Bennett's Baptism and a Full House

 What a happy week!

We had ALL the Miner family here as well as Michael's parents for Bennett's baptism. He felt so lucky to have so many people who love him come for his special weekend.

We spent the beginning of the week getting ready for the crew -- lots of food planning and shopping and prepping. I get giddy when I'm doing this part; the more I get done ahead of time means the more I can play with my people when they're here!

Family started trickling in on Thursday. First the Boones, who were very patient with our crazy Thursday nights. This one was even crazier with Michael's annual flu shot party happening at his office. The boys were so happy to see Elise and Dallin and Annie. 

On Friday everyone else rolled into town -- BOTH grandmas and grandpas, and the Miner crew. We had a fun night catching up and grilling hamburgers and hot dogs.

Saturday was full of happiness. First was Bennett's baptism and that boy was glowing! I loved seeing him so happy and surrounded by so much love. His grandparents gave wonderful talks and he had such sweet friends come support him as well. We all know Bennett came to this world with a super sweet heart, and you could tell his heart was really happy that day. I'll always remember his cute hug with his dad right after his confirmation. 

After the baptism we all headed to Westin's final flag football game of the season, which was also his first WIN! That was really fun. He brought a cheering section just about as big as the typical team crowd. His team was so happy to bring home a win.

After that we all went back home to eat lunch and watch the BYU game. I had my annual Comma retreat during the game, so I missed most of it but had a good time catching up with my copywriting team. I love learning more about the company's performance and goals and wins and plans. And the BYU game was a fun watch too, what a happy season! Then we had homemade Cafe Rio for the crowd and the kids loved playing with walkie talkies at the school playground.

On Sunday Bennett shared a sweet testimony about his baptism. He sure was a handsome, sweet boy in his suit and tie and glowing from his happy weekend.

Grandma and Grandpa Daetwyler left tonight, and the rest of the family will leave different days this week. We love having them here!! 

Bennett did a great job telling his primary about his baptism day.

I snuck Annie one morning when she woke up early and it was one of my favorite hours of the week!
Such a little sweetheart.

Meal time for 22 people, 3 times a day! 
Honestly it wasn't even that stressful. People were so helpful and I just loved having everyone under my roof.

Constant laps out on that porch.

Lots of cousin ring-around-the-rosie.

The cheer squad at Westin's football game.
Brought home his first win!

I loved watching this game with everyone.

Asher is not into pictures right now,
but he's there. Somewhere behind Michael. Naturally.

Grandma and Grandpa Miner

The whole visitor crew! Sally was so kind to make this trip after intense ankle surgery.

Parfaits and Krispy Kremes after

Such a sweet boy and special day

It was really happy to have his grandparents all there!

The walk to school cracked me up -- such a crew to pick up the boys.
They totally loved it.

I did a little pumpkin craft with these two cuties.
They're sure growing up. They have so much fun together.

Halloween breakfast!

Tried to go see the Northern Lights again... still no luck!
Someday... someday...
And as I write that I realize that there's some pink in the picture?
Maybe they were kind of slightly there and only the phone could pick it up.

Camden loved this squirrel at his school and really wanted me to take a picture of it and send it to Elise.
He loves his cousin.

We got to go to Camden's school and watch him present his All About Me poster to his class.
He wanted to mention that he loves his family, he has a dog and a cat, he loves going on walks, he loves playing games and playing with cars, and he loves going to school.
We love this little guy.

Bennett's Birthday & Conference Weekend

 I loved celebrating Bennett turning EIGHT this week! We had his party last weekend and his birthday on Thursday, so it felt good to not feel like we were trying to squeeze his birthday fun in between all of conference this weekend. He had a great day Thursday, with cinnamon rolls and bringing a fun treat to school, Texas Roadhouse for dinner, and his lemon blueberry birthday cake. Such a sweet guy. I always want to remember how much Bennett just purely loves everyone in his family and is kind to everyone he meets. It doesn't cross his mind to be any other way. Such a sweet soul.

Conference was so wonderful. I always feel like I need to go back to catch so much of it, but it was a relaxing weekend and the boys did really great. I cut my hair off after the last session on Saturday and I'm happy for the change. It just needed it. Conference Sunday always feels like such a slow, cozy day.

October is where it's at.

I love our morning walks so much.

We rode halfway to dad's work with him when he had a later patient one morning.
The boys thought that was so fun.

I found Bennett's spirit animal at the plant nursery.

Birthday boy tomorrow!

Always chooses cinnamon rolls for breakfast :)

He wanted to go to Texas Roadhouse and have them sing to him haha,
so we made a trip there right before swimming lessons.

Josh Ritter concert!
I've been looking forward to this night for so long.

Haven't seen him since our Indy days,
we love this guy.

All ready for a date with dad!

Preschool field trip to the Pumpkin Patch with dads.

The boys grabbed all their pillows and some blankets and made quite the comfy conference set up.

Quick picnic and tennis time between sessions.

I just love these four guys.

Fred & George are back!

Elk Bugling

The boys had no school Monday and we had a good day together. I think year-round school would be really wonderful. That night we did a mystery shop all together at BJs and they thought that was so fun. Mystery shopping takes me back, it's so funny to do it with four kids in tow when we started doing that just the two of us.

Tuesday we did yoga and made smoothies for Young Womens and I loved that calm activity :) I need to do more Yoga in my life. Bennett and Westin LOVE when they have activity days during Young Womens and I think they have the greatest leaders ever, they're so lucky.

Michael chaperoned Camden's preschool field trip on Wednesday to the pond and he said the kids were really cute. One little girl held his hand the whole time and it just cracked him up, preschoolers just love.

I went to my young women's orchestra concert Thursday and one of them did a cello solo for It Is Well With My Soul and I just think that song is so beautiful. She did such a wonderful job. 

Friday we took the boys to the Canvas Community Classic, which is when the high school teams play each other in the CSU stadium. Westin loves football so much. I think I've written that sentence in 100+ blog posts but it's just really true. 

Michael volunteered all day Saturday at a free dental clinic that Colorado does every year. I took the boys to watch the BYU game with friends, then to Westin's football game, then we got ready for Bennett's party that night. We grabbed pizza and cake from Costco and he had a bunch of friends come jump with him that night at Fly High. Michael met us there and the boys had fun jumping with him. Bennett is so stoked about turning 8!

My favorite part of the weekend was Sunday night -- we drove the boys up to Rocky Mountain National Park after nap time for a dinner picnic and a dusk drive during the weeks the elk are super active. There were so many, and they were bugling so much! Which is such an interesting sound and nothing like what you'd picture it to be. We even saw a couple males fighting and the sound of their antlers hitting was amazing to hear. I loved it up there, and it was such a pretty night. We stole the idea from some friends and saw them there for a few minutes. Westin said he wanted it to be a tradition, which means it was a good time :) 

The boys had a Monday off of school for a teacher work day and Bennett did every puzzle he could find.

Got Westin involved by the end.
I love how Bennett can entertain himself so well,
he's always been like that.

Such a cute scene to spy on while I do dishes.

"Jim and Nancy give me it!"
Lucky little boys to have such nice neighbors.

They had some inflatable obstacle courses at the Canvas Community Classic football game,
and Westin and Bennett thought they were so fun.

Bennett can't be bothered by the picture,
and Asher actually was really bothered by the picture,
but you can find his legs if you try hard.

Team photo! Westin liked flag football this season so much.

We recently acquired a wagon and I feel the same way about it I felt about my play kitchen.
Which is, I wish I bought this two years ago.

Have you ever ordered a cake from Costco?
What a weird way they still do it? But can't beat it!

Asher was all about this cake.
My favorite thing lately is when they say, "Can I have some more?" I just say, "Sure!" and give them the tiniest bit. And he did that like four times, which didn't even equal a whole slice of cake really, but he was just soo happy to feel like he had full access to this cake haha.

Sometimes you just need to hold hands while you eat cake.

Trying to get some candy from the bishop with some memorized Articles of Faith...
he needed some big help from daddy ;)

Sunday drive through Rocky Mountain National Park 

We ran into the Baileys there and she gets full credit for the everyone-looking-and-smiling photo,
my boys all love her so much so it was achievable for her.

This little deer came right over to eat dinner by us!
The boys loved seeing it so close.

So many elk.
And so much bugling!
We even saw two large males fighting and the sound of their antlers hitting was really awesome.