Annual Harvest Fair

Our ward had its annual chile cook-off tonight. It was really fun last year, so I was excited to go again. I got the kids dressed in their Halloween duds and met Jeff there. Our neighbors the Haights got second place with their chile...woo-doggy! get 'em...everything they make is good; I'm not surprised! Anyway, we had a fun time. Here are the kids in their Halloweenie shirts Max was running around like a crazy guy...well, he always runs around like a crazy guy, but even more so tonight. It was fun to see him interact with some of his friends from his moonbeams class... He was so excited to see Carter and Nate, he could hardly stand himself. Nate Briscoe and Max playing 'ring around the rosie' and running back and forth across the gym floor...Max should sleep well tonight!

Our harvest family picture...ha ha, of the three they took, this was the best one...just the way it goes with kids, right? love it. There are so many fun things to do in the autumn-time...I LOVE IT!

Pumpkin Patch take 2

We met our neighbors at another pumpkin patch tonight. Still no pumpkins were purchased, but there was fun to be had. I don't think I could get sick of autumn-time parties and festivities...we WILL be going to another patch, don't be alarmed. *took some silly pictures.

*got a substantial ride on a tractor.

{like 10 minutes or more}
*posed like champs.

*found a bum-shaped pumpkin...

{the only one Max would stop to look at}

what could be more fun?

Apple Bottom Jeans...

...Boots with the fur ...The whole club was lookin' at her
Ivy wore her first pair o' jeans today...and real shoes ...and she loved it!

thanks!

that's all I have to say about that.

This Weekend

We did lots of things...

My cousin Sherry was here, which was waaay fun! Sherry and I were roommates while I was at BYU for a while, and have always been good friends. We had a really fun time together, and she was Such a Big Help because I had a T-rex arm all weekend, and was pretty much a one-armed bandit. It was sooo nice to have her here!

Max and I made more Strawberry freezer jam...we tried it with Splenda this time...a personal joy of mine. We'll see if it tastes as good as the other stuff that we seem to down like it's goin' out of style. We were trying to use up the last part of the box that we used to make Grandpa's Bday present...hope you're enjoying it, Grandpa!!! Ivy ate some more rice cereal! mmmm
Sherry flew out on Monday night...from San Diego. She hadn't been to SeaWorld since she was like 5, so we spent all day there, and took her to the airport at 6. We had such a fun, chill day, and did some things that we hadn't done before.

Shamu...makes Max nervous everytime, but he always LOVES it...and was totally doing the Shamu Slam, which he usually won't do!

We were in the splash zone, but didn't get wet...phew!

We went on the SkyRide over the bay...so fun. Just a quick little jaunt, but it was fun to fly over the sailboats. Max loved it!

He was so excited, this was the best picture we could get of the little turkey.

Sad you're gone, Sher! Come again in November!!!!

Pumpkin Patch take1

My cousin, Sherry came to visit us for the weekend. We've had so much fun catching up!

We went to the Miramar Marine Corps Air show this morning, and then she wanted to meet up with one of her friends that she hasn't seen since High School, so we went to a free pumpkin patch in Irvine. We didn't buy any pumpkins, we just played and jumped in the bounce house while Sher visited. Max was having a blast, but especially did a good job of holding Ivy when I asked...I couldn't resist posting these...

'hay!'

the cutest pumpkin in the patch

a lesson in textures...she's holding herself up!

Riding an elephant...

deer in the headlights...but they're both looking!

...can't wait to go to another patch and buy our pumpkins!!

6 Months

Yesterday was Ivy's half-birthday! woo hoo!

we celebrated by going to Disneyland for a minute to buy Max's Annual Disneyland Pass, taking her token build-a-bear shot, the same picture we do every month next to the bear that Max made her to see how big she grows, and by trying out... Rice Cereal!

I've been waiting and waiting to get the cereal for free...but, I couldn't resist it at the store yesterday for a dollar something, and while Max and I were eating lunch, she finally got a taste of real food!
poor thing, I haven't gotten the baby spoons out again, didn't feel like getting up to get the bibs that would actually fit her, so she got it with a big ole Metal spoon in her mouth...but didn't mind it. So fun! we'll try her out again today...maybe. :) the baby spoons are still in the garage...

Did I mention her stats?

She grew an inch, and one pound since her 5 month appt...

26.5 inches and 14 lbs, 12 oz...75th % for height, 50th% for weight.

perfect!

Highlights of our...

...trip to the Desert:

We were so busy and we did so much...the time went so fast! These are some of the things that we did.

We played on the piano with Grandma...We watered Grandma's Garden...a ton...were rescued from a scorpion and got to feast on the fruit of the vine...a home-made cucumber! thanks, Grandma!We played with Lisa Cole...and Rylee and Tyse, of course...And then pretended to BE Lisa Cole, by giving Ivy another haircut...I guess this only happens at Grandmas...And then, subsequently, Lisa Cole had a beautiful one of these:Hi, baby Kate! I was so excited that I was there to see a sweet little baby Cole! Rylee will be an awesome sister to a girl!Grandma took us to give the ducks an early Thanksgiving...Ivy liked that...And took Max fishing for his first time...didn't catch anything, but Max was Uber patient...and did an awesome job listening!We shot off rockets that Grandma made...and showed everyone that came over just how cool they are...and they really are cool!

Then, we went to the Hall of Flame...a fire fighting museum!There was huge room after huge room of amazing old-fashioned fire trucks...And even one that looked like "Red" from Cars, that we could get in, play on, pull switches, turn levers, etc. Max was sooo happy!This wasn't his favorite part...but he loved every other part!Ivy loved it! She loves everything!We made this and these...And these with Shirley!and started to make something that will eventually look like this...my friend Kristy introduced me to this idea...and I totally wanted one...but so expensive, so my mother in law says, as always...'we can make that!'...

So, here are the beginning stages...to be continued...

Then we played in Maricopa... visited our old house, and played with Tara and Lacey and made us each one of these: Chalkboards! I was making it for Max and Ivy to color on...but sorry, I like it too much, I'll have to do another one for them...and got one of these for my birthday! oh my! thank you, Caffeine! I love it, Tara!

We had an amazing time, but need to come back quickly so we can do more projects! a week is certainly not long enough!!!