Once Upon an October

Let's just say October did not dissapoint.

The first fun October-ish thing we did was go to a lovely pumpkin patch! Did I mention how much I love pumpkin patches?

 Jayson went for the perfectly round type of pumpkin.

I went for character. Do you see that stem?! It's the best.

We also saw some pretty things:

And, of course we took our annual autumn Logan trip. Jayson's brother, his wife, and their little boy came with us, as always. It just has to be done. It's so beautiful there in the Fall I tell you!

But also, that trip was mixed with about a hundred emotions. When we pulled in I wanted to cry because it was so beautiful and because I missed it so much. I was so happy to be there. I was also thinking about how something about Logan always makes me feel a little bit incomplete and I think I finally figured out why. I think it's because I feel like I never really got to say goodbye. I miscarried two days before we moved, so my mind was not on moving or feeling sad about leaving Logan at all. That probably sounds silly, but it's a place that holds a lot of dear memories to me. I lived there with my best friends, for my first year of marriage, and for my first time on my own.

And I also kept thinking about how exactly three years ago I lived there and it must have been that beautiful then, but I didn't appreciate it nearly as much as I should have. I wish I would have enjoyed my surroundings more. I wish I would have spent more time with my best friends when we still all lived in the same city. I wish I would have spent more time exploring Cache Valley.

Since October is one of the hardest months of the year for me to not be a mom (Weird, right? Not Mother's Day, not Christmas. October. I think it's because that's when I got pregnant and man those little kids in costumes just kill me dead.) I thought about infertility too. But it turns out this was a good thing. That was were my thoughts shifted from regret to enlightenment and positivity.

Logan was before infertility. In fact, three years ago when I lived in Logan I was the opposite of infertile, because I was pregnant. In that moment I realized that infertility has given me one of the most precious gifts. It gave me the gift to live in the present and to really appreciate things when I'm in the moment with them instead of years down the road. It has given me new life and the ability to not have as many regrets. It made me realize that there are always going to be hard things and you can't postpone your happiness until those hard things are over. It made me realize that I have the ability to choose to be happy now. Infertility has given me some of the most precious knowledge that I have to date.

So, thanks for that epiphany dear Logan.

Don't worry, the rest of the post is mainly pictures. Trust me, you don't want to miss these.

My cute nephew in a car, in Logan.

When in Logan you must go to Firehouse Pizza. (Which moved, by the way. Did you know?!)

And, for the main event and the big reason this trip happened...

The Pumpkin Walk!!! It was full of pure delight as always.

Oh Candyland!

 He He.

 This LIFE display was made by FSA (Families Supporting Adoption...the volunteer group I'm part of now, remember?)

Cute kiddos talk about adoption.

Clue!!


The theme this year was, "Let the Games Begin" or something like that, so I totally expected a Hunger Games display, but I did not expect it to be this good! There was more if it, it was like four spots long, but these were my favorite parts:

Isn't that face painting rad?!

Oh, Hagrid.

Please note the random kid staring at Jayson. It kills me!!

One of my other favorite things about October is the Kim family party:

Baby Yoda! I know, I know. Cutest ever, right?!

The Star Wars crew

It's not a good party unless someone cries.

This picture cracks me up. Yoda is crying and the monkey is trying to escape. Love it!

Pumpkin beards!

At the end of October this wonderful couple got married:

It was such a lovely day and she was such a beautiful bride!

Suzie getting married also meant I got to see a whole lot of these people:

It was one crazy week of lots of good times. I love these people more than I can even explain.

And, of course, there was Halloween!!!

I was a death eater..

Jayson was Draco

 These are our sweet tats. The best part of our costumes if I do say so myself.

Ruby was obviously Crookshanks.

And, we had Sherlock and the cowgirl over to watch the Nightmare Before Christmas, which all may or may not have fallen to sleep during....

October, you were lovely!