October 2016, finish the weekend at Grandma Flick's cabin, then back to working on the shop (Andy) and being cute (the twins).

Great Grandma Flick's cabin 9/30-10/3 for General Conference/Clean up weekend.
Grandpa with both.

Grandpa Aurich with Hannah, Great grandma Flick with Finley and Grandma Darlene in the far back.

Finley gumming an apple into submission for the first time.  Having the wise, old, experienced mothers around really pushed the envelope on childcare. I don't think there were any rules back then.

The twins first Rhino ride, headed to the group dinner after work day. Their car seats were ratchet strapped down.

Group dinner.

Hannah gets to attack an apple.

Great grandma gets a moment of quiet with Hannah.

Cuties enjoying some tummy time.

Front porch pictures before heading out, a cabin tradition.

10/4 Melissa took a picture of the man lift being dropped off for 7 days of shop building fury.

Having 2 in the basket and one of the ground helped get walls up much quicker.  Ben Haws brought his buddy Charles to help.

Of course they usually weren't on time. So 15 minutes after we were supposed to restart after lunch I found myself all alone and taking high angle shots of the house and shop.

10/7/17 4 walls up.

10/8 putting on the roof.  Ben and Charles wouldn't work without me, so it was really a push to try and get the place finished before the lift went back.  I had hoped to cut out the north facing high windows before the lift left, but that didn't happen.  We ended up on ladders at 18 feet with angle grinders in hand, cutting the very wall we were leaning on. 

10/10 at 9:30 PM.  Hannah snuggles have always been enjoyable.

Somebody didn't want to go to sleep yet.

GROSS!!! Mesh feeders are so weird and nasty and hard to clean, but the kids liked them.

Bluff Fort with the Lyman family 10/15

Navajo Twins with the Bayless Twins.

It is fall!  Pumpkin spice flavored babies.  These pictures were a lot of work in the making.  Melissa had been wanting to do them for a few weeks, but timing never worked out.  Probably because I was spending almost every free moment trying to get the shop enclosed before winter came.

Well, we were out doing something else when we saw the last big pile of leaves sitting at the south chapel.  We put the other plans on hold and ran home for pumpkins.  These two babies looking at us and happy was the 2nd picture of the "session," it deteriorated from there.

Leaf eating.

Uncontrollable screaming.

This is how we bundle for family walks in October.

At this point, Zoe'll do almost anything for attention.  Including standing motionless with 5 pieces of string cheese on her face.  Zoe really loves us and still can't understand why we brought home these 2 trouble making, time consuming, squirmy, tiny humans.

Melissa helping back fill the retaining wall.  Driving Tyler Gilson's tractor.

Happy 7 month day!

Happy pork pie!  Lots of work, but really tasty.  I started trying recipes from my Pub Foods cookbook I bought in the UK.

Baths in the big tub.

 

Halloween family costume.  Dr. Frankenstein and his creation with a Spider and her web.

We are at the ward Trunk or Treat, a highly controversial ward activity. Some love the simplicity and joy of seeing all the kids in their costumes in just a few minutes time. Other hate that it takes people away from their homes and out of their neighborhood, making it look like church members don't want to participate in the holiday. We like chili and friends.  Plus it ends before dark so we still get plenty of Trick or Treaters, and this year it wasn't on Halloween anyway. 10/29/17

Close up of the creation and spider.  Melissa crocheted their hats.  Finley's costume was pajamas from his Aunt Chevon and Uncle James. Hannah's extra legs are black tights stuffed with cotton. 

Oh, no! The month is over?  I didn't finish all my plans!

We really live in a beautiful part of the world!  Good night San Juan County. 10/31/17

I was on my way home from work in Monument Valley while Melissa took our kids Trick or Treating with the Lyman's