trick or treat

As stated previously Rylee and I got off the airplane and headed straight to the church for our ward's trunk-or-treat.  Any reason to not cook (especially on a travel day) is worth the trouble.  So needless to say, we didn't get pictures taken that day, but Rylee enjoyed going car to car for treats.  We taught her to sign "candy" and she would sometimes mumble a similar sound. Maybe next year we'll work on the appropriate "trick-or-treat"

We just thought our little gnome was darling - even more so with her fairy buddy.

On Halloween we met up with friends for dinner and the non-traditional - traditional trick or treating.  Apparently, in Texas its not standard for every house to pass out candy, so most obliging homes just wait in their driveway/porch on a lawn chair to pass candy to costumed kids (this may be why I felt we didn't get many trick-or-treaters last year - I didn't know the 'rules'). Kindof funny, but hey, that way you don't have to wait for the home-owner to answer their door and can hit up more houses.

Michael came up with the idea to dress my emerging belly as a snow globe.  Though a fair amount of people didn't get it.  I'll be honest, it was made in a rush and I didn't care to put more effort into it.  But its an "Arizona"/ desert theme.  Rylee liked to touch the vinyl and shake my belly.

Apparently I didn't get a picture of Michael :( He dressed as an 80's red-neck rocker  (metallica/concert cut-off t-shirt and a mullet wig).  Though its likely in Rylee's best interest to not have record of the attire.  Seeing him with hair REALLY freaked her out.  It was quite comical. Maybe she's developed an early onset fashion sense.

It will be a sad day when the candy runs out.  Rylee begs for it all day and as long as she eats her meals she usually gets what she wants - what can I say, I'm a sugar junkie too.  Suckers were her favorite but chocolate is getting up there.  Smarties and sweet tarts get spit out immediately (or don't touch her tounge to begin with).

We had a very Happy Halloween!

Utah (part 2)

I really couldn't get enough of the fall leaves while in Utah.  Its not so much that Texas doesn't have 'fall' but we don't really have 'fall'.  There are SOME trees that change, but due to the drought this year they are even fewer and farther between.  So we played in the church parking lot a little bit.

we were soon joined by some cousins for more fun.  Her giggle makes me smile.

 who likes candy?

 who wants to go for a four-wheeler ride?

 who has turned into the cutest chunkiest little thing in just 3 short months?

 We did take a mini trip up to BridalVeil Falls one afternoon.

 and got a photo of almost all the counsins.  One had a better offer :)

 and the other was asleep on the opposite side of the bridge.  for real.

This little girl tried her best to keep up with the older cousins.

 We were able to sneak in a quick visit with the Allsop Grandparents on our way back to the airport.

It was a whirl wind of a 3-day trip but I'm so glad we were able to make it! There was quite a bit of airport drama I hope I never have to repeat (3 of my 4 flights were delayed . . . . one 4 hours.  Let me tell you, flying while pregnant with a toddler is EXHAUSTING!! I'm still trying to recover)

Because of my late flight we went straight from the airport to our ward's trunk-or-treat party.  Fun, but again, not recommended.

Friday Favorite: Daddy's Home!

I'm so glad when Daddy comes home, glad as I can be!

After being in the same state for only 3 days in the past 3 weeks we picked Daddy' up from the airport today!

(for some reason their most recent reunion kiss wouldn't upload)

After being a single parent for the majority of the month, I'm glad his work trips are over too.

We missed you Daddy, Welcome Home!

Utah . . . .

Here's a few pictures after the funeral.

 Rylee with the Great-Grandmother bouquet/wreath.

 I actually think cemetaries are really beautiful.  I love all the flowers, add changing leaves and mountains to the backdrop and its sortof surreal and quite peaceful.

 Granny's house

Friday Favorite: Family-Temples-Testimony

Nothing brings a family together faster than a funeral. 

My Grandmother passed away almost 2 weeks ago, and while I miss her dearly I'm grateful to have had her in my life and to have known her as an adult.  I am so thankful I was able to make it to Utah for the services.

She has always been so thoughtful.  She never missed a birthday (including Michael's!), and she has 50 Grandchilren! We kept saying how amazing it was that all 50 cousins were able to make it.  That's the first time we've all been together in one place since, well, probably ever (and we didn't even document it with a photo :( ) She has such a strong testimony of the gospel, loved her scriptures and the temple.  She truly has been an amazing example for me.

While in Utah, I especially loved the late night chats with the immediate family, not only catching up on life, but sharing stories about Grandma and Grandpa I hadn't heard.  It only made me feel closer to her.

Here we are just last March (after my other Grandmother's funeral . . . . loosing two grandma's is less than 7 months does NOT come recommended)

I don't have a any pictures with the adults (forgot to copy Dad's memory card-bummer) but here are all Rylee's cousins . . . . . 15 and counting.

Oh, and I also got to experience REAL fall. . . . . like changing leaves. It was beautiful, definately in the top 10 things I miss about Utah . . . . along with the mountains.

Lois Duke Wright
Love you Grandma!

Fall

A couple weekends ago we attended all sorts of 'fall' activities. We visited a 'pumpkin patch' Friday and then Saturday our HOA had a little festival. You know, the usual: overpriced food, craft booths, petting 'farm', train/hay rides, candy, random pumpkins in the dirt (apparantly this does not make it a pumpkin patch. . . . . I wouldn't know the difference :) )

I used the festivities as an excuse to put Rylee in her costume a couple more times this season. She's our little gnome. I laughed everytime I looked at her. The hat didn't stay on for too long but she looked adorable in it.

Rylee with her bff, her Mother and I insist.

Rylee and my (27 week) pregnant self feeding the llama.

You know, I used to worry if I was wearing enough layers for outdoor Halloween events, now, we buy Ice Cream (from none other that the schwann man who had a booth at the park).

All the booths at the park gave candy. Rylee would have a bag full of dumb-dumbs had Mom and Dad not interviened. We had to.

Friday Favorite: My Helper

This little girl officaly has chores. It works better this way for both of us. She hands me the dishes from the dishwasher to be put away. She gets mad when a bowl/cup gets stuck and insists on getting the stool so she can reach the top rack. It really is a win-win situation: she hasn't tried climbing into the dishwasher since she's been given the new 'responsibility' and I don't have to bend over to get the dishes of the bottom rack either :) Also, there've been a few times where I would have put off emptying the dishwasher a few hours and she wanted to do it, to not discourage the behavior we went to work.

"here you go Mom"

awesome.

She also has started helping me 'cook', well, more like 'mix' she stands on a chair and "dumps" spices and what-not together and helps me stir it up. Yes, it takes a little longer but its a million times better since she isn't screaming at my feet. She really just wants to see what's going on (sorry girly, it looks like your stuck with your Momma's short genes). I used to have her sit on the edge of the counter while I got dinner ready but the chair is slightly closer to the ground and then she doesn't take up any more counter space.

The only problem is that she can move the chairs around now to climb . . . . . fixing one problem just seems to cause another.

Then, yesterday she spilled some water and I gave her a napkin to clean it up. She was so proud of herself! I figure it won't be too long before she's complaining about chores so I'll take it when I can get it. And I'm lovin a little extra help around the kitchen :)