Ryan & Erinn's Family: October

In early October, we finally got serious about fixing our broken sewer line. Instead of breaking up our sidewalk, the contractor thought it would be easier to dig a parallel trench on the side and just reroute our drains through a new pipe. While the trench was there, my kids thought it was the coolest place in the world to play.

Celeste got bigger and more interactive. The kids were continually asking me to take pictures of her activities.

At bathtime one day, I got some of my favorite baby pictures ever. I've never had a baby smile so much this young!

After many years with a local teacher, I signed up Connor, Elise, and Evan for piano lessons with a lady and her husband in Montecito Heights. I had heard from our friends how challenging this program was, and how much their children had progressed, and decided to take the plunge. We meet twice a week, and get to participate in regular concerts and piano festivals, along with Certificate of Merit, which Ryan really wanted the kids to be able to do. It's very time consuming, but it's been fun to see them learn pieces from real composers and develop proper technique and theory skills.

Ryan was invited to fly in his friend's private plane to BYU's Homecoming Weekend. I'll admit it, I was jealous. Apparently there were a few moments of terror during the flights, but they had an awesome time mountain biking, attending the football game, and watching the "Homecoming Spectacular". Ryan came back Sunday with fudge and local produce in a foolish attempt to make things even.

We mostly finished up the outside of the house with a new garage door, refinished stucco, and new paint. Also, I found and bought my second-favorite front door. The first favorite was three times as expensive, so we went with the Home Depot one.

Evan tested in October for his Yellow Belt, and promoted!

We got to watch some awesome Police Dog demonstrations at the "K9s in the Park" fundraiser, in Glendale. Wiley came, too, but didn't look impressed.

We once again cooperated with our friends the Kennys to do family pictures this year. It was a bit windy, and the baby was hungry, but it turned out pretty good anyway!

On a random Tuesday, I convinced Ryan to come home from work and take us all to Oak Glen for some autumn atmosphere. I think I was craving that dropped-leaf smell. We picked late raspberries, ate cider doughnuts, and enjoyed the fresh air.

More pictures of sweet Celeste:

The Friday after Oak Glen, the Vances invited us to come up and visit Underwood Farms for the first time. We especially liked the corn maze. The older kids ran off and did it alone, but Jennie and I walked the younger ones through the "Jack and the Cornstalk" version.

We found the center!

Ryan was asked to smoke all the pulled pork for our ward's Halloween Party. It took eight pork shoulders and 20 hours of tending, but it turned out awesome. He'll probably get to do it again next year (which he would love!)

October 30th was the Primary Program - Connor's last, and Corinne's first! The whole Primary did such a wonderful job with their songs and parts.

Halloween was highly dominated by Grim Reapers this year. Connor went for, I think, his third straight year in the same costume, and Elise and Evan wanted to be just as terrifying, so we found them unique variations on the same thing. Corinne had other ideas, and went as a cowgirl. Celeste, of course, was the obligatory baby lobster!