September randoms

We saw this giant Baymax (Big Hero 6) balloon at the grocery store and it HAD to come home with us.  

A sequel to one of our favorite books- yay!!

Hayden has started to get quite serious about her coloring!!

First time stand up paddleboarding!  I only fell in once. (Salt River)

Birthday package for Elder Hamilton!

I literally baked cake in a jar, sealed it and bubble wrapped that sucker up!

I took some fun pics of the kids that were inside the flaps of the box

I decorated the sides of the box all up to make it fun~

Exploding cups~ a favorite way to review the Primary program songs!

She's got talent!

Second Sunday evenings now look like THIS^ at our house ~~ Bishop's youth fireside

One of my favorite things about each kid learning to read is them
being able to read stories to their younger siblings ♥︎♥︎♥︎

Since the twins don't have school on Friday, Matt decided to take one Friday off a month so we have the opportunity to focus on things that matter most.  This particular Friday, we headed to the Phoenix temple to do baptisms for the dead.  It was the first time I had done that since I was a youth!  I love the enthusiasm they have to do temple work.

Aunt Debbie and Kiyah joined us since they live on the west side of town.

ONE YEAR DOWN!!!!
So grateful for the relationship that these three men have built, serving together as a bishopric.  I'm grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that has carried us through this experience together.  I'm grateful for good friends and family that are there by my side to support me as I support my husband as he serves the Lord.  There are definitely moments that aren't easy, but I know when we serve faithfully, we are blessed.

After a little meltdown, she decided story time was alright.

Went out to my [messy] car one morning to find all these signs everywhere!
Love the "mormonmom" hashtag.  Haha!  Thanks Brooklyn!

Back at it!  #toohot #sweatyselfie

Lunch with Preston again this month!  I love watching the lunchroom interactions!

Brooklyn and her friend Delaynee at the QC football game!
They had a great time showing off their cheerleading skills during the halftime show.

Hayden's first Primary program, my second.  All the hard work over the last 9 months is worth it when the Primary kids stand up there, singing their hearts out, sharing the simple truths of the gospel through song.  Only after it was over and I sat down, did the tears come.  I've gained an incredible testimony of the power that music can have in bringing the Spirit into our lives.  I love all "my" sweet Primary kids and thankful for the chance to serve them each week in Primary!

We seriously have THE BEST time in singing time!
(photobomb by Andrew Solomon)

We got a few text messages asking if Matt got a new car and I had fun telling people he was going through a mid-life crisis, haha!  Actually his car got backed into in the parking lot at work so this was his rental while it was in the shop.

Brooklyn's first choir concert!!  She is loving choir SO MUCH!!!

Labor Day weekend

The Melvin & Wanda West Palmer family reunion happens every Labor Day weekend!  With grandma's health issues recently, the siblings really wanted everyone to make an effort to be there.  We received instructions to dress "pioneerish" so we did our best with what we had.

We walked along the designated route and stopped at certain points for a little story about our family.

Grandpa played his harmonica, which was a special treat!  Each family got a small harmonica to keep.

Watermelon snack!

Grandpa and Grandma ❤︎ 66 years married

Brooklyn wove this crown from flowers in the meadow

Gold nuggets!

Grandpa and Grandma with all their living children

~~~~

We've been trying to get out and explore the beautiful state we live in when we have breaks so on Labor Day, we drove up to the Lava tubes in Flagstaff.  We brought Joshua along.  The cave is a mile long and was formed 700,000 years ago by molten rock that erupted from a volcanic vent nearby.

You climb into the mouth of the cave and immediately descend underground.  It's completely dark all the way!  We brought our headlamps and a couple flashlights and lanterns.

Once we got to the very end of the tube, Matt told the kids to turn off their lights.  We sat there in complete darkness, you couldn't even see your hand in front of your face!!  He used that as an object lesson that even the littlest bit of light overpowers the darkness.  

It was a fun little adventure!  The kids have really started enjoying our outings like this.  And so do I!

Since we were right there, we couldn't help but drive up toward Snowbowl and check on "our" tree that we've carved four hearts into.  It's looking a little weathered but it's still there!!  Matt decided to slip his tongue out as we took the kissing picture which sent us into a fit of giggles!

We stopped for dinner at the Horsemen Lodge, food was decent but the service was mediocre.  We waited FOR-EV-ER for our food and it wasn't even that busy. Blah. We battled traffic on the way back down to the valley but at least we had beautiful views!