Go BYU........yikes.

The boys on game day. I guess this is what 'BYU BLUES' look like. Luckily for me, it is all about the food and fun...and not the football. My sister Angie and her family came in from California that day, and so we decided to all get together for the game. We had the Southwick 7, the Crippen 9, and the Hopoate 5 all over to our 'cozy' condo! We had a lot of fun, even if the cougars lost...badly.

Thankful for our Family!

What a great Thanksgiving we were able to have this year. I was a bit sad since I wasn't able to head home and be with the family...but my frown 'quickly turned upside down' as much of my family was able to come to Utah. We first got to see our little Canadian family...Justin and Zach Low, (Aimee was home 'baking' - she is pregnant with twinners!) Then Angie and the Southwick gang showed up for a little pre-Thanksgiving fun, and a Feast with the Crippen side of the Family. We spent actual Thanksgiving with Tino's sisters and brothers living here in Utah. There was good food and good times.

The cousins reconnecting. Nani, Kea, and Samara thought Zach was one of the greatest things ever!

Nani and Zach cuddling up to watch some cartoons.

For our Pre-Thanksgiving meal we decided to have a Mexican Fiesta. Not very traditional, I know...but very yummy. How much turkey can a person eat anyway. We ended with a little pumpkin pie, and some wild music and dancing by the ever talented cousins.

Another cousin get-together at a BYU woman's basketball game. Kea was quite impressed that girls play basketball...I guess I need a little less princess and a lot more sport stuff around here.

I just love this picture of Brenna, Kea, and Reagan with their oranges. Brenna taught Kea a new way to eat an orange. It looks a lot harder, but must be more fun!

And finally, our actual Hopoate Thanksgiving family dinner. We all went to Sondra's home in Orem and ate delicious food, played fun games and just 'talked story.' We had such a great Holiday, and are truly looking forward to the next one...CHRISTMAS!!!

Our UTAH Halloween fun.

Does this happen elsewhere? The mall, which is a block from our home is a HOT SPOT on Halloween night. When the night is freezing...it is great. This Halloween gave us some beautiful, mild weather...too bad all our activities were inside. After getting our girls all dolled up, we headed to the mall for a bit. We then crossed the street to attend our ward halloween party at our church. (Remind me why we have a car again?!?!)

Fairy princess Kea...I think even her panties were purple :)


The mall scene

Pretty Princess Aurora Nani

Nani and Kea taking a well deserved cupcake break after walking the 'cake walk' for like 15 minutes. That is one thing my girl's got from me. . . Determination and Drive. Or wait, than again maybe they just got my sweet tooth. (hee hee)

TRADITION! Every year Tino paints his face in some way. The girls just love it and look at the past year's picture over and over and over again. This year he really didn't want to since we were going to be in the bright light, but he still did it just for his girls. . . and then quickly wiped it off before we headed out. What a great Daddy.

Little miss Mela Bella as a cute pumpkin. I had really wanted to make her something all of her own, but decided to simplify. She is already such a cutie...what more could I have done! (a mother's biased opinion)

Hi. Is posting like math...cause I'm just not Gett'n it! :(

Pumpkin Time!

Peek-a-boo! Samara is peeking out from behind a pumpkin that weighs more than she does! One of my favorite things about Halloween is the carving...however our family is just a bit too young for that so we decided to try something new this year. . .

It's Mr. Pumpkin Head! This was a very fun, very easy, and very clean way to 'carve' a pumpkin. Kea had a very cute little face, but while Nani perfected her's, Kea decided not to conform to the norm and created a MONSTER of a pumpkin. We all had a great time...Our's never quite got carved. I guess it will just be our Autumn Pumpkin and I will store up my ideas for next year. :)