Happy Birthday

Julie turns 4 today...and is just as fun as usual.

When she grows up, she wants to be a horse trainer, a pegasus trainer, a mermaid, and a princess.

Awesome.

Happy Birthday, Julie!

Gratitude

I am thankful for a baby who loves to take a bath,

for a beautiful snowy night

and for an awesome friend who sent me a new bag.

Your card is in the mail. Thanks again!

Halloween...better late than never

Halloween was interesting this year...we are not used to it being this cold, for one thing. Our ward trunk-or-treat was SO COLD!! It started snowing, and the wind was blowing so hard. Like all dumb Californians, we had come to the party in cute fall jackets. I knew we were in trouble as I looked around at the Utahans decked out in full winter gear...scarves, gloves, heavy parkas.

Needless to say, the candy collecting was brief. No one seemed to mind.

My kids were a pirate, Batman, Cinderella, and a chicken. They all looked great. You have to love Halloween...

...all except for Annie, who wasn't that thrilled about it all.

She endured for us. Frankly, I wish I had been a chicken---her costume looked much warmer than my clothes.

On Friday, I hosted a Halloween party. I had my two brothers and their families, my sister and her family, and my parents attend. I made tons of food, which all turned out really well. It was a LOT of preparation, but totally worth it. (one family came later, so they missed the pictures)

After we ate, most of the adults and a few teenagers went to the haunted house at This is the Place Heritage Park. It was my kind of place: not gory, just jumpy scary. I haven't been to one of those since I lived in Provo. It was way fun.

After all that, the real Halloween on Saturday seemed like an afterthought. Hadn't we eaten enough candy, and dressed up plenty of times? Apparently not for my kids.

Brian was at a Utah football game that night, so we drove up to my brother's and went trick-or-treating with cousins. Thankfully, it was a much warmer night.

Good times.

The hand that feeds you

Annie is kind of like our pet...in this way:

She begs for food.

And someone usually gives her some. Especially Julie.

Good girl. :)

The bag

When I had Annie, a friend gave me an old diaper bag...it was beautiful. It was the most chic diaper bag I've ever owned. I truly loved that bag.

Well, it started falling apart. The strap on one side had pulled out, it had rips and tears on it, it was wearing out. Yesterday, I decided I could start unpicking just a few of the problem areas and fix it.

so I did.

Unpick this, take out that...on and on I went until it had become a jumbled mess of thread and ripped seams and torn fabric. I finally declared it time for a new bag, and I put my beloved bag in the garbage.

I'm quite distraught about it. I need a replacement. Any ideas?

Julie

This picture was taken with my phone, but I love the way they all look. Especially Julie.

Julie names the toys she is playing with by any distinguishing marks ...ponies with hearts on their haunches are named Two Hearts, a rainbow on the bum of a horse is named Rainbow, ...you get the idea.

The other day I had just braided a Barbie's hair. I asked Julie what her name was. She looked her over, then said, "Braid Hair." And that is what we called her.

It actually seems a better way of naming people, so you wouldn't forget so easily. "Hey, there comes pointy nose!" or "Hi, Big Butt! How are your kids, Curly Hair and Freckle Face?"

I guess people could get offended. ;) Thank goodness Barbie was ok being Braid Hair.

Personalities

This picture was taken at my niece's blessing. I love it.

See the worry on my nephew's face? It's so great...and then there is Annie looking very mischievious. Which is also perfect.