Happy Halloween

We had yet another fun Halloween Night. With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year we had a day filled with lots of spooky fun. Karlee and I got early morning visits from Papa and Grandma Worthen (who had come over to attend the temple). We spent the day getting ready for all our little trick or treaters. Early in the evening we started to clean out and carve our pumpkins. Rob did a great job with all our pumpkins this year.

Cleaning out the pumpkins - Karlee thinking we are crazy!

We got 3 pumpkins this year so we have lots of yummy pumpkins seeds to enjoy this week. Gee, I thought everyone kept their pumpkin seeds and ate them, but Rob said that he never did growing up. He loves them. Karlee did not participate in cleaning out, or carving the pumpkins this year as she thought we were crazy people trying to get her to put her hands inside the pumpkins. Here are the pumpkins that Rob carved: Aren't they amazing. He is so talented.

Rob's pumpkin carvings

We had our neighbors over for Navajo Tacos before we set out to trick or treat. No pictures because they were so yummy, and gone before we thought about taking one. Our neighborhood started trick or treating just as dinner was getting done. Karlee loved putting on and wearing her costume this year. She was a duck, complete with her little duck waddle as she walked up and down the streets.

Karlee the Cutest Duck ever!

Karlee and Mom pose out front.

Rob handed out candy this year, and dressed up last minute with our neighbor, they were beach bums. Not bad for last minute. Funny thing was when rob came out with his nose all painted up white. The secret paint: was diaper rash cream. Who would have thought about that. ha ha

Beach Bums: Nate (neighbor) and Rob

My parents came by just as we had started to go trick or treating so they came with Karlee and I. I just love this picture. Karlee sure does love her grandma and papa. This was really a nice treat to have them come and trick or treat with us.

Karlee with grandma & papa Worthen

At the end of the night Karlee was worn out, but high up on sugar. Don't really know how much sugar she ate tonight, but I could probably guarantee more than she gets in a whole week. It was a little more challenging to put her down for bedtime. This years Halloween was super fun, and a great way to start off the next couple holidays.

Karlee with her treat bag full of candy. Yummy Yummy!

Getting ready to Trick or Treat!

Oh how I love all the fun that comes with Halloween. Decorating the house, thinking of costumes, and the cool crisp air outside. Well maybe I am not super excited about the cool crisp air, but not like I have much of a choice in the matter. With Halloween just around the corner, I am excited to turn on the creative juices. . .

.

This year Rob is really excited to take Karlee around to go trick or treating (anyone suprised?), so I thought I would make her a trick or treat bag. My neighbor and I headed to the fabric store (wal-mart - it was the closest) to check out the fabric options. We had so much fun picking out the material for the bags. I say bags, because I couldn't just make Karlee a bag, I wanted to make all my nieces and nephews their own trick or treat bag. They were so much fun, and so super easy. Once all the bags were sewn, I thought I would touch up the bags for my neices, I just added a simple fabric flower. My neighbor put a black boa on the bags she made for her girls, she had just a bit left, so I added it to Karlee's bag. Kinda fun don't ya think. I hope that everyone has a super fun time trick or treating.

Skeleton & Cross bones, Smiling Spiders, and Moon & Stars.

Candy Corn, Boo!, and Spider Webs

Trick or Treat!!!

Kitchen Countertops Make-over

About 2 weekends ago, while I hiked the Grand Canyon with my dad, Rob spent the weekend redoing my parents kitchen countertops. It was July (last year) when I helped my parents paint their kitchen cabinets. My parents have lived in their home for 32 years and thus their countertops have the wear and tear of 32 years old. The countertops were a butcher block laminate, which my mom loved, and was reluctant to have them changed. All the hours of work were really worth the final results, the countertops look amazing. My parents love their new countertops - I do too! The kitchen was out of service for about 4 days, which made for alternative homecooked meals out on my parents deck - somehow we still ate great food. Thanks mom! Rob has done a couple countertops in Page, and has gotten some good response on them, which always makes ya feel good. It was just really nice that Rob could do these countertops for my parents, they do so much for us.

.

.

The change is quite dramatic! Take a look:

.

.

Before -(July 2008 -just after painting their cabinets)

After - (October 2009)

- - - - -

Random Pictures of the project:

Close up of countertops before.

Finished Countertops

Countertops upclose

Peek-a-boo!!!!

Look who's another year older!

Happy Birthday Rob (32)!

We celebrated Rob's birthday on Saturday, October 17th. We actually started celebrating his birthday on Wednesday (just the way Rob likes to celebrate his birthday - all month long) we went to Red Robin for his FREE birthday burger. Karlee had a great time, as well as she got a purple balloon - seriously this girl loves balloons. Cute sidenote: Karlee was pretty sad the next morning when she found the balloon rolling around the ground. She kept pushing the balloon up in the air, saying "Balloon up, Balloon up". On Saturday, Karlee and I went birthday shopping for Rob. She picked out a chocolate candybar, which made her daddy really excited. Looks like he will be getting a new bike tire/tube, as his bike is out of service. He is pretty excited about it thank goodness. We had a weekend of lots of visits, much of our family headed down south to the Utah vs UNLV game which was on Saturday, so we welcomed their short visits. My mom and one of her friends came into town to attend the temple so they stopped by on their way home, which was really so nice. Rob got a lot of cute calls from his neices and nephews, thanks for helping Rob celebrate his birthday. Karlee and I made Rob a Double German Chocolate cake topped with M&M's. Karlee loved that we didn't need to use all the m&m's as she was able to find them a good home. - yummy. When it came time to eat the cake, both Rob and Karlee were in heaven.

Rob & Karlee at Red Robin

Rob with his BYU pajamas

Karlee & Rob enjoying birthday cake!

Happy Birthday Rob - We Love You!

Rim to Rim x3 - I did it again!

(South Rim of the Grand Canyon @ 7:00am)

I did it again!!!! Today I hiked the Grand Canyon for the 3rd time with my dad, and a couple of his friends. My dad goes 2 times a year once in May and then again in October - basically when the North Rim trail is opened to hikers. We started on the South Rim of the Canyon and hiked our little legs to the North Rim - 21.5 miles. This was my first time going in October, but the second time going on the South to North trail. I will be honest, I was pretty nervous this time around about starting out at the South Rim. The South Rim is 1000 ft lower in elevation than the North Rim, which only means one thing we were going to be CLIMBING - ugh! It turned out to be just fine. Going down the South Rim was pretty hard on the knees, so the climb out of the North was nice due to the more gradual inclines. The weather couldn't have been more beautiful, honestly it was perfect hiking weather. We started the trail at 7:00am (which is the latest we have started) We took pictures at the trail head, but couldn't find them on our camera. Good thing my mom took one before we left home.

My dad & I at 4:00am - ready to leave for the canyon

One of our first stops going down.

Again I did not bring my camera, so I relied on my dad. Which means unfortunately most of the pictures that were taken have me in them. I think we got one with my dad - Proof that he was there on the hike as well. We completed the rim to rim hike in 10 hours and 5 minutes. This was timing that we are both proud of. When we hiked the rim to rim 5 years ago, our first time, it took us 14 hours. We left in the dark and got out in the dark - not too fun. Our goal is basically get out of the canyon before it gets dark, and I am proud to say that we did. One of the best feelings about coming out of the canyon is the sense of personal accomplishment. As we climbed out of the canyon, we will usually take a picture, however my dad's camera batteries were dead so we waited until we were home to capture our Victory photo.

.

We did it! Heather - 3 times, My dad 11 times.

.

This time hiking we saw a record number of hikers than we have ever seen in the past, the trail was CRAZY. I guess everyone wanted to get their Rim to Rim hike in before the North Rim closed for the season. I think there was easy close to 500 people on the trail. We even passed people we knew. . . on the bottom of the canyon we ran into Jed & Jamie Anderson - Jamie just happens to be my brother-in-laws sister, and Jed and I graduated from high school together. Now that is pretty random.

.

Photo Op - Jed & Jamie Anderson and me!

Here are more photos of the day:

Here I am on the bottom of the Grand Canyon, on my way to Cottonwood (lunch break).

This is one of my favorite "rest stops" on the way up. Its an alcove in the rocks, that over looks the trail you had to climb to get up to this point.

Supai Tunnel, only 2 more miles.

Some fun personal Rim to Rim Stats:

• Sunflower seed consumed - 1 bag (my tongue hurts)
• Bridges crossed - 7
• Amount of water consumed - about 2.5 gallons
• Blisters - 1 (on my big toe)
• Toe nails lost - none yet, however I fear all 10 toe nails will be lost
• Rest stops (1-2 min) - possibly 20 (1-20 minute lunch break)
• Hills climbed - too many to count
• Chapped lips - I fear a cold sore will be coming. OUCH!

Whats going on in our world?

I guess I can answer that simply by saying: NOT MUCH! Sadly I wouldn't even be exaggerating the truth. I guess that's not bad, but not too exciting either. So I thought long and hard of what we have been up too these past days.

.

Rob (with the sign) & Brett

Last week, a friend/coworker of Rob's invited him to his Special Olympics Swim Contest. He also asked Rob if he would make him a sign to help give him extra motivation. We all went as a family to support Brett (Rob's friend). It was a really neat thing to watch. I personally have not ever gone to a Special Olympics event, so this was my first, and I was so impressed on the determination each athlete despite their disabilities.

.

Yes! I think Karlee's hair is starting to grow!

.

Karlee has been growing up so darn fast again. She is starting to get into things. Oh now thats fun - mainly things that I have left out, thinking oh that she wouldn't be interested in - wrong thinking huh. She has been talking more and more.

.

.

I am getting ready to hike the Grand Canyon yet again. This will be my 3rd time. To be honest I am a little more intimidated this time, than when I did it in May. I think that it probably helps to have a couple years between attempts, so that you can forget about all the tough parts - like in May. Wish me Luck, am I crazy or what!@!

.

This past weekend we got our Halloween decorations up. I just absolutely love this time of year. Love to decorate for the next 3 months. I got my shelves finally up on my walls, and thought that I would get my Halloween stuff out since I was already on a roll. Its fun to see some of your decorations, that you had forgotten about. Like my little mummy trick or treater. Love this little guy.

.

So there you have it. We really haven't been up to much, but enough to blog about.

A touch of Fall is in the air

(Can't wait to see all the leaves change)
.

I think that the Fall weather has finally come. The past few days have been so wonderful, even with the stronger than normal wind. I always wait for the time of year that I can open almost every window in my home, and let that wonderful fresh fall air in. Not to mention that our energy bill will go down as well - hooray! There really is nothing better than that clean crisp air, throwing on a light jacket, and playing outside with Karlee. I haven't really taken many pictures lately of her, but that is my goal.

.

Another thing that is so great about the Fall is that General Conference is just around the corner, just two more days, in fact. I can't wait to hear the words of our wonderful prophet Thomas S. Monson, his apostles, and many other amazing and elect men and women. General Conference is such a special time for me, its a moment for me to recharge my spiritual battery. Conference in October is also fun because the weather is crisp, I love to just snuggle up with a warm blanket, and some warm meals. Can't wait!