Pumpkin Carving and the Zoo

I'm loving this time of year. I don't usually get much into the "Halloween Spirit" or even care for the changing of the leaves on the trees. But this fall has been a lot of fun with friends! It helps that Eden is getting so active, loves pumpkins, and dressing up. But there are so many trees here in Kansas City that you can't help but love to watch the colors change and the whole world look like a different place (no offense to Utah where we live in a desert...just not the same).

We bought a pumpkin for Eden (because she's obsessed with them) and carved it with a bunch of friends (Tyson's study-buddies and their wives). Here's Jimmy, Seth, Tara, and Tyson stabbing away.
Eden inspected the pumpkin to make sure daddy's pumpkin carving skills were up to par.
Here's everyone together with our pumpkins (look at our little shrimpy pumpkin on the end!) But Seth and Tara (with the giant pumpkin) created a witch. Natalie and Jimmy made Wall-E. And Tyson (I admit I didn't help at all) did an angry faced pumpkin.

I also went out with some other friends of mine. We went to the zoo (where Kansas City residents get in for free during the months of October and November). I love the zoo...always have and always will.

Here's Eden and an otter.
Here's Drew and...some kind of bird that would try to peck at his hands through the glass.
Here are the kids...didn't get any pictures of the adults. Jack, Eden, and Drew are buddies (most of the time) and we try to have play group with them once a week.

And of course there are more pictures that I wanted to put on her...but didn't. If you'd like to see them....go to my picture blog tysonandbethany.blogspot.com.

Creativeness, Madness, and Sickness

So, for the 3rd or 4th or 5th time since living in Kansas City....I'm sick. Congestion, fever, achiness, the whole bit. Pity. Eden's even learned how to "play sick". She gets in my bed, puts the covers over her, and says "sick".

Beyond THAT I've had some fun with food! My friend Eliza taught me how to make and jar apple pie filling! I haven't yet tried making the actual pie, but I hear amazing things. I went over to her house and spent several hours making jars of goodness. And I was proud.
Then today I decided to play with my food. I was making lunch for me and Eden...we had some bananas and apples that needed to be used...so I had a good time. I found these little fun treats (bug-a-pillar banana dude and oozing apple monster mouths) on picky-palate.com. Her's look cuter than mine...I just rushed through mine...but I'm still proud.
Eden was a little frightened of eating the bug at first. I had to touch it first and show her that you eat it. After that she took it all apart before eating it. I think it helped her be less afraid when it didn't look like a bug. The first time I've ever seen her back away from a banana!
And I had a good time with the apple mouths. They were really quite tasty. And even though this crazy, mad-woman picture definitely shows my unattractive side....I'm still proud of what I've done...even when I'm sick.

Back with Pictures

The trip was wonderful and I'm sad it's over...at the same time its been nice to be home with my husband again. I'm not feeling very creative tonight...so sorry if this blog is a rather boring read. At least there are pictures of Eden! Who could ask for more?

Alright, this is me condensing all my pictures into a few that describe the trip...to see more pictures go to my other blog tysonandbethany.blogspot.com (or click here). For more detail on the trip...read the last two blogs.

The plane ride.

Hugging a pumpkin at my dad's work party in Wheeler Farm...Eden's in love with pumpkins.
My mom's 60th surprise birthday party.

The aquarium in Sandy. Eden was able to touch a snake.
Playing dress up.
The Witches at Gardner Village.
Eden and her cousin, Eva, playing during the Finlinson/Sakamoto dinner.

Going Home

Today is my last day here in Salt Lake. Its been tons of fun and I'm gonna miss everyone (I'm sure that Eden will miss all the friends and attention).

Well, here's what happened the last few days here (pictures to come):

At church on Sunday, my home ward had a change in bishoprics. That was exciting to see because it was the ward I always grew up in. When we left sacrament Eden saw the toys in the nursery. She yelled "TOYS!", ran into the nursery, and that was that. So, she went to nursery for the first time and didn't seem to notice I was even gone. I can't imagine sunday school and relief society to be as exciting in her mind as toys and snacks. She's apparently ready to go to nursery!

That night my family all came over for dinners and we played games. I love my family.

Monday I helped babysit my nephew Trey with my mom. We decided to go see the witches at Gardner Village. I don't think Eden really understood what witches are, although she can say "witches" (unlike Trey who says witches with a "b" instead of a "w"...oops). But she loved looking at all the pumpkins and horses...and eating a piece of fudge.

My sister, Becca, came over after and we played more games.

My good friend, Liz, gave me a call cause she read I was in town from my last blog. Good thing I wrote or else she wouldn't have realized I was here and I wouldn't have remembered that she moved in with her parents so she lived close enough that I could go visit her and see her new little baby. So cute...I love babies. I love Liz too.

We had invited the Finlinsons over for dinner with my family but they were running a little late. So, I went with Laura to see Trey's cousin, Italia...who isn't 2 yet but speaks in full sentences...quite impressive! But then we ran back home just in time for the party to start.

Dinner was great, it was wonderful to spend time with my in laws, they loved spending time with Eden, and we all just had a really great time. I ate til I was stuffed. I'm sure I've gained at least 5 lbs since I've been here.

This morning my mom, Laura, Becca, McKell, Eden, and I went out to breakfast at Mimi's Cafe. My mom had a $10 off coupon so we figured we'd use it. Once again, I ate til I was stuffed.

Now I've just been home packing and grocery shopping in my mom' pantry. Eden's taking a nap...but we're gonna be leaving for our plane ride in an hour. Its bitter sweet. I get to see Tyson again but I'm gonna miss my family and being busy doing fun things all the time.

Eden's vocabulary has increased even in the small amount of time we've been here. She's learned to say "I don't want it" (unfortunately), "apple juice", and she's developed a fear of most anything that moves or makes noises and is bigger than a penny. She will run away to want me to carry her and she'll say "scary!"

Well, when I get home, I'll post all the pictures I took! Sorry if these two past posts have been....information (aka:boring). Back to the regular schedule when I get home!

Day 3 in Salt Lake

This is going to be a "no pictures" post. When I get home and can put all my pictures on to my computer...then I'll put all the pictures that relate to my posts. :)

Thursday (day 1):

There were a few complications when going to the airport. A friend was taking me and after she got to my house and we loaded up her car, the car broke down. We would have taken my car and then she could have driving it back...but I had already locked the car keys inside my house. So, I had to call another friend to ask her to take me to the airport. She came to the rescue. I guess that's why they tell you to come an hour early to the airport...make sure you are there on time even when bad things happen.

The airplane ride was pretty good. Eden did well...at least until the stop in Colorado. She was as happy as a clam, but her "no second nap" started to kick in from the trip to Colorado to Utah. She was a bit hard to handle, but we survived.

That night in Utah we went to my dad's work party at Wheeler farm where they fed us dinner, we looked at animals, got to pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, went on a hay ride, and went through the children's corn maze. It was a lot of fun, the kids had a blast. Eden's favorite was probably the pumpkins...she loves pumpkins. I have a feeling Halloween may be her favorite holiday.

That night my sisters and I pretended to go to a movie....but instead we went to my grandma's to help set up for my mom's surprise birthday party. It took a while, but we got it all together and it looked great!

Friday (day 2):

My mom and I ran a few errands and went to a few garage sales that morning. We also went to Taylorsville City Hall to see what we could do to help out with the tsunami in Samoa. They were collecting items to send over. So, my family and I printed off some flyers and took them door to door saying that the next morning we were going to gather items needed and to leave them on their doorstep.

Then I was in charge of making rolls for my mom's birthday party...I spent quite a bit of time making rolls, playing with kids and family that came around, and just relaxing.

The party was wonderful! My mom had no idea that so many people were going to be there for her 60th birthday. She just thought my grandma was having a dinner with some family. But we had a wonderful dinner, played let's make a deal, bingo, and "guess how many grams of fat/sugar/carbs are in the treats". We had cake and ice cream and lots of fun.

Saturday (day 3):

My family went around and picked up the items needed for the Samoa service project as well as bought a few things in bulk like water and rice to donate. I actually spent most of that time at home while Eden took a nap. So, I made sandwiches for my family when they returned for lunch.

That afternoon we went to the Aquarium in Sandy. We met up with Tyson's family there so they could spend some time with Eden. My sister won free tickets to the aquarium...so it was FREE! It is a really small aquarium with not a lot to see...but Eden probably liked it better that way. She was so excited to see fish, but when she saw how big they were....she backed off really quick! The only things she seemed to enjoy were the really small fish that she called "babies", the shark (from a distance that would occasionally swim by and she would wave and say "bye shark"), and the bird show. She did touch the snake and quickly backed away after, but that was pretty brave of her.

Then my family all went out to all-you-can-eat sushi. Oh...my mouth waters just thinking about it. It was delicious! We ate and ate and ate. I don't really ever get the chance to eat sushi...but since this new restaurant opened up really close and 1/2 priced gift certificates were sold...we've been there a few times.

That night we all just played games at my mom's house. My friends Rachel and David came over with their two kids to say hi. It was nice to see them. I hadn't met their little Emi before...she was born RIGHT after I left...like the week after.

So, that's an overview of the busy trip so far. Its nice to be busy and have so much family around. Rachel and David apologized for interrupting a family gathering...but nope, that's just how my family is all the time. They are always around, playing games, the kids can play with each other, the girls go shopping, and we just do whatever together.

I'll post later with what's going on the last half of my trip!!! Then pictures when I return!

Little Going On...

There's not much going on over here. General conference was great, we had our first visitor stay at our house (Tyson's friend Bryce came for med school interviews), and we all got sick...again.

But to make you all happy, here a little bit of Eden.

Eden got a Halloween costume from our friends, Chuck and Eliza. It was meant for their little boy, Jack, but didn't fit....so they gave it Eden. She LOVES it...and asks to wear it EVERY DAY. So, I guess it's an early Halloween here in Kansas City!

And here are some pictures of Eden eating leftover olives from dinner. She really enjoyed eating them...but more fun playing with them. She kept putting them on her fingers and saying, "puppet!"

Domesticating

Creativity is not one of my strong points. Saving money (well, more like not spending the money I have) is a stronger point. Unfortunately for Eden, that means for her that we lack toys and fun things in our house because I don't buy them AND I don't create them.

There was a lady who came over to my house that was a part of a free, community group called "Parents as Teachers". They come over every 3 months and talk about your child's development, give you ideas of things to do, and interact with your child. She came over for the first time a while back and she was really nice. She brought some toys that were made from things many would label as "trash". Since then I've been saving things from the fate of the trash can and giving them life as a child's play toy. I must say, Eden's impressed.

Here are my creations! A tent made out of the cardboard box, covered with her blanky (not so original, I know...I should have thought to do this a long time ago).



Out of a plastic apple carton (from Costco) I made a place for all of her little play food, balls, and little toys to go. She'll throw them in, close the lid, take them out. Seems kind of ridiculous...but she really loves it.And out of a sour cream carton I cut a slit through the bottom to fit her rings in (which is nice because she never uses those rings anymore...until now!) She'll put them in, open the bottom and dump it out, put them in again...she LOVES this one.
Also, while on my "domesticating" kick I figured that I would do something that was "economical" and always reminds me of my mom because she always did this....cut up her own chicken. I can officially say that I've taken a whole chicken and cut it up limb from limb. Umm...it was really gross and I may not do it again...I even called my mom halfway through for help and she basically told me, "Just do it!" And, as seen below...I DID IT!Although, I felt more like this crazy mad woman (as shown below) than a domesticated housewife....But at the end of the day....I wasn't the only one going crazy....