I love the message on my front door this year!I keep this picture up all year so that I have the spirit of this beautiful time.

Nutcracker Tradition alive and well!

I love my trees, all three of them, but pictures don't do them justice.

Love to you all!!!

SECOND FEAST

I am thankful to my sister, Shelly, for inviting Michael and I to her beautiful home for Thanksgiving Dinner. This was the year that all our children went to the "other" parents for dinner. Tyra, Bob and Alisa came along with Jeff's mother, sister, brother and their families. The food was delicious and her table was so classic. It was strange not to have the noise and chaos of little kids running and playing everywhere, but the neat thing was that there was stimulating adult conversation and spiritual reminiscing.

Micah made a float and helped with the Kaysville Light Parade on Saturday. It was really fun, the weather was mild, and Lisa, Brea, Halle, and Presley Beth were in it! Carly jumped out of the tub, grabbed Oliver and joined us.

FIRST FEAST

We have already had our first Thanksgiving Feast. Last week we went to Halle and Presley Beth's Thanksgiving Feast at their pre school at Northridge High. Lisa is over the day care center there and it was fun and delicious. Presley loved making and eating her "apple Turkey"

Micah and Lisa were also there of course!

Later, I met Maeve and Miles and we did a little shopping at a fun new toy store called, Three Little Monkeys.

PURPLE BEANS AND MAGIC!!!

The family favorite---Purple Beans! My children loved these growing up and even today they love coming to our house for tacos. I forget how weird they must be to others. This is a JOHNSTON tradition....kidney beans from the can (sometimes we throw in a can of black beans, partially blended, with lots of medium or sharp cheddar cheese added, heat or bake and serve with tacos. I do not know who originated this but we have had these for many many years.

Mia came to town for a brief visit and we got everyone together for tacos and purple beans! Friday morning was Red Ribbon Day at East Layton and we had a great magician come....Mike Hamilton. Mia, Easton, Brighton and Brooklyn came to our assembly. Easton loves doing magic tricks so I knew he would love watching this truly fun magic show. After the show, Easton, Brighton and Brooklyn all got to hold his magic dove, CD, "Compact Dove" because he could fold up in the magician's pocket. Mike Hamilton made a table float, had a really amazing magic hat, and also made Chief appear, mascot of the Blaze Football Team!

We had ONE super-packed fun day with the Bischoffs!

FALL IN OMAHA

Flying with Miles to Omaha is a very up and down adventure! Mia greeted us with gift baskets in our beautifully decorated rooms and made a special towel for Miles!
The first day we walked around Lake Zurinski...
and went to "VALA's Pumpkin Patch." (Pack's Pumpkin Patch on STEROIDS!) It is amazing. Here we are at the pig races! They had great activities everywhere for every age and it was the most beautiful fall day in the rolling hills of the midwest.
Brighton on the go!
Many unique animals to pet and feed...Hayrides!The PUMPKIN MAN! The next day we made Haunted Houses....no time to waste! We also went to ARBOR DAY FARM, a beautiful tribute to trees and nature and apples and tree houses....
a beautiful long walk through the forest and glen. We saw wildlife!
Played in tree houses and took a break in hammocks. Played music in nature, ate apples, and bought an apple pie! Oh, time to go...Papa is tired...Thanks Bruce and Mia for a wonderful time. There was so much more but this is way too long.

PONDERING, PACK'S PUMPKIN PATCH, & PRIESTHOOD

Which are real? I love white pumpkins! I am also loving that it is Fall.

Watching conference this Saturday, (October 4th ) made me think back to 35 years ago. . . I had just come home from the hospital with my very first baby, a beautiful baby girl named, Mia. As I was rocking her and watching conference, a very powerful spirit came over me. My tears started to fall because I was so happy that she had been born under the covenant and that I had made the right choices. I felt so blessed to be sealed to her and Michael. I realized that my life would have been so different without the gospel. It was a very tender time. The speakers were equally powerful this Saturday. It is hard to believe that time has passed so rapidly and that this baby girl is now a beautiful mom herself!

Pack's Pumpkin Patch in west Farmington is a fun place to take your grandkids. There is a mini straw bale maze as well as a corn maze, funny characters, straw hats to wear, and pumpkins galore to pick.

P.S. There are also many mosquitoes who loved biting Presley on her eye! So Sorry, . . . we were having so much fun that we didn't know they were after her!

The girls love meeting the guys for dinner before Priesthood. The men go off to church and we shop and get gelato! Thanks for including us.

We also loved having Carly and Oliver watch conference with us. They have NO TV!