Painting Pumpkins

Carving pumpkins was great messy fun, but it stormed the night we put them on the porch and so they didn't last very long, bummer. There was no way I was going to get all messy again so we just painted some little guys and it was great fun on a beautiful day!

September and October in Pictures

Here are the cousins waiting for the light rail in down town Tempe, reading the paper of course. Derek, Hunter, Summer, Audree, Lucy and Ethan.

Enjoying the sunshine and the water table from Aunt Emily.

I wish I had a better camera to capture this amazing sunset with. This is from our front yard.

A funny, random picture of a box in front of our library. Apparently there is no public use use.

Audree married Ethan and Lucy (cousins). I think all cousin do this at some point, right? I'm just glad it's at 3 and 4 and not older...hehe.

Val Vista Lakes

"The Talk"

Yes, THAT one. It happened. I've been trying to avoid it long enough. Audree really wants a little sister and I keep saying that it's up to her Dad (I want one, he doesn't). She didn't understand why it was his choice because she knows I am the one that grows the baby. She has been very insistent lately and I have been very vague. So today we went to her room and lay under her covers and had "the talk". I was specific, but still in a seven year olds language. I tried really hard not to laugh, but she kept saying, "Eww, that is so gross!" I think I pulled it off really well and she had some great questions, some that I would never think to ask, and have never asked and I still can't find an answer for her. Does anyone know how a female body grows eggs? I can't find any info or pictures on it. I just told her that Heavenly Father grows them with our body's vitamins and minerals and that's why she should eat healthy foods and take her vitamins. She is way smarter than I sometimes give her credit for. In a way I'm glad that I got through it, but I'm also sad. It means that I have a 'big girl' now, and she will only have more questions for me, I'm sure. At least now it is an open topic with us and I hope to keep it that way. I hope she will always come to me with questions.

We will be learning everything together from now on! I mean everything! I think we might be having too much fun, if thats possible...

So cute fabrics

I love this adorable fabric!

http://artgalleryfabrics.typepad.com/weblog/2010/07/weekend-adventures-fabric-giveaway.html#

Kenton turned One!

My baby boy turned one yesterday. I can't believe that he has been with us for a year already! He is such a sweet addition to our family. I can't imagine life without my little Kenny. Happy Birthday to my little sweetheart!

He loves Grandma's piano.

He did NOT like the fire.

Not sure what to do...

Like this?

YUM!

SO BIG!

Inspired

I listened to an inspiring message today. Stephanie Nielson. I have heard her story before but it really touched me today. I have been in a kind-of slump with my mood lately. My undiagnosed problems have me thinking crazy thoughts. Nothing to weird, just the normal 'woe is me' and 'what am I going to do with myself'. I have had four episodes since October last year. So it's pretty much for sure that I have or will have M.S. Yeah, it sucks. I feel like I'm just waiting for another episode to start. I know, it's no way live. But as I was listening to Stephanie talk about her life and how she knows who she is and she is not her body I connected with her and felt like I was the most selfish person on the face of the earth, next to B.O. My name is Stefanie Burningham and I am not my body. Though I have felt lots of pain it's not all the time and I can still be a mother and a great example of faith and courage. I know who I am and I know God's plan. I have a great purpose and work to do here on this earth. I love my husband and my kids. They make me so happy! They are my purpose. I have hope. I can do it and do it great. I am incredible:

yay me!

The Best Spa Treatment Ever!

MUD PARK!

We had a blast this morning at the mud park. Our city put on a great party with mud, water, slides, and food. Kenny, who is almost 1 didn't enjoy it as much as the rest of us.

A Few Projects

Audree got a new purple quilt for her bed to match her castle mural (which is now slightly off-centered because we moved the bed). So that called for a room makeover!

I made some girly curtains complete with flowers and lace, all in purple!

(yes the rod is sagging...Clark will fix it for me) And it was really hard for me to take pictures of a window with all that light coming in right where I didn't want it! Oh well , they're really cute in person, you'll just have to take my word for it.

I also recently recovered these nasty old dining chairs for a friend of a friend (kids, pets, husbands, you know...). yuck.

This was my favorite one. The lady wanted all different animal prints. So that's what she got! Of course they are covered with plastic, too. I love my plastic dining chairs (kids, remember?)

and a bunch of matching pillows which turned out fabulous!

That's just a little of what I've been up to. Hopefully my next post will be of a trip to the zoo (if I am brave enough to handle the heat).