Family Photos

My talented friend Erin took our family photos this year and we couldn't be happier with them. She made choosing a Christmas card photo a difficult choice this year.

Santa

Halloween

I had a hard time deciding what Elle should be this year. I debated everything from an Indian to little red riding hood. She was insistent on being a cat or more specifically Holly's kitty cat "Jo Jo." So for the week before Halloween she went to the mall, grocery shopping, friends houses dressed up as Jo Jo.
I love homemade costumes though, so I decided to see what I could make. This owl costume seemed to be calling her name.

Pumpkin Patch

We love going to Peterson Farms Pumpkin Patch. Elle loved to run through the corn maze, ride the tractors and pick out pumpkins. She would point to one and say, "Mommy pukin," then point to another and say, "dada pukin," and then she find a small one and say, "baby Ellsie pukin."

Goodbye Summer

Elle and I have a tradition of going to the beach and saying goodbye to the summer. This year I had to carry her home with her little legs kicking in frustration. When I put her down she would run back to the sand.

I don't blame her. Goodbye summer. See you next year.

Then we walked barefoot over to Jack's house and he tried to cheer her up. I think it worked.

Room Make-Over

I have the coolest neighbors!
A friend of mine needed a little pick-me-up. So while she was out of town, two of my darling neighbors gave her a room make-over! Could you imagine coming home to this?

They asked me to reupholster the bench. I was apprehensive to say the least, but I really wanted in on this fun project so I agreed. I love the way the room turned out. It's bright and happy and full of charm. Oh, and the new mattress is so comfortable I'm surprised she ever gets out of bed.

One

LOVE this post on TOMS blog. I am blogging this as a nice reminder to myself.

"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do."

- Edward Everett Hale

*photo thanks to "benefit of hindsight" on flickr.com

Pigtails and Pony Rides

We went to the Salt Lake County Fair...


Ate some horrible-for-you-but-oh-so-yummy food.


Played a game or two.


And won a prize for Elle!

We had fun feeding the goats.

...for about two seconds.

So we moved onto the pony rides which were much more fun.


Two Side-notes:
1-I kind of think Elle looks like Dora. Such a tempting Halloween costume, but I don't think I can do the character thing yet.
2-The pony man assured me that these ponies are treated well. They get breaks and water often and are from nearby stables that take pride in treating their animals well.

Charlie

Charlie Schultz is the cutest thing in my little world right now so I thought I'd share a couple pics of Annie's baby. Born Aug. 6th.

Camp Out

We had a blast at our annual summer camp out with my family. Elle made her first s'mores and didn't know what to think. But she loved playing with her second cousins and running around in the mountains.