Since Fall Break

 I am in love.  Fall.  Every walk along this path gave me happy chills.

Rox loves to be off-leash and it works out ok as long as no mountain bikers come racing by, or we are in a hurry to get back to pick up a child, in which case she runs off and it takes an extra 10 minutes.  That's right, little stinker.  Look away.

Sunday morning stroll.  Usually Owen is still asleep when we leave for a walk but this time, he was up and wanted to join.  We drove to the canyon and hiked a few miles before church.  My favorite kind of worshipful day.

Brady has been gone most Wednesday through Fridays in Reno.  He's also had grueling weeks at trial in California.  So proud of him for representing his company so well in this prosecution effort to remove the "Termination with Cause" on the 1 Hotel Project, and hoping they make back loads of the many, many millions owed to Layton.  That project took away some of his life, and I love hearing the witness moments where he was able to represent and defend his actions and the actions of his company.  The motto for Layton is "Construction with Integrity" and I have seen first-hand the lengths they are willing to go for a client, with solid ethics and honesty.

Friday nights mean date night with Owen, and sometimes date night on the trail with Kate watching Owen.

We are all more comfortable at Cory and Kristen's than we should be.  Kate says she is more comfortable there than in her own condo, which told me right away that it was time to personalize our space and make it feel more like home.

Zac's last soccer game for fall playing for Surf.  He excelled at middle back, and we are shocked what a difference a year makes for him with size and speed.  Way to get it, Z!  There is a teammate with Hawaiian ancestry and he brought leis for all the team.  I got a little emotional watching this practice here in Utah after so many years with the same tradition back home.  

We were finally in person for the very best Edwards tradition: Edwards Eerie Edibles!  On the way home, we had a scare coming around the corner and seeing this car flipped.  I was sure the driver was dead.  Brady ran over and was first to helping with the woman who was trapped unbuckle from upstairs down and she walked away from the scene unharmed.

May our stomaches rest in pieces!  

We stole this shirt idea from Ang and when Kate and I showed up twinning, she changed.  I love it so much!

McKay played this cup game with Owen for a solid 20 min.  

7:30am ortho appointments!

I know keeping Pinterest Pumpkin pics on a blog is unnecessary but Kate and I were wowed by the pumpkin displays at the ortho office.

Walker and Kate drawing heart attack pics for Eliza's door.  She had surgery to correct her 65 degree scoliosis curve.  It has taken her out of school and will be at least a three month to six month recovery.  I remember the doctors telling me that I was probably a candidate for the surgery if my back did not stabilize with faithfully wearing my back brace 23 hours a day.  I cannot imagine the pain and boredom that comes with back surgery.

Halloween prep!  These girls took mug shots to prepare for their costume.

Amazon must think we are seriously nuts.  Suiting up for winter means lots of deliveries.  Zachary beat me home and left me this hurricane.

Watching my costumed kiddo jog to the car after school on Halloween.

Kate basically asked Walker to please host a Halloween party.  Kristen did a ton of work preparing the house, etc., and we threw our first party together.  Heart hands.

There's not many costumes you can order at 11:30pm the night before and get in time for the 3pm departure for partying.  Not a single one of my kids knew who I was...#parentingfail.

It turned out so spooky!

This marks the first time I have ever purchased dry ice, but I cheated because Cory and Kristen had to do all the hard work.

So, so grateful for Sophie and her friendship with my girl.

Kristen is the best and I love this picture.

Poor pup had his misters removed and was so sad in his cone.

The teens did a good job mingling without too much awkwardness.  

Owen was stoked to be part of the action.  I'm proud of these middle schoolers for including him so deliberately.

Kristen made the kids do donuts on a string and bobbing for apples and I was impressed the kids went for it.  I also loved Kate's adamance that we do round 2 so she got her turn.

BFF Marley and Elise!  I wish I had a chance to host them like I did Rach and Camilla.

I hope I get to watch all these kids through HS.

We spent the evening meandering around, then trying to follow Owen's location from my Apple watch.  Again, totally impressed teens would take him out trick-or-treating, although I'm not sure he offered any alternative.  My kids came home with their smallest loot, and that was satisfying after years of excess.  Kate said they spent a lot of time chatting, and not as much time collecting.

I didn't dare take Roxy over with Indy's recent surgery, so I took a quick couple photos in her dentist costume at home.

Brady spent Halloween night working out and working.  

LOLA!  Missing that cute Clark dog.

Brady went to Kaua'i for one day to meet up with Stebbins and Clarks, and pop in on dear friends before heading home.  You can't fly to Oahu for a week and not stop in Kaua'i.  These pictures made me so happy and also stung with heartbreak.

Meanwhile, we did daily life and included a few extras at Thai food.

One more ride before the trail was too damp.

On Saturday, Owen and I met up with Mikayla, Juliana, and Emily and took them to get earrings--piercings for Mikayla and clip-ons and makeup for Juliana.

We collected Kate from dance and went to lunch!

Quick stop to see SARIAH in pre-Sadies mode before heading back to iron Zachary's Sadie's outfit and wish him the best in the mosh pit.

Also got to see Owen score a HAT TRICK at his first indoor soccer match that day!  Woot-woot!  I've never seen him play with so much swagger!

Hot tubbing with Bridger after the game...brrrr.

First snowfall of winter!!!

These are my favorite pics of the post:

A visit with Grandma and Grandpa Nufer when Brady made it home.

First BYU basketball game with out season tickets.  Kate and O liked it, but Kate was embarrassed by my aggressive cheering.  Can't I just join the student section again???

BYU sports have upped their game since I was a student.

Visiting with Eliza, who is still in so much pain but taking it like a champ.

I love the way they giggle together unabashedly.

My parents came to town for Mom's oral surgery and joined us at Hannah's last performance as a BYU ballerina.  It was beautiful and inspiring, and the performance had the biggest supporter crowd for Hannah!  One happy coincidence was seeing the swan who just happened to be in my parents' home ward!

Kate and her Ballet West friend, Malina:

So easy to spot graceful and articulate Hannah on stage!

Writing this post that includes Brady's Kaua'i stop helps me reflect that another month has passed and my heart is more whole.  It will still take more time but I see so many good reasons to be here.  I love being part of the cheering squad: for Hannah, for BYU, for fall.  I love seeing my in-laws and parents and grandparents.  I love celebrating Edwards Eerie Edibles with the creators.  It all feels fortunate and a bit hectic.  Sad to miss home, grateful to be here.  Someday this will also feel like home.  Brady said home is where family is, and I will feel that way soon, too.