Fall Festivities

Yes, we've been out of town again. Ever since my mom married and went to Farmington, Utah I can't get enough of that place. We have been there once a month since April. I love to go visit her because it is green and beautiful, it is cooler and they have great shopping. My favorite part is that it is family friendly with tons of community places and activities for kids. And of course, my mom is there. The girls had a blast doing all of the fall festivities such as cornbellies at Thanksgiving Point, Gardner Village and two birthday costume birthday parties. Here are some pics...






Avery's Halloween line this year:

Grandma: well Avery are you ready to go home?

Avery: No, my bag isn't heavy yet, it's not full. See!

Birthday time for Avery!

Avery is turning 3 and it's a very special day.

ABC: It's Me

ABC, IT'S ME!
A- Attached or single: Attached

B- Best Friends: Outside of my marriage; my Mom and my sister, Shelley.

C-Cake or Pie: Pie.

D- Day of choice: Um, Saturday because Travis is home more!

E- Essential Item: Chocolate.

F- Favorite Color: PINK.

G- Gummi Bears or Worms: Yuck!

H- Hometown: Las Vegas

I- Indulgence(s): Chocolate

J- January or July: July

K- Kids: Avery and Madelyn

L-Life is Incomplete Without: Family and chocolate...

M- Marriage Date: August 4, 2001

N- Number of Siblings: 2

O- Oranges or Apples: Oranges

P- Phobias or Fears: AHH! SPIDERS!

Q- Quotes: Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle.
- Thomas S. Monson

R- Reason To Smile: When the girls are sleeping. I'd shout but then I'd wake them. Watching them sleep always makes me smile.

S- Season: Spring

T- Tag Two: Natalie and Heather Benson

U- Unknown Fact About Me: I like to play Back Gammon with my husband and it can keep us up all night.

V- Vegetarian or Meat Eater: Where's the beef?

W- Worst Habit: Chocolate

X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: ultrasounds.

Y- Your Favorite Food: Does desert count? If not, Roasted Chicken Pita!

Z- Zodiac: Gemini

FALL

When we go to visit my mom I always love to stop at Thanksgiving Point. It is a fabulous, fun family place to be. This last trip I went with my Mom and new step sisters and their kids whos kids are the same ages as mine and I love it.

Avery's Room

This is another paper mache letter that I did in Avery's room. While I was taking a picture of it I decided to take pictures of her room too. It is nearly finished which is quite remarkable for me because I have a difficult time completing projects. I start so many projects with out finishing them. It has been nearly a year since I started Avery's room. Last month I finally got nightstands which were old antiques I had refinished. Now I am waiting on a dresser. I'm not sure how I am going to fit it in the room now. When we first moved to this house this room seemed so large. Now I have it stuffed so full it looks small. This is a really fun room and I thought it would fit Avery's personality but Madelyn loves it even more than Avery. That's great though because they will have to share it soon. I think it is good for kids to share rooms.

BOO!

This is my Halloween project. It was really fun, really simple, and really cheap. I came up with the idea a couple of months ago but finally got around to completing it today. It wasn't what I originally had in mind but I think it still turned out cute...

Uh Oh!

It seems to me that Madelyn is doing everything about 3 months sooner than Avery did. Little Miss has figured out how to go up the stairs, open the cupboards, and enjoys unrolling the toilet paper. This week she has even begun walking. Only three maybe four steps and then falls to the ground but I know it won't be long...

Dance With Me

I am not a photographer for sure. I tried to take pictures of this sweet moment but they are terrible. Still, I must post them for the sake of remembering this precious moment...

Avery has always seemed a non girly girl and that has quite pleased Travis. But lately it's all about dresses, shoes and princesses. We were both caught off guard the other day when she saw an outfit and said, "oh that's cute!" I love it, Travis dreads it.

A few days ago Avery put this dress on and her little pink shoes. Then she told me she was a princess, went down stairs and asked Daddy to dance with her. I can only recall twice when Travis ever danced with me but how could he refuse a "princess".

Activity Box

This is an activity box that I made for Avery for sacrament. I decorated a tin box and each week we fill it with a coloring activity, treats and a magnet activity. She loves it. She now loves going to church. I try to get us ready really early and our Sunday goes so much smoother. She is always telling me, "mom, are you ready yet. Let's go to church!" She loves dressing up. This particular Sunday she was just too cute. The hair with the headband, the bracelets, the glasses and of course the shoes. She is so much fun.

Since we've been gone...

Travis had shoulder surgery at the end of August. This is week 5 post surgery and he is anxious to get back in the game. He has done a lot better than I thought he would. I remember that when we were in high school he broke his hand but still played basket ball. I didn't think even surgery would keep him down but he has done really well. His new game is Back Gammon until he can get back onto the greens.






This picture is so Avery. She is little miss independent. "I can do it on myself!" she tells us. She loves wearing crazy socks. What a riot. The other day she was with Travis while I was out for something. Knowing that dad would not likely consent to her having a cookie she cleverly asked him for milk. When he got out the sippy to poor it in she protested that she wanted a big glass. So, of course she got a big glass. As she went to sit down at the table she said, " oh dad, how 'bout a cookie for my milk." Man, she knows how to work it.





These are some pictures from our trip to Farmington this month. One special thing that my mom does is decorate for the Holidays. This is particularly exciting for Avery and when we went up there this last trip my mom, Brooke and Avery prepared the house for Halloween.

I miss my Mom terribly since she married and moved away; but at least she moved to a great place. Farmington is absolutely beautiful. Her new husband, Brent, has a lot of fruit trees. Avery has enjoyed cherry picking and now peaches. They also have a walnut tree, plums, pears, and apples. Our summer trips have greatly contributed to Avery's strong appreciation for fruit. This trip we made peach jam. I wish I took a picture of that. Avery loves to pick the fruit from the trees and the vegetables from the neighbors garden. We love to go visit in the summer and fall. I don't think we will make it up there too often in the winter though.

So that was September...