November - A birthday girl and a bit of fun

November passed in a blur.. much like the months before and since.  Thank goodness for cameras that help us capture and remember moments!

Spud was not a huge fan of the pumpkin-mobile

Our sweet Berry turned 2!  I love the terrific twos!  Berry is my little shadow and gives her interpretation on whatever we are doing.  With all her commentary, her vocabulary and phrase length increases hourly.  With her blonde curls, droll little mouth and full cheeks, she looks like a cherub. She is easy to love and loved by all - her sisters, the neighborhood, the ward, and the cute elderly couples at Costco.  

Birthday display

She loves ducks - and quacks!

 Berry currently loves dresses and skirts.  She is a fairweather fashionista and changes her clothes at least four times a day.  She hates to be dirty and is equally odious of dirty clothes and so sometimes she strips down for something new simply because her sleeve is wet. She was thrilled with this new ensemble for her collection from Aunt Sharla (whom she also loves).

Opening gifts

Happy Birthday Berry!

Soccer season ended and somehow I only have a picture of Curly's team.  Lou also played this season.  Both had a great time and great coaches.  Lou lived for the end of game snack and the end of season trophy - it is a start I suppose.

Curly's team with Coach Nally

During Thanksgiving, we enjoyed a short reprieve from Fisher's intense work schedule and were able to be with family and each other for a couple days.  We had dinner with the East Valley Lovell's - which is always enjoyable.

Aunt Kim and Spud

The day after Thanksgiving, we hit the Phoenix Zoo.  The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed a slow pace as we watched the interesting animals and people at the zoo.

With the Rhinos

  

The girls enjoyed a campout with dad in the backyard

Berry - the busy body sportin' a sequined leotard

Curly and Lou - I think they are being Ninjas

Hotel Lake is open!

Near the end of October, the Hotel Lake officially opened for the season.  Our first visitors were the Waters clan - they stopped through for a few days on their way home from Disneyland.  They were able to join us for our Mormon helping hands service day and our ward Trunk or Treat.  We had a great time!

Smoothie snack

Ready for some candy!

Berry the Butterfly

Spud the Punk Rocker

Our next guest was Ambie!  She has been serving a mission for 18 months and so we were all very excited to see her!  She came and celebrated Halloween with us.  

Pumpkin carving party

So glad to have the Lovells close by

Lou and Ambie - funny faces!

Spooky dinner - mouths and worms

Cute Dressed Up Girls - fancy lady, ballerina, Cinderella,
 Dorothy, Hermione,  and a  butterfly

Fisher's brother and his family came to visit with cute Wren.  We had  a nice relaxing visit - enjoying the beautiful weather at the playground, soccer games, and hiking.  Berry thought it was fun to have a little cousin to play with and particularly liked her baby doll!  This was their first time visiting us in Arizona and we hope they come back soon.

Wren and Berry at the playground

Hiking at Thunderbird - it was chilly!

 

Our final guests were Lainey's parents.  They came for a pre-Thanksgiving visit.  It was so fun to be able to spend time with them and T-man and Shar's family.  We enjoyed cooking and eating a Thanksgiving dinner together.

Very entertaining magic show!

Grandpa Duck and his helpers in T-man's garden

Beautiful sunset hike

The Hotel Lake is still open if anyone would like to schedule a visit!

Idaho

After our fun filled days in Utah, we headed to Idaho for more fun!

visiting Grandpa's new building

Playing school with Grandpa and his medical school model

A cookout at the Snake River

   

S'mores!

Grandma C and Spud

Sparklers!  

 

LLL Ranch

 

Oma and Spud

The fishermen - Grandpa, Fisher, Dad Lake, Bryce

Bedtime stories with Aunt K-Rae

To Utah, to utah to get a fat pumpkin

Someone find the pause button quick!  Our player of life is stuck on fast forward!  

At the beginning of October we had a school fall break and Fisher made a job change that gave him a week off, so we all headed to Utah and Idaho for some family and fishing.  Cousins Letty and Gracie came along for the fun!

Full to the brim!

Grandpa Lake and Spud

Spud with cousins D and S

Lou's rug burn!

Aunt Jenny and Wren anouncing baby #2

Grandpa's garden pumpkin party

Curly found a pumpkin!

Sweet Hallie

All the Lake grandchildren and their pumpkins

Trick or Treat

Yo! My name is Spud and I can roll over! 

A walk on the U campus

Hiking at Donut Falls

Beautiful fall leaves

Look closely at the too-friendly friendly chipmunk

Gardner Village witches

   

Photo shoot with sweet LE and

Tiny baby Shane