Okay, here are a few Halloween pictures. This is our little ladybug this year...B! She is such a cutie!














This was one of the only pictures I got of both girls before trick or treating...since they were a bit too excited to get the night going!








I couldn't even get B to stand still for me to take a picture of her whole costume! Maybe when they get home!

















M is a butterfly fairy this year! She was the most anxious to get the night started and almost cried when I suggested taking pictures with her friend!!! She told me she would take pictures after trick or treating!!

















Our Halloween decorations this year! We all had fun getting it ready! After the final touches to the porch we went in and had a dinner of shrimp cocktail and chips and guacamole!! It worked!









This is B's Cinderella pumpkin! She was excited to have a princess pumpkin this year!












M decided on a bat pumpkin and was actually able to help carve it a bit this year!










Mommy got to pick this one...and daddy carved it!!

More pictures to come when the little ones get back!!

Halloween Cookies

One of the traditions we have is making Halloween cookies and delivering them to the neighbors. The girls love Halloween (even more than Birthdays and Christmas!) so I try to make it extra special for them. This year they both helped out so much.

B picked out a bat cookie cutter this year, that she just had to have! She really enjoyed cutting out the cookies. I must say that I was quite impressed with her this year. Last year I had to re-do a lot of overlapped cookie cut outs, but this year she did great!














M was also a great helper. She did such a great job rolling out the cookie dough. I figured I would have to help her, but I hardly had to do any of the rolling! I can't believe what a help she is!











B liked "helping" M roll the cookies out. They both also loved sprinkling the flour on the counter. B mostly sprinkled hers on the chair or in big piles, but she had fun!








Each of the girls only decorated a few cookies. Mommy decorates the cookies for neighbors. If they got the girls cookies they would be covered with candy, sprinkles, etc.!!











Our friends came over to decorate cookies with us! It was nice having someone her to chat with while we decorated so many cookies. And of course, the girls always love having their friends here!
















After the cookies are done we load them up in the wagon and deliver them to the neighbors!

















I send M and B up to the door to hand out the cookies! I think they really enjoy giving something to our neighbors, I think they feel pretty special. I am so glad they are such big helpers and have so much fun giving!

Wordless Wednesday

Change

Lately we have had beautiful weather. I often complain about where I live, but when the sun is shinning on a fall day, I doubt there is anywhere more beautiful. Yesterday I drove down to the stake center and was in awe of all the colors along the way. If I had my camera I would have been tempted to pull over on the interstate to take some pictures to perfectly remember the beauty. I love the deep reds and oranges and the bright yellows. I love how the bright colors make the trunks of the trees look so dark. I need to go out and get some more pictures!

These pictures are from my backyard...aren't I lucky! I love when a tree starts to change and only one branch of the leaves has turned color and the rest of the leaves are bright green.

I totally feel my saviors love when I look out on such a beautiful world. So often I complain about the cold, the sticky hot, etc. But I know that God loves me when I look out and see the beautiful ART He created knowing that I needed it and would love it.

A Preview!

Isn't she silly! B wanted to test out her Halloween costume so I thought I would snap a few pictures. She decided to be a bit silly in the pictures....which is so like her. I am so glad she has such a fun personality. Sometimes seeing her goofiness is just what I need! I know you will always make people HAPPY B, keep it up!

Wordless Wednesday- Changing

Sleeping Friends

Lately, my little ones have been obsessed with sleeping with a ton of stuffed animals. B has never been attached to any one animal and M has always slept with a pink mammoth my sister gave her when she was born. (The mammoth's name is "Baby" if you were wondering!)

When B goes to bed, she wants all ten of her stuffed animals on her chest so she can hug them all! It is funny to go in a few hours later and find her still covered by animals!



M actually piles the animals to the side of her pillow. She has about ten animals as well that sleep next to her. The animals usually change according to how she feels, except the mammoth is a staple!

I don't know how long the girls will be attached to the animals, but for now it is kind of cute!!

My Dolls!!

My little girls have done/said some funny things lately!!

Yesterday, B was "helping" me put my makeup on. Usually this consists of getting out my various make up items and asking if she can put them on. I usually let her put a bit of powder or blush on then proceed to wipe it off! Yesterday she was pulling out my makeup and came across my lipstick. Now, I don't wear lipstick much but she likes to roll it up and look at it. Yesterday, she decided to wear it. I was totally surprised because she has looked at the lipstick so many times without even touching it! I was taken back and stopped her from applying more! I told her to hold still while I got my camera! She thought she was in trouble but once I got the picture I told her she was okay! She said she was just trying it!!






Today in General Conference I showed B President Monson when he was opening the conference up. We pray for him so I thought it would be nice for her to put a face with the person we pray for. When President Eyring came up to speak B wanted to know if he was Jesus. I told her it wasn't but she looked pretty disappointed. I guess you just have to love the innocence of a child!


















This is the first year M has played soccer and she loves it!! She is so much fun to watch. The whole time she is on the field she is running around with a big smile on her face. I think she just enjoys being a part of a team that is fun! She is a bit nice though. We have to get her to realize it is okay to try and take the ball away from your opponent. She is too nice and will just sort of stand aside and smile so the other team can kick the ball past her!! She is so fun! At least she is a good sport!!


Today at General Conference M wanted to know if the Tabernacle choir were in heaven?? I thought that was cute. I guess the live broadcast is a bit hard for her to understand. We are always saying how t.v. isn't real...so when something on t.v. that she watches is real it can be a bit confusing!





I love you M and B and am so glad I get to be your mommy!! You always keep me on my toes and put smiles on my face!

Busy!

We've been busy around here the past few weeks. We have had my parents visiting and had one of R's mission companions and his family here. Here are a few things we got to do with grandpa and grandma.

Grandpa read lots of stories to the girls. R was working in the evenings so it was so nice to have my parents here to help with the girls and keep me company. I guess they also helped keep my house clean which is always nice! My dad is an expert dish washer!!

The girls had so much fun with their grandma and grandpa. One night they came down the stairs each wearing on of grandma's and one of grandpa's slippers. They had a lot of fun trying to walk in them! B also had a lot of fun playing with grandpa. One morning she played restaurant with him for about an hour, and he was one demanding costumer!! She just kept going back to her little kitchen to fix his order!! The day grandpa left B asked in the afternoon if he could come back to play with her!

We also went apple picking! The girls had fun, and it was a nice fall day. My favorite this year are the Cortland apples, R likes the Fuji and honey crisps, M liked the Cortland and B liked all the baby apples that were purple. (I tried to discourage picking the baby apples since they were small and not as ripe and we just let her believe the dark red apples were purple since that is her favorite color of late!!)

We are so glad my parents came out. We enjoyed going to a bakery for lunch, making pumpkin pie, going and browsing through the stores downtown, including a used book store, going to a national park and a local park, going to watch the girls at gymnastics and ballet, visiting a museum and just sitting and talking about lots of fun times!! We love you both and are so grateful you came. As a bonus to me...I didn't even cry until I watched you drive down the road...I believe that is a first for me!!

Wordless Wednesday

B's first day of Preschool!

So, B officially started school on September 9th, but life has been busy and this is the first chance I have had to think about it! She is growing up so quickly and I love her so much.

She wasn't sure she wanted to go to school the first day, but once she got there she just ran and play. I asked once if I could leave and she said no. About five minutes later I told her I was leaving and she said..."O.K. mommy, I love you." Wow, what a little dolly. I went to Target while she was at school and was amazed at the clear thoughts I was having sans children!!


On Wednesday, B was upset school wasn't every day, so she was really excited for Thursday. (So only goes to preschool twice a week). I left her there and I must say I felt a little lonely. I have had a little one around me for the past six years constantly and it was strange not to have one of sweet girls around. I know I was only alone for three hours, but it was a quiet three hours, which was good and bad.



B is so social and loves going to play with her friends. I love that she is turning into such a fun and loving little girl. I love you B!

Wordless Wednesday

First Day of FIRST Grade!!

So, today was M's second first day of school! She hasn't been very excited when I have brought it up this past summer, but much to my relief so woke up really excited today.

She was so excited she didn't want much breakfast and really didn't want to stop and pose for pictures! I settled for her eating a few bites of chocolate cocoa puffs, I know, real nutritious (blame her dad on this one!) and a few pictures before she was off to the bus stop!

She has two little friends around her age at the bus stop. S on the left just started kindergarten, M in the middle is in second grade, and M is in first! We are lucky to have some good friends so close for M to play with.

When M got off the bus she was "sooo hot!" I guess the school's a.c. doesn't work as well as the one in our house!

B was so excited to have M home again! B told me several times today that she missed M. She did have fun alone with mommy though...I think!

I can't believe my little girl is in first grade...time flies! I love you M and hope the year ahead is lots of learning, but especially a lot of fun!