October

 I can't believe we are already well into October, nearly halfway to be exact. I am really wishing that we would have planned a trip up to Utah this week since Crew is out of school, and because those fall leaves are calling my name! I can't get over the foliage I'm seeing in others photos. And we are also craving some cold weather. Thanksgiving can't come soon enough! 

I'm feeling so overwhelmed lately by our "stuff." Selling everything we own and just traveling abroad sounds very enticing to us lately, but that's for another season of our lives. I already chucked a giant black bag of toys...but my house just seems worse. It's surprisingly really frustrating to me. Hoping to get it all under control very soon. So for now I just do what I can and light a pumpkin spice candle, and all is right in my world again. Thank goodness for all of these holidays coming up. I need these candles to keep me sane! (ha..ha)

Fourth of July 2017

I love that Crew jumped right in, to light his other sparkler from Laney's sparks. 

There is so much to write about this day! We were all feeling a little sad because we were missing both our families back home so much. I grew up every summer going to Utah for the big parade and endless cousin sleepovers for 2 weeks straight, so anything out of the ordinary just takes some getting used to. Even though we've been doing sales for 6 summers now, the 4th never gets any easier! Yesterday I was listening to another podcast (slightly addicted) and I decided that I get to choose how the day went. (shocker right?) So I sent an uplifting text to Alex, and got the kids really excited for a festival downtown. 

Alex ended up selling really well, and came home at 4pm! We headed to dinner, and then downtown. See, Crew had this festival built up in his mind that included children's games, cotton candy and bounce houses. We arrived, and there was none of that! I felt really bad because we already didn't go to a parade, and now the festival was a blow. (too hot, overcrowded, beer everywhere) Luckily we met up with a family from our ward who we LOVE, so that turned our night around! 

We gave the kids some sparklers, and just enjoyed time together! Zach and Lindsey came too, and it was so fun being all together! Lydia is seriously the happiest, and best baby I have ever seen. Crew is still convinced that she doesn't know how to cry ha ha. We took some photos of Meredith and Crew together. Us moms were gushing all over their cuteness! We secretly wish that we could use these photos again during their wedding video, we will see about that! We've loved being with the Ballard family out here! They are in our ward, and Brady used to work with us at Medsource Pharmacy in UT. Small world! 

I thought for sure the kids would love the fireworks. Crew did last year! But all 3 of them cried 98% of the time. It was really funny, and really sad at the same time. I did enjoy Peter clinging to me all night with his head buried in my chest. I don't get enough of that these days from that busy body. 

We ended the night carrying tired bodies into their beds and crossing our fingers that they would sleep till 10am! They woke up at 8:30am, so that's good enough. I love being with these people, and I love being able to celebrate our freedom. So grateful for that! 

Madeline & Batman

I've been looking forward to this holiday for a while and I cannot believe it's over. It was so good to get together with both sides of our family this year. My family came down for a couple days and it was so needed! They just adore the kids (a little too much...buying them whatever they want!) and they made this holiday even more fun. I am totally not a huge fan of Halloween. It can get pretty scary & evil out there with all of the costumes...so I'm hoping I can keep helping telling my cute kids what to be every year. I wonder how long it will last. Crew has wanted to be Batman or Tarzan for a while...but when we found a Batman costume at Costco he was sold on that. Easy. With Laney she was either going to be "boo" from monsters inc. or some sort of fairy tale character but I wanted it to be unique. So I came up with Madeline! Scoured Pinterest for tutorials and that was that. Luckily her cousin Hazel was the same thing so Mariah and I carved out a few hours to crank these dresses out and we couldn't be more in love! I kept telling Alex how badly I wanted Laney to wear dresses and capes like this everyday...or at least for church. :) We had dinner at the Martinsen's house with my family there too before we set out for the candy! Before dinner Mariah pulled out a darling cake that said, "baby" on it and that made the night! They are having a little girl in April and we all so happy for them! Now we even have more of a reason to hang on to these little Madeline costumes! 

*disclaimer: Laney is not my favorite child...Crew was just too darn busy running around being Batman to take a picture. And I am picture happy so I followed this girl around for a bit until I was satisfied.*

 She knew exactly what to do with that pumpkin bucket. 

 Getting Laney to stand by Hazel for one picture was quite the task!

 Grandma Tara pulled out her Batman pajamas and Crew was in heaven with that! Grateful Mariah takes pictures too because I know that at least one of us will be able to take pictures family events. It's seriously so nice sharing that hobby together! 

It was such a fun night filled with way too much candy. I am kicking myself for not getting pictures of the kids with Alex and I or the grandparents. I am so bad at that. New year's goal for next year!

Now I am already trying to plan out ideas for next Halloween with 3 little kids in tow...3 blind mice? haha maybe not that...but I am so excited for it!  

Halloween 2014

Hey look we celebrated Halloween! (sort of) We dressed up the kids with stuff we found around the house. Thank goodness for cousins who give us their old toys/dress-ups! 

Crew was a fireman, although he calls himself "firetruckkkk?!"

 His face lit up when he saw his little kitty cat sister

 Laney is a black kitty:

 I know, I know...not the best whiskers, but she wouldn't stop moving. I think she looks darn cute. 

 Awesome costume right? Wink, wink...

Until next time!

Happy 4th of July

This 4th of July was super fun with Crew! Last year he was too little to understand or even care about what was going on...so naturally we missed out on the parade and fireworks. 

In Illinois we lived so close to the cutest town you ever saw. Glen Ellyn! The houses are the typical American dream. Just picture the cover of Better Homes and Garden's. Beautiful streets lined with huge green trees, and patios with adorable patio furniture.( I will post pictures once I can download them. My friend Lindsey snapped the best ones!) One day we will have a home like that...one day! 

Anyway...back to our day!

We went to the parade in Glen Ellyn and Crew was in heaven the whole time. He loved every minute of it, especially when the fire trucks went by! I am bummed that the people in the parade didn't give more candy out..I thought that was the point...just kidding.

Later that day we went to the park (pictures to come) and went to fireworks that night! Fireworks were probably the best part of the day for Crew! He was enamored by them and wasn't scared at all! 

 This summer has been so much more fun with cousin Hazel! Last summer we were anxiously waiting  her arrival. She is my favorite little niece! We are working with Crew and his relationship with her. It's a love/hate type of thing. 

 Just showing off his cute festive outfit! 

 These babies will melt you! They are about a month or so apart and are so much fun. They look like they could be twins! I can't wait to have a baby at this age again. It's truly the best! 

 The shoes were a must for this day! Couldn't pass them up! 

 I think this picture was taken AFTER the fire trucks left, and he was wondering where they went! 

 Im pretty sure Crew likes his aunt "riah" way more than me sometimes! Lately whenever he gets hurt or in trouble he says in a whiny voice "riahhhh, riahhhh" as if she can come rescue him or something. Typical aunt/nephew relationship I guess! The aunts will always be more fun than the mom :)

 SO funny. After the parade was over and the people started to clear out, he spotted a Bubble Guppy chair across the street! Of course he made a B-line straight for the thing. It was pretty cute. 

Holiday's with babies/kids are SO much fun! I love the stage that Crew is in...even though it can be a real challenge. Thankful for this country and the freedom's we have! This holiday also makes me think of our Savior and the agency that he has allowed us to have. What a gift!