Christmas Parties

Lucas loved the BYU Christmas party mosh pit, er, balloon room where kids jump around and into each other.

















Lucas didn't think highly of Cosmo.





















Jonathan thought he was great.

















Youd family Christmas party

Double the Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving #1
















Thanksgiving #2


Because we don't know where we will be next year, we decided to maximize our time with our families and celebrate Thanksgiving at both of our parents' homes. We started at Grandma and Grandpa Youd's house. When we got to the Christensen's, Jonathan said, "But we already ate--even dessert!"

Fall

We finally know the real reason Margaret was grieving over Goldengrove unleaving--all that raking!

(I picture a cartoon of the poet writing his poem, lying on his back and waxing philosophical about life and death, while Margaret is crying about all the leaves she has to rake--alone. Yes, the dreamy English major has become cynical.)

Ah life!

"Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?—every, every minute?" asks Emily in "Our Town."

Yes, Emily, children do.

Trick or treat!

Ahoy, matey!

















Two cute dragons. (Lucas and cousin Liam)

















Shiver me timbers! It's a beautiful princess! (cousin Haley)


















We spent Halloween at Grandpa and Grandma Christensen's house. The big hit was the swimming pool full of little ghosts (dried beans). The homemade doughnuts weren't bad either.

Youd Family Halloween Party

Derek, Ryan, Matt, Jonathan, and Kyle























From left to right: Indiana Jones, a fearsome dragon, Minnie Mouse, and an incredibly handsome pirate.


















Above: Lucas discovered the joys of a light saber.

My sister Lorilee and her family hosted an amazing Halloween party complete with a haunted house scary enough to get a few screams out of my mother.

First haircut

Before.




















After.
















The secret? Raisins.

The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness

We had forgotten how beautiful autumn can be. The mountains are ablaze in color. Lucas is especially enjoying the grapevines in our backyard. We have canned peaches, tomatoes, and applesauce thanks to our industrious mothers and their gardens.

Jonathan and Lucas are taking a music class. Jonathan is thrilled with the ukelele he got to take home this week.

Jonathan's preschool went on a fabulous field trip to South Ridge Farms. Lucas and cousins Brooklyn and Liam and Aunt Ashlie joined us. We went on a hayride to the pumpkin patch. Lucas thought the pumpkins were the perfect seat. Lucas and Jonathan loved roaming the field of pumpkins. It made me want to be a pumpkin farmer. Then we went back for cider donuts, which made me want to be a baker. Most of all, I was glad to be Jonathan's and Lucas' mom so I could have such a perfectly mellow fall day.

The First Day(s) of School

We started school this week. Ryan is teaching logic and metaphysics (meta-what?). I'm teaching grammar. Jonathan is going to preschool. And, well, Lucas has mixed feelings about not going to school like his big brother.

We moved!

We moved from California mid-July. All the boxes were like one big playground for Lucas. We then spent some time with family at family reunions, and moved into our new place on August 1. More pictures will follow of the fabulous house we are renting. The boys are very happy with more space and their own back yard.