Annual Pumpkin Picking

Linder Farms



Simon was almost as tall as the stalks of sweet corn.

Ava helped me find a decorative gourd for my Thanksgiving table.

Brahm treaded through the treacherous terrain in search of the perfect pumpkin.

Simon sitting atop a pumpkin in the distance.

Daddy and Baby Nicholas.

Ava all aglow.

Our favorite part of the evening: fresh, cinnamon-sugar doughnuts and steaming, hot cocoa.

Nicholas

Ghoulish Grins

Ava and our cute neighbor, Nathan.

Las Vegas

The view from Grandma and Grandpa Hanks' backyard.

I was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada.  I lived there for 21 years, not counting the year-and-a-half that I was gone away to BYU.  I don't miss Las Vegas.  There is a lot of ugliness to it.  Graffiti.  Litter.  Check-into-Cash stores on every corner.  Smokey casinos.  Indecent billboards.  Rude drivers.  And, unbearable heat.

But, our family took a fast and furious trip down there in early October.  Jess was running in the St. George marathon and Las Vegas seemed like the perfect place to stay.  And, you know what?  All of my pictures captured the beauty of Las Vegas-- the mountains, the temple, and all of our family.



The kids with Grandma Hanks in the golf cart.

Off-roading.

Brahm LOVED Grandpa Hanks' cowboy boots.

Grandma and Grandpa Hanks

Gramee Rosenthal with Nicholas.  Nicholas has since gotten a haircut which has revealed a lot of blonde hair!

Grandpa Rosenthal with Nickel Pickel, as my children like to call him.

Gramee Rosenthal making cookies with Brahm.

Ava and her cousin Maddie.

Cousin Logan.

Cousin Sam and Kate.

Miss Ava hula-hooping.

My adorable nieces, Kate and Gabi.  I was 16 years old when Gabi was born!

Cousin Olivia with Simon and Ava.

The Blackburns: Sam, Kate, Gabi, Henry, Olivia, my sister Whitney, and Chris.

The place that I called home for 21 years.  My parents have since sold this house and are living on the opposite side of the city.

Hands down, the most beautiful temple.  This is where Jess and I were married.

Birthday Bash

Birthday invitation designed by my talented sister, Rachel

The calm before the storm.

Party favors

Let the games begin!

Throwing darts at balloons with surprises hidden inside!

Twisting to Chubby Checker.

Twist and Shout, Beatles style.

My sad attempt at a Twister cake.

What's a party without presents?

The Birthday girl!

Lazy Saturdays

Saturday morning.

The kids love "camping" on the weekends.  Our indoor tent fits perfectly in the toyroom.

Saturday afternoon.

Brahm hitching a ride on Daddy's back.

Saturday mid-afternoon.

Ava reading to herself.

Saturday evening.

A yawning Nicholas.

Saturday evening bath.
Brahm hogging that end of the tub as usual.

Au revoir, summer!

Simon building a sandcastle

The summer of 2010 came and went.  It literally lasted 8 weeks this year beginning in July and ending in August. I grew up living in the desert where the heat set in in April and didn't let up until October.  Summer has never been one of my favorite seasons, but I am already missing it.  I miss taking the kids to the pool just about everyday.  I miss the sky lightening up before 6:00am and darkening after 10:00pm.   I miss the smell of burning charcoal and barbecued hamburgers.  I miss the look of my children's beet-red faces from riding their bikes outside all day. 

Ava and the neighbor girls washing their bikes while "Bob" flags down speeding cars; Brahm at the pool.



Pioneer Day in Salt Lake City.  All of the cousins got a chance to hit the covered wagon pinata.


Pioneer Day

 Simon with a cherry stained face.



The boys playing ball.

 

The kids swimming in the backyard.  Don't look too closely at my poor, neglected garden.  The cool temperatures coupled with a newborn baby made for a terrible harvest.

Nicholas and his cousin, Liz.


Brahm and Ava at the park.

Sand fight.


Lavender festival with Grandma Hanks.

Drawing with chalk in the backyard with cousin, Malin.

Liz and Mr. Nickels again.

Au revoir, summer.  Until next year!