Our Sweet Little Angel

(Showing off her new fancy candy ring that Grandma gave her)

Trav and I are so proud of our girl.  So very, very proud. 

Our Fall Affairs

(First, let me apologize for the blurriness of so many of these pictures.  Apparently, we are having camera issues. . . or operator issues.  Probably operator issues.  But in most cases, the blurry images are all I have to remember certain things, so I'll post them anyway.)

We have been super busy lately. 

I mean really, really busy.

While Travis stayed home working on the house at the beginning of the month, I took the girls up north for a surprise party for my mom's birthday.  The entire trip was fabulous.  I stayed up late with my brothers and sister in law telling stories and laughing at each other (I seriously laughed so hard I was crying, man it felt good).  We enjoyed watching conference, and surprised my mother on her birthday, we ate delicious food CONSTANTLY, and we shopped and shopped.  We also got really excited for Halloween when we took the kids to Gardner Village to shop and spy some witches. 

Well, OK, the kids didn't exactly love the shopping part (Brielle and Cayson):

But Brielle did think the fabulously done up witches were the best thing since sliced apples.  She was constantly on the prowl for the next witch.  (Super cute pregnant Misty with Cayson in the back)

Again, sorry so blurry.

Trav ended up having a business trip in SLC, so my mom and I took the girls swimming at the hotel.  Notice a pattern here - Travis works while I play.  Normally I'd feel bad, but after this last hunting season, I'm game!

In other news, we signed Breezy up for gymnastics.  It's a mommy and me class so I get to go with her to spot and hold her hand when she's nervous, but she is LOVING it!  She's a wild woman there and I always have to stop her from jumping all over everything when her class is headed elsewhere.  She's obsessed with the bars, and the obstacle course, but hates the beam. 

Pumpkin Patch:

Travis finally took a night off from the house, so I jumped at the chance to head to the pumpkin patch.  I am quite fond of pumpkin patches, especially when I get to take the girls on a hayride.  They were in love!

Even Taylee joined in the fun of picking out her own pumpkin.

As long as it made a good chair, she was in!

Grandma and Grandpa were even able to join in the fun.

As for me, I was just happy that I actually got a full night with my husband.  We had so much fun teasing and laughing together.

I wasn't the only one happy about his appearance either!

Today, I caught Brielle sitting just like this.  For some reason, I found it absolutely hilarious!  I just love this girl so much!

Bunko. . . . Halloween style!

Thanks girls.  It was a blast as usual!



Our New Home Decor

In about a year from now, we'll be adding a pretty expensive piece of home decor to our basement.  It's definitely NOT something I would ever choose to spend money on, but I'm married to a hunter who just finished his first big archery elk hunt.  The mount is kind of a big deal to the man, so I guess I'd better become real good friends with the thing if it's going to live in my basement (the elk, not the husband. . . .although sometimes that's very tempting too ;) )

So here's the story. . . . . You could say it's kind of a Brokeback Mountain Story:

After 6 months of prep, 2 months of scouting, and 17 days of hunting that looked something like this. . . . .

Travis got the end result he wanted.. . . The elk, not the boyfriend.  However, Clayton and Travis spent so much time together for those couple of months I can't help but make fun of their little bromance.  We call him Osama because he died on 9/11.

For those of you who are horny for hunting (Trav's words, not mine), here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkCeTygT7RY

Our "Kyhl"er Weekend. . . . Get It?

The girls and I had a fun filled Kyhl Family weekend.  We took a trip down to Cedar to visit Abbey, Jackson and Tripp.  We ended up unexpectedly staying the night just so we could fit in a mini St. George shopping excursion.  It was fun, but I don't think we'll be doing that anytime soon with our kids in tow.

We absolutely LOVED Cedar's new aquatic center.  That thing was a blast!  It was perfect for my girls (the ones in blue and purple).

And Jackson was so cute to help Brielle everywhere we went.

Of course I had to visit my little brother Randy who is now attending SUU.  Let's just say that going out to a restaurant with two toddlers is kind of a great form of birth control for anyone who's supposed to be concentrating on their studies!

So after a couple of days of swimming, shopping, eating out, and a late night chick flick, we all headed back to good old Richfield for yet another family fun day that included everyone minus Travis (who of course is gone hunting). 

Since Richfield is just bustin' with fun things to do, our options seemed limitless!  We ended up park hopping, and it really was fun!

Grandma, Grandpa, and the girls:

Taylee, Tyson & Abbey:  (Don't you love Taylee's pouty little smile! Ha!)

We spent a whole morning going to every park around, and it was really quite fun.  My girls sure loved it. 

And I loved how they completely zonked after playing their little hearts out!

In Other News:

8 more days. 8 more days until the hunt is over and my house will once again start seeing actual progress.  I can't wait!  It's been sitting here just like this for far too long.  I miss my peaceful, lovely little neighborhood.

The girls and I have been very busy building forts, playing games and having picnics.  BUT. . . . it will be very nice to have Daddy home again!

And of course what's a weekend without playing with friends?  We'll always love going to the park with the Shelton's.  Even if we are completely "park"ed out. 

(Leah and Kristen in the background)

Rhodes Family Partay

Hunting Season is upon us.  LAME.  It means that I become a single mother again.  It means that my husband isn't around to make me laugh until I want to puke or take over when I'm at my wits end with a one year old and a two year old.  It means that Travis misses out on EVERYTHING we do, fun or not so fun.  This weekend, he missed out on a blast.  I took the girls up north for Granny Bev's 85th Birthday party.  Best Rhodes party ever.  Why?  Because of this:

The Slip N Slide was a huge hit thanks to Aunt Nelly.  It was so much fun!  And my little brother Randy was pretty entertaining to watch.  He got some major air!

Taylee loved it too.  Brielle is too much of a chicken to participate, but Taylee is still young enough to be pretty near fearless!

Hayley was the best little babysitter and kept offering to take my girls down the slide.  My girls love her!

I know it's blurry, but this is where Brielle parked her cute little booty for the night.  I don't think Grandma was complaining either.

Aunt Nelly and I took the plunge too, we just didn't do it as gracefully as some of the others!

Here's Jason, Granny Bev, and Tay bug.  Jason's SUPER jealous that I live in Richfield and he doesn't, so that's probably what he was talking about right here!

Playin' at the Park:

Taylee wants that Popsicle SO badly!

My cute little family minus Heavy, Ry, Misty, & Cayson:

Anyway, it sure was fun to see everyone and enjoy the night together.  Happy Birthday Granny!

ZOO TIME:

We also made a trip to the Zoo.  Thanks Grandma & Grandpa!  It was super hot and crowded, but it was still a lot of fun & Brielle keeps talking about all the cute animals.

Although I still think her favorite part was the little playground area.

For some reason, Brielle is obsessed with "monkey jars".  She always has to attempt them at every playground.

Brielle and her cousin Cayson.  Unfortunately I didn't get any pics of Ryan and Misty.  Cayson sure is a cutie though. 

The grandkids:

Today:

Playing in the neighbors pool.

Although I miss Trav a lot when he's gone, I've got to give him some credit for surprising me with a gift the other day.  In addition to a sympathy card from the elk who's taking him away from me so much (it was seriously hilarious), he also went to the work of printing my blog so it's now officially my journal / photo album!  I was so excited and it was very sweet because he didn't have to do any of that, he just wanted me to know how much he appreciates what I do while he's gone.  Love you babe!  Good luck!

PS:  This is for you Bren: