HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

SO I HAVE WANTED TO POST A COUPLE THINGS LATELY AND JARED HAD TO DOWNLOAD THE PICTURES FOR ME, WHICH HE DID AND I JUST NEVER GOT AROUND TO BLOGGING SO THERE ARE GONNA BE A COUPLE POSTS ALL IN ONE. ENJOY AND HOPE YOU DON'T GET TO BORED! A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, OUR FRIENDS THE COOKS, HAD A HALLOWEEN PARTY. MY MOTHER GRACIOUSLY TOOK HALLE FOR THE NIGHT AND AWAY WE WENT. WE HAD A FUN TIME DRESSING UP, EATING FOOD, PLAYING GAMES, AND GETTING TO KNOW SOME OTHER COOL COUPLES. WE HAD A TON OF FUN HAVING A NIGHT AWAY TOGETHER AND THANKS TO THE COOKS FOR SUCH A WONDERFUL TIME! WE LOVE YOU GUYS!

HERE WE ARE DRESSED UP: JARED IS A BASEBALL PLAYER, I AM A SOCCER PLAYER! (THANKS KIM FOR LETTING ME USE YOUR CLOTHES!)

A COUPLE NIGHTS LATER WE GOT TOGETHER WITH MY FAMILY TO PAINT PUMPKINS..WE THOUGHT PAINTING WOULD BE EASIER AND CLEANER THAN CARVING WITH THE KIDDOS, AND THEY LOVED IT. WE HAD TONS OF FUN!

NIKI AND HALLE PAINTING AWAY WHILE PAPA CHRIS LOOKS ON!

JARED STEALING A HUG FROM MOM-IN-LAW! THEY JUST LOVE EACH OTHER TO DEATH!

TROY, NIKI, AND TREVY PAINTING...

HALLE LOVED THIS...SHE LOVES PUMPKINS AND TO PAINT THEM WAS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE FOR HER!

OF COURSE, JARED DID NOTRE DAME. IT ACTUALLY WAS AWESOME, PROBABLY THE BEST ONE DONE THAT NIGHT!

THIS IS MINE...CANDY CORN...THOUGHT IT WAS A CUTE IDEA!

HALLE DID A MULTI-COLORED ONE. HERS WAS BEAUTIFUL! WAY TO GO CUB!

THE NEXT WEEKEND, NIKI AND I TOOK THE KIDDOS TO THE ZOO BOO HERE AT ROSS PARK ZOO. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T HAVE THE KIDDOS DRESSED IN THEIR COSTUMES. IT WAS A COLD DAY. BUT THE KIDS ENJOYED GETTING OUTSIDE AND PLAYING. WE HAD HOT DOGS, CIDER, GOT TO SEE SOME OF THE ANIMALS, AND THERE WAS GAMES AND MUCH MORE. THERE WERE LEAVES FOR THE KIDS TO PLAY IN AND FIND PRIZES IN. TREVOR LOVED IT, HALLE WAS HESITANT BUT THEN ENJOYED IT. WHAT A FUN DAY!

NIKI AND THE KIDDOS HEADING TO THE ZOO BOO!

THIS WAS THE ENTRANCE~THEY WEREN'T BIG FANS OF IT!

HERE IS HALLE JUMPING IN THE BIG THING OF LEAVES!~


JARED AND I DRESSED UP, HE IS ONCE AGAIN A BASEBALL PLAYER. THIS TIME I WAS A RODEO QUEEN-OR SOMETHING! I HAD TO GET THIS OUTFIT AT THE DI-IT WAS $6 AND A MUST AND I HAD TO WEAR THE UGLY THING. SO I AM WHATEVER YOU THINK I AM!

THE KIDDOS:
TREVOR: UPS MAN-HALLE: PIG-
JANEY AND JENNA: BALLERINA'S

HALLE AND I TRUNK-OR-TREATING AT NANNA'S CHURCH~

THE KIDDO'S WITH NANNA. THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF TAKING THE KIDDOS AROUND MY MOM'S HOUSE WE DID THE TRUNK OR TREAT AT HER CHURCH. WE LOVED IT! THEY GOT TONS OF CANDY, THEY GOT TO GO OUT WHEN IT WAS STILL LIGHT AND NOT TO COLD YET-OK NOT FREEZING YET! AND THEN THEY WERE READY TO GO TO NANNA'S FOR GAMES AND FOOD...GREAT IDEA AND WE WERE IN PARTYING BY 6:30! LOVED IT!

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW MY MOTHER IT MAKES THIS PIC EVEN BETTER. SHE WOULD DIE IF SHE SAW IT ON HERE=WHICH SHE WILL BUT OH WELL! SHE HOSTS A ROCKING HALLOWEEN PARTY EVERY YEAR. WITH PIZZA, FOOD, TREATS, YOU NAME IT. THIS YEAR WE PLAYED A DOUGHNUT GAME AND CHUBBY BUNNY WITH MARSHMALLOWS. WE HAD TONS OF FUN AND WE ARE GREATFUL FOR HER AND PAPA HAVING SUCH FUN TIMES AND ALWAYS BEING A GREAT HOST AND HOSTESS! THANKS YOU GUYS WE HAD A WONDERFUL HALLOWEEN WITH YOU! LOVE YA!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA BOB!

IT HAS BEEN KIND OF A TRADITION THE PAST COUPLE YEARS TO THROW MY GRANDPA A BIRTHDAY PARTY BEFORE HE HEADS OUT TO ARIZONA FOR THE WINTER. THIS YEAR, MY SISTER HOSTED IT AT HER HOUSE. AS MANY OF YOU READERS KNOW, I LOVE MY DAD'S FATHER, BOB. HE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE GREATEST GRANDPA'S AROUND AND I HAVE SPENT MUCH OF MY LIFE WITH HIM-DUE TO THE FACT HE IS A YOUNG GRANDPA AND THE ONLY ONE THAT LIVED CLOSE WHILE I WAS GROWING UP. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. WELL, HE TURNED 76 THIS PAST WEEK. MY SISTER'S FAMILY AND MY FAMILY INVITED MY DAD AND KAREN, AND GRMA AND GRPA OVER LAST NIGHT FOR A LITTLE SHINDIG. JARED AND TROY MADE DUTCH OVEN CHICKEN, POTATOES, AND COBBLER. IT WAS AMAZING AND GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE. MY GRANDPA LOVES HIS BIRTHDAY AND IS KICKING RIGHT ALONG. HE IS STARTING TO SLOW DOWN FROM AGE BUT HE IS STILL DOING PRETTY GOOD. I AM GLAD WE COULD ALL GET TOGETHER BEFORE THEY LEAVE ONE LAST TIME. HE LOVED IT AND SO DID WE. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA WE LOVE YOU~

(SORRY FORGOT THE CAMERA BATTERIES WERE DEAD!)

EXCITING STUFF! (LONG POST!)

THIS PAST MONDAY WE GOT BACK FROM MAINE AND LET ME JUST SAY, WE LOVED IT! IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND SO WARM COMPARED TO THE SNOW IDAHO RECEIVED. HOWEVER, I AM GLAD TO BE HOME ALSO. WE HAD A GREAT TIME, AFTER THE APPLE PICKING WE PROCEEDED TO GO SHOPPING THE FOLLOWING DAY IN KITTERING-GREAT PLACE AND WONDERFUL OUTLETS-US GIRLS WENT CRAZY WHILE THE MEN STAYED BEHIND TO WATCH SOME NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL. THAT NIGHT, GRUMPY AND GRANDMA TOOK THE KIDS AND WE ADULTS, WENT ON A DATE TO A GREAT PASTA PLACE. THE NEXT DAY WE WENT INTO BOSTON AND IT WAS A GREAT DAY. STEPHANIE, JARED, AND I WENT TO A BOSTON RED SOX GAME, AND WE WON! IT WAS A GREAT ATMOSPHERE AND SO FUN. THE KIDS PLAYED THEIR HEARTS OUT WITH GRUMPY AND GRMA AT THE HOTEL. LATER THAT NIGHT, JARED, HALLE, AND I WENT OUT TO THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY AND IT WAS FABULOUS AND THEN WE WENT BACK TO OUR HOTEL FOR THE NIGHT AND CHILLED. THE FOLLOWING MORNING WE WENT ON A DUCK TOUR-WHICH IS A TOUR ON LAND AND IN THE WATER-GREAT FUN AND WE GOT TO SEE A TON OF BOSTON. THEN WE WENT TO THE AIRPORT AND TO OUR SURPRISE WE ALL GOT ON AN EARLIER FLIGHT-HALLELUJAH! WE HAD A NON STOP FLIGHT FOR 5.5 HOURS THAT WAS A BIT SCARY FOR ME WONDERING IF HALLE WOULD BE AS GOOD AS ON THE WAY DOWN AND TO MY SURPRISE SHE SLEPT 4 HRS AND WAS GREAT THE REST OF THE TIME. WE HAD A GREAT TRIP AND HOPE TO GO VISIT MAINE AGAIN SOON!

THESE 2 GIRLS LOVED EACH OTHER THE WHOLE TRIP. THEY WERE AND ARE BFF'S!

JARED, HALLE, AND I THE NIGHT WE GOT TO MAINE. LOOKING GOOD-NOT MUCH SLEEP!

SOME OF THE BOATS OUTSIDE OUR RESTAURANT..

THE PLACE WE WENT TO GO APPLE PICKING.

ME, HALLE, EVA, AND STEPHANIE GOIN TO PICK APPLES!

HALLE ENJOYIN SOME OF HER FINDS!

THESE TWO CUTIES HELD HANDS THE WHOLE TIME...

HALLE'S FIRST TIME TO THE ATLANTIC, SHE EVEN GOT TO TOUCH IT!

WE ATE AT A RESTAURANT ON THE OCEAN FRONT AND HALLE LOVED THIS LITTLE LIGHTHOUSE!

REAL LIVE BEAUTIFUL LIGHTHOUSE!

AT FENWAY PARK TO WATCH BOSTON RED SOX VS. CLEVELAND INDIANS....BOSTON WON!

SOME BOSTON SOX PLAYERS! WE WERE 7TH ROW RIGHT BEHIND BOSTON DUGOUT-SWEET!

JARED, STEPH, AND I AT THE GAME.

HANGING OUT FOR OUR DUCK RIDE (NO PIX OF THE RIDE, MY BATTERY DIED-OH NUTS!)

I LOVED BOSTON! BEAUTIFUL!

BOSTON COMMONS!

HELLO FROM PORTLAND MAINE!(SORRY SUCH A LONG POST)

YES THAT IS RIGHT! JARED, HALLE AND I, ALONG WITH HIS PARENTS VENTURED OUT TO MAINE TO VISIT WITH JAREDS SIS AND FAMILY. AND SO FAR, IT HAS BEEN A COMPLETE BLAST.  WE LEFT ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 8 PM TO MAKE THE CAR JOURNEY TO SALT LAKE CITY AIRPORT AND I ADMIT, I WAS SCARED TO DEATH FOR THIS JOURNEY WITH HALLE. SHE CAN'T EVEN SIT ON MY LAP FOR 1 HOUR IN SACRAMENT MEETING LET ALONE FOR A 4.5 HOUR PLANE RIDE TO NYC AND 3 HOUR LAYOVER BEFORE THE ONE HOUR TRIP ONTO MAINE. YES, I WAS HORRIFIED. I HAD TALKED TO EVERYONE IN THE BOOK ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH A KID ON A PLANE RIDE, WHAT DRUGS TO GIVE THEM TO SLEEP IF NEEDED, AND WHEN TO BREAK DOWN AS A MOM AND CRY MYSELF IF IT IS A COMPLETE NIGHTMARE AND I HAVE NO WAY OFF. WE GOT INTO THE AIRPORT WITH HALLE HAVING ONLY SLEPT ABOUT 20 MIN ON THE ENTIRE RIDE DOWN TO SLC-I WAS SO EXCITED SINCE THE FLIGHT LEFT AT MIDNIGHT MAYBE WOULD BE TIRED ENOUGH TO SLEEP THE WHOLE WAY. AS SOON AS I HIT THE AIRPORT I GAVE HER SOME ANTIHISTAMINE SINCE IN ST GEORGE WHEN SHE HAD ALLERGIES IT KNOCKED HER OUT, YES I DID DRUG MY KID-HORRIBLE RIGHT? WELL, THEN I WAS EATING MY WORDS, IT DID THE EXACT OPPOSITE. HOWEVER, HALLE WAS UNBELIEVABLY GOOD. SHE WAS AWAKE ABOUT AN 1.5 HOURS AND ONLY CRIED MAYBE 2 TIMES FOR A COUPLE MINUTES AND THEN SHE WENT OUT. THANK GOODNESS FOR POOH ON DVD, ELMO BOOKS, AND PLAYING ON THE EATING TRAY. WE THEN MADE IT TO NYC AIPORT AT ABOUT 6 AM EASTERN TIME (4AM OUR TIME) AND OFF THE PLANE WE WENT, NOW HALLE WAS AWAKE....STINK BOMB. 

WE RAN AROUND THE AIRPORT AND HAD BREAKFAST AND BY THIS TIME SLEEP DEPRIVATION WAS KICKING IN FOR JARED, HALLE, AND I SINCE NONE OF US HAD GOTTEN THAT MUCH AND I ONLY HAD ABOUT 1.5 HOURS ALL NIGHT-MY PATIENCE WAS RUNNING SLIM. THEN TO OUR SURPRISE HALLE BENT DOWN IN THE JFK AIRPORT AND PEED OUT HER DIAPER RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AIRPORT ON THE CARPET-AS STEPHANIE SAYS-PAR FOR THE COURSE. HILARIOUS! THEN AFTER A CHANGE OF CLOTHES, WE WERE OFF AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS ONLY A 1 HR FLIGHT TO MAINE AND IT WAS A DINKY PLANE. FOR THIS REASON WE PUT ONE CARRY ON IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT UNDER THE PLANE. I DIDNT REALIZE UNTIL TAKE OFF THAT IT HAD HALLES SIPPIES AND BLANKET IN IT-NOW I WAS TERRIFIED. HOWEVER, THIS TRIP WAS NOT FULL SO HALLE AND I GOT FRONT ROW SEATS WITH TONS OF LEG ROOM AND HER OWN CHAIR-SO NICE! HALLE STOOD AND PLAYED ON THE FLOOR BY ME MOST OF THE FLIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO OCCUPY HER WITH PRETZELS AND COOKIES WITH APPLE JUICE-ENDED UP WITH ANOTHER CHANGE OF CLOTHES ON HER-WE MADE IT! SO EXHAUSTED.

 WHEN WE GOT INTO MAINE WE WENT AND HAD A GOOD LUNCH AT A PLACE CALLED BIG SKY. WE THEN WENT HOME AND GOT IN A GOOD NAP. THEN WE WENT TO TOWN AND SAW THE OCEAN WITH BOATS AND HAD A GREAT PIZZA DINNER. THEN HOME FOR HOMEMADE MILKSHAKES AND TUBBIES FOR THE KIDDOS. HALLE AND EVA ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME TOGETHER. AFTER THAT ONTO BED.  TODAY WE WOKE UP, ATE STICKY BUNS, AND WERE OFF TO PICK APPLES AT A REAL APPLE FARM-WHAT A GREAT TIME. LOVE MAINE. GRUMPY, STEPH, EVA, JARED, HALLE AND, AND I WERE OFF. WE DRANK CIDER AND GOT TO TAKE PIX WITH SOME PUMPKINS FOR SALE AND THEN GOT TO GET OUR APPLES, IT WAS SO FUN AND THE KIDS ENJOYED IT SO MUCH-HALLE HAD A BLAST. WE THEN WENT TO SOME LIGHTHOUSES AND HAD LUNCH AT A PLACE AT TWOLIGHTS LIGHTHOUSE. AND, WE WENT OUT AND HALLE TOUCHED THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, WE HAD SO MUCH FUN. ON THE WAY HOME, WE SAW SOME BEAUTIFUL PLACES. THEN THE PARENTS WENT TO A GREAT PASTA JOINT FOR DINNER WHILE GRUMPY AND GRANDMA STAYED AND PLAYED WITH THE KIDDOS. THAT WAS A NICE LITTLE GETAWAY-THANKS GRUMPY AND GRMA. ALL IN ALL, THIS TRIP HAS BEEN PURE ENJOYMENT. WE HAVE HAD A BLAST. THANKS JOHN, STEPH, AND EVA FOR YOU HOSPITALITY-WE LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH! WE STILL HAVE  A COUPLE DAYS FULL OF FUN THINGS TO DO SO I WILL BLOG SOON AND I WILL DOWNLOAD PICS WHEN I GET HOME. TALK TO YOU SOON!

JUST COULDN'T RESIST!

GRANDMA BERNT BOUGHT THE GIRLS ALL TUTU'S TO PLAY IN. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASSION THIS IS HOW HALLE HAS GONE DOWN FOR HER NAP. SHE LOVES THAT THING!

BERNT CAMPING TRIP IN HEISE!

SO I AM JUST A BIT LATE WITH THIS POST BUT I HAVE HAD ALOT GOING ON AND HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO DO IT UNTIL NOW. THE END OF AUGUST, WE WENT TO HEISE CAMPING WITH THE BERNT CLAN. STEPHANIE AND JOHN, WITH EVA, WERE UP SO WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO GET AWAY. WE GOT TO USE MY SISTERS TRAILER, THANK YOU WE LOVED IT. AND WE HAD A LOT OF FUN. WE HAD GOOD CONVERSATIONS, THE BOYS GOLFED, WE HAD THE OLYMPICS, THE KIDS WATCHED MOVIES IN GRMA AND GRUMPY'S TRAILER, WE PLAYED MINI GOLF, WENT SWIMMING (IN WHICH HALLE LOVED THE SLIDE....) AND JUST HUNG OUT. IT WAS SO FUN, THANKS BERNTS FOR TAKING US. HALLE DID BURN HER FOOT ON A LANTERN AND THAT WAS BAD-NO SLEEPING ONE NIGHT, THEN SHE SLAMMED HER FINGERS IN THE DOOR, WHICH SOMEHOW MADE HER PUKE, AND JARED WHO IS ALLERGIC TO BEES, GOT STUNG BY ONE WITHOUT HIS EPIPEN. THAT WAS IT IN A NUTSHELL, BUT WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND MADE MANY GREAT MEMORIES. HOWEVER, THE BEST WAS THE COOKOFF WHICH NOONE WON, SINCE GRAMA COULDN'T VOTE FOR ONE, AND THE KIDS BATHING IN A BOWL OUTSIDE THE TRAILER. LOVED IT. ( SORRY DIDN'T TAKE MANY PHOTOS, CAMERA WAS ALWAYS IN THE TRAILER...) THANKS AGAIN, WE HAD A BLAST WITH THE FAMILY AND IT WAS GREAT TO SPEND TIME ALL TOGETHER!

THE CLAN JUST CHILLIN!

ANNIE AND STEPH JUST BEING GRUMPY-HAHA!!

FAMILY PHOTO, HALLE IS EATING A MOUTH FULL OF CHOCOLATE PRETZELS, WOWWEE!

MENDENHALL REUNION!

THIS PAST WEEKEND WE GOT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MENDENHALL REUNION IN PALISADES AT CALAMITY CAMPGROUND. I WAS A BIT NERVOUS SINCE IT WAS HALLE'S FIRST CAMPING EXCURSION BUT SHE DID GREAT, (BESIDES THE ONE TIME SHE RAN ON THE TRAIL AKA ROAD AND ALMOST GOT PLOWED-OK NOT REALLY BUT SHE DID RUN IN THE ROAD AND SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH!) MY DAD AND KARED, NIKI AND HER CLAN, ME AND MY CLAN, MY COUSIN WOODY, TODD AND KIM, DEON, AND GRPA AND GRMA M WERE THERE. IT WAS A 3 DAY EXCURSION OF FUN. WE ALWAYS HAVE THE BEST CONVERSATIONS, AMAZING FOOD, AND JUST TONS OF FUN ON THE BOAT. THIS YEAR, IT WAS SO COLD, RAINED ALOT, HAILED ALOT, AND WAS FLAT OUT COLD. HOWEVER, THAT DIDN'T DAMPEN US, WE STILL HAD TONS OF FUN. WATERSKIING WASN'T THE BEST THIS YEAR SINCE THE WATER WAS A BIT ROUGH, BUT IT MADE FOR GREAT TUBE RIDING. WE MADE SNOW CONES, WENT ON WALKS, SLEPT IN, TOOK NAPS,WATCHED A MOVIE, FISHED, ATE, TALKED, WENT ON THE BOAT...YOU NAME IT. THANKS EVERYONE FOR PLANNING SUCH A GREAT WEEKEND. WE LOVED IT! WE ARE SAD THAT WAS THE LAST ONE, SINCE IT IS GETTING HARDER ON GRPA AND GRMA BUT WE HAVE HAD THE GREATEST PAST SUMMERS WITH EVERYONE AND ARE SO GREATFUL FOR THE TIMES WE HAD TO CHERISH! WE LOVE YOU ALL!

HALLE IS PLAYING WITH "UNCLE TOY'S" FISHING GEAR, SHE LOVED IT!

HERE IS HALLE AND I PLAYING WHILE TREVY IS FISHING. ACTUALLY I AM JUST TRYING TO KEEP HALLE OUT OF THE WATER BY DISTRACTION. SHE LOVES THE WATER SO MUCH!

NIKI AND I TUBING WITH HALLE AND TREVOR FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. THANKS DAD FOR THE NICE RIDE! WE HAD TONS OF FUN! (SO DID THE KIDDOS!) AFTER THIS, JARED TOOK HALLE AND THEY HAD A BLAST TOO!

JARED AND HALLE TUBING-THEY HAD SO MUCH FUN!

JARED AND HALLE CHILLING ON THE BOAT WHILE I WAS IN THE WATER!

NIKI, KAREN, AND THE KIDDOS CHILLING ON THE BOAT!

PAPA TAB LET HALLE "HELP" DRIVE US TO THE SHORE! SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS SO BIG AND DID SUCH A GOOD JOB!

IN THIS PICTURE, HALLE LOOKS HOMELESS-SAD! ACTUALLY SHE LOVED THAT LIFE JACKET AND THE ZIPPER ON IT-SHE WOULDN'T MOVE!

BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF PALISADES IN THE MORNING WITH STEAM!

THE MORNING AFTER ALL THE FUN IN THE WATER, THE BOYS AND NIKI, GOT UP FOR AN EARLY FISHING TRIP. HALLE AND I SLEPT IN UNTIL ABOUT 9. I THOUGHT IT WAS TO COLD FOR HER, AND SHE WAS EXHAUSTED. BUT THEY ALL HAD A GREAT TIME!