Pumpkin Patch = Jack O' Lanterns

For the family field trip this month through the IWFC we headed to the Tolmachoff Farm for the pumpkin patch. Craig had a big mid-term so he couldn't come but the kids and I had a great time. Although, I don't know what I was thinking putting myself and the kids in pants and long sleeved shirts - it ended up being REALLY hot. Everyone else was in tank tops and shorts. I guess I was thinking that it's fall and it should be cooler but I should have watched the weather channel. Besides being overheated the kids had a fun time playing with their friends. I do have to state that this pumpkin patch was pretty lame in comparison to the ones in Washington. Probably do to the fact that it's just plain too hot to grow anything here so it wasn't really a patch - they just carted some pumpkins in. They did have a little corn maze though and a petting zoo too. Don't get too close though - the Ostrich does bite. We found that out the hard way - luckily Jace pull Brooke back just in time. She was careful to not get too close after that. They had fun in the bounce house and the corn pile. I was going to have the kids pick out a pumpkin there but they were too expensive so we stopped at the grocery store on the way home. Jace and Brooke had picked out designs of what they wanted their Jack O' Lanterns to look like earlier that morning so I got busy with that when we got home. They turned out super spooky. Hope you all have a horribly, happy Halloween night! wink wink ...

 Tolmachoff Farms Pumpkin Patch



 The petting zoo ...

 The biting Ostrich - it looked a lot bigger in real life.
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 Brooke, Jen, Ruby, Jace, Eve ... as fruit & veggies. lol
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 The sand ... I mean corn box?
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 Corn maze
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 Pumpkin Patch
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 I wanted to get a cute pumpkin picture with the kids but it just wasn't working out.  I took like 5 and this was the best one.  That's how bad the others were.  I couldn't get them both to look at the camera at the same time or to smile. They are such little stinkers sometimes.  I finally just gave up.
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Our finished Jack O' Lanterns.  Jace's is the black cat, mini pumpkin, and spider in the windowsill and Brooke's is the wink and a smile pumpkin.  They LOVED them.  The hugs and kisses I got after these were finished was worth all the scooping of pumpkin goo I did.

The Princess & The Pirate

Happy Halloween!! Love, The Brammer Kids



Phoenix Zoo

We had an AWESOME time at the zoo.  In fact, it was so fun we bought season passes.  They had so many new things since the last time I had been.  They put in the cutest splash pad for the little kids to play in as well as a few more exhibits.  The only thing that stunk about the zoo was the part where my purse got stolen.  I left it on the jogger while I was taking pics of the kids and someone snatched it right up.  My dad noticed about 10 min. later and I ran back to where we had last seen it .. .to no avail.  I checked with security and found that it had been turned into the lost and found, but not before they went through it and stole my GPS and video camera.  The camera is killing me because I do a DVD every other year of the kids and I was just getting ready to do another one so I had 2 YEARS worth of video on there that I lost.  I filled out a police report but because I didn't have the serial number written down or have it registered there wasn't much they could do.  My only hope is if they find the GPS in a pawn shop or at a location of an arrest and my video camera is in the same place because I did have my GPS registered.  I learned my lesson - keep your hands on your purse at all times and register ALL your electronics.  I did the next day.  I just can't believe how horrible some people are.  It stinks.  At least they didn't take my whole purse because my wallet was hidden under some of Brooke's pull ups.  That would have been a nightmare canceling all my cards and figuring out what to do about the ID cards so thank you for that.  I still had a great time at the zoo.  I'm so glad my family came down for a visit.  I hope the next one isn't too far away.

Johnson Family Visit

We had such a fabulous time with my parents, Grandma and Grandpa Johnson, as well as my sisters Julie and Jenny last weekend.  The first night we feasted over a crab dinner and just talked and talked and talked... it was GREAT!

They played card games with Grandma ...

... and Grandpa was just silly ...

Brooke giving BYU football playing Grandpa a hug - Jace was too busy to sit still for a picture.

Ladies Night Out!

It was SO much fun to have our first Ladies Night Out with the IWFC. We went to the Cheesecake Factory and the club covered our desserts. It's really been such a great experience to get to know all these amazing women from all over the world. We had such a great time!

Women from all the over the World dining together:

Polina (Russia), Sangmi (Korea), Martha (Mexico), Masha (Russia), Mayra (Mexico), Ruby (Utah), April (Colorado), myself, and Jen (Idaho).

Friday Morning Breakfast Dates

Weekends have become our special time with Craig.  We started doing weekly Friday morning breakfast dates.  It's the one time of the week that Craig isn't TOO busy.  We drop Jace off at school and Craig takes his girls out for breakfast. (Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day).  Brooke loves having special time with her daddy. She's missed him.  After eating we try to go do some sort of inexpensive activity .. like looking at the fish tank in Cabelas or walking through Toys R Us.  When we get back Craig makes sure to spend some  extra special time with Jace too.  I'm glad he's such a great husband and father.

IWFC (International Women & Family Club)

It's been fun to get to know some of the other women and moms that are in the same situation as myself.  In fact, the first Sunday we went to church I met April who happened to be the current president of the Women and Family Club for the school.  She quickly got me involved with all the activities that they have to offer so I haven't been bored or angry with Craig for being gone all the time.  I am now the secretary for the club and boy do they do a lot!  They have ThunderKids activities every week as well as bi-monthly social dinners, and monthly Ladies Night Out, Date Night, and Family Field Trips. They also do lots of English conversation classes and activities for the international students and spouses. It's really SO much fun!  In addition to that Jen invited me to start running with her.  I LOVE running and have really wanted to get back into it and it's that much more fun when you are able to go with someone.  We're planning on doing a 10K in November and maybe a half marathon later in the year - we'll see.  I really need to get fitted for some running shoes so I don't get injured.  Also Jen, April, and myself also started doing a weekly get together separate from the club.  We just rotate and do dinner and let all the kids play while we talk.  We just help each other since our husbands are so busy with school and often out of the country for internships or labs.  I'm excited that they have welcomed me into their group and for everything that is to come this year.  I know it's going to be crazy busy but I'm ready - bring it on!

                                            Jen and I with our little girls getting ready for a run.

April with her twins & Jen with Eve and Brooke

Here are some of the pictures I took of the kids at Imagination Avenue - the first family field trip through the IWFC (International Women & Family Club).  They had the cutest little dress up room and Brooke tried every outfit on.  She must have changed at least 20 times.  Jace liked being a police officer and fireman.  He also liked riding the cars around the mini track.  It's really been such a great experience getting to know so many women from all over the world.  

Swimming on Campus

We had a visit from Nani and Grandpa last week and on one of the days we went swimming. It's so nice that the campus pool is open for families of students to use. It felt great to cool off in this 107 degree weather. We are still finding it odd that it is still this hot in October. We're looking forward to our warm winter though and I'm still not missing the Northwest rain. I guess I'm a sunshine girl at heart. Thanks for the visit Nani and Grandpa!