A few seasonal pics from my phone



Jim & Rox at the Idaho Famous Potato Bowl where USU lost in the last 13 seconds.




Mike & Brit at botanical gardens.




Bryce & Renzee at Mike's cookie & pizza party. P.S. Mike had been suggesting we throw a Christmas party and I kept raising objections like everyone is too busy, it is too much work, the kids will be bored. Then one day he just ignored me and invited the kids over on a Saturday afternoon for pizza and cookies. It was fabulous.



Lauren being crafty at cookie & pizza party.

Zuzu at cookie & pizza party (she was having fun.. trust me).

Tyler with his ward party creation.

Bekah was begging me to take this picture.

Ellie was also very proud.

Mike with Ellie & Bekah watching Harry Potter.

Jim & Rox with Katie & Ryan barely visible in the background. We decked out the car with Christmas lights and then went to look at other people's Christmas lights. Logan let us down this year. Our own car was more festive than most houses.

Brit & Mike in Mom's Christmas Room.

Mom's incredible Christmas Room.

Sooo many gifts. We had a Brazilian spend Christmas with us and he was a bit horrified.

Ryan & Katie with a gingerbread house. It was the final piece to the gingerbread village they have been building all season. These kids are festive!

Missionary Cheesiness

Devin with a sugar cookie ghost missionary.

One thing I tend to not like about missionaries is how cheesy they get about everything. But I am afraid that Devin's recent cheesiness is rubbing off on me and it is apparent from this post.

The thing I had forgotten about missions is how, in some ways, you actually stay closer to your missionary than you did before their mission. Before his mission, Dev and I would go a couple of months between contacts. And when we did see each other, it was often passing hellos inbetween our other activities.

Now I try and write Dev a few times a week. He always writes me at least once a week. I think we know more detail about each other's lives now than we have in about 17 years. And we always say "I love you" in the letters. I am surprised how much I like this. It is making me want to tell everyone I love them at least once a week (well, everyone that I do in fact love). Yikes, this post is getting cheesy.

A Little Birthday Bowling

It is not even Mike's birthday yet and we have already celebrated the heck out it. We had a great time at a bowling party in honor of Mike.

Guests posing with the chocolate lollipops. I made these and am not going to pretend that I am not really pleased with myself.

Kids decorating pumpkins.

Random bowling pics.

Random shots including Mike sporting the camo pjs Bryan and Helen gave him.

Avoided cameras:
Mel & Nathan
Nik & Noah
Ellie & Roger
Dave & Sam

Thanks for coming everyone!

And Away He Goes

My youngest brother Devin leaves on his mission to Panama City today. Devin is a 100% joy to have around and we are going to miss him so much. But we are also looking forward to hearing all about his adventures.

Mike and I made the trek to Logan more than usual this summer to maximize our Dev time. It was so worth it. We had a great time in Australia, Lagoon, hiking, bowling, playing frisbee, falling asleep on the couch watching movies, playing cards and just hanging out in the kitchen eating and talking nonsense.

In case any Panamanians read my blog, you are very lucky to have Devin in your midsts. Enjoy.

Also my dad is doing a blog for his mission. Check it out here: http://elder-devin-pfister.blogspot.com/.

Chubby Cheeks & Kisses

Summer Wrap-Up

Hiking in Logan.

Lagoon.

More hiking.

Loving Summer

4th

We spent another lovely holiday in Yahats Oregon.

If this post does not relax and revive you, you are beyond help. 

If I had to describe this trip in one word, that word would not be "moderation."

Nik was supposed to be modeling this spectacular lemon berry croissant but then she kind of stole the show because she is so cute in her Saturday Market outfit. 

Oregon really knows how to do July 4th parades. The theme was La De Da Da Ga Ga.

Fire on the beach + smores+ fireworks + patriotic messages w/ sparklers = awesome celebration