The Rest of October...

Last Boat Ride of the Season
On the 14th, we took our last boating trip before Dave had to winterize the boat. Cruise & Jett hadn't been on it yet and they really loved how fast it went. We had brought the GoPro, but a certain child who was in charge of it left it in the car. It mostly was because he was deathly afraid of this goose that was terrorizing the boat launch area. And it's true, the goose wanted to be fed and was using intimidation tactics.

We drove around the lake a little and then stopped at the little island for the kids to walk around. I sat around and broke rocks in half to see what was inside. It was more exciting than it sounds.

Halloween Cookies
Every year we make Halloween cookies. It's tradition. I found an amazing recipe this year and they are by far my most favorite. They turned out really soft and they kept their shape as well. Definitely one I will keep using. The boys had fun decorating as well as delivering a bunch to some of our neighbors. That may sound like I'm super nice, but really it's selfish because I know I'll just eat all of them and either get diabetes or gain 10 more pounds...probably both.

Flu Shots
Last year we let the boys get the flu mist but apparently the flu mist isn't effective according to the CDC, so we had to make them all get shots. Which was terrifying for Cruise. He's had sever anxiety about it for the past year or so. Dave and I didn't know how to tell them we were going to get shots one Friday, so we told them we had to grab dinner and run some errands before we went to the arcade. All true things. We got some dinner and then headed to the health department. Immediately Cruise and Jett recognized the building. Cruise went into full-blown meltdown mode with crying, and screaming, and shaking. Jett took another approach and remained calm but had the look of complete and utter betrayal on his face paired with quiet tears. It was heartbreaking. And then there was Miles who had no idea what was going on but was enjoying the emotional show laid out before him. We waited 45 minutes to get shots. 45 minutes of talking Cruise down from his anxiety ridden rant, as he paced back and forth, scaring small children everywhere. And of course after the shot, Cruise looked surprised and said he didn't feel a thing. Hopefully he will remember that next year.

My Birthday: #31
Ah, birthdays. Less and less significant the older you get. I honestly didn't really care this year about doing anything, and I don't like it when people make a big deal about it. I just want my cake and maybe a date.

My birthday landed on a Thursday. I got to get my hair done, but the rest of the day happened to be super busy, so we celebrated on Friday. We were actually going to go eat at Tucanos, but as we pulled up to the Riverwoods, I was reminded that every year, right before Halloween, they do a trick-or-treating event. Which meant 1: no parking and 2: our kids didn't have any costumes. So before the boys could see kids in their costumes getting candy, we quickly turned out of the parking lot and headed to Noodles & Company. Because, who doesn't like noodles? Afterwards, we headed home and had cake! Every year Dave makes me a cake and I always ask for German Chocolate because it's really the best kind of cake there is.

Dave got me some nice sterling silver, CZ post earrings that I had wanted. Jett made this adorable note for me. He is so sweet and thoughtful. And the fact that he gave me one of his dollars is kind of a big deal. That kid really likes having money in his wallet.

Halloween!
Halloween landed on a Monday this year. I woke up Halloween morning sick. Like, "I think I have strep" kind of sick. Before I had to take the kids to school, I called and made a dr. appointment for the afternoon. We took the kids to school and parked the car so we could find our seats for the big Halloween parade the school does every year. We were a little early, so Jett hung out with us until the bell rang. Jett was Luke Skywalker, Cruise was General Grievous, and Miles started out as Yoda, but refused to wear the ears, so he ended up being a Jedi. He learned how to use the force, so it was pretty adorable when he used it against Jett and Jett would throw himself backwards.

 It's always fun to see the costumes every year. Cruise always manages to wear a costume no one else has.

After the parade, I had to stay to help with Jett's class party despite feeling completely awful. Two hours later I was able to make it to the doctor only to be told it was just a bad virus. Yay. After picking the kids up from school, I took them home and then grabbed some jack-o-lantern pizzas that we get every year. Our neighbors across the street also invited us to a hot dog dinner at their place with the rest of the street, so we ate more food over there before the kids took off trick-or-treating.

Dave took them again and I stayed home to hand out candy. They actually didn't stay out very long and Miles had completely removed his costume after only a few minutes. But they still got a lot of candy!

And that wraps up October!

The Latest:

Sink

We have lived with a 6-inch deep sink for the past 4 1/2 years. As well as a faucet that not only leaks but barely moves when you try to swivel it. It doesn't swivel. I have hated it since we moved in. Mostly because you put three dishes in it and it is already overflowing! So after much convincing, Dave agreed to getting a new sink and faucet! (I told him it was my early birthday present).  

I decided if I was going to get a new sink, it had better be as deep as possible. So I chose a 10-inch deep sink from Lowes and then found the oil-rubbed bronze faucet on Amazon. Dave spent an entire morning and afternoon removing the old sink and installing the new one. He did such a great job and I absolutely LOVE it!

We tested it and found that it takes one week to fill this baby up. Ha ha!

Family Pictures

I asked my brother-in-law, Casey, if he would take our family pictures this year. After he edited them, I asked myself why we had never asked him in previous years! He did such a great job and they turned out beautiful! Even with the kids being uncooperative.

I had planned out everyone's outfits and had bought these adorable teal suspenders for Miles and of course he refused to wear them. Then Dave did Miles' hair really cute and as soon as we got in the car and told everyone to not touch their hair, Miles starts rubbing his hair as furiously as possible. He was in such a bad mood that afternoon, but luckily even with him messing it up, he still looked great. 

We drove up Provo canyon to Vivian Park, drove up South Fork, parked, and then hiked up a little ways to a beautiful area.

Band

The Swoop got to play a couple times at the Riverwoods and luckily the second time it didn't rain. It being a Friday, there were a lot of people there, so it was nice to play to an audience. We had some technical difficulties throughout the set, but it still turned out pretty good. My Uncle Dodd and Aunt Annalynn came and took some pictures, and Dave and the boys showed and supported their ol' mom. 

Ybarras Are Home!

Dave's parents got home from their 2nd mission in Germany on the 30th of September. (I am pretty sure they haven't aged in the past 14 years that I've known them.) They got home so late in the day, however, that only Dave was able to meet them at the airport with a few of his siblings. But we got to see them a couple days later and have enjoyed spending some time at their house with Katie's family, Mary, Joe, and John. 

Fishing & Hee Haw Farms

I had promised the boys we would take them to Hee Haw Farms last Friday, but Dave's sister Katie and her family were in town and Dave wanted to take them out on the boat. So we split up and I took the boys to the farm and he took Katie, her daughter Emily, and her sons Erik and James out on Deer Creek to fish. Katie's husband, Jeremy, took their two younger daughters, Julia and Hannah, to the farm as well since it was likely they would be bored on the boat. So it worked out for everyone.

Cruise and Miles enjoyed watching two of the goats fight. As interesting as it was, I was a little worried the goats might turn on the kids, but the goats must really be used to kids and people running around, so they pretty much ignored everyone unless there was a possibility they had something to eat.

 I like to call this one "Kid to Kid":

 And, just like last year, the corn pit was a lot of fun.

 They had a lot of fun going down both the big slide as well as the Silo slide. Miles could've slid all day long.

And that's what we've been up to!