A Treat

September was a dreary month for me. I had the bonafide flu. The entire month I was sick. Two weeks of it was laying and the other two were "taking it easy." I am very very grateful September is over.
At one point I overheard this from Alex: "Heavenly Father, bless my mommy to get better. Amen." (I followed with an Amen too.)

Enough about September. October is the latest news!
October was the antecedent to my September.

First, Phil went hunting and I headed home. I visited good old Richmond right when the leaves were changing and the weather was pleasant. I was able to catch up with family and friends. It was wonderful. The kids don't mind it at all either because they get love and attention from both sets of grandparents!

One of the magnificient highlights of the trip was holding my cousin Jory's newborn baby girl. (Jory is a month younger than me. At the age of 15 his twin sister and my best friend, Julie, died in a car accident.) Jory has been patient in finding a wife and having the blessing of a child. No mother has worked harder to keep a baby inside and well than his wife Angela did. She started swelling with edema 5 months into the pregnancy. She was in and out of the hospital for 10 weeks before she was was able to deliver on September 29th. When I arrived at their home in Bennington (Bear Lake County) I held that sweet baby for at least an hour. She is so beautiful and petite. She looked like the aunt she was named for, Avery Julie. It was so tempting to stay there all night loving and cuddling her. I am excited for my handsome cousin, his beautiful wife and his new baby girl. I am ever grateful Phil went hunting for a deer so I could travel home and hold a "dear." (p.s Phil didn't shoot anything. Maybe next year)

Second, HALLOWEEN! I love Halloween. I love pumpkins. ( I tucked in pumpkins from mom and dads around the luggage when I went back to Idaho. Phil teasingly called me a "pumpkin hoarder.") I love the fall colors. I love getting dressed up. I love eating candy. I love Halloween! We had a party at moms with the Smith cousins and Grandma Viva while we were home, a party with Alex's friends when we got back, went to two trunk-or-treats and for the first time ever took Alex real TRICK or TREATING!!! Along the way I did my parental duty and told Alex all about how Halloween was for me back in the good old days....walking up hills both ways, houses built further apart, two feet of snow on the ground, etc. (REAL Trick or Treating)

Emma was so cute she would hold up her bucket, get a treat then turn around and show me her bucket with the biggest surprised eyes and a smile on her face. She thought that trick or treating was an amazing activity. She is my candy monster this holiday was meant for her.

Third, the BEST TREAT EVER!!!!! I GOT MY CAMERA FIXED! WAHOOO for pictures!
DEAR GRANDPARENTS please place your orders: