Family Photos 2012

We had our family photos taken at the end of September, and I am SO happy with how they turned out. My friend who've I've met in our ward, Tosha, and her husband Tyler, are photographers (TnT Stanger Photography), and they are SO talented. They make their job look easy, and can get a whole shoot done flawlessly in less than an hour. They made us look so amazing condinsidering... Easton hadn't napped all day, and there were jeeps and trucks out behind us going through all the swamps and puddles, but you'd never know it from how well they turned out. They are exactly what I had in mind, Thanks SO much Tosh!

Halloween

This year we missed our ward Halloween party since it was over the last weekend while we were in Utah. I was super bummed, but luckily my amazing friend Sheena invited us over to her ward's Trunk or Treat with her family. We have never been to a trunk or treat, and it was so cute how everyone had decorated the backs of their cars to be festive, and it was SO convenient to walk up and down a parking lot and then be done!

On the actual Halloween day, I worked on our kitchen remodel (more on that later) and then that night, we went over to our friends, The Westwoods, house for dinner with a bunch of our ward friends. She made Dinner in  Pumpkin, we had a yummy fall soup, rolls, fancy green beans, and a delicious pumpkin dip! Once we'd all eaten, we got the kids all dressed up, and put the final touches on, then headed out into our neighborhood for trick or treating. Ryan was in charge of the wagon, and Easton loved being part of the big kids. We followed Ryan and the wagon and he scouted out the houses to trick or treat at. It was fun to be able to catch up with all my friends after a month, and just walk around together! 

Trunk or Treat Halloween Party

Autumn "Little Orphan Annie" and Easton the Monkey.
 I made Autumn's dress for her, and it was so much fun, tuned out adorable!

Walking over to The Westwood's for dinner.

Amy, Ezra, Henry, Lincoln, Lydia, Owen and Anaka

Gracen, Kenna, Stetson, Amy, Ezra, Henry, Lincoln and Lydia. 

Easton and Stetson in the wagon

most of the group, unloading :) So cute!

Our little Monkey! He loved his second Halloween!

Park City 2012

I'm pretty sure I married into the best family that I ever could have found. I feel like I fit right in with Ryan's sisters and mom, and they reassure me that I do. I'm blessed! Every year for the last 4 years we have made a tradition of spending a weekend in Park City to just hang out and shop. It is always so much fun, and relaxing....and we end up with so many great deals! This year was no different, although we all went a lot lighter on the shopping, Kristin especially, I was so impressed, maybe one day I can have the kind of self control that she has....maybe!

Super yummy dinner at "501 On Main"

Our amazing condo, same one we stayed in last year!

we always head to Rocky Mountain Chocolates to load up on treats,
 this year i got this AMAZING Apple Pie Caramel Apple.
It was HEAVENLY!

Julie's Apple, can't remember what flavor, but she loved hers too! 

I colored Kristin's hair that night, and I forgot gloves....mark of a hairstylist right?

me, Lauren and Kristin. Hanging out in Gap giving our opinions on outfits.

Lauren and Kristin

Our total purchase all together. This pile is usually double, we went light remember!?

North Logan Pumpkin Walk

Every year, North Logan City puts together a Pumpkin Walk, it's gotten to be a pretty big deal, and it always super crowded. This year was no different. Ryan's parents live down the road from the park where it is held, so we were able to hop in the car and drive down real quick. We only had to wait in line about 10-15 minutes before we made it inside. It was a great display this year, and the cousins had fun running (or rolling) around together. Before we headed there though, we had a yummy fall dinner together. I made Olive Garden's 'Zuppa Toscano' soup, breadsticks, and a salad, Julie made a yummy Chicken Noodle, and Kristin brought adorable Halloween cupcakes. It was delicious and fun to be all together!

family dinner

Griffin, Navi, Mason, Daxon, Ty and Maddie

Easton checking out the displays

The kids looking at the displays

My pumpkin boys

Chase and Easton, tired funny cousins

Ryan's 27th Birthday

On October 10 Ryan turned 27. He likes to tell people he is 30 though, since he can round up....crazy guy. He had to work all day on his birthday, so I had all day to prepare. 

I was super excited about an 'activity' (as I called it) that I'd come up with. A couple days earlier, I'd asked Ryan's parents, and sisters to share 3 of their favorite things about Ryan, or a favorite memory about Ryan. Ty and Maddie also contributed, and of course Easton. It was so much fun to see what everyone came up with! Once I had everyone's comment, it added up to 27, I typed them up, printed them off, and tied them to the end of 27 balloons. Ryan had to read each one aloud, and try to guess who had said what. He started out pretty good and got most right, until he got to little Maddie's...she tricked him everytime! Way to go Maddie! It was such a fun thing, and I'm thinking about making it a tradition from now on. 

For dinner I'd made his go-to birthday dinner: Terriyaki London Broil, steamed broccoli with cheese, garlic bread and baked potatoes, we have this every year on October 10, no fail. 

I also made him a fun birthday cake, and realized we had no cocoa to make the frosting chocolatey and brown, so I ended up using Hershey's syrup...totally worked if you're wondering! It was just REALLY sweet!

Ryan was spoiled and got a couple girft cards to Nike and Amazon, new headphones, golf club covers, and an awesome plaque about the 2010 World Series, when the the Giants won. 

27 Reason Why We Love Ryan.

Birthday Cake!

Delicious Dinner

Balloon game.

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Dear Ryan, Happy Birthday to you!!! 

Everyone's Comments for the Balloon Game:

• I remember Ryan throwing Puff off of the deck into the snow. (Lauren)
• I remember Ryan locking me and my friend in his closet and calling it "Birdy Boiler" (Lauren)
• I remember when I first came into high school all the teachers, juniors and seniors would ask if I was related to Ryn when they heard my last name was Doyle...I was a lot cooler cause I was related to him. (Lauren)
• I really like to play basketball with Ryan and be his rebounder. (Easton)
• I like to say your name "dah dah" a lot...for everything! (Easton)
• I remember the day when Ryan introduced me to my best friend Toby...I will never be able to tell him how much I appreciated him that moment. (Easton)
• Ryan always saying "You're on a Need-To-Know basis, and you don't need to know." (Kim, mom)
• "I'm not mad ---- I have my game face on." (Kim, mom)
• Ryan is always able to make me laugh! I love his sense of humor! (Julie)
• I'm jealous of the way he can absorb information and learn things so easily. (Julie)
• I look up to Ryan for the good person he is, for the good decisions he has made in his life, and for how much he loves and takes care of his family. (Julie)
• I like that he is my Uncle. (Ty)
• I liked watching him jump off the balcony into the swimming pool. (Ty)
• I liked to go and watch him play at his baseball games. (Ty)
• I liked going to visit him in Las Vegas. (Ty)
• He was so proud of the fact that he got his name on the board....with a checkmark....at school! (Norm)
• I'll never forget the smirky smile he had on his face as he rode down the escalator at the Salt Lake airport coming home from his mission. (Norm, dad)
• His determination to excel at whatever he does. (Norm, dad)
• I will never forget the hug that he gave me when he left on his mission...no words were needed and we both left in tears. (Kristin)
• I remember how excited he was on one Christmas morning when he saw that he had got a Nintendo (can't remember if it was XBox or Super Nintendo) I don't think I've ever seen him so excited. (Kristin)
• I remember how much "fun" we used to have moving pipe together....PUSH PULL PUSH PULL!!! Eventually he would just rather do it himself! (Kristin)
• I think that he is handsome. (Maddie)
• I like that he plays with me. (Maddie)
• I like Ryan because he comes over to our house sometimes. (Maddie)
• I remember watching you graduate from USU and bawling my eyes out. (Anna)
• I remember when Ryan slammed onto the brakes while I wasn't buckled into the seatbelt and tumbling off my seat and under the dashboard. (Anna)
• I remember walking back to the car after USU games with Ryan, and watching him slip and slide down the snowy hills, and falling all the way down! (Anna)