Trunk-or-Treat

The night of our ward trunk-or-treat, poor Jett was sick with a bad cold. Luckily, grandpa and grandma Murray were in town and babysat so Ryon and I could take Hoyt to the party. We had dinner with Filer 1st Ward and then all the kids got to trunk-or-treat. Our friends the Darrow's set up a fishing game beside their car, and two families also got together and did a little haunted house. Hoyt had a blast!

Hunter (Ryon's annual costume) the farm girl and Batman.


Ready to get out and trunk-or-treat!


We had a good time, but we missed having Jett with us. Taking pictures without him just didn't seem right!

Preschool Party

Halloween has become Hoyt's favorite holiday! He loves dressing up in costumes, he loves trick-or-treating, he loves carving jack-o-lanterns, and he loves all of the "scary guys" that come along with Halloween (until, of course, it gets dark and then he's scared!).

This year he was super excited for his preschool party. He couldn't wait to show off his new Batman costume and take pumpkin rice krispie treats to put in all of his friends Halloween bags. There were so many fun things to do at the party; face painting, cookie decorating, spider making, pumpkin decorating, games to play, etc. What a great morning at preschool!

Hoyt's class (he is the batman on the far right). His teachers dressed up like dogs - Hoyt thought that was pretty cool!


The mask stayed on for a few pictures and then had to come off so he could see!


Decorating pumpkin sugar cookies - he had previously been at the face painting table where he got a dragon and black spider painted on his face.


Conner and Hoyt working on their spiders.


Hoyt and Bailey waiting for their turn to fish


Playing pin the nose on the pumpkin. Hoyt was off just a little bit!!


Hoyt and Nate - the two Batmen


I was lucky enough to help with the party - they put me in charge of the spider making table. We had lots of fun!

Pumpkin Carving

Hoyt always wants to carve his pumpkins right after we "pick" them, but I was able to hold him off until the Monday before Halloween. It has become tradition to carve our pumpkins for Family Home Evening the week before Halloween, so that is what we did.

Hoyt decided that he wanted a scary pumpkin, and Ryon tried his best to help him since I am completely useless when it comes to pumpkin carving! I usually get a few pictures of the finished product, but this year I don't have a single picture of Hoyt's scary pumpkin. It turned out great and was actually pretty "SCARY"....you'll just have to take my word for it!

Let the pumpkin carving begin!

After this picture was taken Hoyt explained that he did not like the feeling of the "yucky pumpkin seeds" all over his hands and he needed a spoon!

Jett had lots of fun trying to get into the mess!

Primary Program 2011

This year was Hoyt's first time participating in the Primary Program, and he was ridiculously excited! He got to wear a missionary tag and say "I know the scriptures are true". We were so proud of our little Sunbeam!

Pumpkin Patch

We took our annual outing to the pumpkin patch yesterday and had a fun time picking out our pumpkins. Hoyt loves to go in search of the "perfect" pumpkin and tends to find it in about two minutes. He found five perfect pumpkins this year and we left with three. Even though the kids were a bit cranky towards the end, and Ryon was irritated by all of my picture taking, I think the outing was a success. After the pumpkin patch we went to get ice cream cones - a great fall afternoon in Filer, Idaho!

Loving the pumpkin patch!


One of the "perfect pumpkins"


Jett was a little unsure of the straw


Perfect pumpkin #2


I tried to get a picture with the boys, and this is as good as it got!


Jett and Ryon playing under the apple tree


We tried to coax a smile out of him, but he wouldn't comply!


I think pumpkin picking 2011 was a success!

Picnic at Balanced Rock

This past Saturday Ryon decided he wanted to go on a picnic. He said there was a spot by Balanced Rock that was really pretty and that he thought the boys and I would love. After a busy Saturday morning we "packed up" the boys, stopped by McDonald's to pick up some lunch for our picnic, and drove out to Balanced Rock.

The weather was beautiful (a bit windy, but warm) and the park was perfect. Jett enjoyed crawling on the grass and picking up leaves, while Hoyt and Ryon played football. After our picnic we stopped by Balanced Rock. Hoyt wanted to know if we could climb it that day; we promised him we would do it sometime soon!

The boys ready for a picnic


Jett in his BYU finest!


Let the football playing begin


Passing...


tackling and lots of grass stains!


Jett enjoyed the afternoon inspecting leaves


This picture shows his beautiful eyelashes - I had to include it!


Hoyt and Ryon....they're #1


Balanced Rock - pretty amazing and only about 20 minutes from our house!

Coyote Hunter Hoyt

Ryon went coyote hunting the other morning, and when he got home Hoyt started crying because he couldn't believe that dad would go coyote hunting without him. Putting on all of Ryon's camo gear seemed to help him feel a little better! (I think we may have a bit of a fanatic on our hands....wonderful!!)

TROUBLE!

Jett is officially into everything, and I am in trouble!

The dishwasher is a favorite spot....


the fruit snack box provides lots of entertainment....


and the pantry will never be the same!

Apple Picking

One of the ladies that I visit teach has an apple tree in her backyard. She called me the other evening to tell me that her tree was full of apples that needed to be picked. I assured her that Hoyt would love to go apple picking and that we would come by in the next few days. Two days later the weather was gorgeous and Ryon was home, so we went on a "family date" to pick some apples.

Hoyt on his way...let the apple picking begin!


The apples on the lower branches were Hoyt's favorite


Jett was happy to sit on a blanket with the apple basket - taking an apple out for every apple put in!


We're making lots of dried apple chips and apple pie filling at our house. I think I'm going to try applesauce as well, but haven't made it that far yet!





We had a fun afternoon and can't wait to have fruit trees in our own backyard!

Field Trip

Hoyt had his first field trip this week to the pumpkin patch. There were two classes that went (the 3/4 class and the 4/5 class) so we took about 30 children total. I signed up to chaperon and drive, and it was pretty fun to have six bubbly four and five-year-olds in the back of the car. Oh....if you could only bottle all of that energy!

As soon as we arrived Hoyt was sure he had found the perfect pumpkin. His teacher told him to "keep looking"!


Here he is with a "snake gourd". He thought it was pretty cool!


Hoyt's class


Hoyt and his buddy Kaiser - look at those grins


Showing off their pumpkins


A few of the kids decided to take a rest on a pumpkin


I'm looking forward to lots of field trips!


Ready to head for the cars


Before heading back to school we saw a "real snake". This one was dead but, as you can imagine, every preschooler had to have a good long look!