Happy Belated to Our Sweet Man Ian!

Rough Day for Ian

This is super fun!!!!

Until this happens....

Which may result in this....

Poor Ian...he was doing his favorite thing this morning when I heard this blood curdling scream. Immediately I knew that such sounds, which I have hear twice before, could only mean one thing. When Ian ran into my room crying "What's wrong with my arm!?!?!" I saw my fear to be confirmed. Poor little man was in lots of pain and very scared, but as you can see from the picture above, he's feeling much better and we will get his cast on tomorrow.

The best part of the whole thing was this comment from Ian, "Next time I think the crib mattress might work a little better!" Getting right back on that horse!

Happy Birthday to Emmett

Making the cupcakes

Waiting for the cupcakes

Finally getting to eat the cupcakes-but only with a utensil

Opening presents-with help

The face Emmett made every time someone sang to him-littler stinker!

We love you little man!

October in Review

October was kind of a busy month so you're getting it all in one shot!

Kayla lost her 2 front teeth!

Lots of bedtime stories with Daddy.

We try to make an annual October trip to Yuba City to visit Grandparents and friends. We had a great time this year and were able to go to lots of our favorite places.

The kids in Sherwood Forest

Kayla finishing the Crooked Mile

A poor attempt at a family picture

Emmett loved this donkey and I'm pretty sure he wanted to feed his fingers to it.

Poor attempt #2

Our friends the Matthews' who are way better at taking family pictures than we are!

Love this picture of the kids with Grandma Melody.

A day that ends here is a day well spent!

We got home for a few days then I went to Denver to visit my siblings and my sweet little niece Domino.

Halloween costume dry run (thanks Shan for sharing your talents!)

Pumpkins from the garden

Getting ready to carve Jack-O-Lanterns

Emmett literally "carved" his pumpkin and danced to the Halloween music for an hour.

Finished product

Kayla as Toucan Sam

Ian as a Pirate

Emmett as a Dinosaur

And that's a wrap!

Ponderings on the Garden

As the temperatures drop and I look at the bare space in the corner of my yard that once was a garden, I am reflecting a bit. Several weeks and millions of weeds into gardening this year, I was in tears because I wanted to rip everything out and stomp on it. I was finding no joy in being one with nature. I look back on that and laugh because I am in such awe at what a small space of land can produce. Silly as it sounds (and I know there are others out that who probably won't admit it-I don't blame you!), I get a little misty eyed looking in my panty and freezer at the bounty that that little garden has provided for our family. I know, I'm a total nerd and I am a-ok with that! I have gained knowledge, skill and appreciation that wasn't there before! (Shan I hope this makes you smile. You are the best and I wanna be you when I grow up!-Love ya!)

Labor Day

Over the Labor Day weekend we were able to go up to our cabin in Colorado. On the way there we got to spend time with and stay with my grandma Shirley in LaPoint, UT, visit the Dinosaur Museum in Vernal, visit 2 of my grandpa's gravesides and finally arrive at the cabin. We had such a great time and the kids are already planning the next trip!

Great Grandpa Steele-LaPoint

Grandpa Chet-Rangely (the sprinklers were on so we couldn't take pictures with his headstone-so bummed!)

Dinosaurs Galore!

The whole family

Possibly my favorite picture ever!

The kids had so much fun running wild and getting dirty. Emmett loved this dog and rarely left her side.

My dad's friend made Spongebob pinatas for the kids.

On the road again. Dirty, tired, and sad to leave. And yes that is a large McDonald's fry.