Leftovers from October

I don't have many extra pics outside the BIG events that went on this month, just a few stragglers worth mentioning...

I accomplished a new pose in yoga, it's called Crow.  I probably only held it for .5 seconds, but still!
Yoga days (P90X3) are becoming my favorite!

Our last two chicken eggs.  Waaaaahhhhhhh! :(

Kids' school Fall Festival -- Uncle Turkey bought her cotton candy
while I was volunteering at a class booth.

The kids could pay $1 to duct tape the principals to the wall!!!!
The line was SO long!  I wonder how much money they made from that!

They are such good sports!  I love our principals!

Brooklyn and her sweet friend Delaynee Shill

Halloween time!

We had our ward Halloween trunk or treat last Friday night, the typical chili/hot dogs/corn bread affair.  Hayden was SOOOOOOOO excited to finally wear her Minnie Mouse costume!

Gavin (silver) and Preston (red) both decided to be Power Rangers.

We looked through a loooong list of costumes to find something appropriate for Brooklyn.  She decided on this beauty pirate.

Blake's costume all started from the "helmet" that Uncle Cody gave to him before he left on his mission.  Matt and Blake worked together to construct the rest of the Diamond Armor (Minecraft) costume.  All the kids Blake's age knew exactly what he was!

Cody Owen & Blake

Gavin & Joshua Thornes

Bentley Owen & Preston

Piper & Addison Merrill, Ainsley Beagley, MacKenzie Anderson, Madelyn Oitzman
Marissa Bassett, Claire Nugent, Kaitlyn Shiflet, Brooklyn

Our little hobbit... always barefoot!

I'm always torn what to do every Halloween- stay home and pass out candy?  Or go out with the kids?  This year, we were meeting up with friends to trick-or-treat in our neighborhood, so I decided to go out.  I put candy and glow sticks on the porch in a bucket with instructions to only take one of each. :)  It was crazy warm that evening!  We pretty much did the back half of our neighborhood then the older boys went out a little longer with the dads.  The kids buckets were filled to the brim!

Trick or Treat!!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Phoenix Temple open house

This evening, we had the privilege of touring the newly-constructed Phoenix temple with a couple of Matt's co-workers.

{Aaron, Elisa, Allison, Matt}

{our family}

I also had the opportunity earlier in the month to be a part of the contractor's tour, which allowed employees and their families of contractors that worked on the temple to walk through before it was open to the general public.  My dad didn't actually work on the temple himself, but the company he works for did a portion of the painting.  Matt was on his father/son overnighter with Blake so it was  me and the other four kids along with Becky and her kids, then my parents and two of the three boys.

Cookies in the hospitality tent after the tour!

Gav with the mini Christus

It's quite the drive (1hr 15 mins) over to the northwest side of the valley, but it was worth it to see the new temple, neatly nestled against the mountains.  Each temple is so unique, and while this new temple is fairly small in comparison to the Gilbert temple, the significance of the ordinances performed there and the Spirit that is felt are just the same.  When the Phoenix temple is dedicated next month, there will be five operating temples in Arizona, along with a sixth temple announced for Tucson.   Temples bring great joy to faithful members in the area and stand as a beacon for all to see.

I realize how incredibly blessed we are to participate in the open house and dedications of TWO new temples in the valley within the same year!

Hamilton family photos~

My mom & dad wanted to have some family pictures taken before Cody left on his mission.  I think it's been 10 years since we've done a whole family photo???  The temple is always a beautiful backdrop.  Brittney's friend, Erin Clouse, took the photos and she was quick!  I think we got some good ones!

 A couple pics I took---

They found this little turtle roaming around in the bushes!  I think Cody took it home and named it Mei.

Ahhhhh, they stress me out and make me so darn happy at the same time!!

Sayonara Cody!!

Well, Cody left for his mission this morning!  He's headed to the MTC in Provo, UT for two months where he will learn the Japanese language and receive all the training he needs to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the next two years.

Sunday morning, he gave his farewell speech in church.  Afterward, the family came over to my parents' house for brunch.  Later that evening, there was an open house where more family, friends and ward members came to say goodbye to Cody.

Cody's "friend" 

Apparently Cody used to sit on Sister Crandall's lap during church when
he was little so they had to recreate that now that he's all grown up!

Brother Hardison, Cody's priest quorum advisor, who coincidentally, also served a mission in Japan!

Chopsticks!

I love this picture!!

Hayden was a little sad that Cody is leaving

Tuesday night, we came back up to see Cody be set apart as a missionary.

This morning, I woke up bright and early to see Cody off at the airport.  I squished into the truck with my dad, mom and brothers.

When Cody checked his bag, it was too heavy!  My dad unloaded a few things that could be mailed to him later.  His bag passed, then we headed to the security checkpoint, where we said our goodbyes.

Their first missionary~ 

After five hundred pictures, Cody was like, "Can I go now??"  And off he went!  I think he was a bit excited!  Mom watched until she couldn't see him anymore.

It'll be different not having Cody around for two years, but he's doing the best thing he could possibly be doing at this time of his life.  Weird to think our kids will be 13, 13, 10, 7, and 4 when he gets back!  I'm excited to see how he grows spiritually and hear about the adventures he has in Japan.  He will definitely stand out there, as a tall, blonde guy!