Halloween 2011

We had us a lovely Halloween.  It started out as a lazy day, didn't end as such.  We decided since I wasn't working as I have worked every Halloween the past several years, that we were going to celebrate.  How else should one celebrate when they are a social eater other than by eating a yummy home cooked meal.  It didn't all look as good as other blogs, but it tasted delicious.
Since it was Halloween we had to go with the theme: witches fingers, Dracula's Blood, skeleton bones, honey crisp apples with pumpkin cream cheese from Trader Joes, and grandma brought a southern delight pineapple casserole.  I loved dessert:  Candy Corn Jello!

These are suppose to be Ghosts...

Grandma and Grandpa B joined us.  We had such a great time.

Spider cookies and suppose to be witches hat's, not so pretty. 

A man in the kitchen is so hot, especially when he's doing dishes.

Tristen's Home and A Relaxing Sunday

We picked Tristen up yesterday morning and brought her home, but not before stopping at Amelies and Rita's.  It really is pretty amazing that she is able to eat what she can.  She can eat anything but bread and meat.  So soup is on the menu.
Nick spoke in church today.  There was a youth speaker and him.  He spoke for at least 30 minutes and hardly looked at his notes.  I mean really who can do that unless they are destined to be a big time leader someday.  I was very impressed and so enjoyed hearing his testimony.  He fixed dinner, grandma B came over, we made cookies, took a walk, and visited the boss and his family.  It was a rather lovely day for sure.  And Tristen continues to eat well with a lot of heart burn, still.  That was suppose to be gone.  We shall call the doc tomorrow.

Post Surgery and A Friday Night Treat

Tristen is doing very well today.  It is surprising after such a surgery that she is walking and eating.  She keeps saying, "This is amazing.  I can eat and it doesn't come up."  While she was having a procedure this morning I went over to my friend Emma's to brush my teeth, wash my face, reapply my makeup and change clothes.  I think we take these things for granted.  That was one uncomfortable bed I slept on in the hospital last night, but I was so tired.  And I'm not a fan of sleeping in jeans.
I spent some time with Tristen before I headed to Salisbury to have a night out with Nick. Yes a treat for sure, since I am so use to working Friday nights.  I left Charlotte at 3:25 to avoid traffic.  Yea, didn't happen.  It took me 2 hours and 1 minute to get there.  A drive that should have only taken me 45 minutes.  We had reservations for 5, but didn't get there until 6.  It was worth the wait however.  We had dinner with his boss and his wife.  It was very enjoyable, with great conversation's.  We went to the same place as we did in August and had the same waitress; who is very good I might add.  It was a very packed place but always delicious.  It was a fantastic evening for sure!

Surgery Day

Today was a very long day.  It started out with some very bad traffic.  We did sleep very soundly and comfortably in Nicks new bed, which was nice after the long, early day of flying yesterday.  We got to Dr. H's. office at 930.  He didn't see Tristen until 11 though.  I was very impressed with him and his attention to details.  He didn't seem rushed one bit.  He spent at least 30 minutes with us.  We were then sent over to surgery, where we waited and waited and waited.  We watched movies and laughed.  Finally at 5pm they wheeled her back to surgery.  It's after 11 and she just got wheeled into her room.  She's totally out of it, but looks to be well.  I'm staying here tonight, which I'm sure will be a long night of interuptions, but I'm one tired gal.

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

Tonight we had so much fun taking the kids to the pumpkin patch.  I have never been to the pumpkin patch with my niece and nephews.  It was a wee bit on the chilly side, but so worth it.  We warmed up on the hayride though.  

Bridger didn't like the hay, don't know why, but he cried the entire time. 

We sure love our favorite tree!

We Made It!

Do you see that?  It's a plane on a train.  Kind of cool.

Today we drove from near Billings, MT to DL.
 I'm really going to love it.  I love the house and the view.  It was pretty crazy seeing my picture every where I turned.  We stopped off at the clinic for a bit..  It was weird seeing my face looking back at me, what was really funny was my picture was all over town and I had to tell people in the clinic my name, guess they don't pay attention to advertisements.  We stopped into the local Cafe' going  into the door, there I am.  We went to the bakery and there I was again.  We walked into the bakery and they knew who I was.  Dad thought it was pretty funny.  He had to take a picture and send it to everyone.  We then drove to Idaho.  We stopped in Idaho Falls to get gas and of course I made dad drive around the temple.  The Idaho Falls temple is so pretty.  We got home just before midnight.  It was is always nice to be home and in my bed.

The scenery from DL to Idaho was rather pretty. 

Yep, that's snow.  It's so pretty though.

More Driving

Today we drove through the entire state of South Dakota.  Super ugly; I don't recommend it.  We stopped in some western town that wasn't too exciting, but did have some pretty delicious donuts.  

 We did go out of our way just a bit to see the amazing Mount Rushmore.  It was pretty awesome.  Do you know the history of it?  It's pretty neat.  Look it up.

 

Then we met up with my moms cousin Ellen for dinner, who lives in SD.  We had such a wonderful time.  I always love meeting up with relatives for no special reason; sometimes it seems we meet up more for funerals and weddings than just to sit and visit.  We got on the road later than planned and drove through the rest of South Dakota and into Montana.  I swear I've never seen more deer in my entire life as I did tonight.  We were on this two lane highway for 2 hours.  It was pitch dark, except for deer eyes.  Glad mom was driving.  She wasn't too happy about it.

Nauvoo And More Driving

This morning we spent time in Nauvoo, mostly in the store, Parley's street, and the gravesite of Joseph Smith.  We also went into the store where the Relief Society was started.  I hope that I would have been faithful enough and had a strong enough testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, that I would have crossed the frozen Mississippi in the freezing cold temperatures of February, leaving behind my home, most of my possession, and the newly built temple as the pioneers did.  It was cold and windy again today, I can't imagine what they did to keep warm.

We also went to Carthage Jail where Joseph Smith was killed by mobsters.  There is such a sweet, humbling spirit there.  I loved the fall colors and leaves.

The rest of the day was spent in the lovely car!  Dad drove most of the way.  We spent our day in Illinois, Iowa, and ended it just inside the South Dakota Boarder.  We did drive through some cute towns, but the drive was rather boring.  Not much to see.