October

October has been a busy month for us! Busy but fun!

My parents came to visit, twice! I have to share about the dinner to a local Waxahachie restaurant my Dad took us out to... it was at the 1879 Chisolm Grill and I had the best stake I've ever had!! While eating it I had a hard time not imagining some gigantic guy in the back pounding a side of beef with his fists. I almost wish I'd taken a picture of it. Brent and I are sure going to go back there for an anniversary! I don't know, maybe I'll have to move it up to Christmas! We had a great time visiting with them and we're sure happy they were able to come down for as long as they did.

Ryan and Kylee (Brent's brother and his wife) also came to visit for a few days. We had a lot of fun with them too. The first night they came into town they had a nice introduction to Texas and their insane road systems. We went out with them to a tour of the new Cowboys Stadium. It was big. That's about the extent of my review, if you want a more accurate account of what it's like, you'll have to ask Brent. Afterwards we stopped to see the Fort Worth Stockyards. We didn't go at the time of the cattle run but I enjoyed how uncrowded it was. We had a bbq dinner while there. We were sure glad they could come down as well, it's nice to get to know Brent's family better.

I finished out my Friday and Saturday grave shifts! It just about killed me, but I'm glad I stuck with it... I proved to myself I'm not as much of a wimp as I thought. Though I will admit there was plenty of whining involved. But, as it turns out, now that I'm set up with the schedule I want (Saturdays 3-11) they've changed management and the scheduling along with it. Now you have to be full time and work 4 days and have 2 off and rotate like that OR be PRN status and just cover shifts when people need a day off. In that instance people have to call me and set it up. So I'm not actually on the schedule. In part this change is a little scary but also a bit of a relief at the same time. My goal is to work about 4 shifts a month, more on the months Brent has time off... but we'll see how that goes.

Halloween was so fun!! The girls were both Dalmatians, although several people thought Mariska was a cow. She didn't enjoy that, but she loves Halloween. First we had the church party with trunk or treat and then we just did regular Trick or Treating around our street. This took over an hour because Mariska has to talk to everyone!! People are just blown away at her ability to talk to anyone and everyone. She also handled walking into some pretty scary costumes really well! One scary one included Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf... but they had candy so she took her chances. I love that she's getting older and is able to enjoy things more now. I can't wait for Brynley to get older and start having the enthusiasm Mariska does! I love my family!!! I'm so thankful everyday for how healthy we all are and how blessed we are to have each other. I'm so excited for the holidays to come too! We're sad we can't make it back to Utah but are also just thankful that Brent gets the time off he does, so we can all be together. Brent's parents will be here for Thanksgiving and we're making a good dinner. We'll also be joined by our friends Scott and Mary and their ward's missionaries... it'll be good times... here are pictures of my FANTASTIC month!!

Brynley stood up by herself 3 times today!!Mariska fell asleep in the car like this, "Howdy stranger.""What are you in for?" "MANSLAUGHTER! I slaughtered a MAN! What are you in for?""LOITERING! I'm like you man, I live on the edge"