the Halloween moon.   Hope your day was full of fun tricks and treats too!

Awfully Blessed

One glorious and fateful evening after visiting our favorite camera shop and having a delicious dinner of German Spaetzle, Debbie and I wandered around visiting and went into the mall.  Debbie noticed the "awfully chocolate" store.  She had gotten their chocolate cake on her birthday and her husband had the chocolate Hei Ice Cream.  She liked the ice cream better than the cake so we promptly ordered a scoop.  Or was it two?

This ice cream is unbelievably good.  It's rich and dark and not too sweet.  It comes in a cute chinese takeout box.  The little green paddle they give you to eat it with is just the right shape to help you savor every bite.  I was sold after my first taste.  I had to have it every time I went to the city and found myself near a mall with an awfully chocolate store.  Or at least within a few MRT stops. :)  It truly is the perfect chocolate ice cream--no candy or nuts needed.  Even Ben says so and he doesn't eat ice cream without "a crunch".

My last trip for the chocolaty goodness. :(

Singapore friends--if you haven't been, GO.  Don't even bother collecting the $200 as you pass go, just go try it NOW!  You will thank me. 

I've been anxiously waiting a visit from my dear friend, Jessie, and her family.  She's the best and I could spend days straight talking to her about everything from ice cream to traveling to raising kids.

You can imagine how awfully delighted I was when she pulled out a black "awfully chocolate" bag.  I was literally in tears.  Not only did I get to spend the evening with her sweet family, but I also had a special delivery straight from Singapore carefully and lovingly transported across the world in an overhead compartment.

She brought me (among other sweet gifts) awfully chocolate mooncakes.  I can't think of a more perfect gift.  Mid-autumn festival is a delightful holiday.  

"The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the four most important Chinese festivals.  The festival is for lunar worship and moon watching, when mooncakes are regarded as an indispensable delicacy. Mooncakes are offered between friends or on family gatherings while celebrating the festival.  Typical mooncakes are round or rectangular pastries, measuring about 10 cm in diameter and 4–5 cm thick. A rich, thick filling usually made from red bean or lotus seed paste is surrounded by a thin (2–3 mm) crust and may contain yolks from salted duck eggs. Mooncakes are usually eaten in small wedges accompanied by Chinese tea."  Info from Wikipedia 

Traditional mooncakes are gorgeous, but I can't say they taste that good (to me).  Awfully chocolate mooncakes, however, are scrumptious.  They've got looks and a sweet spirit!  No lotus paste in these--only pure unadulterated rich brownie and butterscotch.  Heaven.  I enjoyed every last "wedge" minus the Chinese tea and enjoying them with family and friends.  I sort of ignored the sharing part.

Samara's carrot was jealous of all the face time the mooncakes were getting.  

Isn't the bambo box gorgeous?!  I felt like royalty every time I opened it to sneak a mooncake bite.  I have the box along with my mooncake mold displayed up on the kitchen shelves.  Every time I look at them,  I am reminded that I am oh so awfully blessed to have such wonderful people and experiences in my life.  Thank you Jessie and Sarah for the sweet gift that will always remind me how blessed I am!!

St. George

We took a little trip to visit Ben's Grandma over conference weekend.  She's the best!  Grandma is the most loving person and has a magical ability to make you feel like the most important person in the world.  The girls immediately felt this and loved being at her home.  They also enjoyed playing with their 2nd cousins (is that what a child of your cousin is called?).  Ben's cousin was so sweet to host a dinner for us all.

Isn't Grandma lovely?  We always learn a little more about Ben's sweet Mom and enjoy every moment spent with her.  I imagine his Mom would be the same kind of wonderful grandma.

Whenever we take photos with her I always have as many of her looking at the crew as at the camera.  Can't you just tell how much she loves us? 

Her house is filled with things that Ben remembers from his childhood.

The girls loved petting her pets. 

Look at this sweet quilt with a square for each family member.  What a great idea!  Ben's mom helped make it.  Here are Ben and his Mom's squares.

Her towels are too pretty to use.  She told me these are still like new because no one wants to use the fancy towels when they visit. :)

Grandma sends cards to each grandchild, their spouse and the great-grandkids.  I think the number is up to 177 a year.  Each of us looks forward to her cards and phone call on our birthday.  All these markers and pens sum up her boundless love and the time she spends making sure we all feel it. 

As an added bonus, we also got spend time with our singapore cousins.  Love and miss these sweet kids!  And it was so fun catching up and laughing with their parents.

Samara has stickers on her little suitcase of all the countries she's been to.  On the way home, she asked if we could get a "St. George"sticker.  We had to explain that not only were we not in a different country but we weren't even in a different state.  Seriously, how can we be in the same country after traveling for four whole hours? :)

Cougar Run

BYU homecoming was this weekend.  The game was a huge disappointment.  

But spending time with out-of-town family made up for it.

Samara did the Cougar Run for the 2nd year.  I lugged my camera both years.  Last year I didn't pack my memory cards and this year my battery was dead.  Thankfully Ben had his phone.  Lizzie brought Samara's "niece" to cheer her on.  Next year Lizzie will probably do the race too.

Seeing the kids lined up brings tears to my eyes.  They are so cute!

Samara finished the 400M race in 2 min 29 seconds, a 10 minute mile pace--much faster than I can do right now.  Go Samara!

She was so serious while she was running but very happy to see us at the end.  And we were all so proud and glad to see her.

Two cute cousins at the finish line. 

September 25th

September 25th is an important day to me.  It's the day my two favorite men were born--Ben and my Dad.  Ben's Grandpa and our nephew also share the birthday so it's a popular day to be born in our family.  While we were building the house, Ben and I weren't always exactly what Mr. Ryder would call "sympatico" with one another.  I may or may not have chucked him a store bought cinnamon roll (his choice of b-day cake) with a muttered "Happy Birthday" last year.  Pretty lame, I know.  I wanted to make up for it this year so I enlisted my master party planner, Samara, to help.  This is the list she came up with/dictated to me.

Does she know her dad or what?  Samara woke up at 5:15 AM, tiptoed into the room and said, "Mom, I tiptoed in so I wouldn't wake Dad up.  Can we decorate the house now?"  I stalled her for an hour while I smiled about her excitement and thoughtfulness in my half-sleep.  I'm happy to report that we did everything on the list except the Piñata and the Spiderman on the web.  We substituted that for a Spiderman-themed breakfast in bed.  And the book Ben got/wanted was a novel not about Spiderman.  But that's only because he already owns all the Spiderman comics.  

Notice the couch in the background.  Samara cleaned the "carpet room", aka family room, while I cleaned the kitchen.  She even draped the blanket over the couch and lined all the pillows up neatly on it.  She was so proud to show that off when he got home.  Lizzie, well she gives him a present everyday of the year, because whenever she sees anything to do with Spiderman she says, "That's Daddy Spiderman".  And that makes Ben more proud than anything else.  Basically, he's taught her everything she needs to know.

The students, who work in his lab, gifted him the Flash t-shirt.  And our niece got him an Avatar t-shirt.  In case you didn't notice, he's a pretty big superhero fan.  

When Ben blew out the candle, Samara whispered in my ear, "I know what he wished for.  He wants every birthday to be just like this one."  Tears.

I would actually love to learn the art of cake making someday.  I really admire that talent/skill and love seeing friends' creative cakes.  For now though, it's a good thing Ben is easy to please and all he wants are cinnamon rolls.  Plus these are homemade AND they were nicely handed to him this year.

Now, for my dad's party.

 

One of the things I love most about living here again is being able to visit my Dad's grave.  It helps me feel closer to him.  My Dad loved fruit.  Loved it.  After Ben and I got married, we'd often find a fruit salad or peeled and sliced fresh peaches on our doorstep, when we got home from school/ work.    Every year since I can remember, My dad would buy 20+ green river watermelons (the best kind in UT) and then have us kids take them around to neighbors and tell them that we grew them in our garden.  Our garden was a slab or concrete so I thought all the neighbors knew that this was just my dad being his quirky self.  Until one day (I was adult at this point), I ran into a neighbor who told me how much she missed getting one of my dad's garden watermelons each year.   Dear me!  I chuckled and told her that we never grew a single melon in our garden because we didn't have one.  I knew her pretty well so we both got a good laugh out of it.  

 I loved the Buddhist custom that I saw throughout SE Asia of leaving out fruit as an offering/gift for ancestors.  I decided if it's good enough for them and has been practiced for centuries then it's good enough for me.  Last summer, we were passing through the city of Green River on our way home from Colorado, so I, of course, had to stop and pick one up for my dad.  That started a little tradition of taking his favorite fruits to the cemetery when they are in season.  I know when my dad sees it from heaven, he lets out his hearty belly laugh that I miss so much and says, "Oh Cherylkins.  Love ya.  Love ya.  Love ya.  Squeeze ya.  Squeeze ya.  Squeeze ya.  Miss ya.  Miss ya.  Miss ya."  Those aren't typos.  When my dad really meant something he repeated it three times. :) 

I won't lie and say that I don't feel sorry for myself sometimes because he is not around to shower the girls with affection and attention.  He would have been tickled listening to me go on and on about all the clever and darling things they do and say.  And how he would have teased them.  I know they would have begged to go to his house all the time.

 Jei-Jei, which do you think makes it faster to heaven, balloons or fruit??