Thanksgiving

Holidays are always fun because we usually get to see both sides of our family. Travis started the morning out by playing in the Turkey Bowl at the church, while I went through the Black Friday ads. We started our Thanksgiving at my parents house. Everyone was there but Kevin. It was a lot of fun and good food. My Grandma and Grandpa Carpenter also had Thanksgiving with us. It's fun to have my grandparents around we always find out interesting things about them. So on Thanksgiving we found out that on one of the dates that my grandparents went on before they were married my grandma dumped her soda on my grandpa's head!! Austin then chimed in saying that, that was why Grandpa Great (I know it's reversed it's just what we say) didn't have any hair. Dinner was amazing with all the fixings you could want. I have to say that my raspberry cream pie was pretty much a hit. Thank you Lion House Pantry!! We finished up at my parents house and then it was off to Trav's parents, where we spent the rest of the day. We had some good pie, watched some football, and planned our Black Friday attack. We then came home and played a little guitar hero and went to bed. I had the alarm set for 12:30 am to get in line at Old Navy but when it went off I was dead tired and didn't know if I could get my shopping done and get home in time for Travis to make it to work. So . . . I went back to bed. All that planning for nothing! We have one thing for Keira and that is it. We need to do some major shopping. We have a list made, we just haven't had time to go out and get it. Now that Thanksgiving is past I can officially listen to Christmas music without Travis throwing a fit.
Here comes Santa Claus. . . . .

Church and FHE

Two weeks ago Travis and Austin went to Sacrament meeting without the rest of us. Keira and Alex were sick so Travis and I did the trade off thing. He and Austin went to Sacrament meeting then came home and Austin and I went to Primary. Well, it was fast Sunday and Travis asked Austin if he wanted to share his testimony. Austin looked at Travis and said "yes, but mom didn't give it to me." It was so cute, it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. We decided though that the kids should start giving the lesson and sharing their testimonies during family home evening. Monday was Austin's turn for the lesson. He kept telling me that he knew what he was going to talk about. He didn't need any help. I finally convinced him to tell me his lesson just in case it wasn't long enough. He then told me the story of the three little pigs.
I told him he did a very good job but what lesson do we learn, or how could we make it more spiritual. He then told me that the big bad wolf is like satan and he tries to trick us, or gets us to make bad choices. Then I asked him about the brother that made his house out of bricks. He said that brother made a good choice and kept his family safe. He said the brother was like Heavenly Father and Jesus they help us make good choices, keep our families safe, and they scare the wolf away with a big pot of boiling water. He did such a good job for FHE and Alex listened the whole time and wants to do the lesson next week. I love my kids so much!! They learn so fast and bring so much joy into our lives.

Halloween

We had a very busy Halloween this year. The Monday before Halloween was Grandma Gray's party. The kids had to wrap Krissi and Heidi up like a mummy with toilet paper (the hit of the evening) and they had a doughnut eating contest. We hung them with string and looped them over a long rod and the kids had to kneel down with their hands behind their back and try and eat it all. It was hilarious!! Then we went trick-or-treating at the legacy center on Friday. We played games, watched the magic show and of course got candy. Saturday we started out at Grandma Carpenter's house. We went over there at 10:30 so the grandparents could see all the kids in their costumes. We got home and took a short nap then it was off to the ward trunk-or-treat. We came home for awhile and then took the kids out. We had a Batman, Buzz Lightyear, and Tinkerbell. I made Keira's costume with the help of my mom. She helped me form and sew the wings. I dyed the onsie, spray painted the wings and added sparkle, and made the tutu. I see many more tutus in Keira's future. They are so cute and fun to make. Oh Travis was a hunter ( a stretch I know) and I was Mulan as the kids said. My dad brought me that Komono from Japan. The kids had so much fun and got way too much candy. Alex was dragging his bucket on the way home because it was way to heavy. There is a family in our ward who does cookies and hot chocolate every year. So, that was our last stop before heading home. Something warm to put in their tummies. They came home looked through their loot and made Travis promise not to steal it (or eat it). Then off to bed they went. They are already talking about what they want to be next year. I'm sure it will change a hundred times between now and then though.

The Deer Hunt 2009

Travis was able to get Thursday, Friday, and Saturday off for the deer hunt this year. So up west canyon we went trailer in tow for our last camping trip of the year. The weather was so nice compared to years before. So the kids were able to play outside a lot. The bishop and his two girls came up Thursday and drove around with us trying to find a deer. Then the bishop came up Friday as well. He must be luck and I say luck because I'm not sure whether it's good or bad luck. Travis saw a buck and shot it. When he got up to it he found out it was a two by nothing! It only had one antler. He's probably going to kill me when he finds out that I posted about his "kill" like this, but he never reads my blog. . . so I'm probably safe :D. To save face, he says he was getting rid of the bad genes in that area. I think that's all that's there. His brother shot a three by none and a one by none the two years before. Aren't these supposed to be non-typical? I can't complain though, he got his deer the third day of the hunt and now we'll have jerky. It was a great camping trip with friends and family. It was a little weird not to be in oak grove but the kids had fun. They climbed up the hill, played in the trees, and got very VERY dirty. I guess it's not a camping trip unless the kids get dirty.

The MTC

My father in-law is in a branch presidency at the MTC. They go every Sunday and Tuesday and then sometimes Wed to meet the new missionaries. Because of this I got to have a very unique experience. The last Sunday that Kevin was in the Provo MTC my mother in-law got home from Hawaii and was so tired she needed a helper to get her to her meetings. The boys were sick so Travis stayed home with them and Keira and I went. We went and ate lunch and while we were eating Kevin walked in right by our table. He was so surprised!!!! My mother in-law and another sister missionary had to stop him from hugging me. He kept saying, "It's my sister, I can hug my sister". They had to explain to him that even though they knew it was ok everyone else didn't know I was his sister. They aren't even shaking hands because of H1N1. So we rocked it :). His companion is the one next to him on the left and these are some of the missionaries in branch. He went and grabbed his lunch and then came and sat down and had lunch with us. It was amazing to see how much he had already changed. I couldn't believe it. He said he had been playing Volleyball everyday because the only time he got to play was at the CFR. He asked how everyone was doing and I gave him the run down. I even tried calling my mom and dad but they were in a farewell for a relative in Wyoming. I wasn't trying to rub it in or anything. I just said I had run into someone at the MTC they might know. Before he left for his meetings he gave me a list of things he wanted before leaving for Peru. We finished our lunch and Carol was showing me around. We had Elders and Sisters coming up to us to see Keira. She was the hit of the day. One of the sisters thanked me for bringing a baby in, and one of the Elders got a little choked up because he had just left a little sister at home. It was so cute. The MTC was amazing, there are so many people there, and the spirit is so strong. It will be something I never forget.

Carving Pumpkins

Travis' parents grew pumpkins this year and each grandchild got to pick their own. The boys loved this!! They went out and marked their pumpkins before they were ripe so everyone would know who they belonged to. When they were ready we took them to our house and carved them out. Austin got right into it. He used his hands and pulled out all the seeds and guts, he thought it was cool. Alex, on the other hand, thought it was disgusting and told us so several times. He put his hand in one time and then immediately went and washed his hands. He did help Travis tape his pattern on. They didn't do much carving but they did oversee the whole thing. Then when we were finished it was picture time. They had to have a picture by their pumpkin before we put it outside. Keira's pumpkin is the ghost one. We had so much fun, I love Halloween.

The Colors of Fall

Conference weekend we decided to go for a drive with Travis' parents. It was still a little cold and rainy but the colors were beautiful. We went up the canyon and ended up at Sundance. It was my second time in two days. The night before I went on the moonlight ski lift ride with some friends. It was dark though and we couldn't see anything. I'm glad we made it back up there. I love the fall colors. Nature and Conference is a good combination. After our ride we went to our traditional conference Sunday dinner.We had good food, good company and a good overview of the talks given. A great weekend, all in all.

A NEW JOB!!!

On Oct. 6th I started my new job. I had a little falling out with Macy's and contacted an old manager I used to work for. I am friends with him on facebook and thought I would ask if he was hiring, and he was. I turned in my 2 weeks at Macy's on the 22nd of September and started at Deseret Book on Oct. 6th. I love my job!!! Travis says I come home so much happier, and I'd have to agree. It's such a different atmosphere, they care about their employees and their customers. I even won my first store contest with my group my first month. I am working at the DB on University Parkway next to the distribution center. I guess I'm trading in shoes and handbags for books and art. I'm ok with that though, I LOVE reading. I just finished The Undaunted by Gerald Lund. I wish it wasn't just one book, I wanted it to continue. I had never heard of the hole in the rock expedition and really enjoyed the history in the story. At the end of every chapter Lund tells you what is true history and what was fictional. Well now that this has turned into a book review. . . all I have to say is the next time you're in Orem, come see me!

Elder Carpenter going into the MTC

Of course the day that Kevin went into the MTC it was freezing. We thought we'd be funny with our brothers and sisters picture and have everyone wearing hats. I hope that Kevin is learning Spanish quickly. I can't believe I have a brother on a mission. That's still so weird to say. He's supposed to be my little brother, still in grades school, putting together knex, and watching Jungle book and 101 Dalmatians. When did everyone grow up! I miss him, but I know he's having the time of his life. I couldn't resist putting up the picture of him sticking his tongue out, it's just so Kevin. Good Luck Elder Carpenter!!

Family Pictures

Before Kevin left on his mission we got the fam together for some pictures. This was really interesting!! With 5 little ones I think it's impossible to get everyone looking at the camera and smiling. Melanie took the pictures for us and Sean tried to get the kids attention. I think he's gonna need some more practice before he has kids. He finally found a game that Cambria liked, it was throw the pinecone up in the air. It made her happy though, and I guess that's what counts. We got tons of pictures, but these were the best. This is also my favorite picture of Kevin.

Carpenter Family Reunion

So I am once again playing catch up. I've had all these pics on my computer forever but our internet kept going in and out and finally we just canceled it and went through someone else. Well, when the new company got here they couldn't get a signal so we were still without internet. Linz and Bryson recommended a company they used and TADA we have internet. It's so nice to get on and not have to wait forever for it to pull up a page. Or whenever the winds blowing not be able to get on at all. So now I have to catch up on the last couple months. The Carpenter Family Reunion (CFR) was so much fun. Travis was there this year which made it so much better. Last year he was pig hunting in Texas. We got up there Friday night and set up our trailer. Saturday morning we went and watched all the 5K and half marathon runners. The auction was on Saturday afternoon and I made this super cute witch hat. I am not a crafty person so this was a big deal for me. We also worked on a craft while up there. It's these really cute picture blocks. But. . . . I haven't finished mine yet. I'll post a pic when it's done :). Saturday was also the big BYU vs. Oklahoma game. BYU was picked to loose. Travis worked all day trying to set up a satellite so we could watch the game in our trailer. It started pouring rain and still he was out in it trying to get a signal. It was all for nothing though, the stupid thing never worked. So like every other year we listened to the first game of the season in Trav's truck. The game was amazing!!! BYU won, it was incredible. We did end up watching it after we got home. But it was still fun to listen in the car. That night the played The Price is Right we got to see the final showcase after the BYU game was over. Sunday we got up early and went to my grandparents house to shower then go to 9 am Sacrament meeting. 25 people showered and bathed at my grandparents house before church, I am still amazed that we do it every year. And we usually add one or two each year now that we're all getting married and having kids. After church we had a big lunch and then went to the old homestead for some family pics. This is just a few of. I have a lot more on my facebook page. My mom has some too, I haven't seen them yet though. After the fun of family pics we went back to camp. Then we had the sawdust dig. The kids (little and big) are excited for this every year. I love the CFR. We play games, talk with family, and eat good food. People can't believe how close my family is. Sunday night we got the trailer packed up as much as we could and tried to get the boys to bed early. Monday morning we got up and hit the road. We met Trav's family at Lagoon. We were there all day. We had so much fun. We went to Lagoona Beach and even though it was a little cold, we still had fun. We didn't think that Keira would have much fun though, so she stayed with Aunt Lissa and Grandma. I like some roller coasters but some. . . you have to do some major talking into for me. Well, that's what Travis had to do for wicked. He got me on, and it was fun. I'm just glad it was so fast I didn't know what was going on. We went on a few rides like that. I think the wild mouse scared Trav the most. That's one that doesn't scare me :). After all the fun at Lagoona Beach we went to Firehouse Pizza. It was delicious!! All in all, a very good Labor day weekend.

CFR 5K and half marathon

These are the 5K runners.
Leslie took 1st place. She didn't push the stroller all the way. Her hubby is behind her. She just pushed it a little ways. This was the first race she won. YAY LESLIE!!!!!
Dana took 2nd place.
This year at the reunion they decided to have a half marathon and 5k race. Brenda and Kalvin (my aunt and uncle) helped set everything up. We had a lot of people participate and even more cheering on. We started yelling and cheering everyone on as soon as we could see them. It was a lot of fun and everyone got a medal. I think we will be seeing this race from now on every year.

CFR Half Marathon pictures

My Uncle Kalvin came in 3rd. That is Marcus, my cousins little boy, running beside him. He ran down the road so he could run the last little ways with him.
My Uncle Mark took 4th place. I think I could put him under the crazy category with my grandpa. He doesn't train for any of the marathons he runs. He just tries to push through them.
Pam came in 5th, and once again a pink shirt. I think that when I do this next year I will have to have a pink shirt.
Travis loves the "action" setting on our camera. This is my brother, Kevin, crossing the finish line.
Isn't she just the essence of cool :) Hair done, pink shirt, and sunglasses. Did you even break a sweat Brenda??

CFR half marathon

Melanie coming over the finish line.

Austin finishing his "half marathon and my crazy grandpa riding a bike in COWBOY BOOTS!!

Check out Rikki's shoes!!! LOVE THEM.
Cindy walked the whole way in 3 hours. Finishing an hour faster than she thought she would

First Day of Preschool

It came, Alex's first day of preschool. He was soooo excited!!! He woke up that morning when Austin did (6:45) and asked me every five minutes if it was time to leave yet. Preschool didn't start until 9:30, I was glad he was excited though. It makes things so much easier. I thought he was going to explode when I asked him to sit on the bench outside Miss Krissi's so I could get a picture. You can almost seeing him bouncing in the picture. He just wanted to go in and start learning. He comes home every Tuesday and Thursday singing the letter song they learned that day. It is so weird to just have Keira for two hours. I can't believe how quiet it is. I should clean my house or something of that nature, but usually I go workout or read. My little boy is growing up.

Travis' Birthday

So I am playing a bit of catch up here. Trav's birthday was on Aug. 28th. I wanted to do something fun that he would enjoy. So, we got some friends and family together and went fishing up AF canyon. It wasn't a great night to catch fish, but it was fun to get together with friends. Jeff and Jamie have 4 kids, Nick and Steph have 3, and our 3. When I met everyone Jeff and Jamie were the only ones married, and they just had Jax. It's kind of funny how things turn out. Travis' friends all married the girls they were dating when I met them. I must be lucky :D lol. Anyways. . . we roasted hotdogs and marshmallows and the kids had tons of fun feeding the ducks. I think they threw every piece of left over hotdog buns to the ducks. They also had fun playing on the rocks. Right next to where we were fishing there were these huge rocks all pushed together. It was "nature's little playground". I also learned it doesn't matter how young or old little boys are


they always manage to play in the mud. Fisher is only 3 months old!! I think he might have had a little help with this one. We had a great time catching up with everyone especially because we all just had babies, well except for Jason of course. We missed Kimball and Bonnie and Ryan and his wife. It was a fun night though, I hope Trav enjoyed it.