Fall Fix

In Gilbert the kids get a week off for Fall Break. Where else better to spend Fall Break than in Utah. We loved seeing the changing leaves, the crisp weather, and being with family. We loved spending time with Grandma and Grandpa Maxfield, aunt, uncles, and cousins. Grandma took us to the pumpkin patch. We roasted marshmallows up Big Cottonwood Canyon. We loved going to our favorite parks. We took a tour of Temple Square and touched the temple. We ate the best mashed potatos and rolls at the Lion House. We jumped on Aunt Maureens trampoline. The kids played with dear friends and super fun cousins. We saw multiple witches at Gardner village and pet the farm animals. We saw sea creatures at the aquarium. We cheered for the Jazz at their open practice while eating greasy nachos and sprite. We ate lots of good food and spent lots of good time with family. It was the first time in a long time that all the Maxfield siblings and their spouses were together.

We missed you Gary and Suzanne on Thursday night!



We had fun helping in G&G Maxfield's yard.

Pumpkin picking and carving were definitely a highlight.






Overall it was an excellent trip. The kids did amazing in the car (praises to the portable dvd inventor) and I got to relax and read a book while Andy did all the driving listening to his tunes. It was the perfect Fall Fix for our family! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Maxfield for letting us visit. We miss you so much!

Joshua 7

Joshua 2 1/2 years old




On October 17th Joshua Cardon Maxfield turned 7. Of course as always I can't believe he is another year older. He's not a baby anymore. Joshua is still trying to understand what this birthday thing is all about. Every year he learns something new. His birthday was on a Saturday so he did lots of playing outside. We had pizza for dinner, a chocolate cake, which he requested, and mint ice cream, another request. He covered his ears when we sang Happy Birthday to him, but blowed out the candles himself. Joshua totally gets unwrapping presents now. He has to check out each gift closely and carefully before he opens the next. As usual, his gifts were simple, books, dvds, a fly swater, and swirly strays. (He loves long things to wave in front of his face). It was low key, just as Joshua would have it.
The thing I love about Joshua is that he finds the joy in the everyday. He just loves the simplest things, fresh air, sticks, straws, pb&j, books, bugs bunny cartoons, bare feet, and his family. He never asks for anything big or fancy. He doesn't come up with lists of things he wants. He's just happy to have what he has. No more no less. I'm always trying to be more like him in that way. Joshua has the best brothers and sisters in the world. He spent his birthday with them doing what they normally do, because they mean the most to him. When you ask him who his friends are he immediately says, "Summer and Taylor are my friends." He likes to be goofy with those 2. The other day he told me "Jacob and Kate are friends." "Yes," I replied. "They like to play together and they like to play with you too."
When he was crying and upset the other night, I rocked him and whispered in his ear, "Mommy loves you. Daddy loves you. Summer loves you. Taylor loves you. Jacob loves you. Kate loves you. Heavenly Father and Jesus love you." He stopped crying for just a second and said,"Yes!" It warmed my heart to know he feels loved by his family. We are always trying to teach Joshua new things, but as always he teaches us the more important things. We love you Joshua!

Summer the Nanny in Cali

In September Summer had the opportunity to help my sister Emily with her 3 daughters, Peyton (8), Hailey(4), and Alexis (4 mo.) on a road trip to California. It was the first time that Summer had been to Disneyland and the first time she was able to see the ocean. She had lots of fun! Who wouldn't?! She enjoyed Disneyland, but taking after her mother the ocean was her favorite. She was able to touch a sea anemone which she thought was really cool. A lot of people asked me if I was sad that I didn't get to be with her for her first time experience at Disneyland and the ocean. Of course I would of loved to have been there with her, but I learned long ago that I won't be able to be there for everything and I am just so grateful she just had the opportunity to go. Thanks Em! The funny part was that after driving in the car with 3 little girls and poor little Alexis crying the last leg, I asked Summer if we should have another baby. "No," was her simple reply. I guess she learned lots from the experience.

Visitors

My brother Andrew came to visit in September. Then Rachael and Michelle surprised us. I actually screamed with excitement when I saw them on Emily's front porch. It was so wonderful seeing 3 of my favorite people, especially since we had just left them in Utah a few months ago. Also it was fun being with all of my siblings since that hasn't happened for quite some time. As always we had fun laughing, talking and eating. I love being with family so much! It was great to be with everyone and Andrew and Michelle announced we have another one joining the family in March (It's a boy!) We are so excited for them. The more the merrier!

Ward Campout

In September we also attended the Conerstone Ward Campout. It was located at Camp Lomia which is the same camp that I attended when I was in YW.We had to drive a couple of hours to get to Pine where there is actually pine trees and cooler weather. I was feeling a little chilly with the windows rolled down and then saw it was 78 degrees outside. I can't remember that last time I thought the 70s was chilly. This campout was a great excuse for us to buy that new tent we've been needing since our old one died the last time we camped in the humidity of Missouri. The poor thing just couldn't dry or withstand the moisture. Andy did the research and found just the righ tent . It's like a tent hotel. Enough room for all 7 of us with room to spare. Of course the best part of camping was the fire and making smores. The weather was beautiful and the kids had fun playing with their friends. I don't have a picture of Summer because she was gone most of the time and when I did see her she did not think she was fit for a picture. I thought she looked super cute. We ended the campout eating at Denny's on the way home in the rain. As we drove up to our house and the weather was 100 degrees we thought we should have spent some more time hanging out in the rain. We had a great time and I think we are all going to love camping in Arizona. Lots of flat ground.

Girl Time

In September I had the privilege of spending one on one time first with Kate, then with Summer. Kate chose to watch Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper. We had ice cream shaped marshmallows that were blue, pink, and yellow for a treat. Of course Kate loved the movie and I loved watching Kate watch the movie. She requested that I take her picture doing her new favorite pose (Go team Go!)

Summer wanted to go shopping for a Halloween costume. We went to Savers. Nothing. Then she told me that she wanted to be an Egyptian princess. She told me she wanted to find a long white sundress for the costume. I told her we probably won't find a plain white long sun dress, especially in September. She said, "Let's go to Target." I didn't want her to get her hopes up and was brewing in my mind what we could do for an alternative. I was willing to do a little sewing. We walk into the junior clearance section and there on the rack is an extra small long white sundress. She just smiled. That's what she wanted. She had just the right amount of money for it. I wish I had her same kind of luck. She has been wearing it often preparing for her role as Egyptian princess on Halloween night. We ended the quick shopping trip with Blizzards and french fries at Dairy Queen and it was even a nice enough day we could eat outside. Another bonus. As always I had a super fun time with supersummermax!