November 2025

November began with the Monster Mash Dance. It was fun, but not as awesome as the Homecoming Dance. The DJ was not as good and we just didn't get the turnout we wanted. 

Timmy was a parrot and Sawyer was a pirate. Brian was sick during the dance but went anyway. He didn't get the pictures from his date, but he was Travis Kelce and Savannah was Taylor Swift.

We had a CHOICE Jr Board meeting at our house. My Dad gave a little presentation about the beginning of CHOICE.

Mark and Brian were both very very sick in October and November.

I tried to remain healthy and to enjoy the changing season.

I am trying to grow my hair out, but it has been a struggle. I want to cut it off so badly sometimes.

The school looks beautiful in November. I love the trees as I walk in.

One night Timmy and I were in the hot tub and Timmy pointed out that the sky looked colorful. He was right. We could see the Northern Lights! Brian was asleep and stressed inside, but he loves the Northern Lights so I went and woke him up to come see. He came and got in the to observe with us.

The boys and Mark helped take an entire horse trailer and truck bed full of food from the Stake to the Food Pantry. It took them a better part of a Saturday. There were many families in need because of the Government shutdown and many not receiving their SNAP benefits.  

We were given tickets to a BYU football game. While we were in Provo we checked out a house that was for sale. We realized pretty quickly it was in need of demolishing and rebuilding to be useful and that is not a project we want to take on right now.

We went to our favorite Provo restaurant, Carrabba's, before the game. They have the best filet steaks ever!

It was a fun BYU game and a fun season overall!

At school we started the Gold Rush Charity Fundraiser activities. We planned different activities to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Intermountain Chapter that would take place for about a month, ending in an assembly. The SBOs started off the lunch activities with selling sodas.

Brian had a few swim meets in November. He did well despite missing a lot of practices from being sick.

Student Government helped to support the big musical our theater and arts department put on. They did Seussical this year.

I spent another morning at the temple.

And then visited with Daniel for a bit following. I miss him immensely.

The next week's Gold Rush lunch activity was put on by the Sophomores. They sold wax strips for people to purchase and wax their legs. Here's Timmy getting his legs waxed.

Brian joined the second day. Check out those bare patches on their legs.

Mark's aunt and cousins and kids came into town for Thanksgiving. It was fun to see them! Mark took the kids for a hike.

He also took us all up to the ranch to play airsoft. I played again and had a blast!

We went to eat at KOU and of course it was delicious!

Then it was Thanksgiving time! Mark and I hosted and it was a very nice and successful Thanksgiving!

Mark's turkeys turned out amazing!

The kids played Among Us on Thanksgiving. It was kind of fun to watch them play together.

Brian got his hair permed at the hair school. He looks very handsome.

We went to try this Taiwanese Boba and shaved ice place.

It was delicious and fun to go with Luke and Sunny.

Another beautiful morning in the temple.

Thanksgiving ended and the Christmas season began! I'm glad the boys didn't like my collage Christmas card I made from random photos throughout the year. They thought we should make a card with just one family photo. This got us to take a photo after church one day. Thanks boys!

Not pictured in November:

-Endowed for Life pizza at our house

-School

-Work

-Outdoor Boys fireside

-Jenny teaching RS

-Church work and meetings for Mark

-Mark and Brian still sick

October 2025

We were right in the middle of Homecoming week when October started. It was busy and fun! The SBOs and Class Officers put on such a fun Homecoming assembly! They were organized and had engaging activities.

Brian is the SBO Dance Officer, so his big thing was taking care of the Homecoming Dance. His decoration ideas were awesome! The theme they chose was Beneath the Waves. It really was an awesome theme and excellent decorations. Brian was so good at giving instructions and supervising the set up.

We set up the decorations after school on Friday with the dance being held on Saturday. On Friday night we had the big Homecoming football game. 

We had an incredible turnout for the game and my fireworks guys were all ready to go for their show at the end. Then, at half time in the middle of announcing the Homecoming royalty, a huge lightening storm came rolling in. We had to evacuate the stadium and the fireworks had to be cancelled. The rain poured and the lightning flashed super close. Eventually the football team finished their game about midnight. A few students, including Brian, went back to watch the end.

It was a real bummer about the fireworks and royalty announcing. But, the Homecoming Dance the next day was a HUGE success!! I am so proud of Brian and how he pulled it all together. We had the best turnout in years and Brian's work with the DJ beforehand made for the best DJ experience yet. The kids loved it all from the decorations and photo booth to the music played. It was the best dance in years!

Timmy took the cousin of one of his best friends.

Brian took Marley, one of his long time best friends. They had never been to a dance together and it was time to make it happen as seniors.

When Homecoming week was over, attention needed to be given to academics.

Mark went out to lunch with Alice.

The Student Government had been given free tickets to the Laufey concert. We decided Brian deserved them the most for his incredible work with the dance. He took his friend, Aida, the SBO Secretary. She also deserved it for her hard work with organizing the assembly.

Homecoming ended and we had to jump right into planning for Monster Mash. Timmy was asked to Monster Mash by his friend Sawyer.

Brian was asked by his friend, Savannah.

Fall Break arrived! We went to Buffalo Wild Wings. I can't believe how many wings these guys can eat!

Then we packed up and headed up to Flaming Gorge to the Cooke's cabin! They were unable to have us over Labor Day so they invited us over Fall Break instead. We took our traditional stop at the Chinese place in Mountain View. 

Luckily the weather was fantastic for our trip! It could have gone either way in October.

We watched the BYU vs Utah football game up there. Our two families are rivals, so it gets a little intense. I think this is a great picture of Mark and Kevin. Kevin found that sweater of his dad's up at the cabin.

We got some really good airsoft in at the cabin this year. It was so fun!

We also played some fun games and ate some great food!

We took a nice outing to see Red Canyon.

The three seniors, Brian, Marley and Aida enjoyed being together. It was kind of sad thinking this might be the last time Brian goes to the cabin.

We hiked around the top of the canyon for a bit and found some crevices to explore.

Then we went over to the dam. Being as it was the middle of October, we were not expecting the temperature to be so warm. It was warm enough that Brian decided to do a little cliff jumping and flips.

Marley and Hendrix joined him and then it was back to the cabin for more airsoft.

The Cookes were so sweet to bring a cake for me to celebrate my birthday that night. 

After the Fall Break trip to the cabin, it was back to real life. Somehow Timmy got me to take him to one of his favorite places, Pizzeria Limone.

I went up to the ranch one morning before I needed to be at school to take pictures of our property and have my dad sign a lease to show the county we are using the property for agriculture.

Another early morning temple trip for me on Saturday morning.

It was time to start finding all the ski gear needed for the season. This picture was scoping out helmets and goggles at Costco. We also went to the Park City Ski Swap and found skis, boots, and poles for myself, Brian and Timmy. The three of us got passes to Brighton this year and we all needed new gear.

Our friend Jack Moffat left on his mission. We will miss him at church.

Student Government helped with the big LIA Trick or Treat event at school.

Then it was time to decorate for the Monster Mash Dance which actually took place on Nov 1. We decorated on Halloween.

This guy made the cutest doctor for Halloween!

Not pictured in October:

-Jenny Birthday dinner at Braza

-Brian DECA, Seminary Council and National Honor Society Events

-Brian BYU application and Sterling Scholar application due.

-Brain Swim practice begins

-Timmy tries wrestling team for a few weeks

-Another ward Bishopric came for dinner