Ode to October

The first weekend in October we headed down to Provo for the annual BYU Alumni Chapter Leader's Conference and Board of Directors Board meetings. 

It is so fun to be on campus during homecoming. 

I love it when Cosmo shows up during our meetings!

You gotta love Y shaped maple bars.

We got an awesome tour of a replica of Moses' Tabernacle, set up

in front of the Joseph Smith Building.

We heard from BYU's Noteworthy,

and went to the BYU vs. BSU Homecoming football game.

Unfortunately BYU lost as is their habit this year,

but it was still a blast being at the game.

We walked in the Homecoming parade which is always so fun!

 Ryan and Emily Stratford were in town for
Homecoming because Emily's Dad was an honored alumni,
and it was so fun to see them
on the parade route.

After the parade we helped the Boise chapter chairs with the 

pizza party for the BYU students from the valley.

Devin and Sarah came to town for Homecoming.

It's so fun being together on campus

Devin and Sarah took the kids bowling in the Wilkinson center.

Afterwards we went to the Homecoming Spectacular.

Kristin Chenoweth was the guest artist

Can I just say, I'm a huge fan!

Landon Soelberg, a friend's son from Eagle,

starred with the Men's chorus as the Music Man, Harold Hill.

All the performing groups were amazing!

We ran into Mindy Lind, afterwards. It was so fun to see her!

We drove back to Boise after the Spectacular.

What a fun weekend in Provo.

For mutual the following Wednesday, we had a campfire "sing a long" 

with the young men in the ward and roasted marshmallows.

We took a quick trip over to the cabin the 2nd weekend in October.

We had hoped to see some fall colors, but it had gotten cold fast in eastern Idaho

so the trees were bare.

We didn't let that stop us though.

We headed to Yellowstone and made our traditional stop at the fresh water spring.

We saw lots of animals in Yellowstone.

Elk

The snow started flying when we stopped at Norris Geyser Basin

but we were dressed for cold.

Yup that's ice from the geysers and hot pots that has frozen on the trees.

More elk

We drove to Mammoth Hot Springs.

The hot springs looked so pretty in the snow

This guy was chilling outside the park service offices

We found a petrified tree.

We stopped at Tower Falls.

So pretty!

Our friends Rick and Aline Hurst joined us for the fun

We saw lots of animals, deer, elk, bison, moose, pronghorn, coyote, and

this is a picture of a wolf.

Kind of hard to spot him but he's out there.

We woke up Saturday to more snow.

The cabin looked so pretty covered in snow

I just never get tired of that view

The sun came out and we took a drive into Montana

then Tom geared up and headed for the river.

BRRR

I think he caught a few but the fish were too cold to play

While the guys fished, Aline and I took a hike in Harriman State park.

It was so beautiful

Sunday morning we attended church at the Island Park ward.

It was their Primary program and the kids were amazing.

All the children and teachers had memorized

The Living Christ.

It has motivated me to try and memorize it.

After church we cleaned the cabin, took a walk, 

and then headed back to Boise.

Aren't the Tetons beautiful all decked out in snow?

The weather warmed up in Boise the next week,

so I painted my front door.

The stain had faded.

It looks so much better.

The YW hosted a Halloween party for the Primary children.

A good time was had by all

Aren't they cute?

Twin Scarecrows!

Tom and I took a drive up the Middle Fork of the Payette River

so I could see the fall colors before the leaves fell

Of course we found a hot springs

and had a picnic

Devin and Sarah had a work meeting in Sun Valley, so I watched Sophie

so she could stay home and play in her football game.

Notice that snow in the foothills?

It was cold!

We attended the Meridian Temple Open House

It is a beautiful temple!

What a blessing to have two temples in the Boise area.

It was so nice to go with Devin's family and some of their friends.

Another day, another hike!

I love hiking in the Boise foothills.

I'm so thankful for my friend Holly who's my exercise buddy

The last weekend in October,

I had heard Sara was flying to Arizona, so

I invited myself and we had a girl party.

We went hiking

so that we could eat lots of yummy food.

This is my salmon/rissoto cake salad from
House of Tricks

It ws so delicious!!!!

We got pedicures

Yay!

and ate more yummy food at the White Chocolate Grill

On Saturday, Sara and Whitney went to an Orange Theory class.

I shopped and shopped

then we stopped at Sprinkles Cupcakes.

Gotta try one of their cupcakes

We were invited to a Stranger Things party at Whitney's friend's house.

Keira had made delicious chocolate cream pies complete with Christmas lights.

They were so yummy!

The delicious spread for our party

We had a delicious breakfast at Snooze cafe in Scottsdale

then flew back to our homes on Sunday evening

This is what I get to see every Monday morning on my hike.

For Halloween we headed up to Hidden Springs

and got to go trick or treating with these cuties

A race car driver

Cleopatra

A scary Vampire

I guess she's not so scary

We love living close to this wonderful family

Well, here's to a fun filled November.