Reeve

There isn't anything more precious than a newborn baby!!!! I have been in anticipation for over a week now waiting to see my little nephew, the newest baby born to our family. He is LITTLE!!! 5 pounds! When I picked him up I felt like I had a doll in my arms! But OH the joy he brought to me in those moments! Bailey came with me and spent the whole drive home ogling over that baby!!!! She was begging me to have another one but I had to explain the impossibility of that (with a sad heart!) My proudest moments in life have been giving birth to my 4 children. I loved every minute of it-pain and all- because I had worked so hard for them and waited so long that the miracle before me was a gift. Children are a gift. I know my sister was hoping for a girl after 3 boys but this little guy was sent to them because he was perfect for them, and probably needed lots of brothers! Now, Nikki, you are next...tomorrow...I can't WAIT!!!!

Glimpses of Fall

I have been inspired by a couple of my fellow blogger's fall pictures that they have posted recently. It always amazes me how fast the colors change, leaves fall, grasses go golden...I love fall! It NEVER lasts long enough! Yesterday I got out the canned pumpkin and made yummy cookies. I have been thinking of other recipes that I love to make this time of year. It is hard to resist when you look out your window and see all the bright reds, oranges, golds, not to think of the holidays to come, the celebrating and the FOOD! I also anticipate the layering of clothing...cute boots, jeans, sweaters and scarves. It is my favorite season to dress for! So here is my take on Fall from my backyard! Enjoy!

An instruction in Monopoly

Kelly sat down with Sam tonight and played Monopoly for the first time with plenty of help and explanation. Sam was a high roller, property owning, equestrian. He LOVED the paper money, beating Kelly (hummmm...) and having the one on one time. Kelly is the board game king but he hardly gets such an opportunity. He'll take any willing, breathing soul. When Sam got a "go to jail" card he said, "with the Dark Arts Teacher!" (line from Harry Potter). He is a crack up!

Antelope Island

It's another one of those, "I've lived in Utah for how many years and I've never been to Antelope Island?!" Gotta go! And this is a perfect time of year! So we finally went and my sister Erika and her family joined us. We made a photo shoot out of it! To be honest, it was a little crazy with ALL of our 8 total kids under the age of 12. BUT, what a cool place! Such a different landscape. We saw 3 Bison up close and one crossing the road! "Ta Tanka!!!" I'm glad we went and I'd love to go back and take more pictures!!! Maybe without the 8 children!

Tarantula!

I have a REALLY hard time with spiders. This is probably because my sister Emily was bitten by a Brown Recluse when she was a little girl. I have felt lucky that I have gone 2+ years up in these mountains without a sighting...until NOW! Two weeks ago our neighbors brought down a tarantula in a Mason jar that they had found in front of their house. The kids had a ball playing with it. So, last week when Bailey was getting dropped off in our driveway she practically stepped on one!!!! We think it was already dead. Well, Kelly runs out and he and the boys examined it but I stayed inside and refused to hand over a Mason jar!!!! Well, Kelly thought he would be funny and put the thing in the urn outside the front door. I didn't know this until a friend of ours told me that Kelly had done this. Luckily I hadn't gone out to water the boxwood or I think I would have had a heart attack! Later the next day and after finding out where the tarantula was laid to rest, the kids and I walked up to the boxwood and were aghast at what we found! The dirt had been dug out and spewed all over the front step and the tarantula was bit in half!!!!!! YUCK! I don't know what got it but I was literally disgusted out of my mind! Can you say Arachnophobia!!!!

the Anthropologie bag

I have had my birthday planned for at least 4 months. I bought the tickets to see Scarlet Pimpernel at Hale theater, and I chose the restaurant to eat at. To be helpful, I even picked out something really cute at Anthropologie for Kelly to buy for me if he needed a present idea. I put it on hold and let Kelly know. Well, last night was a perfect night other than our race to the theater to get there at 4:00! I thought we were going to die with Kelly's driving!!! But we got there on time and the play was so enjoyable! After the play we had a little time to kill so I asked Kelly if we could stop at the Gap to pick up a shirt for Noah (I had a coupon I need to use and had already decided what to get). So I ran in and bought the shirt then asked Kelly if we could run into Anthropologie so I could show him the thing I had put on hold but he said that we should go so we weren't late for dinner. I was a little bummed. Well, Dine ORound Town started yesterday so we went to Metropolitan and had an AMAZING meal. After we ordered, the hostess came over with an Anthropology bag and said that it was left for me. I immediately thought of my hold and thought how great it was that Kelly had already picked it up! But no, there was a big box inside...shoes???? I didn't put shoes on hold!!!! OH NO! Then I saw it. A CANON box!!!! The lens I've been begging for and not expecting until Christmas!!!! I was sooo happy! Kelly said that he went to Anthropology and asked if he could have a bag so he could trick me!!! Well, this morning I was told not to come down to breakfast until called so I milled about. When I went down stairs, there was cinnamon french toast, eggs and sausage, cards from my sweet kids and a present "from the kids". It felt like someone's stuffed animal and was wrapped in a Pictureline bag tied with a bow. It was my Anthropologie hold!!!!! YEAH! I felt too spoiled for words!!!! I have to give Kelly credit for his clever surprise. I always tell him that he can NEVER surprise me because I know him too well. But he is improving! AND I LOVE IT! A perfect birthday! Now I'm off to my mom's for a feast that I didn't have to lift one finger for! 36 never felt so good!

Like sand through an hour glass...

Yesterday Jenna asked me to get down the hour glass from the top shelf in the office so she could play with it. (on my bed!) As I watched her discovering and closely watching the tiny particles of white sand flow in a steady stream from top to bottom, I thought how slow it may seem at first but then, before you know it, the sand is gone from the top, leaving it empty with the bottom full. It's funny how we can't wait for our children to get to the next milestone only to want to reverse time and hold on to their "babyhood". I love snuggling a baby/toddler. They are so soft and sweet smelling, needy and loving. Though Jenna is still a very affectionate girl and is in no way past this stage, I do worry that time will slip away too quickly. She is my baby. She is having her birthday in a couple weeks! A pink party for girl's only. She wants a pink car or a pink bike...she will be four. My heart is breaking writing this! She is a joy in every sense. I love her voice, her soft skin and hair, her "stormy sky" eyes, her expressive face and body language, her willingness to forgive, to love, to experience new things, her independent, strong, sure personality, and her love for things pink and girly. How many outfits did she put on yesterday? Who was she talking to all by herself in the office? How can I bottle her? I guess I better get on the stick with the video camera!!!! Oh how I love you Jean! Little Jenner by the Sea, Jennie Wren, Jane Seymore, Jenna Lyn! OXOoxOxxxO!

My Girl

I love late summer. Weather gets a little cooler, sunflowers in bloom, exquisite sunsets, wild flowers, tall golden grass...anticipation for autumn...

Bailey and I had fun with a little photo shoot tonight. She is beautiful and patient. As I sat on my computer looking through the pictures, she was in the room next to me playing Canon in D on the piano and I thought my heart would melt! I LOVE LOVE my little girl!!!!