Trick-Or-Treat

This year as the tornado siren went off at 5:30pm to let us know it was time to trick-or-treat, I was still squeezing my babies into their costumes.  Cason was on a phone call for work, kids were ringing the doorbell that I was unable to answer, broccoli cheddar soup was on the stove, and rolls were in the oven about to burn.  It was a crazy day (evening mostly), all for some free candy.  We finally made it out the door around 6pm.  BUT, I love the holidays more now than I ever have (in a different sorta way).  Nothing brings me more joy than to see my children get excited and anxious for the events of a holiday.

Millie loved trick-or-treating.  She walked right up to the door, would sometimes forget to say "trick-or-treat", and a treat always landed in that round plastic pumpkin.  She ran from house to house.  But she mostly enjoyed all the doggies outside.  It was almost as if she was out there for the dogs and the trick-or-treating was just an added bonus.  The girl and her animals!

Ivy just sat back in the stroller, with her paci in her mouth, enjoying the crisp air and watching all the kiddos.  It was freezing, so we let Cason and Millie do the rest of the trick-or-treating while we went back to the house to pass out candy.

We finished the night off with treats and full tummys.

We had a great Halloween week and are looking forward to the rest of this holiday season.

Millie Says...

Just some funny things Millie has said lately that we don't want to forget:

1.  We were in the garage and heard a loud noise outside of the garage on the road.

Millie ran to the stairs to go inside and said, "we hafta get outta here!"

2.  Many times a week we go on rides just to get out of the house.  As we drove down this pretty street lined and covered with trees 

Millie said, "Woah!!...looks mazing!"  

Me: "It does look amazing huh, Millie?!" 

Millie: "lots trees!"

3.  Cason gave the opening prayer in church on Sunday.  After he finished and said Amen, Millie yelled, 

"yay!  You did it!!  Good job, Dad!" and clapped her hands. 

It was hilarious!  Everyone around us giggled.  

4.  Every night Millie reminds us we need to read "scrippers." (scriptures)

Might be a way for her to stay up longer, but I like to think she really wants to read them. :)

Happy Halloween

This is how successful I was yesterday at getting a picture of the girls together: 

I wasn't. This is the best I could get.  At least they are both smiling!

Happy Halloween!  I will be enjoying my little chickens tonight walking the neighborhood asking for free candy.  Enjoy your little ones!

Everyday Moments

I am trying to be a little better at taking pictures of the everyday.  I feel like my pictures are so mundane and very repetitive.  I need to be better at catching more spur-of-the-moment pictures, rather than posed smiley pictures.  I do love posed smiley pictures, but also want to catch our everyday life. 

So...here goes a random post of a few everyday moments. 

When Dad gets home, this is what our nights usually look like.  Dad on the couch or floor with the girls around him trying to soak up all his attention.  Millie is usually stealing the show, while Ivy sits and watches every little thing that Millie does.  Ivy tries to catch a few seconds of Dad's attention here and there when Millie isn't watching.

Millie's latest favorite is to play doctor.  

"let me take your temp-it-chure...oh! you have a fee-ber."

"lets take a look..."

"open wide!"  followed by a screwdriver, spoon or a ruler jammed down your throat. 

"let me listen to your heart beep." 

We know what to ask Santa for this Christmas!

getting ready to check dad's temperature.

And this little peanut is on the go all day long!  You lay her on the floor and she rolls to and from all corners of the room.  Her favorite place is on her changing table.  She giggles, squeals, squirms and kicks her legs on the changing table more than anywhere.  

She loves to reach up and grab her clothes.

I think she is quite pleased with herself that she got it!

The other day, right after I finished doing Millie's hair.  I hopped in the shower and came out to find the little miss like this.  She had put this hat on and was watching a show. (which I turned on for her so she wouldn't get into EVERY SINGLE tube of toothpaste and use EVERY SINGLE toothbrush that we own.  Whoops!  Looks like she grabbed a tube of toothpaste.)

I loved it so snapped a picture.

This girl is getting more and more fun and funnier by the second!

Happy Weekend!

Ivy: six months old

We love this sweet little bug of ours!

Happy 6 months Ivers!

This weekend...

our church has a conference where we all gather together; whether it be in our homes, churches or wherever it may be, to listen to the living prophet and the leaders of Christ's church.  Watch this video and join me this weekend in listening to good words and counsel spoken by those called by God.  Whether you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, atheist, catholic or any other religion, there are many wise words spoken during this conference that are beneficial to everyone!  Tune in this weekend!

Happy conference weekend!

Ivy: Five Months Old

This happy girl is five months old. (I'm late again.)  Oh the joy you bring to our lives, especially to your big sis.  We sure love you and are glad you chose us to be your family.  Here are a few things about Ivy girl this month that we never want to forget:

Millie is always poking at you.  You don't mind most of the time.  I think you just wonder why she is poking your eyes, rubbing your head and squeezing your arm.

We sure love this little peanut!!  Happy 5+ months Ivy girl!

Michigan Summers: Mackinac Island

---------------------picture overload---------------------

For Labor Day weekend, we decided to head up north and experience what all the rave is about.  It's about four and half hours away.  We made the drive to Mackinaw City on Friday night, woke up on Saturday and rode the ferry to Mackinac Island.  We kept asking Millie if she wanted to ride the boat to Macinac Island to spend the day.  She'd get so excited and keep reminding us that we were going to ride the boat.  When we got on the ferry she was upset and kept asking to ride the boat.  I think she was expecting something a little different.  Once we got going, she was ok.

Mackinac Island is an Island in the Northern part of Michigan.  There are no cars on the island.  Only horses, buggies and bikes.  Millie and Ivy loved the horses.  Millie would spot them and yell, "horsie!" and then wave at them and say, "Hi, horsie!"  

Everyone just parks their bikes along the road.  It's crazy to me that people don't just walk away with a bike that's not theirs.  I'm sure it happens, but I guess you couldn't get too far with a stolen bike on the island.

Michigans advertisement is "Pure Michigan".  I always wondered why they advertised the state that way.  But when we went to Mackinac Island, I realized why.  It really is pure.  Blue clear water, untouched land, lush green trees, white clean rocks and just beautiful.

Mackinac Bridge

We visited a butterfly exhibit and Millie would wave and say hi to all the butterflies.  She's a friendly little one.

The island has a trail that goes around it that is 8 miles long.  We rented bikes and did the trail ride.  It took us about 2 hours.  It was gorgeous.  We stopped off at a few spots and explored.  Millie loved to pick up and throw the rocks.  We dipped our feet in the water, and just enjoyed the beautiful scenery.  

The girls in the "burley" as the islanders call it.

We finished the night with a delicious dinner that ended early, due to someone who didn't want to sit at the table. 

Note to self:  Never let your daughter wear a white shirt on a vacation where there is lots of walking, eating, getting messy and having fun.

Getting ice cream and "fudging".  (sampling fudge on the island.)  They are known for their fudge, so we went to a few shops and tasted the different flavors.

We ended the night watching the sunset, chasing geese, and listening to dad do what he does best...whistle.  The girls love it and I know it'll be a fond memory they have of him as they get older.

On our way home we stopped in Traverse City.  Millie and Cason took a little ride in a kayak.  Millie loved it...for about 10 minutes.  Ivy and I just sat on the beach in the shade and watched.  

We really enjoyed our weekend away from the daily grind exploring a few of the fun, beautiful areas Michigan has to offer.  Come visit and see for yourself! :)