Happen Yalloweh 2009

The jack-o-lanterns are blown dark, the streets are quiet, and everyone has gone home. That was not the case a few hours ago when the family gathered for a Halloween party. We carved pumpkins, ate supper, and the binkers and their parents joined the trick-or-treaters in the street. The kids' buckets were filled to the brim with candy and everyone seemed happy but tired. (Thanks to Anna for some of her photos -- my camera lens was dirty and my flash had issues.)

This years jack-o-lantern

The source of the greeting

The Hastings kids carving pumpkins

The finished product with social comment by Max

"Make it work, Carol"

Belly dancer, flapper, TV personality, 80s chic

Four little witches

Diddy Kong, Transformer, ghoul, mummy, and puppy

The crew in costume

The first treats of the evening went to the binkers

Clockwise from left: Clara's by Lucy, Anders', Dickie's,
Tucker's, and Lucy's uncarved spare

Ready for ghosts and goblins

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Ocotber the Twenty Ninth, My Dear

It's October 29th again already; the years just whiz by! It is Kristine's birthday. So Kristina dear, here's wishing you all the very best in the coming year. I hope it is as much fun as the past (I won't say how many) years have been. I am glad you chose me to spend most of them with you. It has been a wonderful life!

With much love,

David

Maxwell Is Ten

It's hard to believe that Max is ten years old, but it's true. On Sunday the family met at Phillip and Meagan's for dinner and Max was feted with a delicious Star Wars-themed cake. He was too quick for Clara and blew out his own candles, much to her chagrin.

Yesterday, 27 October, was his actual natal anniversary and we joined the Ensigns at Jason's Deli in Orem (chosen by Max) for supper. He opened a few presents and celebrated with some of his Ensign and Taylor cousins. Many happy returns of the day, Max, and thanks for the fun party.

A brief encounter with Millie and Katy
on the way to dinner at Phillip and Meagan's

Lucy digging into the chicken katsu and curry

The binkers like talking as much as eating

Anders and Clara with Pop Pop

Jayson, Emily, and Katy at Jason's Deli

Lizzy, Meg, and Ollie

Max was excited for the cash

That's it for now.

OXO

D.

An Autumnal Visit

A week ago today, Friday 16 October, Debby Gibbs flew up from Texas for a quick fall-leaf visit. Kris, Katy, and Allison (who came to Provo on Thursday) picked Debby up in SLC and spent the afternoon doing exactly what they wanted. That evening Deb joined us for group dinner at Boyntons.

Saturday morning, after a pancake breakfast, we piled in the Pilot and drove around the Alpine Loop for a look at the fall leaves. It was still breathtakingly beautiful on the backside of Timpanogos. The day was crystal-clear and the colors were spectacular. We drove out of American Fork Canyon and proceeded up over Traverse Ridge to Draper and thence on to The Broadway Center Theater for a screening of September Issue, the fly-on-the-wall documentary about Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue. It was well done, entertaining, and was particularly appealing to a group of Project Runway aficionados. Returning to Provo, we picked up Chelsea Gibbs and headed to P712 for a delicious supper. We finished the evening with yet another movie at the new Orem Cinemark: Where the Wild Things Are. It was a mind bender and most certainly not really intended for children (although Katy thinks they would like it at some level). It was certainly well-filmed and acted, and to my delight, had no silly, stupid, infantile manipulation of the story, for which Hollywood is famous -- The Polar Express comes to mind.

The rest of the week was spent visiting, shopping (not me man), and eating: with the compound FHE group, with Phillip and Family, at La Casita, and at the Bombay House. We were joined at La Casita by Chelsea Gibbs and Brian Brown. Each evening we watched a few installments of Little Dorrit. We dropped Deb off at the airport this morning and we are now home alone because Katy is in Las Vegas with Allison Gibbs at the U2 concert. The house is quiet, peaceful, and lonely, but that mood will most likely pass.

Upper Falls in Provo Canyon

Provo Peak (probably named for our ward)
looms above Sundance ski runs

Stewart's Cirque on the back side of Timp

Debby, Allison, and Katy

The Timpooneke side of Timpanogos

View of Timp from the top of American Fork Canyon,
just below the summit of the Alpine Loop

Fall leaves in American Fork Canyon

Spectacular fall colors

Grace Coddington rocks

P712

What does it mean?

La Capizza

Thanks for coming Debra Sue. We had a great time but now all we have to look forward to is Halloween.

OXO

D.

Final Fling

Saturday evening, after our Timpanogos adventure (previous post), Emily and kids joined us for a hamburger fry (Phillip, Anna, and their families were still in the south lands). We also made a fire so we could make s'mores again.

Sunday the Youngs headed back to Arizona and we were left with lonely empty-house syndrome. Happily, they will be back in a couple of months for Christmas.

Max and Finn staring at the fire

Emily flipping burgers at the grill

Harry eating a burger that is as big as he is

Finn trying out the dryer for size

Packed and ready to go

We miss Maren, Gavin, and the boys, but look forward to their next visit. Our lives will be calm until the end of the week when Debra Sue Darling Gibbs arrives in Provo. What larks we'll have! We will keep you posted.

OXO

D.

Alpine Loop and Cascade Springs

Yesterday, Saturday, for our final fling with the Youngs, we drove up the canyon to the Alpine Loop and dropped down to Cascade Springs for some final glimpses of Utah fall. I'm happy indeed that my lifetime pass to the national parks is also good for the Alpine Loop; not just for the old guy, but for everyone in the car, too. As we rode along with Timp in our view, we sang, "Timpanogos, mighty Timpanogos; Timpanogos, mountain that we love."

Maren and Gavin had Katy take some photos of their family while we were at Cascade Springs. It was a spectacularly beautiful afternoon with alternately subdued and crisp fall light raking through the colorful foliage. We returned back to Sundance so the boys (and all of the adults, save one) could purchase some suckers from the Sundance Deli.

An aspen grove above Aspen Grove

Fish spotting at Cascade Springs

Katy at work with her camera

Some of her models are cwazy!

Some are just plain cute

The springs are beautiful in every season

The amount of water that flows
from the springs is remarkable

Harry wants his stroller back

This really is a beautiful spot

Even the fall grass is beautiful

The remnants of a fire add interesting lines
to Nature's composition

Shades of Room with a View

God really is the Master Designer

The springs eventually become Deer Creek: the actual "crick"
that flows into the Provo River just below the dam

Provo Peak in the distance

View of Mighty Timpanogos from above Aspen Grove

Suckers at Sundance

We had a splendid time and wish that everyone could have been there. I will add one last post of fun with the Youngs, so stay tuned.

OXO

D.