Check out this arm!

Carter has really improved his baseball skills. He can now catch the ball 3 out 5 times and check out this arm. I think this is pretty impressive for being 5 years old. If you listen closely you can hear him talking to himself. He was being so cute!

Boys away, Girls at play...

While the boys (Dad and Carter) were enjoying the brisk air in Island Park. Ashlynn had a friend over and had some fun of her own too. Ashlynn and Brooke with their princess attire and ready for the royal ball. They were playing so cute together.
Then, we ventured to the zoo. It was the first time we have experienced the zoo without the 100 degree weather. It was a very pleasant afternoon.
Brooke and Ashlynn on the carousel.
Ashlynn finally got to ride her zebra.
The girls having fun in the sun.

Luau Entertainment

At the Ward Luau they had some entertaining dancing. 

We were told by Pepe, a Hawaiian native, that his ward in Hawai'i would hold these luau parties 

to make money to supplement their income.These dancers are from the Hawaiian family in our ward.
We also had some awesome local entertainment. 

Here is Ashlynn dancing.
Ashlynn loved this guy. When he came out she said "that boy has a skirt on," she then took hold of the camera and started taking pictures. She took this shot. 

Below is a video of the Young Women that included my nieces Jessica and Annie. Jessica is the tallest blonde and Annie is in the back with shoulder length brown hair. Great dancing girls! Be sure to read on about the dinner portion of the luau.

Pig, Its what's for dinner!

WARNING! IMAGES INCLUDE GRAPHIC MATERIAL FOR PIG LOVERS. 

VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED. 

Our ward had a Luau out and we cooked pigs underground. The pigs came gutted and cleaned and the cooks shoved really hot rocks from the fire into their bodies along with some seasoning and sea salt.

 I spared you the shots of the process. It was kind of gross. But you get the idea.
Then the pigs were wrapped in foil and chicken wire and placed in a fire pit on top of lettuce.

These are the poor little pigs in the fire pit.
Finally to finish off the process we covered the pit with a ton of aluminum foil and wet newspapers to keep all of the heat in and steam the pigs. 

The pigs cooked all afternoon.  After such a gory process, I was pleasantly surprised that the meat was very tasty! 

I just had to erase out of my mind the ealier images of the pigs before they were cooked.

Carter makes his first goal!

Carter had his 2nd game and he was so proud that he made 3 goals. The top clip is Carter (#3)making one of his goals and the bottom clip is him dribbling the ball down the field.

Fall is nearing...Yipee!

The other night we had a wicked storm with high winds, thunder and lightning that put the power out for a little while. I had just finished cooking dinner and then suddenly it was slightly darker than usual in the house. Then, when we looked out the windows we saw a brown haze in sky and it stunk so bad like a sewer line was damaged. So we ate dinner without lights and the sweet scent of sewage water. I felt like we were experiencing the effects of Hurricane Gustav and we were riding out the storm. We later found out that the smell and brown haze were from the refineries near the Salt Lake. Ever since that storm we have had some colder temperatures. Last night Matt accidentally left the window open and the kids said they got really cold. Ashlynn wanted her jacket in the middle of the night. The things that go on while I am at work. I pray everyday that they are all alive when I get home (just kidding, I know that Matt is an awesome husband and father and is amazing with the kids).
I am so excited for the fall season. I love the smell of the brisk air and the color changes of the trees. Most of all, though, Halloween is my favorite holiday and I just love the crazy fun all month long.

Ready..Set...Go....

Carter started soccer this week. He is so excited that he actually gets to play real soccer. He has taken two years of skills in Boise, but he has never played a real game. He did much better than I thought he would. They play three on three and the boys just run their little hearts out. (Tracy, I will email you his game schedule.)