Fall Pictures

These are the hard-earned pictures I took of my kids. I think they turned out pretty good considering what we went through to get Sarah ready, not to mention getting them to hold still, smile, look at the camera, etc. I guess it helps that they have some dang cute faces to work with. And Nadine was there to help me.  There's no way I could have done it alone.

Sarah's Birthday

Sarah turned 4 on Saturday. She has been looking forward to her birthday for months. I remember telling her that her birthday was 100+ days away and we've been counting down since then.

She picked strawberry pancakes in the shape of a heart on the red birthday plate for breakfast. Then she opened presents from Justin and I. Justin surprised her with balloons (more on those later).

 

She wanted a Minnie Mouse birthday and I saw these cupcakes on Pinterest. Perfect. But then she wanted a flower cake like she had last year so I made her this cakestand so she could have both. My sister-in-law Lisa and her daughter Kyra decorated the house and I finished her cake and cupcakes while she was at my mom's with cousins.  She also came home to a decorated room and a new lamp and pillowcase that I made.

For dinner, the whole family went to Chuck-a-Rama (Sarah's favorite). I think there were like 26 of us. I didn't get any pictures of us all there because it was crazy and hot but delicious.  When they sang to her, she seemed way overwhelmed and I thought she was going to cry but she held it all together.  40+ people singing to you can be a little much for a 4-year-old. 

Then back to our house for presents, cake and icecream.

We love our birthday girl.  (And here's to hoping 4 being easier than 3.)

So yesterday I wanted to take pictures of my kids.  Sarah just turned 4, Henry is almost 18 months, the leaves are beautiful. Good time to take pictures, right?  I tried explaining this to Sarah. She said she just wanted to stay home and play then wouldn't cooperate when it came to putting on her new birthday dress.  First she wanted to wear the dress she wore last year for her birthday pictures then she insisted on wearing this outfit which consists of a skirt that I made from an old t-shirt of mine.  No way. So after an hour of negotiations, our comprise was I would take her picture in this outfit with her balloons outside then she had to put on her new dress. This little exercise was all on top of a promised icecream cone at Macey's when we were done and making necklaces when we got home.

Then she wanted her picture taken in her new dress with the balloons while on the toy horse. Fine.

 Here's where things get tragic.  Here's a photo before Sarah lost her balloons.

And after. This photo doesn't even do it justice.  She was sobbing, panicking, beside herself distraught.  I felt bad too since I should have said no to her taking them outside but I was desperate to get her to be a good sport for pictures.  She's been looking forward to her birthday balloons for so long.  I don't like when they last for 3 weeks but 2 days just wasn't long enough.

Good-bye, balloons. We've been talking about all the adventures you must be having.

Funtober

A few weeks ago we went to Logan for my niece's surprise party for her 16th birthday.

Here's Sarah and her cousin Bella on the lookout for the birthday girl. And how cool are the decorations?

It was an all-girl party (besides babies Henry and Mason). We went out to lunner (late lunch, early dinner) all wearing pink.  We had so much fun and the food was delicious.

Henry liked his socks on his hands while he cudded this balloon.

The next morning the girls went out to jump on the trampoline. It was like 45 degrees but they didn't care or notice.

Back at home, Sarah has a tea party picnic everyday.  You have probably attended and not known it because Sarah always has make-believe family and friends over.

My goofball loves to make funny faces when the camera comes out.

 I looked over at Henry and he was imitating her.

I don't remember what day this was but we finally decorated somewhat for Halloween (not my favorite holiday to decorate for). Henry likes to pull the window stickers off so they are slowly creeping their way up out of his reach.

 Is there anything sweeter than a sleeping baby?

Sarah started preschool last week.  She loves it and always asks when she gets to go back on our ride home.

Sarah was playing (torturing) a potato bug while Henry was checking out the pumpkins.

 This is his. He picked out the biggest one of all of us.

Sarah helped me roll out the dough for rolls we took to our new neighbors.  Of course she can't help herself around bread dough so there was lots of snitching tastes.

More goofy faces. The chocolate on her chin is from her birthday cake batter.

Yesterday was Sarah's last day of ballet.

They do the Hokey Pokey as a warm up so here she is shakin' all about.

The class lasted 6 weeks which I think was perfect for a 3-year-old's commitment level. We may try a longer-term class next year but it's good to know she likes to dance in class, not just in the kitchen.

Ballerina arms! If she's being honest, her favorite part was the candy from her teacher at the end of each class.

Up next: Sarah's birthday on Saturday. She can't contain her excitement!

While your were out, dear hubs.

"You need to update the blog so I can see my kids when they're cute," says Justin. I guess he doesn't exactly see them at their best when he comes home from work during the breakdown hour (aka the hour before bedtime when we are all at our breaking point).  So here's what you missed while you were at work.

I love taking pictures of Sarah while she watches a show. I get the best expressions.

 I think she was watching Lion King.

 Or maybe Lady and the Tramp.

 "Why do you always call me your baby girl? I'm not a baby"  Someday she'll understand.

 Henry is watching for you to come home from work.

 Still watching.

 There you are!

One afternoon after Henry's nap, he was so ornery. Why do kids do that?  They are just mad and fussy as if they never had a nap and are cranky until bedtime.  Well this was that day and Henry would only stop crying and be content if this little hippo was singing and dancing.

Remember how you and I like to leave it playing for each other and run.  Like from across the room while you were watching some important football game on TV. Or stick it in the bathroom while I was in the shower.  It really just brings the holiday spirit all year long.

  

How 'bout the weather in September? I love when we can actually play outside without dying of the heat.

See this? Our kids can be cute while awake and in each other's presence.

They love each other. I wonder how long it will last.

I think only boys see an open dishwasher as yet another surface for playing cars.

You may not know this about me, dear, but I make the best couch cushion forts.  My mom was pretty patient with me since I would put it all back but I'm sure it got old.  So I decided to show off for our children.  They thought this was pretty cool and it was.

This was a couple of weeks ago and Sarah still asks when I'm going to vacuum under the cushions again. Not for awhile, if I'm being perfectly honest.

Rare moment when you and I are the only two people in the car. We are driving to Manti for our friend Dave's wedding.

Perhaps our readers know Dave. This is married Dave with new wife Jill.  Looking good, Mr. and Mrs. Walker.

Hey readers, this is Dave's Nana and Pops.  Pops was our sealer too because he's one of the best people we know and Justin and I fell in love whilst at their house in Ferron during a boating trip 7 years ago. Okay, maybe we weren't in love at that point but Ferron is a magical place.

 The boys.  Some of them anyway.

 You don't want to know what's going on back there.

 Henry really loved those hanging lantern ball things.

 

 Now you and Sarah have to dance at her wedding so I can compare/contrast the two photos.

Did I mention how much we love Nana and Pops? I've been grandparentless for 10 years so I've adopted them as my own.  I don't know if they know that.

What's great about them is that a year can go by without seeing them and they remember everything we told them about our lives the last time we visited.

And they're funny.

They are fountains of wisdom. Have you ever talked with someone and thought, I want to know everything you know?

 They ask questions and they listen.

There was another picture where I looked better but Nana's eyes were closed. I made a sacrifice here.

 I love this boy.

He loves cars.

 He just learned he loves Nutella.

So there you have it babe, your life in blog form. And let's not forget to finish Fletch tonight.  (Justin and I are watching movies from our childhood that we think we didn't get at the time and want to watch through adult eyes.) Although I have to admit, I think I've figured it out but I won't spoil it for you.