October Fun

Grant and I have been up to quite a lot lately considering we just moved here and don't know very many people yet. I'm proud of us for how quickly we've adapted to everything (and especially me, since Grant didn't need a whole lot of adapting but I sure did). I think moving here during my favorite time of year has been both helpful and a little sad. I really miss all our friends in Utah and I keep thinking back to this time last year and picking out pumpkins with our friends and throwing an awesome Halloween Party with them, but I'm also happy that we can do all that stuff here too. And Grant has been a great sport about everything! Everyone knows I can be a little day-dreamy and overwhelming this time of year since I want to do everything that is festive, and so far Grant has done everything with me that I've wanted to do and has sat down with me and planned out the rest of the month and figured out when we're going to do each activity. But more about that later! I need to backtrack and talk about everything we've done so far!

One thing that has been a major plus about moving here is being close to our nephews! We were lucky to live close to Dan and Shannon for a little bit in Utah and get to play with Gavin a lot. And now being in Texas we see Steele and Mason (Todd and Diana's kids) a ton, which is awesome! And hopefully we'll be seeing Tate, Caleb, Blaine, Neil, and Heidi (Carrie and Wyatt's kids) soon when we go down to Houston for a visit. Since moving here we've gone to one of Steele's football games a few weekends ago and let me confirm: Texas football is ridiculous, even at the age of 10. I liked being able to see Steele play and hang out with Mason on the sidelines, but I've got to admit I was taken aback by how serious it is! They're only 10! (But this is another matter that I don't think I'll ever get over.) Staying on track...Steele's team won and I got some photos of him playing and Mason showing me tricks on his pogo stick before we all went out for a celebratory lunch for burgers.

 These boys meant business

No hands!

Later on that day Grant and I went into Dallas since I had never been before. We first went to the temple and had a great experience, and later went to the West End to walk around. We checked out the JFK museum but decided we didn't have enough time to see it all before it closed so we went to the Grassy Knoll and the JFK Memorial instead. Then we just enjoyed walking around together and people watching. We finished the night eating a light dinner at Planet Hollywood and then going to The House of Blues to see Britton, one of my best friends from high school who was in town with the band A Rocket To The Moon. Britton got us all-access passes so we had a good time hanging out with him in his bus, and seeing the band play from backstage. It was great to see him again and I'm already excited to see him when he comes back next month!

 JFK Memorial

 Britton sound checking before the band went on

Watching the band play from back stage

The following week Grant and I went to dinner at Babe's with one of Grant's co-workers, Nick, and his wife Briana. We had hung out with them once before when we went out for drinks with a bunch of Grant's friends from work, but since there were so many people we didn't really get to talk to them and we wanted to! So dinner at Babe's was perfect! We all loved the food and we really just hit it off and ended up spending nearly 4 hours just talking. I'm so glad Grant works with Nick and we met them because they have turned out to be so much fun and we love hanging out with them! The next night we met up for FroYo and a scary movie (I've got to get in festive activities as often as I can!). We watched Insidious at our place and although it wasn't the best scary movie I've ever seen, it was pretty good up until the end (isn't that how they always are?).

That next weekend we had a Poker Night with some of Grant's friends from work and Nick and Briana came to that as well (which I was very grateful for, since Briana and I were the only girls). We had a good time playing poker, and Grant ended up coming in 3rd so we broke even for the night. Afterwards we went with Nick and Briana to In-N-Out and again stayed up late just talking and hanging out.

The following day (Saturday) Grant and I slept in, which was long overdue, and then played some Tennis (another reason why Grant is so great--he's willing to play Tennis with me even though he dislikes it and I'm terrible). After Tennis we came home and relaxed some more by watching a couple of TV shows. We stopped by Todd and Diana's later to catch some of the BYU Football game, and then met up with Nick and Briana for the Texas State Fair!! I was very excited about going because I've never been to a State Fair before and I figured the Texas one was going to be great--and I was not disappointed! We first rode on the Ferris Wheel which gave us a gorgeous view of the city skyline at sunset and a great view of all the vibrant lights of the fair.

Next on our agenda was to eat some fried food! We couldn't pass up the opportunity to try Fried Oreos, Fried Snickers, and Fried Mac 'n Cheese. "Disgusting," you say? Incorrect! Everything was delicious (and yes, maybe a little gross to think about) but still so good.

 Fried Oreos

 

Fried Snickers 

 

Fried Mac 'n Cheese

 

 All of us stuffing our faces full of the fried foods

 Take note of the menu

We had such a good time being there with Nick and Briana, going to each booth, taking pictures, people watching, riding the rides, and just hanging out :)

Afterward we finished the night off by watching a movie at Nick and Briana's. And yet again we stayed up way too late, but isn't that what friends are for?

Sunday was another eventful day. The power went out, Grant and I got callings in the nursery (actually the exact words were "the best form of birth control") and Grant got a calling to teach the Young Men's Basketball Team (which he's very excited about), and we went to Grant's work party at Circle R Ranch. We really didn't know what to expect but it turned out to be awesome! The BBQ was delicious and they had games and activities set up all around the lawn. We tried to beat each other in speed pitching, ran around a maze like crazy people trying to beat everyone's time, watched the little kids ride ponies and enter the Hula-Hoop Contest, and then we ate some more.

 Speed Pitching

 Train Rides

 Hula-Hoop Contest
 
There was so much to do!

I really liked the festive decor

Grant's office building. He's got a nice set up, right?

We've had a lot of fun lately and we have even more planned! This weekend we're going to a corn maze and a pumpkin patch--and I'm very excited to pick out my pumpkin and carve it! Then we're going to Six Flags Fright Fest on Saturday!! And the weekend after that we're going to watch scary movies, go to a haunted house, and have our Halloween Party! I love this time of year :)