This past weekend we were able to go to Mesquite for a football tournament.  It was fun to get away before all the craziness that is sure to come with the holidays.  It was beautiful weather, 60-65 in the day and a little cooler at night.  We had quite a crew go this year - Colby, Parker, Zac, Kaden, Grandpa, Allen and I.  We stopped in St. George and went up to "the narrows".  Colby, Parker, and Grandpa have never been there.  Parker loved it, he loves rock climbing! 

'the St. George narrows'

Allen and Colby

Kaden and Parker

Grandpa

Parker and Colby

Parker and Allen

Kaden and Parker

Zac

Since there is not alot to do in Mesquite, the boys went bowling between the football games. 

Parker

Kaden

Colby

The football games were great, my favorite part.  The team played well, Colby got an interception in the first game, that was exciting! 

Zac, Grandpa, Parker, Kaden

It was a great trip, but I am so sad to know that this season of our life is over. 



We enjoyed having so many share this trip with us. 

Kaden, Grandpa, Colby

Kaden, Jack, Colby, and Elf



Lovely bunch of Coconuts

I love when my kids want to experience new things.  I just wish they would ask first.  Parker and Colby went to Harmon's where they have all kinds of exotic things.  The boys decided they must have a coconut! They snuck took the coconut quietly downstairs (why not the garage, I ask?) along with a hammer,screw driver, a few pocket knives, a youtube video and proceeded to crack it.  They both tasted the milk and hated it. So then they dug out some of the meat to try, hated it also.  They spent the next little while digging out all the coconut so they could save the shells.  They want to go back and buy starfruit, guava, and dragonfruit. 



check out the tools they used to dig out the meat



Grandpa Retires

Grandpa has finally decided to retire.  On November 4th, he cleaned out his truck and turned in his keys.  Grandma called to see if Colby wanted to come down and say his goodbyes (to the truck), so I took him down after school.  I have always wanted to learn how to drive a truck and this seemed like my chance.  We took the truck down to the church parking lot and I got a few quick lessons, made a few trips around the parking, even backing it up a bit.  We are all so proud of dad (grandpa).  Jeremy wrote a nice tribute to him on his facebook page ;   After 40 something years of driving, my dad retired today. He and his trusty Peterbilt went to 49 states, 4.8 million miles, and saw every kind of blizzard, tornado, hurricane, flood, and wildfire, that mother nature could produce. He always supported his family (still does) and always made it home safe. You'll always be my hero Pa..10-4

It has been a great experience for many to go on trips with dad.  All of the boys have been able to go at one time or another.  They have logged a lot of miles with grandpa and they all have fond memories of the time they spent with him in the truck!  He has always been a very powerful influence on our family.  We love him dearly and hope retirement is great!