October....Part 2

October was a fun-filled month.  We spent a lot of time with family and friends.  My sister and her boys came home to visit from Mexico.  We miss them so much during the year and always look forward to their visits.  We played football, kickball and games.  We celebrated birthdays, went shopping and hit the skateboard park.  We also had fun playing arcade games and lazer tag....and just being together laughing and having fun.  Parker's older cousins introduced him to a new computer game....so it was late nights at our house...with the boys lined up on their computers.  I think Parker enjoyed having his older cousins home....he liked having the attention....and someone older to play with.  There were a lot of tears when they had to leave...but we look forward to their visit next year!!!

 A few days later our family headed to the Dells for a fun filled weekend.  Parker had a couple of days off of school for conferences so we packed up and headed to Mt. Olympus.  The kids had a blast at the water park...even Lexie jumped right in.  At night we hit the amusement park....and of course loved being spoiled and eating out for dinner each night.

 Lexie was thrilled that one of her favorite PBS characters come on vacation with her....she loves Curious George.

 Going down the water slides with dad....

 and Parker!!!  I am not much of a water person...so I was happy to spend some time out of the water taking pictures...I had fun going down the slides with the kids and just laying back with Lexie in the lazy river...where we could usually get her to fall asleep:)

 I love spending time with these 3....they are the joy of my life...it was fun to have a "go with the flow" weekend.  We did what we wanted to...when we wanted...and just really enjoyed being together.  The only downfall....Parker got the stomach bug on our last day and was sick the whole drive home and the rest of the weekend:(

I few days before we left I had the opportunity to go with the youth to the Temple.  For some this was their first time attending and they all brought names of family members to do work for.  I love these kids so much and admire their handwork, service and sacrifice of worldly things to become closer to Christ.  I also love those I serve with...and have become friends with....I look up to each of them.....they make me want to do better.