Thankful...

Even though I try to be thankful MOST of the time, I am always reminded at this time of year for the blessings in my life. I feel so blessed to have some wonderful friends! These girls are two of my favorites...

Hollie and Trish and I were, at one time, attached at the hip! Trish and I have been friends since college and she was my roommate for three years before I moved here and Hollie, her and I were constantly together - hanging out, vacationing, laughing in the good times and even crying during some hard trials! We were reunited this weekend and it was a blast. Something about these two...we live far but they are always near in my heart and when we're together it feels like we pick up right where we left off!


One of my faves!


Morning coffee together...just like the old days!


See Tricia's cute almost six month pregnant belly? Can't wait to see that 'lil boy!

Love you girls...THANK you for making the trip. It means more to me than you'll ever know!

Halloween

Instead of telling you the gory (pun intended) details of the day - don't worry no blood, only tears (not just from my kids eyes!) I'll just show you the cute pics and how we ended the day...happily ever after!


The Princess and her Pumpkin!


Impossible to get one of both of them looking at the camera


I love the cozy baby costumes


Liv and one of her best buds Micah

Honestly, I do love the fall, but I'm not so hot for Halloween! I'm happy when it's over because then it seems we're full speed ahead until Christmas...let the holiday season begin!

"Punky" Patch

That's "Pumpkin" for those of you who don't speak two year old! We went to a local patch this weekend for some fall fun, I think the pictures will speak for themselves...


A beautiful fall foliage shot to entice my friend Andrea to visit us soon!!


They were shooting pumpkins out of a cannon...really, I don't make this stuff up!


Our newest lil' punkin, taking it all in!


mmmm...Pumpkin donuts for lunch? what kind of mom allows that, nope not me!




We attempted the maze...



Livi led the way!


We took a few home to carve


Definitely not in LA anymore!!


The End!

I can't imagine a better place to be than at home taking care of my two beauties!! I am so thankful that I have been given such an awesome responsiblity. Even in the midst of sickness, double the diaper changes, and the challenges of their individual stages there is no other place I would rather be than with them. Some days seem a little crazier than the ones before and I'll find myself overwhelmed and tired. "It's just a season" seems to be my theme this year, although I'm sure each new season will bring its own challenges. I read one of my favorite blogs this morning and I love her outlook...it was just what I needed to hear today, "Keep Calm and Carry On". I hope it encourages you too, no matter what stage of life you're in!

Mount Rainier

I'm from the big city...born and bred. Now I live a little closer to nature and on a clear day I see this..



Really, I'll be driving along and all of a sudden, there she is


in all her glory!

My mom came, a fellow city slicker...she was in awe!


so beautiful and practically in our backyard!


Sometimes when we see it, on a clear day, Livi will say "MaMa's (Grandma's) Mountain!"

Amazing!! All 14,411 feet of her!

Four Months

My sweet baby is growing fast! Sometimes I wish I could snuggle and rock them forever and if only they bottled that newborn smell...but each new stage is fun!

Last week Malory measured 23 inches and weighed in at 16 pounds! They told me that was "off the charts" for her weight to length ratio...that's dr talk for she's chubby for her height! No matter, we are so glad she is happy and healthy, minus the first cold she currently has. Poor, poor second borns, they get all the germs big siblings bring home!

Mostly, there's this HUGE grin on her face...




or occasionally she can be a bit coy...



Oh yeah, she's got the looks down (and her daddy melting daily!).

Party Pics

This year we celebrated Olivia's birthday in the morning, at the park with some of her little friends, it was simple and fun! We had Starbucks for the adults (of course) and frosted doughnuts and juice for the tots, then let them run it all off, perfect! It was a picturesque Yakima fall day!!


Party time



The birthday girl



It's her party, she can eat what she wants to!

Liv and her buds






Family photos!





It was a happy day for sure!




The party's youngest guest...all smiles for big sister!