Carving pumpkins

i couldn't stop snapping the camera tonight. It was a tight squeeze, few soup bowls, lots of pumpkin cut outs, tutus, buck teeth, Halloween spirit all around,

Tayshaun & I got started early because I knew my masterpiece would take lots of concentration. It's hard to multi-task when I'm being the hostess.  So we painted our first pumpkins yesterday.  Carving will have to performed tomorrow.

 Last minute, I made a rule for everyone to wear a Halloween accessory while carving our pumpkins. And everyone was game. Loved it!

 I had to take a break from stirring the tortilla soup for a photo shot.

 Then we all got down to business, carving. With the hope for 1st prize, competition was strong.

 Some of us tried not to break a tooth from grandma's carmeled apples. They were yummy but hard.

 Elena hogged all the pumpkins. As you can see here, she kept her design a secret. We never did find out what she was doing to that pumpkin.

 Cutie pie Carter didn't know what was going on. He kept getting passed around like a bag of potatoes. He looks a little dazed here.

 Jazlyn surprised us with some jello worms. Creepy and tasty!

 It was a bit squishy in my little house but we all found a little working space.

 Passing the boo boo around.  When Elena realized there wasn't a grand prize, she threw in the towel.

 We should have lit up some of our pumpkins for a pic.  Here's a few masterpieces.

 Here's another of Tayshaun's masterpieces.  Was this the fourth one Tayshaun?  good Job!!!

 Yesterday, Tayshaun mentioned he'd never seen a sunrise. I'm sure he has while driving to school but with his attention on his ipod or the traffic he probably rarely notices it.

So I decided it would be a good opportunity to get up early to give him this experience and to take him and gramma to Ruth's Diner for breakfast.

Ruth's diner is historic in SL. I Love this place. And i love reading about Ruth, herself. I wished I had half her spunk. 

 One day when I move away from Utah, I'll miss these mountains and fall colors. Soooo beautiful! Real life art, isn't it?

Gramma decided to be our tour guide to East Canyon. Shhh, she didn't know where she was going but it's home...how lost could we get? I'd just been telling her that lately I've been trying new routes, new food, new restaurants, etc. Now we have a new way home from East Canyon with just a little detour. ;-) Why not, the scenic route was totally worth it.

We stopped EVERYWHERE.  Trying to get no glare on our camera phones.  Trying to find sunlight behind the photographer or was that supposed to be sunlight behind the subject. Hey, these pics aren't too bad.

Here in Little Cottonwood Canyon, we soaked in the soothing stream. Tayshaun (no doubt) got wet. His feet fell in the water.  Right?  And gramma fell out of the leaning vehicle. WTH?!  No bruising though.  But then again, I'll ask her again, tomorrow.

 The stream is so beautiful. I love BROWNS.  Look at how many variations of brown are in this water!

 Gramma & Tayshaun here, being photogenic. :-)

 And my favorite color for the past three years...ORANGE.  I think I'll post this in my home office.

 Gorgeous!

Tayshaun would have brought home every rock, branch, leaf, potato bug that he could find if I had let him. Even the rocks are beautiful. God is certainly an artist. Isn't he?!

If only we could skip the next season. :-(

I miss you Blog

I have been so bad this year. Updates seem to be going on FB or the family site I tried to share.  Now that the holidays are coming up, I'm making a personal goal to blog at least twice a month.  Thank goodness Tayshaun is still good material.  He's pronouncing his words well now and his babytalk is gone but he's still shooting off some hilarious conversation.

I've started a 2010-2011 mixed media scrapbook 'cause sometimes texture is just funner. But I think I'll start compiling some things so I can blog once in a while.

So, to be continued....

Had to share Tisha's video. She missed her calling...filming, photography, etc.  She just has an talented eye when she shots film and/or pics.  Nicely done, Tish!!!!
Jeeping Sept. 2011 from Tish Lopez on Vimeo.