leaves change, i change.

Fall continues here in Kentucky.

Although it feels like it's quickly coming to an end.  It's hard to tell in the picture below but I was standing in white, frosted grass.  Brrrrr...

More cell pictures...

Not sure what kind of face I carved in that tiny pumpkin but it was molding and I just cut the mold off.  What kind of pumpkin molds before it's cut?  I've never seen that before.

Brody drew a cute face on his, all by his lonesome.  Haha!  Oh three year olds.  They are cute.

Then there's H helping me clean.  (that's a Cherrio, not buckteeth.  Although he does have two very prominent front teeth.   And he KNOWS how to use them.)

Then there's me- getting all bow crazy for church today.  My hair, shoes, and top.  I almost wore my stockings with bows in them but that would've been overboard, probably ;)  It was fun doing my hair like that- I'll be doing it more.  I got lots of love from lovely ladies at church.  (Ignore the hair-loss-regrowth in the back;)

We've resurrected Rockband.  We've been playing it more lately and of course Tony wastes me every time.

Brody is a dunker.  I didn't teach him this, because I'm not.  Are you?

He also got a giant ball in the mail from his cousins!  It came JUST like that- with the postage just stuck to it.  Awesome, right?

Oh... and I cut myself bangs.  Here's a myspace-esque kissy face picture to show it best.  haha!  What do you think?  I'm liking the change so far- I've had side swept bangs since high school..

Okay NOW have a happy halloween(;

Happy Halloween!

Although it may look welcoming, don't come to my house- we'll be out trick-or-treating with the kiddos (for the third and final time this year... zoo & trunk or treat were the others)  Still unsure about my exact costume.. haha.  This is so unlike me.  But next years is figured out!  (I say that now)

I'm very excited for tomorrow!  But not as much as B, I'm sure.  

Happy Halloween, friends.

it warms my heart

Tony found some caramel apple cider 

in a tin

at the store. 

He knows how much I love the stuff from Starbucks (it's all I get there, you know)

so he got it for me.

Little things like this warm my heart.
Not to mention warms everything else
...which is something I need right now. :p

And if you've never tried a green apple soaked in apple cider, you had better.  Scrumptious.

yesterday

was warm

I galavanted around target
(with the kids in tow, of course)

we took the kids trick-or-treating at our church party

& Tony and I cuddled on the couch to a Redbox movie when it was all over.

Today is rainy and cold.

But these days are just as great.

What I've been up to, cell phone style

::Two weekends ago Brody got to trick or treat for the first of many times this year at the Zoo.  It was a really cute thing for the kids- they loved it!  I made a liar out of myself again- Brody did wear the same costume as last year (but just for that event).  I'll blog about it sometime.

::We went to a Halloween play date at a friends house and we were supposed to bring a halloween food so I brought mummy dogs.  My friend Shirley had them at her halloween party last year, that's where I got the idea.

::Since our ward at church is having a party this week for Halloween we went to a pumpkin patch this weekend to get our pumpkins for it.  It was such a fun/cute farm- I'll have to blog about that too sometime.

::Now that the weather is cooler, I've been doing lots more photo shoots.  I couldn't ask for a prettier place to take them!  Kentucky is gorgeous.

::At that Halloween playdate I mentioned, costumes were optional.  I wasn't sure if anyone would be dressed up so to be safe I threw the boys capes on.  Didn't want to over do it in case no one else dressed up (and no one else did ;)  They look so stinking cute in them.

::Last night, like a fool, I ate a snowcone since I was craving sweet.  Then I was freezing and hot chocolate was in order.  Tony and I bought a coffee maker several years back just for this time of year- and just for hot chocolate.  I love that it's so cold here hot chocolate is good till the last drop. (in AZ I would always get too hot halfway through ;)

::A nice note in our mailbox from the missionaries.  

::Hyrum all bundled up for bed.  You should see him with the hood on and feet and hand covers on.  He looks like the kid on A Christmas Story!  haha!  Oh, and he's obsessed with remotes and cries when I take them.  So he gets that one that we never use.

::Musicians in the making.

:: the pretty sky on the way to Boo at the Zoo.

::That time we all got sick, but before I got sick, and Brody was the only sick one, Hyrum did this while I was tending to Brody.  Stinker!

::one of our favorite traditions once fall hits is going to Yankee Candle in the mall and picking out our fall scents.  mmm.

::H climbing in the toy/diaper basket

::Anyone else feel happy when they see vacuum lines in the carpet?  Or am I the only weirdo around here...

::Tried my first cake pop at Starbucks and also threw in a Red Velvet whoopie pie to try and I was DISGUSTED!  AHHH!  They were schnasty.  Hopefully cake pops don't always taste that bad.

::We tried our hand at the McDonald's monopoly game this year.  haha!  (Should I be spreading this around?)  Anyway don't worry, they ran out of stamps one day and gave Tony a huge bag full of them.  So we really didn't eat there more than a few times during the course of the game.  Which is more than we usually do all year...ish.  It paid off though, we won several free meal items and a $5 Wal-mart card.  lol

I've also been...
planning Hyrum's birthday party & figuring out my halloween costume.  It's funny, I spend the whole year with an idea in mind then Brody decides he wants to be something- then I want Hyrum to match him- then Tony wants to- then I'm the outcast.  So I usually end up being something completely different than what I planned on all year but o well.   If not that, I just decide last minute I'd rather be something else (like last year).  We'll see how this year pans out- it's not exactly set in stone as of now what I'm going to be and all that jazz.

sugar cookie fun + recipe

You know those amazing sugar cookies you get in the plastic boxes at the grocery store- that have that bright colored soft frosting and sprinkles on them that are so soft and fat?  Well, this recipe makes those soft and fat sugar cookies.  They are great!  Of course, you can roll them out super thin and make them have more crunch too.  I did that- because it made my shapes come out and look more like what it was supposed to.  When I didn't roll it out thin enough they got all puffy.  I guess puffy owls are cute too, though.  We made these a couple weeks ago.  B loved doing this.  We did it for him, after all.

I told Brody it was time to clean up and this is the face I got.  Haha!  He gave it to me long enough for me to capture it.

We decorated them that night for family night activity.  I made just simple powdered sugar, milk, & food coloring icing for Brody to use.

Brody's creations...

 Yeah I'm still finding these sprinkles around the joint.

Soft Sugar Cookies:

1 c. butter

2 c. sugar

1 c. sour cream

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. baking soda

4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

4 1/2 to 5 1/2 c. flour (sifted)

Directions:  Cream butter, sugar, sour cream, eggs, vanilla until smooth.  Add dry ingredients.  Mix just until combined.  Chill in fridge at least 1 hour.  Roll to 1/2'' thick on floured surface (the thicker, the softer, the less flour, the more flavor)  Bake at 325F for about 11 minutes.  Cookies will look barely done- do not over bake!  (I'm not sure where this recipe originated from- I got it from a friend in my last church ward.)

(Supposed to be) Fall colored leaves, pumpkins, & an owl.  Not red & yellow Christmas trees;)

There she blows.  (She doesn't blow though... these are mighty tasty, seriously.)

fall sweets & treats

When Halloween is in the air there's one thing on most people's minds.  Well, maybe just my mind.  SUGAR!  I've always had a bit of a sweet tooth myself but it seems when these holidays roll around it get's even more attention.  Understandable.  And I'm sure most people are the same way.  So here's what my (our) sweet tooth has been up to...

::a trip to a far away Krispy Kreme (went twice the distance to this one, by accident, since I decided to take a "scenic route"; but found out it was much cuter/more historic looking than the other one we have nearby. So it worked.  Cutest doughnuts around, right?
::made these cookies for the heck of it one weekend night with Tony.  Then we had them every day for several days.  It's a big batch.  You've tried them right?!  They are my favorite in the world.
::also made sugar cookies- recipe soon.  Gosh I need to lay off the cookies.  For a festive treat you must try this.
::Oh yes and the dentist chair.  It happens.  (So do unbuttoned retarded looking boots.  I was in a hurry... didn't want the dentist to think I was taking a picture since I was happy to be there, or it's like a new thing.  *sigh.  You bloggers get me.)  Well, cavities this time.  What am I twelve? I floss everyday.  You did this to me.  And that's why we're taking a break.  It's not you, it's me.  No... no it's you.

anniversary highlights

Technically, we already celebrated our anniversary.  Early.  Just us two.  In MICHIGAN!  (best trip ever)  But, obviously we had to make the actual day special too.  Tony had to work but came home with a cute smile and cute flowers for me.  Then we opened gifts and went to dinner.  A nice friend offered to babysit but we had already got Brody excited about Red Robin so all four of us went.  We went on a drive afterwards.  Tony wanted to show me a cute neighborhood he ran into that has beautiful fall colors and more leaves everywhere than we've ever seen.  I didn't get a good picture.

After putting the kids to bed, I started putting together a cute little candlelit "dinner".  Where we didn't actually eat- but there were lots of things on the "menu".  Tony has filled my life with so much, I wanted him to know what those things are.  Klutzy me, however, stabbed myself with a Ginsu knife while carving out those tiny devil pumpkins.  It was a reeeaaally bad cut... I had to tape myself back together with moleskin- in hopes of avoiding the emergency room and stitches.  Haha!  This would (did) happen to me.  We watched TV and played farkle and called it a night.  I love my husband!

Brody took this picture of us on our point and shoot.  One perk of having a 3 1/2 year old; but obviously not the only one.

My favorite part was the card Tony drew for me of us and our family.  It was a timeline of us- and he also predicted the future.  Literally the cutest thing ever, I'm going to frame it.

we ♥ fall

A week ago today Brody got to play in his first ever leaf pile; Hy too for that matter.  (This was before I hacked off his hair- my worst hair job yet.  Yes, worse than the time I gave my little brother monk bangs.  Brody even told me "I want my long hair again!" lol. Sorry kiddo.)  Anyway, I think it was his first leaf pile... we never got to do this in AZ anyway.  (The palm trees in our yard weren't really conducive for this kind of entertainment.)  He was loving it!  I was loving the upper body workout raking them, watching the boys enjoy it, and the pizza Tony brought home in the middle of our fun.

Hyrum - 11 months

This months picture inspired by Halloween and that costume I found in our costume bucket.  Gorjilla!  (Godzilla)  Why do we even have a costume bucket?  It's not like we reuse costumes each year.  Then again I just did so never mind.  

My child is 11 months today!  E-L-E-V-E-N!

At 11 months he...

::Has four teeth!  His two front teeth came in in the last month!

::Is in 2 nap-limbo and it's driving me crazy!  He sometimes wants one- sometimes two- and it's never around the same times.  So I don't have a "schedule" and it's so not me.  He's also decided to wake up 4 times a night, and I end up nursing him once or twice in there too.  I don't mind- I figure he's teething & it helps him.

::he's a tiny kid.  He still fits comfortably in his carrier which is nice because we haven't had to buy a new car seat; but it's weird to me too.  Brody was too big for it at 6 months so this is new.

::taking steps here and there but hasn't started walking.  I'm in no hurry for this!

::destroys everything he gets his hands on (my iphone charger, books, & pulls the mossy stuff out of our fake tree pots- this has been ongoing since he could crawl, who am i kidding)

::loves shaking his head "no" and waves hi by thrusting his arm straight at you.

::when i find him holding something I'd rather he wasn't, and I say "what you got there, Hyrum??" he instantly hands it over.  Haha!  He loves handing us things.  And he tricks me by wanting to feed me but then pulls it away and eats it himself. :p

::gives big open mouth wet kisses on demand (i can't remember how old he was when this started)

::he likes to do summersaults off of Brody's bed.  Haha!  It's hilarious to watch (it's a low toddler bed, don't worry)

::likes putting cars down this ramp Brody has.  He's a smart kid & understands lots of the things I say to him.

::still dances- but more animated.  He especially loves this song.

::kinda reaches for me.  He hasn't done this consistently in his life and it makes me sad.  It's one thing I LOVE babies doing.  Although, he's a momma's boy for suuuure.  He cries when I leave the room.  It melts my heart!

We love our little Hyrum man!

DIY- Fall Wreath & my Halloween decor

This week I went to craft night at my church.  It's one of my favorite activities all year and sadly the last few times I have missed it, for one reason or the other.  So, I was glad I was able to go this year.  One of the crafts we made were yarn and felt wreaths!  I've seen them all over blogland but didn't realize how simple they were until I started this.  So, I thought I would share this tutorial with those who would like to know.  And anyway I had to do it at home since once again I signed up for too much.
Get:
felt
scissors
hot glue gun
wreath form
yarn
ribbon or lace- to hang
optional: leaves

 First, cut your felt into a wavy circle.  Practice with different size waves and different size wavy circles.

 Cut in a spiral, leave a circle in the middle.. it will be your base.  The thicker your spiral, the taller your flower will be.  Start on the outside and roll in, keeping the bottom in line.

So you have this:

 Put hot glue on bottom, close it up, and trim around the base.

 The yarn part is really straightforward.  Just wind around.  It's monotonous and I wouldn't wish that torture on anyone... but I think it was worth it.  Be lazy and do it a little sloppy like mine or you can be really precise and get it perfect (I don't recommend that... too much work!)

 Use more than one color- really any colors you like.  I thought about adding maroon flowers but didn't feel like driving to the craft store.

 To hang, I took some lace I had left over from this baby shower and tied it around.  I tried it out on my front door (but then brought it in, since I have my halloween stuff up right now).  I realized it was needing one more thing... some leaves!  I think it added so much.

I love it!

It's true, I put up my halloween decorations in mid September.  In Arizona I would've never done this- but it was in the 60's and cold here so I was feeling my fall decorations much sooner this year; and couldn't help myself.  I liked looking back on last years decorations post (in doing so I realized I missed putting out a few things).  So it was nice to be reminded of them.  I found them.  I don't have a mantle in this house so decorating was a little tricky since I need things out of reach of my kids.  Maybe next year I'll have a mantle.  Oh what I would do if I had an unlimited budget for decorations.  But alas...