Our Sweet Life in the Valley

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving was a relaxing long weekend. My siblings were with family so we had a small dinner at my home with Lynn's mom and sister and my parents. The weekend kicked off the Christmas decorating and fun times out and about.

Our new kitty is very attached to Lynn. Wherever he is, she will find him and want to cuddle.

Scheels sporting goods opened and is now Jacob's very favorite place to go. It actually is quite a sight.

November also brings Stake Primary leadership dinner and meeting. It's always so nice to spend time with primary leaders and hear all their wonderful ideas and have a chance to thank them for everything they do.

(Fun food pics)

We had mini grilled cheese in different varieties, fall salad with butternut squash and mini dessert trifles- so we could try one of each.

The Iliad by Homer

Jacob's class has had a pretty extensive unit on everything Greek. They put on a play in their classroom from the Iliad. (Their version) Jacob auditioned and won the lead role of Paris. It was pretty cute. He is a little shy so we were surprised that he wanted to have a part like this and actually '"act." I credit his great teacher Mrs. Nielsen. He would do anything for her.

Trojan Horse :)

Championship Award Ceremony

Video of the AF 6th grade Cavemen with trophy- The boy's chose the song :)

USA Invitational Champions!!

The week before Thanksgiving we headed down to Mesquite for the Jacob's last football tournament. Exciting several days! The boys played amazingly and won the championship for their division. It was so fun to watch them. They had 4 incredible coaches who taught them to be good young men first and to work hard. Jacob was able to make some great friendships and the boys enjoyed all the hotel amenities and down time together.

Video of the Haka dance

Jacob scoring the extra point on the final touchdown!

Utah County Champions!!

Jacob's AF Caveman Team won all their playoff's and then went onto the championship game in early November. There are so many boys who play here in Utah it takes awhile to compete against all the teams.

We had wonderful luck with warm weather for every single game from July to November- until the championship game. It snowed a little, but the wind and lower temp and cold bleachers made it frigid!

The boy's won the Utah County championship against PG for6th grade despite almost freezing. They were happy happy boys!

Awards

We let balloons go on their first touchdown

October Fest

Lots of fun activities in October! Decorating for Halloween starts in early September. The fall things come out of the boxes and Jacob is always eager for the house to be decorated "all the way", so the Halloween things end up coming out as well. We like it to last as long as possible. It makes the work involved easier!

Jacob was a Mine Craft Creeper. If you have a son, you probably know what Mine Craft is. It's the one game I don't mind him creating in with his free time. We had ordered the ridiculously priced cardboard head off Amazon and when it turned up missing and not shipping in time we were left to make one (I was) at the last minute...

Things moms do-- I gathered LOTS of paint chip samples to make his head...and he was happy. This was his last year trick or treating or so he says. He went out with BF Brady and it was pretty entertaining to see them tackle stairs. We enjoyed a balmy warm Halloween night! Yay- no jackets!

Lucy will try to eat anything and turns on the charm to get what she wants.

Trick or treating earlier in the day at Dad's work.

Getting Boo-ed by neighbors.

I hosted book club in October- below dessert. Pumpkin trifles in jars with a witch hat resting on a cinnamon stick. Smells like fall....

Mini grilled cheese varieties with pumpkin pepper soup shooters.

Our spoiled rotten rescue kitty will eat anything- literally. Here she is eating asparagus from Jacob's mouth- yuck. I can't say I like the paws on the table either, but she is so adorable it's hard to refuse her.