Decorating the tree

Temple Square

Hope to see everyone soon!!

Joe and Crystal and family. Just wanted to say Hi. We are hoping that you are going to be able to make it out next week. If you do, we would love to see you.
Jared, we heard that you might be out for Christmas. That would be great.
Hope everyone is doing well. Bye for now. More pictures to come later.

Halloween

We had a great halloween this year. It was so fun with Grandma and Grandpa coming out to visit us. It was the first year it has been warm and not freezing out here so it was a lot of fun. We went to Sam and Lyndseys teachers houses and they had a good old time. This little witch house is at a pumpkin patch and it is so adorable - the kids could play in it all day long.

Cole's 1st Birthday

Cole loved his birthday, mainly just the cupcake. He didn't want to pick up the cupcake, he just wanted to bend down and put his mouth on it. Goofy boy.

Emma's Baptism

Emma was baptized on October 11th. It was such a great day. We are so proud of her. She was so excited to get baptized, and little nervous too. Emma is so sweet and so cute. My dad always carves a bird for the kids when they turn 8 and get baptized. Emma was glad that it was her turn to get a bird of her own. I can't believe our kids are getting so big. WOW! Two down, two to go.

Pumpkin Patch

On Sunday between sessions of conference we went to Lorenzo (about 8 miles) and got pumpkins at the pumpkin patch. It's really cool because you get to hunt and pick any pumpkin you want and no matter what size they are $1.00 Pretty exciting stuff out here in Nebraska!

Swingset

We got a swingset free from someone in the ward that got given a nicer one from someone else- the donated swingset chain- :) The kids have been loving having something outside to play on. Lyndsey in particular loves to be out there ALL the time and show me all the new tricks she's learned. Hopefully we have a couple more weeks of good weather that we can enjoy it.

Summer Finale at the Cabin

We went up to the cabin last week for a final time before school started. Jason was out of town so it was nice to be up there with my sister and my mom. The kids had a great time. Hailey, Emma and Nathan (my nephew) caught at least 6 frogs and a salamander. Then my nephew Taylor caught this snake. Hailey thought it was so cool. SHe let it crawl in her shirt. I am sure she not really my daughter. Gross.

Trevor looking GQ

Before school started I took the kids to Sterling (35) miles away to a bigger swimming pool that has slides and splash pads. The kids absolutely loved it and had a great time. Trevor loved to lounge on these chairs!!!

Back to School

School started last Monday. Lyndsey has 2 pictures because she had her screening day and then her actual real first day where she met her teacher and stayed all day. So far Lyndsey really likes kindergarten- the first day she was really tired but since she has seemed to adjust quite well. Samantha was really nervous to start 2nd grade but since meeting her teacher she had loved it! It's quite fun trying to drop them off at the same time and pick them up at the same time when Lyndsey goes to South and Sam goes to North. Trevor thinks he's big enough to go to school and of course needed a picture also!

Lyndsey's Bday!

Lyndsey turned 5 on Saturday if you can believe it. It's crazy how fast the kids are growing up. She started kindergarten last week as well and it's all day so it's just Trevor and I at home!!! Lyndsey had a pool party at the AmericInn and had a good time. She invited some friends from preschool and church. She loves to swim in that life jacket that Julie gave her!!!

I'm awesome, I rock. I've got moves.

I was at Google this week at their big "Google Dance" party and I decided to join all the people dancing on the dance floor. Check it, i got video!




That's how it's done ladies and gentlemen!

Samantha's Baptism

Just a heads up that Samantha will be getting baptized this year- we will probably do it on her bday which is December 28th. We may do it Monday or Tuesday not sure yet. We hope that everyone can make it to support her and it would be fun to see everyone on the holidays also.

Spicy Spaghetti Sauce

1 pkg McCormik Italian Mushroom Seasoning
1 green pepper
2 anaheim peppers
2 jalapeno peppers
1 onion
1 lb ground beef
garlic

Red pepper
White pepper
Black pepper
Salt

I chop the onion and peppers and cook them with the hamburger. Add the garlic- either fresh or bottled to taste. Then put the seasoning in with the directions with the tomato sauce. I think it's 1 can tomato sauce and 1 1/2 cups of water. Then just let simmer for 15 minutes. The amount of pepper I add depends on who I'm serving it to.


I don't know if that made any sense. Let me know if you have questions- I don't have a set recipe.......

Our trip to the Northwest

We have been on the road for 10 days. We took a trip to the Northwest. We had such a great time. The kids loved it. Except for being in the car so much. We drove across Oregon to Cannon Beach. I love that place. I went there a lot when we lived in Washington. The kids had a ball playing at the beach, looking at the tide pools and flying a kite.
Our next stop was Port Townsend Washington. We went there with my whole family. The kids loved running around with all of their cousins. We had great weather.
After 5 days in Port Townsend, we went to Seattle for a couple of days. We rode the ferry, went to Pike Market, ate at Ivars, went to the Zoo and the Science Center. BY the time the kids got home they were exhausted and so were we.

Here are a couple of nice fish I caught in the past month. the colorful fish was in Utah. The rainbow trout was in Wyoming - that is a very big fish. (especially for the size stream I caught it out of)

Thought I'd share.
It was fun....

Some of my friends/coworkers and I played in a 3v3 soccer tournament this past weekend. It was just further evidence that I need to get in better shape!!!!

We took second place. The pictures are of my team and us playing against the only Mexican team in the tournament. They were terrible. We beat them by a large margin. The zoomed out image is me trapping the ball and then scoring a goal. Number 5 was supposed to be marking me, but I made a run behind them. They were the only really bad team there.

It was fun....

My Girls!

Aren't these the cutest little girls ever? I love the way Lyndsey is holding Paige's hand!  Julie's friend took the time to take tons of pictures of the girls.  When Cole gets bigger - let's do one of the boys too!

North by Northwest!

Much to my surprise, I was able to let go of paradise and have left the islands. I am in Portland Oregon and have been here for a week and a half. I am currently in the process of interviewing and trying to find work. I already had some friends here and have made some new ones as well. Since I landed, I have been able to enjoy some of the great outdoors that Oregon has to offer. Being that I grew up here as a little boy, it all seems so familiar to me.

After Hawaii, the water was so cold that I almost had a heart attack. I jumped in once.....and I was done for the day.

Where's Jared?

Hey Jared- just wondering where you are at and what you are up to???

Weird Kids!!

Today the kids were bored after church. They decided to go and dress up like other members of the family. Hailey is Jason, Emma is me and Paige is Hailey. Nice!!

Paige's Dance Recital

Paige has been taking a dance class for the last several months. She does ballet, jazz and tumbeling. This pictures is from her dance recital. She danced to the music of Blues Clues. She did great.

Hey Crystal. I forgot to ask you for a recipe today. Please post your recipe for spicy spaghetti sauce. I like when you make that and I forgot what you do. Thanks

Cole in Hawaii

Cole was so good in Hawaii. Check out his pose on the beach. He is such a ladies man and so cute too.