New Orleans

I had a wonderful trip to New Orleans. I feel so grateful that I was able to go see Eric for a few days before he left for overseas. We had such a great time! And thank you to my inlaws for watching Sophie. I know it wasn't an easy job since she caught a cold while I was gone!

While in New Orleans we ate great food, saw the sites, and just enjoyed spending time together. We took a plantation tour, a city tour (which included a stop at an above ground cementery), and we did a dinner/jazz cruise on the last functioning steam boat on the Mississippi. The hotel we stayed at was walking distance from most everything so we walked around a lot and saw the sites and enjoyed the mid 70 degree weather!

I already miss Eric so much and can't believe it's going to be 6 months until I see him again. Hopefully soon he will get settled in on his base and we will be able to webcam each day. Sophie will really enjoy seeing daddy on the computer.

Halloween...the 3 day extravaganza!

Our Halloween Weekend was a 3 day experience. We started it off by a trip to Grammy's on Friday. We got to see Aunt Sherry and my cousin Niki and her boys Chance and Gage. We also went "trick or treating" at Greaty's house while we were there. Sophie had a great time and loved shaking her pom poms and saying Go Broncos! Then on Saturday afternoon we headed downtown La Grande for some trick or treating at the local businesses. It was kind of rainy but we braved the weather and Sophie kept warm in her stroller with the BSU blankie that our friend Debbie Chaussee made for her. After trick or treating on Adams Ave. we went to dinner at Aunt Kathy and Uncle Merrill's house. We had yummy homemade chicken soup and Sophie got to play with Cousin Wesley who was dressed as a cute little bear. When we were finished eating we went to a "trunk or treat" at a local church. There were activities set up for the kiddos. Then on Sunday (which was actually Halloween) we went to a Harvest Party at Faith Center where Sophie did quite well at the ring toss, bowling, fishing etc. Taylor won a cake at the cake walk but the rest of us couldn't seem to win! After the party we decided to take the girls trick or treating at a few houses. We went to the Grayson's house first and then went next door to the President of EOU's house (who is Taylor's daddy's boss). We went to a few other houses and the girls were too cute. Sophie would usually say "Hello, candy please!" I finally got her to say trick or treat as well. At one house the guy said he gives whole candy bars to really cute costumes and the girls fell into that category! :)

Hay Maze

Jessica and I took the girls to a pumpkin patch and hay maze the week before Halloween. There had been a big wind storm the night before so some of the maze needed repaired but the girls still had fun!

Decorating "punkies"

The week before Halloween we went over to the Dearinger's for dinner and pumpkin (or punkie as Sophie calls them!) decorating. Sophie and Taylor got to fingerpaint small pumpkins and they LOVED it. Sophie didn't try to taste the paint until the very end! Then it was time for the adults to do the carving. I carved Sophie an Elmo pumpkin of course since she is a HUGE fan of him. Jessica carved Taylor an Ernie pumpkin and Ryan did his own design! We had a great time and really appreciate having such great friends to hang out with in LG.

Fun with Tay

Sophie's BFF here in LG is named Taylor. Sophie usually calls her "Tay" or "Tay Tay!" She can say her whole name but she prefers calling her by her nickname! A few weeks ago Jessica, Taylor's mom, and I took the girls to a harvest event at a greenhouse out of town a few miles. There was a pony, face painting (which Sophie wouldn't do!), and lots of hay bales and "punkies." There was even a little slide, hoola hoops, and other games. We had a great time with the girls and look forward to going to a pumpkin patch this Thursday and hopefully going on a hayride. The girls also got to go watch the EOU parade on homecoming weekend. Of course it's one of the few times they are actually allowed to have c-a-n-d-y!

"Audra" comes to visit

Sophie says Audra for her big sis named Audri. She recently said Audri but again she prefers to use the original nickname she gave her! Audri and her boyfriend Paul came to visit us a few weeks ago. We had a very nice visit them. We went up to Wallowa Lake one afternoon. Even though it was raining here in La Grande it was sunny up there! Audri and Paul also got to watch Sophie at swimming lessons one evening. They took a few pictures and video to send to daddy. :)

Sophie's friend

I completely forgot to post these pictures with the other photos of our trip to Portland at the begining of October. Sophie REALLY likes the little boy and the "puppy" bench on Grandpa and Grandma's front porch. She enjoyed going out there to sit or to hug and kiss them! She also loves the trampoline at their house. I call it the giant playpen because it's completely enclosed and she can run and jump and have fun!