Halloween

Halloween was fun this year. It was nice to have it on a Friday night and the weather was pleasant. Each year we are married I realize more and more how much Gordon loves Halloween. He has a great time putting the decorations up, finding a costume, he even gets the fog machine out to "practice," he is just like a little kid at Christmas time!

Taeya and I went to Gordon's work in the afternoon and did some trick or treating there. We made it home in time to get the decorations ready (the fog machine, strobe light, scary music, etc.). Taeya just liked the candy. She understood that if she said "trick or treat" someone would give you candy. But it was hard for her to go door to door. She wanted to stop along the way and eat her new treat!

Taeya was a witch this year. I bought her costume at the end of September thinking she wouldn't really care what she was this year. When people started asking her what she was going to be for halloween she would say "a princess." So we quickly changed her costume name to "a princess witch." (Or Witchy as she would say it!)

The 3 of us at Gordon's work

The two "witchies"

Taeya is quite the performer! Taeya and Brielle The three of us again, this time with Gordon in full costume! Off to get some candy!

Pumpkin Carving

To keep with tradition, we carved pumpkins with the Mehlhoff family again this year. I used to babysit for this family when I was in Elementary School. They are all growning up! I love these kids so much so it is fun to get together with them a few times a year. For the past 4 years, we have gotten together to carve pumpkins. They came Sunday, October 26th, we ate chicken tacos for dinner, then got to work. We had some great ones this year. Too bad the only time they got lit was during this photo session. It was just way too warm for carved pumpkins this year! (Austin and Ariel came, but Austin doesn't like the "pumpkin guts" on his hands, and Ariel came late so she didn't carve a pumpkin)

Gordon carved the "Headless Man"

Taeya carved a Witch (with my help of course!)

Micah carved a "Scardy Cat"

Landon carved a "Werewolf"

I carved a "Trick or Treat"

And this is how they looked on Halloween!

Cornbelly's

We had a great time at Thanksgiving Point on Friday night with the Bailey's. This was our first year at Cornbelly's. There were so many things to do that we didn't even get through the whole thing. Taeya had a blast of course. She loved everything! (Although by the looks of the pictures, you wouldn't think she had fun because I could only get one picture of her actually smiling!)

Gordon, Taeya, and Brandalyn

The farmers: Taeya and Brynn

In Cinderella's coach: Kira, Brandalyn, Taeya, Brynn, and Alyson

Brynn and Taeya

Taeya lost in the maze

The train ride: Taeya, Kira, and Brynn

Kira on the train ride

Taeya playing in the corn - definitely a highlight for her

Everyone had a great time on the air pillow

Tour De St. George

Last saturday (October 18th), Gordon and I went to St. George and did a bike ride called the "Tour De St. George." While I am no Lance Armstron, Gordon comes in close behind him! I only did the 30 mile ride, but Gordon did the 100! He makes me laugh. This is probably his 6th 100 mile ride and everytime he finishes he tells me how much he hated it, but then that night and all the next day, he tells me how much fun it was! He is crazy. We rode together for the first 18 miles, than I headed back into town and he just kept riding. The weather was so beautiful, and we really did enjoy a fun weekend with family and friends.

Fall Leaves

At the end of September we went up the canyon and roasted hot dogs and marshmellows with our neighbors, the Bailey's. We were able to enjoy the beautiful leaves that were beginning to turn. Here are a few of the photos we took. Gordon, Brandalyn, and Taeya

The Bailey's - Seth, Alyson, Kira, and Brynn

Rub a Dub Dub, 3 Kids in the Tub

Over the weekend we watched my friends kids, Olivia and Cohen, they had such a great time in the bath with all of the bubbles.

Cohen, Olivia, and Taeya

Cohen

Taeya

Olivia

Triathalon

About three summer's ago, Gordon became a Triathlete. This season he was able to accomplish a few of his goals. The first one was to compete in an Olympic Distance Category. For those of you who don't know about triathalons there are 2 categories, Sprint and Olympic. Sprint is 1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike, and 3 mile run. Olympic is double that so, 1 mile swim, 24 mile bike, and 6 mile run. He wanted to compete in a few differents tri's this summer, but for whatever reason the first one he was able to do was in St. George on September 22, called "Kokopelli". Unfortuntatly I wasn't able to go with him so I didn't get any pictures. In his opinion it wasn't a great race because he didn't do well on the run (it was hilly and in the dirt). But he finished and I was proud of him (it makes me tired just thinking about it). On October 4th he competed in a sprint triathalon in American Fork called the "Splash n Dash." At this tri he was able to accomplish another one of his goals for the year which was to get a medal in his category. He got first place!! Taeya and I were really proud of him. Unfortunatly, I didn't get any good pictures so I posted a few of the okay ones. By the way, did anyone notice Gordon got braces?!? He was able to get a great deal on them through work and he will only have to have them for about 8 months!

Taeya and Gordon after he finished

Gordon with his medal

Taeya "singing in the rain" (it was rainy and cold and she insisted on wearing her nightgown)

Cousins

I have been meaning to put this picture on here for a few months now because it turned out so cute. This is Taeya and her cousin Laeklan in their matching hawaii dresses Grandma Laura bought for them. They are only about 4 weeks apart in age. (Picture was taken in August)

Lagoon/Frightmares

We Went to Lagoon at the end of August with Gordon's work and had a great time, and then again last weekend (October 4th) during Frightmares. School had started in Utah County so it wasn't very busy and it wasn't too hot in August. Taeya had a great time. I think her favorite ride was the carousel, but a close second was the little swings! Gordon and I even got to try out "wicked" which we both loved.

Our family photo taked in Pioneer Village. We had been trying to take this picture since Taeya was born, but Pioneer Village isn't open during Frightmares and that is usually when we go. I had a hard time getting the dress off of Taeya, she loved to dress up.

This was the gorilla Gordon won for Taeya

As I mentioned above Gordon and have been going to Frightmares since we were first married. We went last week-end with some of Gordon's family. Because of the rain and cold we had the place to ourselves! It was great, the only bad things was that all the kiddie rides had wet seats. Taeya didn't really care though, just me. Taeya had a blast following around her cousins Cassidy and Presley. Her favorite ride is still the carousel ("the horsies"). Brandalyn, Cassidy, Frank, Presley, Taeya and Gordon (with the rest of the Dracula crew!)

Taeya didn't really like this ride, but she was a good sport and went on everything we put her on!