October 8-12, 2013: Idaho Falls trip!

Mike and I decided to drive to Idaho Falls and spend some quality time with his mother, Joy Hobbs, and his little sister, Julie Hatch, as well as to see the rest of his family. We took Jessica and her two boys with us. We always leave Idaho with our hearts (and our stomachs!) full of love and appreciation for the wonderful family Mike was born into. I am so grateful to be a part of the HOBBS family. They are the BEST. Sure wish they all lived closer!

Mike is always our devoted and exceptional driver. Here he plays on his iPhone while
baby Beau Dunlap enjoys a little freedom from being strapped in his car seat for hours.

I love, love, love this beautiful Hobbs baby--oops, I mean Dunlap baby!
He has the sweetest smile, the tenderest blue eyes, and the fuzziest hair!

October 8th: We stopped and had lunch at our favorite place in Provo, Utah--Cafe Rio

October 9th: After arriving in Idaho, we visited Mike's older sister, Connie, at her
 apartment group home. Here, Hudson is holding another resident's guinea pig.

Connie is always excited to see us and to get a new "wedding ring."
She has the fanciest and most comfy bedroom in the whole apartment.

Jessica and Connie share a bonding moment

Chil-laxing at Grandma Joy's house and chatting on the phone

October 9th: Sam and Kiley arrived the second day and spent the week with us

Beautiful baby Joey playing on the floor

Baby Beau enjoys being out of the car after a long, long drive

 Cousins "Bo" and "Jo" hanging out together

Cousins Joey and Hudson watching a show on TV

 Beau doing what he does best--looking cute

 Hudson poses with the Idaho Falls Temple for a backdrop

After going for a cold walk to the Falls strapped to his mommy, Beau conks out

October 10th: At Brad and Julie's house, a sequence of shots capturing Joey's gummy smile

The marinated flank steak, steamed asparagus, and roasted red potatoes we made for the Hatch family

Joy Hobbs enjoying the gathering at Julie's house

Out for another brisk walk in lovely Idaho Falls near the temple
and another sleeping baby strapped to his mommy 

The beautiful Japanese Garden near the Falls. Mike and I loved this place! 

A pond in the Japanese Garden and a variety of plants and trees

This tree was one of our favorites!

An unusual horse bench that Mike decided to ride

Gorgeous trees and shrubs along the walk 

The Idaho Falls Temple in autumn. This is where Mike and I
were married over 32 years ago, on March 28, 1981.

The falls in the Idaho Falls River not far from Joy's house

A better view of the Idaho Falls Temple

Another unusual bench. This one is a giant fishing leer and hook.

I love that Idaho spud of mine!! 

October 11th in the morning: Joy shows off her fancy line dancing outfit--so cute and sassy! 

October 11th in the evening: Scott Hobbs and son at Joy's house for our big family dinner 

After everyone left Joy's house, Mike and Jessica went to
Steve and Linda's house to see their kitchen and floor remodel

The hickory cabinets, granite countertops, and tile backsplash 

The colorful wood floor

The new stainless sink and faucet

The new wood framed vinyl window above the kitchen sink

On our drive back to NM, we stopped at the Orem, Utah Costco for gas and potty breaks and found out that Elizabeth Smart was scheduled to arrive for a book signing event! She wrote a book entitled "My Story." It's about what happened to her several years ago when she was kidnapped from her Salt Lake City home at the age of 14 and was kept hostage for 9 months. 

Of course we stayed and waited in line to meet Elizabeth and to have her sign all the books we purchased for gifts. We found her to be very sweet and pretty; reserved by refined, and somewhat shy and quiet. We read her book all the way back to Albuquerque and shed many tears along the way.

October 3, 2013: Fall and halloween crafts

On October 3rd, Jessica and I had a craft day at her house with my daughter-in-law Shauna, Jess' best friend, Andrea Scarberry, and my close friend and walking buddy, Patti Waseta. We made these darling Halloween decorations: a Harry Potter set of books, a "BOO" door hanging, and a set of mummy jars with tea lights in them. It was fun! We also enjoyed lunch together and had my baked bow tie pasta, homemade jumbo rolls, and yummy apricot bars that Patti brought.

Patti's stack of Harry Potter books

Patti's "BOO" door hanging

Cousins Tyler Hobbs and Hudson Dunlap

The boys were so good all day!

A Halloween ghost and jack-o-lantern that I made many years ago in Provo Utah during a relief society homemaking class is still one of my favorites

This year I made this awesome haunted house 

Side views of the house

The back side of the house

Last year I put this Fall centerpiece together with Jessica's help. There's candy corn underneath the candles in those glass containers.

This year's Fall decor additions were super easy and fun to put together: A vase of autumn twigs from Hobby Lobby and a colorful wreath made with a grapevine wreath and a Fall garland that I untwisted and wove into the wreath. It's now one of my favorite holiday wreaths.
                                               

My creepy set of Halloween books

My spooky mummy jars 

Jack-o-lantern decorations made from wood that I made years ago at a relief society enrichment night here in town

My "BOO" door hanging with a big burlap bow and twine to connect the letters