October

This month has flown by!  I can't believe it's November already.  The month started off with general conference- always a favorite weekend for me.  Mike, Cam, Brad and Bundy attended Priesthood together then went to eat at Panda (aren't they a great looking bunch?)  Me, Jess and Linny went to eat at Juniper Takeout, then did a little shopping, then got frozen yogurt at Twizleberry.  It was a fun evening. 

The next day was a lovely day spent at home watching conference.  In between sessions, since it was such a nice fall day, we went to 3rd dam and enjoyed seeing the fall leaves while taking a little hike (don't mind Cam's hair- he just rolled out of bed not long before this picture).
We've enjoyed getting together for Sunday dinner with the Searles and Mom every month for several months now.  It's fun to trade off houses, eat together then play games.  This night we played nic nic and 7 down, 7 up.
Brad challenged me to eating the Paleo diet for a week and I quite liked it.  Especially since I lost 4 pounds- I've tried to stick with it but it's hard not having any carbs.  The picture on the top right isn't something I made, but it's an idea that I love and may do for Thanksgiving.  The bottom right one is my favorite meal- Zupas tomato basil soup and any salad.  Yum.  During fall break Cam and I went to SLC for an afternoon to shop and lunch at Zupas is always a must.  
Also during fall break, Cam did some baptisms for the dead w/ his good friend Parker then Parkers mom Janae took them and me out for breakfast.
 
Cam can't go too long without an illness or injury, so he was due for something.  He developed a rash over his entire body (excluding feet, hands and head) after having a cold that we finally went to the dermatologist for. He thought it was a virus that could take 2 months to clear up.  He prescribed some medicine, but after 2 weeks when it wasn't any better, he suggested we do a biopsy to make sure what it was so they could treat it more specifically.  Turns out it was what they thought it was- Pityriasis Lichenoides et Varioformis Acerta or 'Pleva'.  It still could take 2 months to clear up, but we're hurrying it along with light therapy which he does 3 times a week.  He sits in a tanning bed like contraption and the lights are supposed to help it get better faster.  Needless to say, he's rather sick of looking like he has leporacy and having to wear long sleeve shirts and pants all the time.   Poor Cam- always something.

After serving as Relief Society secretary for almost 4 years, our presidency got released.  We went out to lunch to celebrate all our good times together.  These are really great women whom I learned a lot from.   
Mike and Cam have been keeping busy with yard work still.  Mike rented a stump grinder for the pine tree he chopped down and some shrubs.  It's slowly taking shape, and I can't wait until next spring to see the finished product.

Look at this 7 day forecast!  Could fall in October get any better than that?  I submit that I cannot.  Each and every day was enjoyed to the fullest by me. 

Gary and Nancy invited us, the Skeens and Searles over to help press apples for fresh juice.  Carol was busy, so me, Mike and Ann went and spent about 3 1/2 hours juicing apples from their orchard.  We were thrilled to go home with 6 gallons of delicious juice.  They also fed us and it was lovely to spend an evening together.

The fall leaves never cease to amaze me with their beauty.  I just love walking and driving around town and noticing all the beautiful colors.  I'm sad when they start to fall, because that means that winter is just around the corner. 

I was so happy the 5 of us could get out during the nice weather week and hike my favorite Logan Canyon hike- Crimson Trail.  Jess and Brad had never done it, and I'm so glad we were finally able to make it work to take them.  As an added bonus, we were able to talk Cam into going with us.

The Bundy's came for dinner on the last day of the nice weather and after doing a fun science experiment that they brought, we had s'mores outside using our new outdoor gas fireplace.  I love that thing! 

Jake had his first birthday in the mission field.  I was feeling rather sad about missing out on it and not being able to be with him for the first time in 20 years.  But happily that was not the case and all because of an awesome family in his ward.  They had emailed me a couple weeks earlier telling me they had had Jake and his companion (pictured in the two bottom pictures) over for dinner and had sat by them at a ward party and included those pictures in the email.  That was such a fun surprise to get!  Then they wrote back to say they had found out when Jake's birthday was and they wanted to surprise him with his favorite meal from home, so could I tell them what that was, complete with sides and dessert?  That's so awesome!  So I sent them a couple recipes, and they chose his all time favorite meal that I make:  Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Burritos with his favorite cake for dessert.  They had Jake and his new companion over for dinner on his birthday and then wrote to me later that night with pictures and a VIDEO - of Jake cutting the cake, and of them singing happy birthday to him and him blowing out the candles.  I was so happy to see his sweet smiling, happy face on his birthday. There are awesome people in the world looking out for the missionaries.  I'm so very grateful for that. 

Cam and his friends had a fun time on Halloween dressing up and going to a big party at the Laub's house.  Can you tell which one Cam is?

(the one in red)