Trip to Utah November 2017

We had a trip planned to see some things near the Four Corner's area (Southeastern Utah/Northwestern New Mexico, Southwestern Colorado), when we learned Stan's old roommate and our dear friend Darrell was going to married. We could not miss it! So we arranged our plans to do both. We drove up on Thursday evening and stayed in Farmington, NM so that we could get an early start on our adventures. Friday morning we stopped at Lowry Ruin. The building structure was neat and as always I am fascinated with the detail that they put into their structures. I wish we knew more than we do about them.

It was pretty chilly in New Mexico, so we headed to southern Utah to hike to a ruin there. It was perfect weather.

Sterling loves hiking. We always let him walk for a little bit before we make him ride in the carrier.

Starting up the hill

Forever my view while hiking. Love these boys.

And we found the ruin

Here's what it looked like on most of the hike. There was a pretty river/stream that we crossed once or twice

The ruin from above. (I tried really hard to get Scott to give me a normal smile and this is the best I got...)

Someone had gathered these

A view of a metate slab used as part of a wall

There were lots of white hand prints on the walls.

Not quite sure about this hiking business, but happy to be on a break

My favorite part about this picture is photo-bombing Sterling in the back with his hat string running straight down the middle of his face.

Another view of the metate slab

Stan watched the boys for a minute while I took a look at the ruin up close.

On the hike back. Scott was a trooper on this hike. It was really long, and he walked almost the whole thing

Sterling is smiling in this picture because he was pulling my hair really hard

We went and found one more petroglyph site before heading up to Larry and Kathryn's house to stay. This rock was completely covered in pictures.

This boy.

The beautiful sunset as we drove

We stopped for dinner in Hanksville at Stan's Diner. It was delicious and we were starving!

So happy to be out of his carseat

The next day we enjoyed playing lots with cousins. Even Grandma Julie and Grandpa Ray had come down to see us.

Stan and I went to the wedding in Payson. It was so fun to see our friends and be at the temple.

It was a wonderful trip to be with family and friends as well as go on an adventure!

Around Albuquerque October 2017

Who even knows what happened this month...We started out with General Conference:

I love moments when they stop to listen

Stan and James were pondering the messages together

General Conference with a newborn is always nice. You can sit and listen while cuddling with a sweet little one.

These were the first smiles we started to consistently get out of him.

We took one of our first trips to the park as a group of four. I put a rope around Scott's bike so that he wouldn't go too fast on the downhill and I could give him a little support on the uphill without killing my back. We had a great time! I love hanging out with my boys! Scott even wrote a song on our way down

This boy is a ham. He loves to do something silly and then will say "Look me"

More smiles every day

We did lots of smoking. This hobby really took off and has been so delicious. Here are three chuck roasts.

James just kept getting cuter and cuter all month long! I couldn't get enough of his cute smile and laugh.

Sterling found my makeup...at least he was trying to put it on the right place of the face

I love a sleeping baby! So peaceful and precious.

James slept best up against the side of the crib. He was such a calm child

Hot Air Balloon season!

Scott took up being a dog some. Here are his skills:

Josie gave us these outfits when Sterling was a baby. Sterling was not in the picture cooperative mood this morning.

But this cute boy gave me a smile

Sterling is super into wearing gloves.

And he LOVES to give James hugs.

One of the highlights of our October was a visit from Jenni. The boys love her so much! And so do I! We had fun playing, hanging out, reading, she was nice and cleaned some for me, and just hanging out!

Little Snapchat fun

Pretending like they were sleeping when I came in...Sterling's position cracks me up

While Jenni was here, we had our ward Halloween party:

Cowboy Superman?

Jenni caught James' spit up habit in action...

Seriously such a sweet sleeping baby

Sterling loves his independence:

Watching a little show.

Sterling loves Jenni. She can always get the silliest smiles out of him

Cute James' new laugh:

When Aunt Jenni lets you have her phone early early in the morning because all the grownups too tired to entertain you

We went to the newly opened Cabela's to see if they had any cool displays...they didn't really, but Scott entertained us with some interpretive dancing:

And then we had to take her to the airport :( Come back Jenni!!!!

😍

Sterling loves to hold James. I have to be careful though because he will decide suddenly he is finished and try to push him off!

The actual Halloween night was a quick affair. The boys just went to the neighbors right close to us. They got plenty though of what has become affectionately known at our house as "Bomby". That is how Sterling would pronounce it :)

James was the cutest Batman for Halloween

Notice the chocolate line down his chin from the tootsie rolls.

Scott still loves holding James.

 And that was our October! We LOVE the beginning of the holiday season!