I'm really glad I could make it to the elementary school's parade because this is the very last one for our family. Love Sydney's reaction that I broke free from work for a hot minute!
She was Galinda from The Wizard of Oz/Wicked and Brigitta was Cher from Clueless.
While Sydney joined friends close to our house, Brigitta met up with a group in The Gates which is a really cool area of Crystal Lake. I took a brisk walk at the same time and took in all the Halloween vibes. A holdover from the pandemic are chutes to distribute candy and I'm loving it!
Another chute:
It was really windy and this small tree fell on a car...
...but just down the street a massive branch broke off and came down as well. The picture doesn't do it justice, this thing was massive! The owners of the house directly in front of it said there had been trick or treaters there just a few minutes prior and it was a miracle no one was hurt.
Really, it was HUGE!
These three Cookie Monsters cracked me up!
Brigitta got an impressive haul of candy and she was very pleased with herself.
Sydney dived into her sugary spoils and I'm sure had very sweet dreams.
Right after arriving home, Brigitta wanted to decorate for Christmas so we pulled out her sheets and comforter. Back in the day I would have said it was way too early but honestly putting up the decorations gives me more time to enjoy it. Yes I'm combining the gratitude of Thanksgiving with the cheer of Christmas but I've found I'm not nearly as rushed or harried. So be forewarned that in our house the minute the candy has been counted, it's time for a tree and stockings!
We are BUSY! This is by choice- I like to give the girls as many opportunities to learn and grow as possible and it does come at a cost. Every Sunday during family dinner we go over the calendar and there are times it take 40 minutes to figure out the logistics of rides, meals and what is needed for each activity. Admittedly I fume a bit when someone with fewer kids or who does not work full time complains to me they are busy. They don't know from busy! But I digress. Per usual, October was busy. The whole family is fond of Thursdays because they give us a chance to breathe a bit.
For years I have been on the hunt for some holiday bedding for Sydney. Her room is pink so it's a bit tough to find something that coordinates well but lo and behold, Pottery Barn had it! This snowflake comforter was perfect but even more so...
...this bedding! The pink bows between green garlands and the fa la la la script were just perfect. Did we need it? IRRELEVANT! Could I afford it? IRRELEVANT! Isn't Christmas in December? IRRELEVANT! I plunked down my credit card so fast and then we eagerly anticipated the delivery.
It was worth it! Almost as if this all had been designed just for her. Sydney is our FOMO girl and every year she's watched her sisters deck their rooms for the holidays while she had nothing. This year, her room was by far the most unique and special space and we both adored the new bedding!
Ireland bridged from Juniors to Seniors so they made it a whole senior citizen theme. This is their adorable rainbow bridge. Unfortunately she forgot her vest and they delayed starting while Brent ran home to get it. I felt so bad!
She's had so many amazing experiences in Girl Scouts!
They all got Senior Mo Mints- how creative is that?
With General Conference comes the traditional making of bread. I didn't quite divide the dough evenly so this one was a monster loaf! The girls didn't mind one bit.
Some arrangements I made from fresh flowers picked up at Trader Joe's:
In Relief Society I commented that I feel like I get asked to speak... a lot... and I get the feeling there are people who are asked and just turn down the opportunity. I mentioned I get anxious and nervous just like the next person but when people refuse to speak, it makes the rest of us have to pick up the slack. The next day I was asked to speak in Sacrament meeting. You can't make this stuff up.
I chose to speak about the priesthood since I'd recently gained so many insights from BYU Education Week. The story of the Women of Weinsburg was particularly inspiring. When the castle was under siege, the women negotiated that they would leave with whatever they could carry on their backs so they carried their husbands to safety. Just for fun, I decided to check out their website. The five-star review stating "I particularly enjoyed being carried around this castle on my wife's back" made me laugh out loud.
On my birthday, Liesel was asked to participate in a musical number - It Is Well With My Soul. It was pure luck that she and the other girl were dressed in white but they looked so lovely and the number was just beautiful.
Picking up Brent and Ireland from O'Hare we saw this stunning sky with the moon in all its glory and the planes lined up in two neat rows for landing. Sadly, the picture doesn't do it justice, we could see dozens of planes and in the photo they just look like little dots. It was really incredible and I felt so deeply how much I love where I live. It was important to me to live near an international airport so we'd have greater opportunity for travel and well, we have it!
Yeah the moon was showing off near the end of the month. This was actually at sunrise and it made my jaw drop it was so stunning. Queue the song Harvest Moon by Neil Young!
I rushed Gita out of the house to snap photos before taking her to school.
The trees were also showing all their golden glory. I had to get a photo of Sydney with this one that kindly coordinated its fall colors with her dress that day.
Trees and bushes around our neighborhood were on fire!
My walks around the lake were dreamy.
I started making leaf bouquets. I had picked out four- one for each of my girls.
Made me laugh. Can we eliminate Daylight Saving now?
With the girls at school, I hinted Brent and I could have some time together and he begged me to fold the laundry I was avoiding. I guess he had a point since the pile was higher than our bed...
In honor of the late, great Maggie Smith, I rewatched Downton Abbey and this scene absolutely floored me! The same actress who plays Isobel Crawley also plays Mrs Gardiner in the 2005 film of Pride and Prejudice. She's actually IN the scene when Elizabeth Bennet goes to Mr Darcy's house as described here!
I realized a dream and made Platinum status on American Airlines!
One potato, two potato?
I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. ~Anne of Green Gables
For Ireland, her 14 year trip started off well when she and Brent were bumped to first class on their flight from O'Hare to Rochester. She described it as "first classy" since she was given a glass instead of a disposable cup for her beverage. They arrived late and so picked up the rental (Brent opted for an electrical car) and went straight to the hotel.
The next morning they slept in, had a hearty breakfast and Ireland introduced Brent to Bluey. Their first adventure was Chittenango Falls State Park which Ireland said was "very fire." There is a hiking loop including half with a nice, paved path like the picture below and half with rougher terrain. Trying to go easy on Ireland's knees, they just hiked the paved part up and back. It was glorious fall weather- sunny and cool with beautiful fall foliage.
The falls are really pretty!
Several great poses from Ireland on the bridge:
I've said it before and I'll say it again- we are not a camping family but we are most definitely a hiking family! Look how happy these two are taking in God's beautiful earth!
They did a tour at the Whitmer Farm.
Then went to Dogtown which was predictably packed. They each got a junkyard split plate (half burger, half hotdog) which included macaroni salad and fries. It really does look like garbage but Ireland insisted it was quite delicious and she lucked out finding a spot to sit.
The weather wasn't so accommodating the next day which was rainy and cold.
From this picture I can see Brent loaned Ireland his jacket.
At the Isaac and Elizabeth Hale Home they ran into the Nuttalls- a family who used to be in our ward. It's funny, during Liesel's trip they also made some random connections with people they ran into.
The Harmony Visitor's Center has a small chapel so here Ireland pretending to give a talk.
Whitney serves her mission here and she talked about how people would see a bowl of beans and just play with them. She never touched the beans because she saw how much they were handled. Well apparently at this point in the trip, I called to check in on them and Ireland became completely engrossed in the beans while Brent chatted with me.
Maybe they're magic beans?
In Watkins Glen they stopped at Nickels Pit BBQ for ribs, wings, chili, fries and macaroni. Even looking at this photo again made Ireland hungry and she said the food was "quite fire." There were 3-4 sauces to try and Ireland tried them all.
On October 14 they got up early and drove to Niagara Falls. As the day wears on, the crowds wax in size, so Brent likes to check this off his list before that happens.
Ireland even took off her poncho to get a good picture by Horseshoe Falls.
All that sightseeing builds up an appetite and no 14-year trip is complete without a trip to Buffalo to have buffalo wings! This time Brent tried a place called Duffs which they really enjoyed.
October 15 was all about the temple, Joseph Smith homestead tours and the Sacred Grove.
Ireland tells me Brent was "asking a billion questions" of the missionaries and well, the man I know does get chatty when he's in his happy place. This is definitely his happy place.
While Joseph Smith was translating, the gold plates had many hiding places. Among them were under these hearthstones...
...and up in the rafters of this barn.
The Grandin Building where the first edition of the Book of Mormon was printed is a pretty special place.
Right across the street is a great pizza place. I was surprised to see two pizzas in the photo and Ireland said, "it was a deal and you know how much Dad loves deals."
In the evening they went to the Hill Cumorah where Brent put in a reservation to be driven up in a golf cart to spare Ireland's knees. I think he enjoyed a bit of a break from all the walking as well.
On their final full day, Brent and Ireland went back to Watkins Glen State Park now that the weather wasn't so rainy and muddy.
Some parts of this hike are really high and Ireland was apprehensive about the lack of railing- worried about falling and cracking her head open. They could have hiked farther but Ireland was done. Brent went on just a little higher on his own while Ireland rested a bit.
With an achy knee, they headed back to the hotel where Ireland was happy to nap and watch Bluey. Brent took the opportunity to go back to the Sacred Grove and Smith Homestead one more time. My gosh fall in upstate New York is gorgeous!
After checking out of the hotel they stopped by mall. Ireland had not packed enough warm clothes for the trip and even though it was over, she got a New York hoodie to keep her warm on the plane. She also tried some ice cream at So Chill Creamery which ended their trip on a sweet note!
In the end, Brent decided he wouldn't do an electric car on a trip that required so much driving. By and large they managed it ok, but there were times they had to just stop for an hour and let it charge. He cheerfully took it as a "live and learn" lesson. That said, he's already eagerly anticipating his next trip with Brigitta!
