A Visit From the Wades!

In October, we were lucky to get a visit from the Wade's (Alan, Karen, & Ali)!  We first met up at the Academy of Sciences Museum in San Francisco, along with Ben's uncle Mike, Aunt Vickie, and cousin Jamie with her little boy, Oliver.
The museum is huge...we went to the aquarium, rainforest, & planetarium...

Ali and Aila

Waiting outside the Academy of Sciences Museum

Abram loved going through the rainforest with Jamie

An aquarium tunnel...pretty cool.

Abram and Grandma

The next day, we went to the Healdsburg farmer's market and drove to Petaluma to take a stroll around downtown.

On Sunday after church, Abram had a ball helping Grandma water the backyard!

And...we had a surprise birthday dinner for Grandma Karen on the deck that night!  Butternut squash soup in bread bowls, then pumpkin bread pudding & cider for dessert.  I've always thought it's so perfect that her birthday is in October because she is the queen of fall!

Happy birthday, Grandma Karen!

To top off Sunday night, we watched old high school movies of me in Junior Miss and Ben in the Sir Knight pageant...PLUS, much to Alan's enjoyment, a couple of Ben's high school basketball games, haha!  :)

We've been so lucky to be able to see our families often the last couple years even though we've lived far away.  Abram frequently asks if we can go to UT on an airplane...  :)

Primary Program

Just a quick note to document that I actually played the piano for the primary program last month (!), a big accomplishment for me.  I don't know how I got out of my childhood home without being a rockstar pianist and organist like my mother (well I could name a couple reasons, ha), but I did, and I sadly didn't think I'd ever have or make the time to really learn.  But it's been a little over a year since I (very hesitatingly) accepted the call to be the primary pianist in my ward, and I've learned a ton.  I was really nervous the day of the program, and although it wasn't perfect, I didn't make any glaring mistakes and was pretty happy with how it went.  I feel like I have the best calling--hearing sweet children sing of gospel truths is so sweet and spiritual.

Everyday Happenings & Hubbub

A long day of errands ended at Whole Foods, scoring Abram a free 100% juice box!

Abram thoroughly enjoyed playing with my bead collection.

Both Abram & Aila have had this same "who-hair." Makes me laugh.

Baby legs!

Sucking her thumb...

For General Conference, Abram loved pointing out the speakers on the chart and putting a sticker on their faces.

I made him a rice & bean box to play with during Conference (thank you, Pinterest!).  He loved digging, pouring, & driving his cars in it.

Bath time!

Reading books with Great Grandma during Sunday Gen Conf sessions.

Great Grandpa's 75th birthday!

Sweet baby, sweet Grandpa

Watercoloring

Meet:  Rescue (the helicopter), Help (the ambulance), Safety (the police car), and Cool (the fire truck)....characters that Ben has made up and tells Abram stories about almost every day.

Grocery shopping...too bad I dislike the store or we would go more often!

Aila is never at a loss for toys when Abram is around.

Mullet missy

Love my baby girl

Abram loves, loves, loves "washing the dishes."

"Mommy, spread me!"  (aka spread out my blanket)

Picnic on the porch.