It's No Secret - I Love Fall!

I love the house decorated for fall. I try to stay away from "Halloween" only decorations, that way I can keep the stuff up for Thanksgiving too, because even though I love my house decorated, I HATE doing it (too time consuming and a brain boggle for me)! Disclaimer here: I am no photographer, as is obvious, but wanted to share the fun anyway.

I love this fall wreath.

We grew all these pumpkins (plus a few more) in our garden this year. I think we had about 40 in all, including the 3 or 4 the grasshoppers ate (oh ya, they made a feast of the garden this year).

This tree is in our backyard and it is one of my favorite things about fall. It always turns this beautiful red color, while most of the rest of the trees I see around here turn gold or orange (also beautiful, but not like this one). The picture doesn't do it justice. I wish I had a few more of these planted around the property.

I love putting all my pretty fall dishes in my china cabinet.

I bought these a few years ago. I couldn't decide which one I liked best, so I got all three without any regrets or buyer's remorse!

The over all effect. (Sorry about the glare)

I have a ton of built in shelves in our family room. Even though it is a pain to dust, having the spaces broken up does make for easier decorating.

I love this picture over our fireplace. It was painted by Del Parsons in an orphanage Kent designed down in Ecuador a few years ago (also where I served my mission). The owners of the orphanage had a print made for Kent and I and gave it to us for Christmas the year the orphanage was finished. You can't tell from this far away, but the small children in the painting are the children who live in the orphanage and the teenage girls are the girls from BYU-Idaho that volunteer to go down and work in these orphanages. The man standing in the left of the picture is the man who, with his wife, run the home the volunteers live in. I love this picture for the obvious reasons, and because it is very unique; not every member of the church has seen or has a copy of this picture. I love it. Not a fall deco - this one stays up all year.

This is a bit better, but again, I am no photographer.

Anyway, on with the decorating. I love pumpkins, about 90% of my fall decor is pumpkins, most of them are pretty generic, but a couple are definitely Jack-O-Lantern type. Here are a few of my favorites.

My token Thanksgiving decorations.

Last, but certainly not least, I bought this spooky tree quite a number of years ago when we lived in CA. I don't love it and have tried to get rid of it, however, it has turned out to be one of my kids' favorite decorations. They used to fight over who got to hang the little halloween decorations on it. (Ahh, such sweet memories)!

I hope you enjoyed your little tour. This was mostly done for Nicki, but I hope it was also fun for the rest of you "regulars".

Celebration, Aviation, Ordination

On September 27th, Trevor turned 12 years old. This is a big birthday for him. We went out to dinner and enjoyed some really great food . . .

and amazing desserts.

Later in the week, Trevor invited his friends over for a little party. They hung around here and later in the evening we built a big fire and the kids made some s'mores. Trevor loves s'mores.

When Trevor was a very small boy, he wanted to be a baker when he grew up. Then later, when he started school, he wanted to be a librarian when he grew up (he loved his school librarian and loves to read). Now he dreams of being a pilot when he grows up, so for his birthday, he got to go on his first flying lesson. This was a pretty thrilling birthday gift! He actually got to fly the plane part of the time. Kenna and Kent went with him.

this is the plane they flew in.

This was beyond exciting for him. He makes a good looking pilot doesn't he!

His co-captain.

On Sunday, October 10, 2010 (10.10.10) Trevor was ordained to the office of Deacon by his dad. Another momentous occasion. He didn't pass the sacrament last Sunday because we were up in Idaho for his cousin's mission report. However, he is looking forward to this Sunday with much intrepidation. He does not like to be up in front of a crowd, even if it is to pass the Sacrament with 10 other boys.

It's a Dunn Deal!

Finally, after days and weeks, I am getting this event posted. Nicki's wedding/reception was beautiful and everything went off without a hitch (well, almost everything). Being in the temple with my daughter was something I have been looking forward to for many years. We crammed a ton of people into the sealing room. Not only were there tons of aunts and uncles from my side of the family, but McKay comes from a family of 11 children, most of whom were at the temple with us, along with his uncles and aunts. Their bishop from their singles ward in Connecticutt was even there with us. It was so nice to have all these people who care so much for Nicki and McKay be in the temple with us.

We are excited to welcome McKay to the family. He is good to and good for Nicki!

I love this picture of Regan and Kenna, and I think Trevor looks pretty spiffy in his suit too!

The Wednesday before Nicki and McKay were married, his parents, Dale and Penny, flew in from Friendswood, Texas, just outside Houston. We had a nice evening getting to know his parents.

Nicki's best friend from California, Lauren Kallerman, came out too. I didn't intend to put this poor girl to work, but I don't know what we would have done without her. She and Nicki have been friends since Kindergarten and she is so sweet. We loved having her spend some time with us and were so happy to have her come and share this event with us. She is a darling girl and we just love her.

A week after the big event here in Logan, we flew to Houston for the open house in Friendswood. Nicki and McKay flew in from Mexico and we picked them up at the airport and headed out to his parents home. On Saturday, we had the open house and met some of the wonderful people of Texas. They truly are so very friendly. The cake was made for Nicki and McKay by his talented sisters who have a cake business. It was the yummiest cake I have ever eaten.

The Newlyweds!!!

Nicki with her newest niece, Alyssa. She is only a few weeks old and Nicki and McKay both have a hard time keeping their hands off her (a good omen for me;)

Nicki's other new neices. These little girls are the cutest and they were fun to watch during the big party. The little blonde one (Savannah) loved Nicki in her pretty wedding dress. She was the funniest. I really wish I could remember all their names, but I had a ton of people to meet and remember.

I'm not sure what I'm contemplating here, but it may have had something to do with the heat, humidity and fire ants that I was introduced to in Texas (and did not love)! I just thought this was a funny picture of me.

What can I say, we both love this guy!

Sweet Sixteen

Our dear little Kenna turned 16 on September 9th.

*Old enough date.

*Eligible for a midnight curfew.

*Old enough (but not yet experienced enough) to have a license to drive.

About that driving - it is usually a giggle-fest (nervousness). She is pretty good at distinguishing between the brake and the gas pedals, unless I am in the car with her screaming "brake", then she gets a tad confused. Yield signs almost completely baffle her. However, she improves with every driving experience she has.

We celebrated her birthday by going out to dinner at her favorite place - Olive Garden, where she ordered what she loves and always orders - chicken alfredo.

Then back home for her birthday cake. She was laughing so hard she could hardly blow out the candles. After many, many attempts she finally did it. We enjoyed some melted wax on her cake. After cake we put on our jammies, opened gifts and enjoyed a family movie. Oh, by the way, she is sporting a cute new haircut that happened sometime last week (I've completely lost track of time).

A Loving Farewell

For those of you who may not know, my mom passed away this last week. She was an amazing person and I will miss her so much. However, we are all so relieved that she is done with the pain involved with terminal cancer.

She passed away on September 1st surrounded by all of her kids and my dad was by her side. She knew we were there. She felt our love for her and we felt her love for us. It was the sweetest, most spiritual experience I have ever had. I never thought I would ever be saying that about her death, but it is true.

With each piece of bad news we received along this journey of her having cancer, she always felt like Heavenly Father was watching over her and showering her with blessings untold. Her faith never waivered. She felt His tender mercies upon her, and we continue to feel His love and peace extended to us as we enter this new phase of our lives. Even now we recognize that one last prayer was answered in her behalf, in that she passed quickly and didn't suffer for days or weeks on end, as some do. Her passing was mercifully fast.

The second Sunday in August, we were all in Idaho for my nephew's missionary farewell. Mom was with us and in pretty good spirits and health, considering. But she did tell me that day she didn't think she would be able to be to Nicki's wedding - it was just too long of a journey and too exhausting for her. I understood, but still wished she would have been in good enough health to attend. When I gave her a last kiss good-bye this week, I whispered in her ear and asked her to meet us in the temple in a couple of weeks. I know she will be with us on that special occasion.

I miss her so much, but cannot feel sorrow for her. She is in such a better place, and free of pain and the worries of having cancer and having dad take care of her, which exhausted him. She was always thinking of him, even to her last breath. My sorrow is for my dad and for those whom she left behind. I miss her already. But she wouldn't want us to be bogged down in sorrow. If she were here now she would be telling me to stop wasting time grieving for her and get busy because I have a lot to do before Nicki gets married. That's my mom!