peeking at pumpkins

 

I had a silent debate with myself tonight about what to do versus what needs to be done. Tasks to be done while the children sleep include a) sleeping, b) updating this blog, c) editing the pictures from Harmony's wedding that took place at the beginning of August (I can hear her shouting at me now, "pick that one!"), or d) doing yoga to get into better shape since the only real time I find to exercise is in the evenings and it has to be quiet. Since you're reading this post and the other tasks are still outstanding, you can deduce which option I chose. So I'm sitting here in my pajamas listening to the dryer running in the kitchen (no, I'm not going to run and catch it) and overhearing the show Danny is watching while I type. What a thrilling life we lead, haha.

Really, though. Our life right now is stressful sometimes but mostly just awesome. There is so much to be grateful for! This year Danny and I celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary by staying in a hotel in Park City for a few days in October. We brought the kids with us one night, played in the swimming pool (which the kids loved) and spent the other two nights relaxing, shopping, and watching movies. With the aforementioned time to ourselves we also took the opportunity to reflect on what our lives have become since we met 5 short years ago. We started our lives together in this condo with a futon, a bed, and a truckload of my "stuff" that has, for the most part, been donated or trashed at this point. Our palatial estate was an empty shell waiting to be filled with memories. And fill it we have; with furniture, yes, but mostly with love and laughter. And children...

We play games, we watch movies, we read books, we make big plans. Last night we had a dance party with the four of us (plus the dog but he technically wasn't invited). We love life!

Every year we celebrate the season of Autumn with Danny's family by going into the mountains to eat pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, take a family portrait and carve pumpkins for Halloween. Aaron and Nicole (Danny's brother and his wife) came down from Pocatello, Harmony and Jeff came up from Provo, and the whole clan had a fun time.

I tried to get a single "formal" shot of Boston but rather than hold out for a pose one must wait to catch him in already in the act, as it were. Ahem.

The Pumpkin Parade:

Aaron and Nicole's Pumpkin

Jeff's pumpkin--that he drew by hand!

Chris and Julia's pumpkin

Kim's unfinished creation

Kim had a little accident with the blades. This is why she can't hold sharp things. Or babies. :)

This is the canyon version of our pumpkin.

Danny and I didn't carve a pumpkin in the mountains this year (the one with a napkin face is ours) but we did carve one for real at home later.

I even tried roasting some pumpkin seeds but they fell in the trash, probably because they tasted like garbage. Eew.