October at a glance!

I really didn't mean for October to come and go and never do a post... Life has been busy. And for me busy is good! So, better late than never, here is our October!

55 & Still Alive!
Happy birthday pappa bear! My mom threw him a little birthday fiesta, which, as usual the grandkids got to enjoy it more than him! Happy birthday daddy-O! I love you!

Mr. Pinata hanger/landscaper!


Seriously, how fun are pinatas? We had a little premature pinata burst, so we had to tie a big white bag around it, to give the rest of the kids a chance to hit it!



I always associate my dad's birthday with the arrival of fall! To me, this brings many mixed feelings... I'm so excited about the upcoming cool weather, and the fun holidays but I'm very anxious about the arrival of many hard "anniversary" days (for lack of a better word.) This time last year I looked like this

I was so excited for November to come, that meant I was that much closer to welcoming a new, long awaited member to my family. I was so happy and so excited. It's so humbling to look back. It's crazy to think how much my life has changed in just a short year. Life has forever taken on a new meaning. I can still say I am excited for the arrival of November, not sure if I'm ready to tackle the hard days that lie ahead but I know I have definitely endured worse! So bring on November! I know I'm not in this alone! :)

October {BREAK}

We welcomed this year's October break with open arms! This past month has been a trying one for many many reasons....for not only me, but for many people that I love and care about so much! I don't know what's harder, going through an exceptionally hard trial myself, or watching someone I love and care about go through one?? Needless to say, we were in much need of a break and we took full advantage of the time off! Thank you Grammy & Pappa G for making it all possible! Here is what this October break had in store for us.............

Disneyland!
We spent the first half of the week at the "Happiest Place on Earth"! I really believe there is a lot of truth to that! You guys already know what a big Disney nerd I am, so you can imagine how much I was looking forward to this part of the trip! I wasn't let down! We had a blast riding every ride, seeing every show and just taking in all the "magical" surroundings that Disneyland has to offer! Disneyland during Halloween time, was en exceptionally WICKED good time! These pictures don't need a lot of explanation, they really do speak for themselves and

I am SO sorry about the picture overload! I obviously had a hard time leaving any of them out!

Day*1*

Almost there! They could barely contain their excitement!






The looks on the kids faces riding Space Mountain is PRICELESS! (We were too cheap to buy the actual photo, so we just took a picture of it instead!)

Day*2*

The token picture inside the Toon Town jail!



Grizzly Bear rapids! You hate it...but you love it!



DAY *3*

The tower of Terror! (Once again, we were too cheap to buy the picture!) :)

Oceanside!
As if a few days at Disneyland wasn't fun enough, we got to spend the last half of the week at a condo in Oceanside! I was having some serious De javu cause it felt like we were just there! We loved it and were so excited to be back, only this time with an all new set of familiar faces!

Nothing brings me more joy than spending time together as a family. We certainly accomplished that and enjoyed every minute we got to spend together with all the Goodman family!
I especially enjoyed my time I got to spend with these three crazy characters!


Here are some HIGHLIGHTS from our trip!




Congratulations to the newly engaged couple Melinda & Stephen! We had so much fun getting to know Stephen a little more on this trip! We love you guys both so much and are so excited to welcome a new addition to the family!


No trip to Oceanside is complete unless you get to spend a Day at the Beach!




Monkey see...monkey do.... Tatum gets buried in the sand,

Peyton gets buried in the sand! The joy of having two girls so close together! I wouldn't' trade it for the world!



IF there could be a soundtrack for this trip, it would be LEMONADE clap clap clap CRUNCHY ICE clap clap clap!





If there could be a theme for this trip, it would definitely be LOTS OF YUMMY FOOD!
Every night was spent walking to a new yummy food destination, whether it was......


enjoying a DQ treat.....

eating out at a yummy restaurant....

Or an in-hotel homemade breakfast!
It was ALL good!
What's the weight limit in this elevator?

Every night was a slumber party!


We did a little sight seeing and took a walk out on the pier!

The kids were most excited to Swim in the hotel pool!
Check out this amazing view!....Oh, the ocean view isn't so bad either! ;)


Our last night together was spent playing "Werewolf"! We had some serious laughs in the process! First time Werewolf players are the best to play with!

All packed up and not so ready to go home! This picture is deceiving... I kept trying to do a sad face, but always ended up laughing. So NO, I was not happy to be heading home!
Awwww, nothing like the ride home after a long, fun-filled week!

Thank you Grammy & Pappa G and to everyone else who helped make our October break a most memorable one! We love you all so much! MMMMMMUAH!

Boo Bash #1!
This is one of the highlights of all the grandkids year.. My mom's annual, over the top SPOOKtacular party!

No party is complete without monster hands and witches brew!


The kids had fun decorating their pumpkins to look like themselves!


Gotta love the classic donut eating contest...powdered donuts are a staple at our house, so it's no surprise that Peyton came in at 1st place! We really know how to pound our donuts! :)


All the grandkids! (except one of course) My sweet Gunner Gene!


All the kids got to experience the "haunted room" where "Mr. Running man " lives! I told you it was over the top!

Sugar cookies anyone? Nothing like a little frosting in the hair, I lost count on how many times they licked the knife then put it back in the community bowl of frosting! Yummy!



Our cute little pumpkin family, Tatum, Peyton & Gunner!

BOO BOO's! {no punn intended!}

What are the odds of both my parents, both getting surgery on the exact same day? Probably pretty slim, and yet here they are! My dad went under the knife for knee surgery, and my mom went under for carpal tunnel surgery on her hand. They say it was a total coincidence, but I still say it was a conspiracy, so they both could be laid up at the same time and have to be waited on hand and foot (literally) by us! :)



Don't they look cute in their matching hospital booties!

Boo Bash #2!
You think we'd be Halloween partied out.... sadly, not the case! We couldn't miss my Grandma Rush's annual Halloween bash, complete with a spook alley, games, and lots of yummy food!

This is my mom and her sister Joan, or Helga and Inga as they called themselves! These two are two peas in a pod, and there's never a dull moment when these two are around!

Look at these two new additions, that got to join our family! Since Trav wont let the girls get a dog, these will have to do for now!

All the kids got to bob for apples...or as my uncle said, "Bob for swine flu!" Ha ha, we are family, we all have the same cooties right? :)

The kids...ok, maybe the adults too, had a little fun in the mummy wrap contest...
Maybe a little too much fun..
Why is it that this activity always ends up in huge T.P. fight?

There is something very wrong about this picture!

Schnepf Farm!

When I was in school I LOVED it when one of my parents would go on a field trip with my class, so any time my girls get to go I jump at the chance to join in on the fun! It was so fun spending the day with my Peyton Sue, her cute little class mates and some of my other nieces and nephews!



Of course Peyton's highlight of the trip was the petting zoo! You know how much us parents LOVE the petting zoo (hence the sarcasm) :)

BOOtiful Day!
To start Halloween off, my lil sister Polly and her hubby Brandon were sealed in the Mesa temple! I love the temple so much, it was so awesome to have almost my whole family in the temple together...Im so happy for P&B! I love you guys so much!


Thanks to our Wild West reunion, we were able to cross Halloween costumes off the "never ending list of things to do" in September... what a relief that was due to the crazy month we ended up having!

Every Cowgirl needs a TRUE Cowboy!

Happy Fall Y'all!!