Carving Pumpkins

Tonight we carved our pumpkins. It was such a blast!!! Last year Jane just stared at them and smiled. This year she got her hands (and face and arms and tummy) dirty. She loved to feel the pumpkin 'guts' and every couple of minutes she would yell "Whoa!!!" She even tried to eat the pumpkin and its guts. (Heck, she doesn't eat veggies so I thought this was at least a step in the right direction. . .) Trent, as always, went all out and carved a picture. I did an angry pumpkin, probably because I've been watching way too many scary movies on AMC. And for Jane's pumpkin we tried to recreate her Jack-O-Lantern smile, poor crooked teeth. . .

P.S. I just made the best batch of pumpkins seeds ever! mmmmmmmmmmm

I am "Mama"!

That's right! I'm no longer "Da Da" or uuuh uuuh or (shriek) or no name. Jane now calls me Mama!!!!! Thanks for learning my name, Jane. It makes Mommy's day to know you know who she is!

Fall Break

This past week was Trent's Fall Break from school. We took advantage of the extra time with him and did all sorts of fun things. On Monday was the annual Bassett Family Halloween party. It was a blast and, as always, Cathy B. out-did herself! Jane had fun playing with the cousins and eating all sorts of treats and I had fun watching peoples reactions driving down to Lehi in rush hour traffic with mime makeup on (the gas station was the best! people would give me the weirdest looks! loved it!)

Thursday we went and had a family day out at Boondocks. We played a round of mini golf. Trent won, of course, and Jane loved playing with all the rocks along the path. I am definitely rusty on my golf skills but still had fun whacking that little ball around. After golf we went inside to the arcade and played all sorts of games. Jane loved the Whack-a-Mole, but only if we were doing it. . .it scared her to hit those moles popping up. We won enough tickets to get her a little stuffed animal puppy and some other little toys. It was the best family outing we have had in a long while. After Boondocks we got Trent some real nursing shoes and got to visit our good friends Rob and Jocelyn. They are expecting their first baby this November and we couldn't be more excited for them!

golf girl

whack-a-moleOur prizes!

Friday my mom came to watch Jane so Trent and I could go on a hike. We went up to Brighton ski resort and hiked up to two little lakes up there. We couldn't have asked for a better day! There was snow up on the mountain so it was a bit (and by "bit" I mean really) slushy but the lakes were beautiful and it was nice to spend time together.

Trent at Dogwood Lake (there really is a 'lake' in those weeds, promise)

Me at Lake Mary (I'm not in the picture, but I was there :) )

Today was my brother Jon's homecoming talk in church. It was so wonderful to hear him talk about his mission and his experiences. He has grown so much I don't even know what to think! What a guy! We got to visit with family and friends after and it was great to see people I haven't seen in a long time.

All in all it was a great week. Tomorrow it's back to the grind but at least Halloween in coming up fast. . .

Autumn: Nostalgia and Change

For whatever reason, today Autumn hit me square in the face. I don't know if it was the smell in the air, the crunch of leaves under my feet, or the way the light hit the ground but I was suddenly aware of the change of season. And with it came a rush of memories. Memories of my most favorite autumns of all--those spent down at SUU. I felt so free. . .so independent. I miss riding my bike to school and taking rides up the canyon to see the beautiful trees. I miss poetry readings at Groovatious. I miss the Bohemian life I led of drama and poetry and finding meaning in everything. It was a passionate life. It was dramatic. It was what I can only describe as home, or the closest thing to it. I felt more myself there than anywhere before. I remember expressing everything in me through the medium of theater and poetry. I will forever cherish the memories of performing in "The Shadowbox". It was there I decided that there was something else for me to do. . .somewhere else to be. I miss the poetry and drama and expression. I miss feeling so a part of something. I miss it running through my veins like electricity. To me there will be nothing comparable to Cedar City in the fall. It holds some of my fondest memories.

This fall is quite different than those in Cedar City. The leaves still crunch and the air is still crisp but I have a very different position in life. Elections are coming up, everyday the economy seems to take a turn for the worse, my darling daughter is learning all sorts of new things, my little brother is home from his mission, my husband is going through the toughest semester yet, and I am struggling with things that I have never before struggled with. I used to hate fall because it meant an end of summer, but today I saw how beautiful is it and how beautiful it has always been. Change is good. Nostalgia is good. And this fall I hope that the nostalgia that I feel will lead me to change. I hope that it will push me to bring poetry back into my life. I miss the color that it brings. I hope that I can stop and appreciate the fall colors and smells and light so that 5 years from now I can stop and remember this fall and how wonderful it was.

Things that remind me of Fall:
* The movie Gardenstate
* Tori Amos music
* JaeLyn's cooking and teaching me how to scrapbook
* meeting Trent
* Hard Rock Cafe
* Sarah McLachlan "Afterglow" album (thanks Amylee for hooking me on this)
**Feel free to add your own in the comment section. . .I'd love to hear what reminds you of fall or what fall reminds you of :)

He is Home!!!!!!!!

Today my little brother came home from his two year mission in Texas. I was so excited to see him, I didn't sleep hardly at all last night (I woke up at 1 am and couldn't go back to sleep until 4!) We waited for him in terminal 1 with several other families awaiting their missionaries. Of course the silly boys were the last ones off the plane and took their time getting down to us. Once i saw Jonny I freaked out!!!! I couldn't be restrained. . .even with dirty looks from security personnel . . .as I ran right to him and hugged him so hard!!! He was able to meet his one and only niece for the first time and what a wonderful thing that was. Also, a sweet lady he had the privilege of teaching in Round Rock, TX named Jane came to greet him at the airport and will be going to 3 of the 4 conference sessions with him and his girlfriend this weekend. We had a great time getting to know her and hearing her story was a beautiful experience.

Two years is a very long time and I had missed him more than I can say. I am so proud of him--for his dedication, compassion, and perseverance these last two years. He is such a wonderful example to me and I love him a million times over! Welcome home little bro!

Waiting. . .

Jane and Jane

Hugs are the BEST!!!

Can't you just feel the love?! My silly friend is home!