Happy Birthday Bethany!

For Bethany's early birthday party we went to the Bean Musem located on campus. It is an animal museum and it even has an animal from Perh, the black swan!!! Firstly, it was FREE!!! They do live animal demonstrations and we got to see a slithering snake, turtle and lizard.

Beth was more interested in the DEAD animals. Don't know why she wasn't to keen on holding the snake???

She had friends from church, pre-school, from the MBA program and some neighbors. She wanted more, but we had to fit them all in our apartment after for cake, so that definately helped in narrowing her selection of friends.

She is counting the sleeps till her 'real birthday'. She is excited to get a small set of scriptures because her older brother and sister now both have one. (Hyrum got his baptisim set yesterday for his birthday) She also can't wait to go to the Cannon centre on campus to eat dinner with her cousins, Grandparents, Aunt's and Uncles and eat as much desert and fizzy drink as she wants!!!

Happy Birthday!

Our Californian Vacation

We got to do many things but some of the favorites were going to the movies, dinner with Rachel and Chad, driving to and from Southern California (ha ha) going to the clubhouse and playing table tennis, pool, playing on the playground and just 'hanging out'. The photos below is the reception hall where we had the most fun throwing balls, wrestling, doing handstand competitions and doing pushups. (The normal things you do in a reception room!)

Thanksgiving at the Gharrings was the Liddicoat's first genuine experience and it was very yummy!!!! Chad's family was very welcoming and fun. The children were well entertained with more children to play with and yummy food to enjoy. We loved looking at their wonderful garden and Isaac just loved their dogs.

Thanksgiving meal was all it was cracked up to be. As you can see, the preparations were intense, but the food was fantastic. We were all stuffed and loved it.

Magic Mountain theme park!

For my 30th, Dave organised for us to go to Magic Mountain for the day. We had so much fun going on all the crazy rides. I have never seen so many rollercoasters in one place. We felt like a couple of young kids. We are so grateful for Rachel and Chad for looking after our children for the WHOLE time.

THE BOYS!!!!

After many late nights the children were chilling out and watching a DVD.

Thanksgiving day the boys went out for the 'Turkey Bowl". Perfect conditions on the day as it was the only day it rained and they came back muddy, wet, cold and hungry. Fortunately Rachel had pancakes and sausages for everyone.

The day we left was nice and relaxing after trying to squeeze in so much in the other days. The weather was so nice we all wanted to go swimming!!

The whole neighborhood children came out to play and they were hula-hooping to their hearts content. Even the mums had a go!

A video of Magic Mountain's Rollercoaster ride....Scream.

Let it Snow

This afternoon we decided we would take a drive up toward Salt Lake to have a look at the new Draper Temple, which though it won't be dedicated until March 2009, if from the outside largely complete as you will note from the pictures.

After the last couple of weeks where we have enjoyed some beautiful weather, allowing the kids to enjoy the autumn colours and playing in the leaves that are falling all around our house, today was a wet, miserable day.

We noticed a bit of snow on the mountains and so we thought while we were up that way, we may as well go for a drive up Little Cottonwood Canyon to Snowbird ski resort. As we were driving up the canyon, we saw cars coming down with quite a lot of snow on their roofs and so we were pretty excited to see some snow. About half way up we could see traces of snow on the ground and then it got thicker and thicker and the rain turned to snow.

We stopped at Snowbird and got out to enjoy the snow (and throw a few snowballs at each other and the car). At this stage, Hyrum was wishing he had worn shoes other than thongs (flip flops for Americans). It was pretty cold and given we were not clothed properly, we didn't last long, but it was fun and we are looking forward to the expected snow this week. How long this excitement for snow lasts is yet to be determined.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

For Halloween we had 3 different events to dash too. The first was at Helaman halls where some of the dorm girls gave out "candy". Isaac was a very scary lion. Then we raced off to an MBA organised trick or treating at a fancy area of town for some real big candy bars and a true trick or treating experience. Then we went to our ward Halloween party for dinner, costume parades, games and trunk-or-treat. Wow, I have never seen so much candy in our house before!! (One house gave out tooth brushes.)






Above is a photo of the Woodruff family who won the family costume award. (Go Woodruffs!!) The photo with groovy glasses was a very fun date night at a haunted house. It was VERY scary and was a good outlet for SCREAMING!! The husbands had studied all Saturday and the girls were a little wired up from children. Scary, masked creatures come out from nowhere, right up to your face and freak you out. It was awesome!

This photo was last Saturdays MBASA (MBA Spouses Association) halloween party. We weren't that organised this halloween for costumes. I borrowed mine, the children got theres from a free garage sale (Hyrums harley Davidson jacket is 2 sizes to small but he thought that was very cool and it wasn't worth the argument!!) We plan on getting costumes in the sales and being more organised next year because we realise Halloween is real serious business here! (By the way, Dave is a 70's basketballer)

This is at Helaman halls, girls dorms (and all the opened doors showed very messy dorms).

The ward party. So many people came. The best question of the night was at trunk or treating where a lady asked which candy Beth would like. "Eyeballs or earwax??"

Happy 30th Esther

Well it is Esther's 30th birthday today and so I have decided to hijack her Blog page and write a tribute to her. After 10 and a half years of marriage, I continue to be amazed at Esther and her abilities and strengths.

One of the first things I noticed about Esther was her huge smile and love of life and people. Another thing that was very evident early on, and has continued to show through was her determination.










Esther has always been willing to throw herself into new and exciting things. One of the first things we did together was skydiving and she continues to look for fun, be it on the snowy slopes of Utah or the pristine beaches around Dunsborough in the Southwest of Australia.

It is hard to believe that only 14 months ago she was giving birth to Isaac. Since then she has packed up her home and moved her family to the other side of the world, established a new home here in Utah, made so many wonderful new friends, continued to love and nurture her family, been an amazing support to her husband, run a half marathon and then just to go one better, she ran the full St George Marathon (42 kms). I was absolutely amazed 2 weeks ago when she decided that she would hike to the "Y' with all 4 children while I was studying for exams. Aside from a few sore spots after these physical challenges she has been able to keep going throughout the remainder of the day as if she hadn't done them.

I could not have ever imagined I would have a wife like Esther. She is everything I ever dreamed of and more. I love her, and the kids and I hope that she has a very Happy Birthday and look forward to many more adventures.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ESTHER

The "Hee Haw" halloween venture!

On Friday night we ventured out with the Jensen family to the Hee Haw farm. (Greg Jensen and Dave were on the same floor at BYU in 1993) We had a blast with their family and got an introduciton to some Halloween festivities.

There were many different activities and one was the "hay ride".

Lot's of different farm animals to see and pony rides.

2 mischief makers!

The crazy corn maze where our husbands sucessfully tried to creep up on us and scare us!!

Afterwards we got a yummy treat at Krispy Kremes. We discoverd a great new trick. When the light for hot donuts are on, you all get a free warm, fresh, delicious, scrumptios donut.

The children loved watching how the donuts were made!

And the adults loved how the children were being entertained!!