I can't think of a better way to start out any month than being at Disney World. That is where Jon, Talmage, Hayden, and I were. Jon's parents are Disney Vacation Club members (yes, I am very jealous) and they were going down Oct 1-9. So we thought we would join in on there fun. We didn't stay as long as they were there. We were gone for four days. My dad stayed at our house and watched the other 4 kids. We tried to make things as easy as possible for him. We left Friday morning after all the kids got on their bus. So he didn't have to be at our house until 2:30 pm to get the kids off the bus. It was also General Conference weekend so he didn't need to worry about going to church they could watch it at our house. The elementary kids don't have homework on Friday's so no worry about that. The reason my mom wasn't there to help is because she left the same day we did to go to California to spend a week with her sister's and her mom. So we arrived around 4 pm. It was actually perfect timing because about 15 minutes later Jon's mom arrived in the Disney airport shuttle bus. Jon's dad drove down from Atlanta and arrived a few hours earlier than we did and got all checked into the room and everything. Jon's mom is living in Muskegon, Michigan so she flew down. We stayed in Fort Wilderness in one of the cabins. We have eaten breakfast in Fort Wilderness and have done the Hoop Dee Doo Revue once, and every time we go I always comment on the cute little cabins and at how I would love to stay in one. I never thought it would happen so I was thrilled when they told me where we were staying. It is a one bedroom 1 bath cabin. The bedroom had a queen bed and then bunk beds and then there is a small kitchen and table and a small family room with a bed that fold down out of the wall. So Jon's parents slept in the bedroom with Talmage on the top bunk and Jon and I slept in the family room and Hayden was on the couch. It worked out perfectly. So once we got to the cabin and checked it out a bit Jon and his dad got us some dinner. After dinner, Jon, the boys, and I got on our swim suits and went to check out the pool. That way mom and dad could have some alone time since they hadn't seen each other in over 3 months. We had a great time at the pool. The best part was the little water slide. The boys kept going on it over and over again until they had to close the water slide because it was getting dark. This was their first time going on a water slide. So we checked out one of the shops down the road and then went back to the kiddie water area. By then it was getting to be the boys bedtime. I had a hard time getting good photos of the kids coming down the water slide.
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| Hayden going down the water slide |
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Hayden having a great time at the pool.
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The next day we decided to go to Magic Kingdom. Jon's parents didn't join us. They usually only go to one or 2 parks while they are in Disney. I know crazy huh!!
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| On the boat that take us to the Magic Kingdom |
We went on all the rides the boys wanted to which included Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain. These boys love those.
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| Me as Captain Jack Sparrow |
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| Jungle Cruise |
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Tomorrow land transit authority, not sure why but one of my favorites.
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After we did all the ride we wanted to, we headed back to the cabin and got on our suits and went to the Wilderness Lodge Resort. It is the resort (hotel) right next to Fort Wilderness campground. That pool also had a water slide so the boys were in heaven once again, except for a little brat boy who kept cutting in line. The Wilderness Lodge pool area was based on Yellowstone so they have Old Faithful go off every so often. It was fun. After dinner, we headed to the beach area to check it out and we found some very hungry friendly ducks.
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Jon and Hayden feeding ducks
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The next day we went to Epcot. Jon's parents did join us on this day. We went on a few mild rides with Jon's parents until the wold showcase opened up and then we went there and went through the shops and went on the 2 rides. Then when his parents left we went on Test Track and a few other things they didn't want to go on
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| Bruce from finding nemo, Tamage and Hayden |
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| Hayden in Norway. One of their favorite shops. |
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| Hayden and Talmage Norway |
Later that day we went to Downtown Disney and spotted some dear. I think we spotted 4 in all on this trip. We really were in the Wilderness. It was awesome.
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Deer in Fort Wilderness
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The next morning we ate at the breakfast buffet in Fort Wilderness and then loaded our things in the car and drove home. It was a fun mini vacation. Only have 2 kids with us was a piece of cake and a lot cheaper. I am glad they got to go with us but felt kind of bad not being able to bring them all. Luckily, they had a great time with Grandpa. Mom and Dad H next Disney trip will be in 2 years and I have already put in my request for them (me) to stay in the Tree houses.
October 9
Today was the annual Youth Day Parade aka candy parade in our city. The kids of course had a great time and always look forward to this day.
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| Jon, Hayden, Talmage, Payton, Kennedy, Connor, and Brenton |
October 21
Tamage is now 7 years old. Out of all of our children he is definitely the most talkative and unshy of the bunch. He is cautious at first but once he feels comfortable he will start talking to you and may not stop for a while. After he taught himself to ride a bike last month, I knew exactly what to get him for his birthday. It was perfect timing. The bike he was riding was way to small for him. So that is what he got a bike and a helmet. The bike he learned to ride on has the handle bar breaks not the push back pedal breaks so I had to get one of those kinds which cost a little bit more but it is more grown up so he can ride it longer and not feel like he has a baby bike.
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| Talmage's 7th birthday |
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Talmage with his new bike and helmet (that is a big piece of cardboard on his helmet that needs to be cut off)
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We had his family party a few days later.
October 22
Ward Trunk or Treat at Hunter's Christmas tree farm
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| Hayden storm trooper |
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| Kennedy Cleopatra |
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| Payton 50's girl |
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Talmage Harry Potter
October 24 Talmage Birthday Party
Talmage wanted to do a treasure hunt and have a silly string fight for his birthday party. He really wanted a friends party. Since this month has been pretty busy. We had the same party he wanted but with cousins and Grandparents and aunt and uncles. Luckily he was fine with that and it was a lot of fun. I even bought silly string for all the adults which was a lot of fun. |
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| Hayden getting real comfy |
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| The treasure |
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| Silly string fun |
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| more silly string fun |
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| Talmage covered in silly string |
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| Pirates of the Caribbean cookie cake |
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| Make a wish |
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Lorin and Talmage
October 25th picking out pumpkins
For the past few years, the last Monday in October we go and pick out our pumpkins to carve. Since Halloween was almost a week away there was a big selection of pumpkins. Usually it is only Mom and Taylor who join us, but this year the Tady's came along too. |
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Trebilcock's, Tady's and Taylor searching for the perfect pumpkin
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October 29
Hayden had his Halloween party in his PreK class today. They start off by parading around the parking lot about 4 times and then they sit for a class picture. After that, they go to their classroom and eat goodies.
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| Hayden's class |
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| Hayden and Miss Catherine |
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| Hayden parading |
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Hayden eating his plate of goodies
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October 30
We carved our pumpkins this morning.
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| Brenton, Talmage, and Hayden carving pumpkins |
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| Payton and Kennedy carving their pumpkin |
Later that day, I took the kids out Trick or Treating. Since Halloween was on a Sunday, they passed a sign up sheet around church and I drove the kids around to different people in our ward so they could go trick or treating on Saturday. Jon stayed home with Connor to pass out candy at our house.
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| Talmage |
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| Payton |
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| Brenton |
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| Kennedy |
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| Hayden |
October 31 Halloween
Today was our Primary program. We have been practicing real had for the past few weeks learning our parts. Payton, Kennedy, Talmage, and Hayden all had their parts memorized and did a great job. This is the first year in about 3 that I was able to be in the audience watching instead of on the stands trying to keep my class under control. Boy do I love my Activity Day Girls calling.
After church, we went over to the Marshall's house for dinner. They also invited a newly moved in family and the sister missionaries so we got to get to know them a bit better. The kids played and decorated sugar cookies. We also had a little fire going when it got dark. It was a fun evening.
