Willardson Compound...

Darin had a conference in Denver where he had to do a presentation on a poster of a study he did with a group of LVH residents that is being published.  Troy lives in Denver and Trevor is in Pueblo the rest of the family is in driving distance so we decided to go spend the week.  Something I love about the Willardson family is when one brother comes they ALL come.  Troy and Tonya had a full house and we are VERY grateful for everything they did for us.

We had a great time hanging out, lounging, visiting, runs, walks, watching football, presidential debate, eating and most of all PLAYING WITH COUSINS!

 It seemed like we would just feed the children and 2 seconds later it was time to feed them again.  Grandma Willardson is a pro at feeding the masses!

Darin loves his nieces and nephews and they LOVE him.  Nash and Asa are pretty lucky to have such a fun daddy!

Some of the cousins are home schooled.  They were so good to stay up on their studies and Grandma and Grandpa were great at being their teachers.  It was fun listening to Grandpa teach the kids math. 

The kids got a long so well.  They only issues we had was making them go to sleep!  Nash thought we were the meanest parents on the nights we made him sleep with us.

Everyone doted over the newest member of the family.  It is so fun to see Darin's brothers asking to hold Asa.

 Each cousin took a turn.

  But Grandma got as much snuggle time as she wanted.

 Grandpa is the baby whisper.  Although from the look on Asa's face in this next picture I am not to sure... Asa is saying "Mom, who is this guy?!" haha 

 The house at time was pretty chaotic but it was great being with everyone and we are super thankful for the help we received especially when Darin, Asa and I took a day trip to Albuquerque for an interview.  I asked Nash if he wanted to come with us and he said "ummm maybe NO!"  He didn't even realize I left or when I got home.  He had so much fun!

Happy Halloween Playdate...

Asa is such a spoiled baby.  I am always getting volunteers to hold him.  Maybe it is because they feel sorry for him because he is always sitting in his carseat.  He is such an easy going baby.  This is our new friend Malesa she just moved into the area.  FYI she is Linda Bayles' niece. 

Malesa's daughter Pretty Pink Princess Aubrey...

 On Halloween night Malesa had a party at her home with some ward members. Our family did a theme Darin was a knight the kids dragons and I was a princess. (no pictures sadly).  Anyway I asked Aubrey what princess I should be.  She told me "you can make your own decisions." haha.

 Cute little Giraffe Carson (Stacia's).

 Scary Tiger Dawson (Stacia's) he is one of Nash's best friends.  Nash loves him because he can be a naughty mischievous little boy.  He is my favorite too, I think he looks like Jon Bon Jovi, (who I love!) he even has his hair which is AWESOME.  hehe.

 Katelyn the Cuddly Bear (Malesa's) - she is the cutest little girl ever!

 Madden the Fluffy Doggy (Stacia's) - he looks like those porcelain dolls I used to make with stuffed animals. haha.

 Tayton the Veterinarian (Stacia's) - I love this picture of Tayto.  We so did not even stage this.  He really was listening to Dawson the Tiger's heart.  haha.

 Such a fun little playdate.

 Our township had Trick or Treating on Friday, October 26th.  Which was great because Hurricane Sandy was coming on Halloween night.  We were sad that Darin was not home for Trick or Treating, he was on his way home from an interview in Kansas City. 

We had a few of Nash's friends join us for Trick or Treating and it was a lot of fun!

It's a dragon Halloween...AGAIN!

Yep Nash decided to be a dragon for the third year in a row.  I was thinking that this would be the last year that he would be a dragon as his costume is getting to small.  Lucky for Nash he has a wonderful Grandma Willardson who sent him a special Halloween package with a NEW dragon costume, that I am sure will fit him for another 2 years. (BTW the following pictures are NOT of the new costume.)

I found Asa's dragon costume on a Buy/Trade/Sell Facebook site for $5!

Some of our friends decided to take our kids to the park and have a photo-shoot in their costumes.  Nash wasn't particularly happy with getting pictures.  He wanted to run around and play.  So I have more of Asa. :)

 

  Although, Nash was excited to be able to be the scary dragon to the pretty pink princess.

This was so much fun!

Apple Picking Field Trip

A few of the classes from Nash's preschool went on an apple picking field trip to Zimmerman Apple Orchard.  This orchard is located about 40 minutes from our house.  I so wished it was closer because I would have begged to let me take family pictures there.

 They helped make apple sauce....

Talked about the pond and found caterpillars by the water....

 Learned about the different animals that lived near the orchard.  They lady holding the antlers is Mrs. Zimmerman, she is a teacher at the school as well as owns the orchard.  If you look in the top right of this next picture that is her house.  I would LOVE to live here (minus how far from a store it is.)

 The children learned about the equipment used to pick apples and then were able to climb a latter.

 Mrs. Z also taught the kids how to correctly pick an apple.  "Raise your hand. Grab the apple and pull down and say YES!"

Nash did a good job choosing and picking his apple, it was as big as a pumpkin!

It was super juicy and I was just waiting for Nash to be sick of it so I could eat it...yum, yum!

This is Nash's little Joseph.  He was in his class last year and also takes speech with Nash.

Joseph's mom offered to hold Asa while I took pictures.  He wasn't a fan of the carrier I brought for him.

 

The kids also got to sit on a tractor and explore the orchard equipment.

 Such a fun morning out.  I LOVE that Nash's teacher was willing to take the kids on a field trip.  He didn't go on any last year and I think it was such a fun experience for the kids.  I LOVE Mrs. Cowell.  Nash told me tonight that he hopes when Asa gets bigger he can have Mrs. Cowell as his teacher.  I told him we will be moving.  His response was "Maybe Mrs. Cowell can come too."  He is such a sweet little boy!