Photo session

We had our pictures taken the other day. Here's one of the finished photos.

Can't wait to see the rest!

Happy Birthday Grayson!

Grayson is now 4! He celebrated at In-N-Out with some friends and had a blast.

Do you love the Spiderman cake? My new friend Cassie made this DELICIOUS cake just for him.

This was the best of a group pic we got. I tried to capture the balloons from Sister Garcia. He was so happy with them until... they flew away. Oops!

A little funny fact about Grayson, he LOVES his cousin Brenden. What's funny about that? They've never met. Brenden lives in Texas, is 13(?) years old and autistic which means "he's a big kid and does really funny things". My sister posts youtube videos of him every so often on her blog and if Grayson catches me watching them we have to watch them 5 times before I can move on. So meeting Brenden would be the equivalent of MacKenzie talking to Justin Beiber or Kennedy seeing Rudolp the Red-nosed Reindeer. This morning the first thing Grayson wanted to do after opening his present was to call Brenden. We did and he was already at school, but in response Grayson got a little personalized message this evening. Thanks so much Brenden for making his birthday that much cooler!

painted chairs

I got tired of black chairs. So at the crack of dawn this morning I was at Wal Mart...

buying spray paint. Do you know how hard it is to get the spray paint cabinet open at 6:45am? I'll just tell you it's not easy, but totally worth it! Look how fun these chairs are.

I pulled out my thrift store frames to paint also, you know since I was already gettin' dirty. They're boring bronze, but will look so good with lots of pics in them. I've got to brag about the Boise, ID thrift store OUTLET. That's right the outlet of thrift stores! I got all these frames and a lot of other things for $7 total! So maybe $3 for all these?

My ring looks awesome. 3 different neighbors came to visit while I was making a mess this morning. 2 loved my chairs one rolled her eyes. She's secretly jealous, I know.

Halloween

It gets more exciting each year. I even got dressed up...

not quite sure what I am, but it was fun to do.

Grandma Kathy came to celebrate with us.

Good thing she did. Otherwise these may not have turned out so well. She did a great job drawing and carving all the faces on these pumpkins. Can you tell which child picked out what?

Bat= Grayson

Cat face= Kennedy

Regular old face= MacKenzie

MacKenzie the pirate

She was excited to wear makeup with her pirate costume to the ward Halloween party last night. First thing out of her mouth, "Mom, I look SO cute!"

Our 3,000 mile roadtrip

Here's a few pics:

Parker and Hunter (my brother's first little baby) in Modesto.

My Grandpa Ben up in Bellingham, WA

The Border. Justin and I will always think of this video.

Maybe those ears are from the Gage side?

Seattle with Justin's old mission companion Adam.

Riding horses in Spokane.

Grayson LOVED riding. He would've stayed all day.

There's a large gap of pics untaken. Like I never take any when I visit my sister Khristie. What's with that? But I didn't forget at Temple Square.

Such a great trip! I think we've got 4 mini travelers in the making. The kids loved everywhere we went and seeing all their family and friends they didn't know they had.

His other fav

Grayson's fav's

Brothers

This morning Grayson wanted to watch Aunt Rebecca on youtube and subsequently all the videos of his *boy* cousins. He really wants big brothers, but a bug picking monkey will have to do for now.

Man Apron

Justin's modeling my latest creation for my dad.

In August it was my dad's birthday and being the awesome kid I am...

I TOTALLY forgot, was at his house, and didn't even bring a gift!

While visitng I noticed him wearing lovely floral print aprons. Really dad?

When we got home I found some gender neutral fabric that Justin swore was "still girly",

so I added a tie.

HA! I love it!

Mouse trap

The other day I was getting something out of the garage and one of these little stinkers jumped out at me. Gross! I freaked out, called the bug man, and set some traps. They don't look so scary now.

Got started on our wood pile today

Sisterly love

Justin found this in the girls room last night.

translation: "No MacKenzie's allowed on my bed"

I love MacKenzie's smile and Kennedy's angry hands.

Yay for school!

The girls were SO excited. While Kennedy threw on her new favorite t-shirt, MacKenzie was busy accessorizing. Gotta wear earrings and a necklace with that jeweled backpack.

The necklace and another foofy skirt made it to day 2 of kindergarten also.

And I had to throw in this pic of Parker. He's starting to eat food and nothing tastes better than a fudgesicle. Ask Parker. Couldn't eat that thing fast enough!

My first craft idea that didn't fail

And who doesn't like peacocks?! We also made clip on earrings, meaning we glued craft rhinestones on the clip on things.

And we weren't even late for church.

Happy 8 years of marital bliss!

I keep forgetting it's our anniversary today. I'm glad you put this on FB Rebecca, because I have zero digital wedding pics. What a good looking bunch we are!

To celebrate, Justin worked and I somewhat cleaned the garage. But I'd like to think I bought him a 3/4 ton hunka love.

Is it selfish to NOT share your car with your husband? He kept putting his smelly dogs in my car to go hunting. Then he'd bring it back empty and filthy. When he found this red thing I said yes please! I'm pretty sure I'm the best wife ever... again.

Last time I won the title of "best wife", I got a trip to visit my sister for a week by myself. This time I was told I can go anywhere I want. We'll see. Either way, Parker takes a bottle.

Bedazzled Backpack

Grandma Pennie took MacKenzie for a day to help get her ready for kindergarten. They went out to lunch, shopping and got their nails done. You know, the important stuff. MacKenzie was ready to move to Fresno after such a fun "best day of my life". She even got a sparkle pink back pack! We thought it might need a little some'n special...

And a little bedazzle never hurt anyone. That thing is screamin' MacKenzie now. Watch out kindergarten!

She and I talked about Grandma Pennie while we were there. I told her when Grandma goes to work she's the boss and everyone has to listen to her. MacKenzie responded, "Well when I go to school, I'm gonna be the boss of ALL the other kids."

You do that sister. Can't wait.

Made for Kennedy

I saw dalmation fabric at Hobby Lobby a few months ago while in Henderson, NV. I thought, "What would I use that for?" While visiting Visalia Hobby Lobby... I HAD to buy it. So I did. Then I found this pattern here and I knew where I was using it.

All of a sudden my daughter who hates skirts won't take this one off!

Because:

1. Her mama made it

2. It's animal print

On the way home from camping...

I opened a new can of formula.

Just so you know, don't open formula after traveling up 9,000 feet and back.

It might blow up in your face, oh wait... it did.

Justin about peed his pants.

Did ya get the memo?

Yesterday was wear your Halloween costume to the doctor's office day.

MacKenzie and Parker chose not to participate.