The Brie the Bullet and the Black Cat

Murder a la carte.

This is my amazing friend Cassie Stevens (who is preggo with twins but you would never be able to tell). 

 

She and her hubby Scott invited a group of friends over to their home in October for a murder mystery dinner. Everyone came in costume and had SUCH  a good time.

 

 

The theme was set in the 1940's in Casablanca.

My Scott actually wasn't able to go last minute so I Nicole and I got to go solo.

 

I'm telling you, everyone got so into their characters not only with the costumes but with accents and detective work.

There was a Danish art dealer, a crazy Gestapo Officer, a Deputy Mayor of Casablanca and his wife a former dancer, and even an androgynous French cabaret singer with a Husky voice. It was so fun.

 

 

I got to be Countess Bogov who is suppose to be an exiled Russian aristocrat, glamorous and mysterious and a passionate anti-communist.

 

The food was great and the conversation but best of all the company. Everyone had a blast and we are going to have to make that happen again next year.

 

Thank you Stevens!!!
 

Halloween 2012

 

Halloween was fantastic this year.  We made some new decorations and played Halloween music all month. The kids got to go to 2 different ward Halloween parties, 2 school carnivals, class parties in school, trips to the pumpkin patch and some pretty awesome trick or treating.

Sadly, I only have pictures of 2 of the kids in their costumes but they all dressed up. A bunch.

 

Ellie was Frida Kahlo. Ya, don't feel bad, not many people knew who that was either.

 

 

 

She was a famous Mexican painter that looked like this:  Uni brow and all...

 

 

Little Sawyer's Top Gun costume was recycled this year, and I tried so hard to find mini aviator sunglasses but could not find any. He was a super cute pilot even without them.

 

 

Connor was Clark Kent and was a little embarrassed to rip open his suit and shirt to show everyone his superman shield. So I am guessing a lot of people thought he was a muscular business man.

And Macie was a "China girl" this year. She even kept the chopsticks in her bun for about 15 minutes.

 

running

I have vivid memories of my father in law, (well before he was my father in law)  up at 5:30am, every day of the school week, in very short bright pink shorts.....running!
In fact some of Scott's sisters could often be seen running right along side of him, and still do.
 But Scott....never.
Mind you, Scott was always very active in other sports like basketball, and swim team but running was never something he liked.

Out of the blue this last May Scott decided to give running a shot. Minus the super short neon pink running shorts. :)
Still not loving it he kept on going. And going.

His morning runs with his friend have now, over the last 5 months, helped him run a 5 mile race, a 10k, a 15k, and a sprint triathlon at Lake of the Woods.

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I am super proud of him.

And this Saturday he is going to try the biggest race he has been in yet, a half marathon in Lebanon Oregon.
Amazing.

Just amazing. Love you Scotty!

Life Lately....through Instagram

  1. The spirit of Halloween is in full force at our house.

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2. Ellie is running for Activities Director at her school!

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3. Saturdate night with some friends at Lake of the Woods.

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4. Lazy morning in bed watching Cupcake Wars and drinking hot cocoa.

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5. I have gotten to spend so much more time in the kids classes this year, LOVING it!

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6. Ellie's 2nd year of working at The Doughboy at the Tulelake Fair. She loves this more than any ride.

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7. Sawyer and Mama time. Just us at home these days.

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8. The beautiful Oregon Coast

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First day of school 2012

Ellie ~ 4th grade

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Connor ~ 2nd grade

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Macie ~ Kindergarten

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Spa day

We had our annual back to school spa day and invited Brynlie this year.

 Julie and Jeremy's family moved just 5 houses down the street from us (which is pretty much the most awesome thing ever) so it was easy for Bryn to walk up and join us.

We got all squeaky clean and manicured for the first day of school. This year Scott's treat for the kids was fruit smoothies. We had a blast. Crazy how fast these kids are growing up.

back to the beach

Our summer ended the same way it started, at South Beach on the Oregon coast.
Our good friends the Hewlett's invited us down for the weekend.
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The boys decided to go out deep sea fishing for tuna while the girls played on the beach and at the camp ground.

 We had bought a fun pop up tent trailer earlier that month and this was the first time we got to use it.
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The weather was a bit colder this trip but it was so fun. I have a new love for camping. Tent trailers make things so much easier.

Thanks Hewlett's for such great company! Lets do it again.

the hair cut

It happened. It finally happened.
All these curly locks had to get a trim and I knew it.

You know it's time when you find your self able to do this:

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Before we came back to Klamath we stopped in the cutest hair cutting shop and all four of the kids got hair cuts.
But his was the one that was the hardest.
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(Before)
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(During)
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When it was all said and done, we really didn't even cut off that much. It wasn't until the girl handed me a clear pouch full of his blond curls that I got a little sick to my stomach.
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(After)

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We still think he's pretty darn cute!!

Bear Lake - 2012

On our last leg of our big trip we headed to the lake. Our brother in law, Straton and his family own a cabin on Bear Lake and they were very nice and let us all come stay again for a few days.
We love this lake. Such fun memories made here.

 

The legend of the Bear Lake Monster still lives strong up here.

 

 

It has changed a bit since we were here last and the water is extremely high. Sawyer and Macie could have walked all the way out to those buoys in this picture above before it gets deep.

 

 

The weather was perfect but so smokey from fire's all across Utah that we couldn't have any fire's ourselves.

 



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Macie is always within arms reach of Grandpa.

 

 

These boys played and played hard!

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Oaklen is such a sweet boy. I love that Sawyer has someone so close to his age.

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Thank you Gerber family for keeping us very entertained. We loved every minute of it. Next time...parasailing?

Temple Square- SLC

I am reminded every time I step onto the grounds at Temple Square just how special it is to be there.

 

We really wanted all of our kids to get to experience the history. We met up with a great friend of mine and her cute family.

Suzanne's husband Boyce used to be in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and we asked him to be our tour guide.

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(This was Sawyer shushing Oaklen in the Tabernacle)

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(And then giggling about it)
 

This was my favorite day of the entire vacation.

I don't think I could ever live there, but Utah really has some amazing places to visit.