Halloween 2009

Here are some pictures to document Halloween 2009.

The girls loved carving their pumpkins--I loved taking their pictures!



Seth however, has issues with the insides of pumpkins. For years he has asked someone else to clean out his pumpkin. This year he wanted a really big pumpkin. I agreed to let him have it IF he cleaned it out himself. Here are the pictures of Seth FINALLY cleaning out his own pumpkin.



This blog wouldn't be complete without a video to document Seth's first experience of his hand inside a pumpkin.



Our Bride, dracula, and 50's girl had a great Halloween weekend. It all started on Thursday with a costume parade at Kiana's school. The kids were then able to trick-or-treat @ Aaron's work Friday afternoon. Saturday evening started with having friends over for pizza and then going to the carvnival and trunk-or-treat at the church. Andrea then went to hang out with a group of friends while we stayed home with family, ate candy, and watched Harry Potter. When the night was all over the kids had PLENTY of candy and Aaron and I were so glad that Halloween only happens once a year.

A Return to Virtue

A Banner Unfurled~October 2009
Young Women of the Chico 3rd Ward
Chico, California Stake

It was an amazing experience to be able to join the young women of our ward and unfurl a banner of virtue. Over a year ago the General Young Women presidency announced a new YW value of Virtue. We followed their example and declared our own standard for virtue. We took the girl's and hiked a familiar trail--Monkey Face. Once at the top, we spoke about our decision to be chaste and virtuous. After bearing our testimonies and reading excerpts from Elaine S. Dalton's recent talk on Virtue, we let our banner wave. It was a powerful and moving moment as we saw our gold banner gently waving in the breeze. I will always remember this simple but powerful experience. I think it is especially important to me because I was able to share it with my daughter, Andrea.



"Your lives of purity and virtue are the banner that will cause the nations of the earth to look up.” Elaine S. Dalton



“As you live a virtuous life, you will have the confidence, power, and strength necessary to climb.” Elaine S. Dalton



“Great courage will be required to remain chaste and virtuous. You be the one to make a stand for right, even if you stand alone.” President Monson

Road Show!

Our kids were involved in a stake road show. This is when all the wards from the sourrounding area put together a 7-10 minute skit involving the youth. The theme was "I'm A Believer".

(Andrea & Hannah backstage before the performance)


(Yes, this is Seth under all that hair!)


The youth did an awesome job. They even involved the bishopric, giving them their own dance number. (Aaron on the far right has the Moves!)

Young Women's Campout

Our young women's presidency decided to take our girls and their fathers on an overnight campout. We camped at Gurnsey creek and had a great time making smores and hearing funny stories from the dads about their daughters.

The next morning, after enjoying a "Mountain Man's Breakfast", we drove to Lassen National Park and took the girls on a hike. It was a little chilly the night before, but during the day it was beautiful!

It was great to be able to have this experience with the girls and to also be there with both Aaron and Andrea. As you can see from the picture collage the girls loved posing for pictures. With the beautiful sourroundings it wasn't hard finding a place to pose.