5th Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest

After a bit of blog research, I have come to the conclusion that this was our 5th year doing the Hardcastle pumpkin carving contest.  It's something that we all look forward to, even my mom, who has to buy a lot of pumpkins, watch the little kids while the big ones carve, and usually clean up a lot of pumpkin guts.

But, check this picture out, it's all worth it!

This year Hyrum found this picture a month ago at Mimi's house and has been talking about it ever since.

I took a trip to Winco to buy all of the candy, and the alien pumpkins turned out pretty awesome!  In fact, his pumpkin got the most votes this year, so he's our 2013 winner!

Sept ?? - Oct ??

Okay... I sorta lost it.  I missed a day, and then I kind of stopped keeping track on my phone, and then when I realized I'd have to piece back together when I took what pictures I started missing more days.  There might have been another thing or two going on, but that's the simplified and less personal reason why I'm not going to post daily pictures any more.  I might change my mind and start keeping track again, but maybe not.  

I've never gone so long and been so far behind in this family blog/journal.  It's a little discouraging. but I'm challenging myself to post again every day in November.  So, it might take me the whole month, but I'm going to catch up, and add pictures, and maybe even pick up where I left off taking daily pictures. 

For now, Justin's back.  The kids are excited for Halloween.  The Red Sox are in the World Series.  We're going on a vacation to San Diego at the end of the this week, and I've barely cracked the surface of my Christmas shopping.  That's about it.  More to follow, I promise.  

 

Sept 3-21

Sept 3

Kate and Milo kneeling.  It's a new trick for him.

Sept 4

First day back to school for Hyrum.  I coulnd't find my chalkboard, where I wrote PRESCHOOL on it last year, so you'll just have to trust me.

Sept 5

Milo in the mirror.  Like most babies, he just can't get enough of that kids in the reflection!

Sept 6

I've had a hard time taking photo's these last couple of weeks.  This was something I took a screenshot of and sent to Kathy and Bryon.  You have to know FRIENDS, and go out to sushi once in a while to get it.

Sept 7

We had a Richmond Family (Denise) breakfast up the canyon.  It was perfect weather and the kids were in Heaven.  And of course, there were rocks that needed to be climbed everywhere.

Sept 8

Birthday celebration with the Petersen's at Karen's house.  Milo loved the swing.

Sept 9

I lowered the crib for Milo.  With Kate I lowered it one nap too late, so this will ensure that he won't be falling out anytime soon.

Sept 10

Hyrum came home from Mimi and Papa's with this page torn out of a magazine.  He must know there's a big Hardcastle competition coming up with pumpkin decoration.

Sept 11

School is in full swing, which means my walls are once again covered in art work.

Sept 12

Milo kneeling again.  I think I forgot I already took a picture of him doing this.  No interest or attempt to stand, just kneeling so far.

Sept 13

Quick picture (and not a very good one) of Milo in a hard hat.

Sept 14

It rained all day and filled up the pool.  Kate decided to play in it.  Her dress came off at some point.  I made her come back inside as soon as the pull-up came off too.

Sept 15

Milo tried chocolate for the first time.  Blue m&m's at Grandma and Grandpa Hardcastles.  He was a fan.

Sept 16

New shoes for Hyrum from uncle Gordon (Solomon).  Guaranteed to make you at least 15% faster)

Sept 17

I took half a dozen pictures and they all turned out blurry.  Milo decided to actually crawl (as opposed to scooting)

Sept 18

Today was a good day.  I set a goal for myself to reach a certain weight by the time Justin got home, and I came in at just under it.    It's till 20-25 pounds from where I'd like to end up, but with Justin back and I start going to the gym more than once a week I'll hopefully lose a bit more that way.  I've definitely lost what I gained with Milo, and started on the weight I kept from Kate.  So, now I just need to work on the weight that stuck around from Hyrum, and then tackle the 5 pounds that came along with Justin (right after I got married).  A girl can dream, right?

Sept 19

A friend from the ward texted and invited us to go to Wheeler Farm with them in the morning.  I didn't want to go anywhere that day, but that's usually a bad idea in the long run, so we went.  It was probably a good thing, even though the kids were a bit on the crazy side and it was super crowded.  It was good to get out.

Sept 20

Milo turned one today!  We're saving his big birthday party for when Justin get's home next month, so we came up to my mom's for dinner and a couple of gifts.  He loves balloons and sugar filled cake.

Sept 21

My phone is spending a couple of days in rice.  Let's hope it works when I pull it out (submerged in water)

Social Experiment

I'll be the first to admit I'm addicted to my cell phone (iPhone).  It is very rarely more than a few feet from me, if not in my back pocket.  Like most of us now days I use it for everything.  All of my contacts and schedule is on there, social media outlets, I use it to Google strange and peculiar things that pop into my head during the day, and a camera that is always easy to get to.  We don't have a land line, so it's my only way to communicate with the outside world.  It's most often how I start and end my day, and spend a good deal of time on it during the day as well.  

So... yesterday morning I had my phone in my back pocket as usual and was getting the kids ready to take Hyrum to school (have I mentioned how I hate afternoon preschool?)  I blame the fact that I had on a pair of jeans that I haven't worn for sometime now, and are still a little too snug for public use (I was just seeing if they fit yet and planned to wear them around the house that morning).  I went to the bathroom -can you see where this is going?  In goes my phone.  My heart sunk when I heard the noise.  I've had a cell phone since I went to college in 1998, and I have never had one with any water damage.  Until yesterday.

I retrieved the submerged phone lightening fast and dried it off.  I've heard of the phone in a rice bag (just what it sounds like) and immediately submerged it again, this time in a zip lock full of rice.  I got online (on my computer) to make sure I did the right thing, and I think I did.  It'll sit there until at least Sunday.

Can I tell you how many times I've reached for or tried to look for my phone in the last 18 hours?  It's starting to drive me crazy!  I was reading a book on there, I play a couple of word games with 2 or 3 friends that I can't get to, it was Milo's first birthday and I couldn't take any photo's or get on instagram to see what other people are taking pictures of, I have no idea what time it is, ever.  I think it's safe to say I am (was) far too addicted to having a smartphone at my finger tips.

I'm at my parents for the night (a planned over-nighter because we came up for a mini birthday party for Milo) and actually just went a bought a throw away (pay as you go) phone for any just-in-cases when I'm back home.  It's a flip phone, with no bells and whistles.  I can't even remember how many years it's been since I had a similar one.    So... I've got another day or two with no phone and I'd like to say I'll learn something.  And hopefully I'll get a bit more done during the day, but I'll be honest, I'm looking forward to getting my phone (or a new one, gulp) back and running.  I'm dying to know what time it is.

Week with the Hardastles

Jodi and Stella came into town for a week, and we didn't miss a minute of it.

We picked the two of them up at the airport and came back to our house for dinner.  (Jodi took our extra car for the week from there)

The kids were so excited to see Jodi and Ste-ya, even Milo.

Tuesday Jodi came down and we all went to Wheeler Farm.  The only clear pictures were of the two that were strapped into strollers.

Wednesday we had a family dinner at my parents.

Thursday my mom came with all of us and we headed to the zoo.

Friday we had our annual girls trip to Swiss Days and Park City.  This year's was a bit condensed, an early evening in Midway and just dinner in Park City.  It actually wasn't too busy and I think we all saw just about everything we wanted to.

Dinner was delicious, we at at Vinto on Main St.

Kate had a rough few minutes back at home with Grandpa Hardcastle, Gordon, and Matt.  In Gordon's words she took a 'bookcase to the face'.  I'm sure she screamed for about 10 minutes and then was up and running around just as fast.

We slept over and headed out as soon as Jodi and Stella were ready to be taken to the airport.  Their trip home was pretty miserable, and it will probably be a long time before my sister tries that flight again on her own.

My mom came back to our house (with the Honda) and we were supposed to put her on the train back to Roy.  A few too many red lights on our way and we got there just as it was pulling away.  So, she hung out with us for the day and then we went with her and my dad up to the Uintah's that evening.

The destination was Mirror Lake, but we also seem to need to get out and eat about 10 minutes before we get there (we all went last summer too).

The kids loved being in the mountains and Hyrum just about jumped in the lake at least half a dozen times.  I'll never know the answer to this, but I'll always wonder if Kate would be as adventurous (jumping and climbing) if she hadn't had an older brother to show her how it was done, but she can certainly keep up with him.

Milo was a bit tired on the way home, which was pretty late for his standards.

And, since it was our regular Sunday we all headed back up to my parents for dinner on Sunday.  I'm sure all the Hardcastle's were going through withdrawals after spending so much time together come Monday.  I know my kids were asking where their family was all day.