Halloween 2012

We had so many activities leading up to Halloween this year, really helping up get in the holiday spirit!

Earlier in the month we went to Mother Nature's Farm to "pick" some pumpkins. FYI, Pumpkin Patches in the Phoenix area are completely lame. I miss living in Tucson sometimes for a number of reasons, and Reason # (I don't know what # I'm on) is that it is closer to Wilcox. It just isn't Fall or Halloween without a trip to Wilcox. I guess until the Mister understands this nostalgia we will settle for Mother Nature's Farm.

Jeanette and Bryan informed us that if you dressed up in a Halloween costume, you could get in for free (did I mention that I think it is completely lame that you have to PAY to get into a Pumpkin Patch to then PAY for a pumpkin?). Seriously, $10! I don't get it.

The girls had fun though, and it was so nice to see our friends there. Ignore the not-so-cute outfit...we conveniently went as nerds and dressed-down as soon as we got in.

Braelynn was a kitty this year, and depending on the day and her mood, she wore different pieces of her costume. I don't believe we ever got 100% of it on! Brooke was a Sailor, and complied quite nicely.

A few weeks later we had a Trunk-or-Treat at our church. Braelynn was so excited to Trick-or-Treat, and Brooke fell right in line!

Finally Halloween came upon us. We carved pumpkins this year and then went out for Trick-or-Treating around the neighborhood. The girls had so much fun. After we made it up our street, Brooke was so tired, that she practically fell asleep on the walk back. She would wake up just enough to get up to the door, get her candy, turn around, and collapse in my arms. Kent took Brooke home, and I got to take Braelynn out for a little more. She certainly saw the scarier side of Halloween as it got later! Hopefully that won't scare her off from Trick-or-Treating next year.

By Saturday, we were all on sugar highs and had to get out to burn off the extra energy. We were invited to a BBQ event up in Mesa on Saturday, and we all had an absolute blast. Braelynn jumped in the Jumping Castle for probably close to 3 hours, only breaking for Cotton Candy and other yummy treats. Brooke enjoyed dancing on the patio and getting her fill of sugar as well.

After the BBQ we had some time to kill before Kent had a meeting, so we headed to the mall. I was certain the girls would crash in the car, but they somehow managed to not get a wink of sleep...imagine that after all their Cotton Candy!

We've certainly had our share of fun this past week! We are so excited for the week ahead of us. We will be celebrating our 5th anniversary! In another life we'll be heading out on a cruise for it...but alas...I believe we'll be getting dinner and maybe a movie. Kent's sister Amy agreed to take the girls for a night, so it will almost be like a vacation still. We also get our Anniversary Cake from the Bakery that made our wedding cake :) It's the simple things in life right?

Braelynn Turns 3!

I can't believe Braelynn turned 3 this year! It is so fun to watch her grow up and see the world through her eyes. She has been anticipating her Birthday since Brooke had her's, which made it all the more exciting.

Birthday morning balloons!

Birthday "Mac n cheeks" lunch.

Every year Kent and I go to Ballet Under the Stars. It is our favorite date and we look forward to it all year. Braelynn's birthday happened to be the same night, so this year we made it a family outing. We grabbed dinner from Joe's BBQ and Joe's Grill, and headed to Tempe Town Lake to watch the show. It was so much fun with the girls. They are both really into music and dancing, so they were just in awe! Braelynn also got to meet Miss Jr. Arizona and Miss Sweetheart and have her picture taken with them. They just adored her and Braelynn was captivated by their tiaras (like mother like daughter).

Here she is bustin' a move with Arizona Ballet's performance of Balanchine. So proud ;)

Brooke couldn't get enough to drink.

That cup was so big!

The next day my parents came up to celebrate a little more. We decided to go to McCormick Stillman Railroad Park. It is Braelynn's most favorite place, especially the Carousel. We last went in May and everyday since then she has told us, "My birthday, Carousel, September, my birthday!"

Braelynn with Apa on the carousel.

We came home and had Chinese Food, birthday cake, and presents.





Her celebration was yet to be over though. During the week she had some friends from her Nursery class come over to play and have cupcakes. They were so cute! I had a candle and Braelynn's and we sang her Happy Birthday...all the kids then wanted to be sure they had their own candles. Braelynn has since refused to eat any cake without a candle and a song. She told me, "I want cake, and a 'WHHOOO', and a 'Haaappy Birthday to Yooouuu!'." She cracks me up.

We took her in for her 3 year check up. She's 40th percentile for height and 60th for weight. She also has...a 3rd nipple! Haha! It may not be so appropriate to blog about it, but I think it's so funny. I would have never known she had one and Kent still doesn't believe me. The doctor said it's totally normal, a lot of people have them, and it shouldn't ever bother her. So there you go. That's her quirk I guess :)

Putting the birthday aside we have also been pretty busy around here. Kent went on a 3 day backpacking trip with his siblings to Havasupai Falls in the Grand Canyon. When they got back to their car they had a message from their mom that their Grandmother had died. A few days later they were all on a plane to Houston for the funeral. Kent said it was just beautiful and a fitting event for his lovely Grandmother. I so wish that I could have gotten to know her better. Kent strives to keep our home filled with the feelings and traditions of her home.

I was asked to help with our Stake's dinner before Women's Conference. I got to be in charge of 32 dozen homemade rolls. I so badly wish I got a picture of my kitchen packed full of women and kitchenaids and Bosch mixers! It was quite an event. I am still wiping flour off my counters...and cupboards...and walls...and floors. We did it though. Learning new things all the time :)

On the economic/employment side of things, still nothing. Kent might be shifting gears here soon, as we haven't been able to purchase anything in over a year. He has a partner he's working with now, who has really been encouraging and Kent really enjoys working with him. The Lord has certainly blessed us over the past year in so many other ways though...it would just be so nice to have something come in soon. We have a "shopping list" a mile long that is needing some attention once we get some income :)

In the meantime we'll just stay busy making memories! We are looking forward to Fall being upon us and so many holidays coming up.

Random Ramblings About the Summer

This summer has been unlike any other. It has been so crazy-busy-chaotic, stressful, and quick as ever! It seems just like yesterday Kent's family was here, but that was almost 3 months ago.

We started off on a camping trip with my family in the White Mountains. We go every summer for a few days and it's usually a nice break from the heat. This year it was over 90 degrees though! Upon arriving, we discovered that the dates of our reservations were wrong, so after a night we packed up and headed home. We had orchestrated this grand plan, coordinating with Kent's help at AP camp a few miles away, a few days later. Unfortunately it didn't work out that way, but at least Kent got a few nights of good sleep before heading back :)

This is when the chaos really ensued. We've been involved in this tangled-mess-of-a-lawsuit for the past year. Somehow the universe aligned itself perfectly, because as we decided to take on the lawsuit without a lawyer, we were notified that we were being audited by the IRS! I know. Really. What fun.

The following month was spent by Kent and/or me up until the wee hours of the morning. We were each putting in 12-15 hour days trying to get everything done. I have never been so tired in my life.

We were scheduled to leave again July 3rd, for San Diego. We got our legal paperwork submitted at 4 am, and were on the road by noon! Let me tell you, I don't think I have EVER been more ready for a vacation in my entire life. Kent and I were on a total sleep deprivation rush that day, we were so giddy, and had a great kick-off to our trip! We may have possibly terrified the teller at the bank as we rocked out in our car, but we so deserved to!

We spent that week with all of my family. Eddie and his FIANCE, Devin, even flew in from Georgia! We got to see the most spectacular 15 second 4th of July fireworks show (way to go San Diego!). We went kayaking, bike riding, walked the beach, went swimming, and stayed outside 24/7. It was just what we needed. It was so fantastic to just be lazy-busy. I didn't take a single picture or make a single phone call. I am serious. I was THAT lazy. Cassie, I know we had "plans" and I totally flaked...I am so sorry. You know I wanted to, I just couldn't. I owe you big time!

We got back Sunday night, and Monday morning we were back at work, putting in a few more 12-15 hour days. The audit was well-prepared for and went well. We're pretty much done with it.

Don't worry though, just as we completed the audit stuff, the lawsuit stuff picked back up, so we have plenty to keep us busy with again.

Even though nothing is completely over, I am so glad we've had this experience. It has brought us closer as a couple, challenged us, and taught us so much.

The girls have been such blessings during this time too. They are playing so well together, Braelynn loves helping with so many different things, and Brooke is just growing up so nicely too.

Braelynn has so many cute sayings now:

"Oh. My. GWAAASH!" She says this anytime she sees something amazing or if Kent and I are saying it, she chimes in too.

"C'mmooonn!" She says this when she is frustrated with something. She says it in a deep voice and bulges out her eyes too!

"Bwooke, no! I sayd (said) 3! NO!" Anytime Brooke does something Braelynn doesn't like.

"Bwooke, no cwying k? No Bwooke! Stop cwying! NO CWYING!" She starts off nice, but by the end of it she is yelling and crying herself. It's so hard not to laugh!

"My birthday. Carousel. September. Carousel. Birthday. Carousel." She reminds us EVERYDAY. No joke.

"Member? Scoy-un (scorpion). Hurt bad. Member?" or "Member? Stove. Hurt bad. Member?" She can tell you every injury she has had.

"Yep."

She also knows all 3 verses of "I am a Child of God."

Brooke has really transitioned from Baby to Toddler these last few weeks. She started walking mid-June. She also shakes her head yes, and shakes her arms for no. She has also started copying Braelynn. She carries her blanket all around the house like Braelynn. It's so cute, because she is just so little and the blanket is so big!

She loves to snuggle, she'll play in her crib quietly for a long time after a nap. She's also really good at laughing. Whenever we're talking, if we start laughing, she lets out a gut-busting laugh like it's the funniest thing she has heard.

I took her in for her 15 month check-up today. She is just over 18 pounds and back on the chart in the 1st percentile :) She's finally liking foods...PB&J, blueberries, turkey, mac & cheese, and just recently Chow Mein, go figure.

So, this is what we've been up to. Did I mention our washing machine broke, and we had to get a new fridge too? Just trying to paint an accurate picture of our summer ;)

Nothing really blog worthy, and no pictures. Sorry. Hopefully the crazy stuff will settle down, and the better stuff with pick back up! I think we're ready for a change from these last few months.

On a positive note, we are all alive, in love, and together. What more can you ask for right?

Millions of Peaches

Every year I want to go to the Peach festival at Schnepff farms. Without saying "I don't want to go," Kent always is able to talk us out of going...I know what he's really saying though!

Lucky for me, it was Mother's Week (yes, in my house I get a whole week)! That meant we were going and he couldn't complain.

It was...alright...I guess. I don't know, $2/lb to pick your own? Eh. I could only bring myself to pick 4 (peaches, not pounds). It was also dreadfully hot at 9 am. It was certainly the place to be though! When we left, the line to get in was a mile up Rittenhouse Rd!

Kent would like to go back next year. I might be the one talking us out of it though ;)

I don't even remember last weekend...probably didn't do anything too exciting.

This weekend though, we went to the zoo! It was only 84 on Saturday and was the perfect day to go. The better part was that we got a culture pass, making it Free, FREE, fReE!!! We get culture passes A LOT, and we've been trying to get this one for 7 months! 

Braelynn is obsessed with Lion King, and was so excited to see the Lions. She also kept saying to she wanted to see the Elephants. 

Brooke is just still too little to quite get what's going on, but when I pointed out the Elephants to her, her entire face lit up and she just stared. She really had a good time too.

My favorite part was the splash pad. The girls went crazy! It was so fun watching them play in the water.

That was when we all hit the WALL of exhaustion. We still had to see the bears though. We were so delirious, that it took us some time to find them, but that area of the zoo was just beautiful.

As long as there is the Culture Pass, we'll be going there again :)

Summer has started, so that means that we are officially starting our "let's get outta here" lifestyle. Camping, California, and Utah are the usuals, and keep us pretty happy during these next few months.