my lover

not the best quality picture, but they took it for us at dinner

We celebrated our 5th anniversary on Thursday. I was so sure that I was going to do all these nice things for Tyson through out the day...but then somehow, kids get needy and it just doesn't happen as planned. Isn't that marriage in a nut shell though? I guess I need to work harder at making Tyson my priority.
We did make it to dinner though with no kids. It was the first time we had been out by ourselves in a really long time. We have only been leaving Magnolia for about a month now, and I am the type of person that prefers to go out with other people too because that just makes it more fun. Not that Tyson isn't fun, but the more the merrier is how I feel usually. So it was a nice relaxing dinner for us both. Tyson is obsessed with Roys. They usually don't have a chicken on their menu, but their Fall menu does so he was more than excited to go there. The food was amazing! It felt totally Fall with a yummy butternut squash salad and pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. I kept thinking I wanted to go again next week.
And then... the stomach ache started. At first I thought I had over eaten. I have been dieting now for more than a month, and so I am definitely not eating that much...let alone that rich of foods. But slowly my pain got worse and worse. Of course Tyson thought I was faking it, or being dramatic, being that it was our anniversary and all. Nope, I got food poisoning. It was the worst night of my life. I was so stressed that I had the flu, and I was giving Sarah a baby shower the next day, but luckily a few hours later I started feeling better.
Maybe not the best anniversary night in the end, but I guess there's always next year.

she's half a year today

going from this...

to this...

When did it happen is what I keep wondering? I feel like Magnolia was just a newborn in my arms, and now she is six months. She is still the perfect, big eyed, smiley, never cries, beautiful girl!

I had Lillie take some pictures of her last week, and then some of Sawyer too... since I don't have any quality pictures of him since he was like a year. She did such an amazing job. I feel like I could have framed every one of them.

my own personal doll...


could I be any luckier?


and the two love birds!

happy FALL

I am loving that today is the first day of Fall. We are supposed to be only 95 degrees, so I am already planning for soup tonight for dinner. Maybe that sounds a little crazy, but 95 is so much cooler than the 104 we were a few days ago. I always thought of myself as someone who loves desert and heat, but being a desert liver now for almost 5 years I have decided I need more season in my life. For now I guess that will just mean trips to my parents, and hopefully one day we can live somewhere where the first day of Fall actually means something!

Here are some of my favorite reasons for FALL:

• Pumpkin. I'm talking the actual ones that we carve, anything that we can eat, and definitely a scented candle burning in my house.
• Jeans and Sweaters. This is probably more of a winter weather thing for me, but Fall still makes me think of it. I just want to bundle up and pretend that you have no idea how much weight is hiding underneath.
• Holidays. I love to decorate for them. I think that I enjoy it more than the actual holiday, and Halloween seems to be my favorite for decorations. I do also love being together with the fam for the holidays too.
• Food. Isn't all the best food when it starts to cool down? Not the best for you, but it sure tastes the yummiest. I can't wait for soups in bread bowls, crock pot dinners, and all the comfort dinners. And then there is the desserts... I could go on and on.
• Football. Its not that I necessarily like the sport that much, but seeing it takes me back to the beginning of school years which I always loved. Especially in Provo.
  
• Cold. Like I said before I may not really experience this like some, but at least we get to start going to the park again in the afternoons, and playing outside. I guess I could consider it more cool than cold.
• Juicy Suits. I know I already mentioned clothes, but there is nothing like a warm, bundley (not a real word), comfy outfit to wear day and night.
  

Yay!!! I love today.

Labor weekend

We went out to Scottsdale for a quick weekend with Tyson's Mom and Charles for Labor Day. It is always so much fun going out there because they spoil us with yummy restaurants, treats and fun activities the whole time. The weather was really nice so we spent a lot of the time outside swimming in their pool. They have the perfect pool for Sawyer because its not too deep, or too big so he felt so comfortable swimming and playing the whole time.

Charles played and swam with Sawyer the whole time

The Diamond Backs baseball game is always a tradition. I have to say for a baseball game, this one is pretty sweet. Its close parking, and the top can close so they can air condition it when it summer time. Sawyer wanted to eat everything they offered...but ended up with a hotdog, a slurpee, peanuts and licorice.

Tyson was quite a trooper with the kids

The last day we went over to the big Train Park so Sawyer could ride. He had chosen this cowboy costume for Halloween, but of course he had been wearing it the whole weekend. Last year they got him his Harry Potter costume and the same thing happened.
I guess it worked out perfect for him to wear it here though.

Such a fun weekend. It always makes me miss AZ so much. I don't understand why our desert can't be normal and fun like it is out there. Are we ever going to have good places to eat and fun stores to shop in?

Sawyer is back in school...

Sawyer could not have been happier to start up preschool again this year, and I would by lying if I didn't say I love it just as much as he does. He wanted to wear a new shirt, which still has tags on it due to the 100 degree weather we live in, but what can I say on his first day of school? This boy loves clothes almost as much as I do. I tried to let him choose a special breakfast for the day, but he wanted cereal. I guess I can't complain. He also wanted to take something to teacher Robyn, so I sent him with some cookies. I love that he is so tender-hearted! When we pulled up he ran right in and got started coloring on a picture.

please excuse the blurry picture, but I wanted to post Sawyer and Robyn

Mila is in his class this year. Sawyer was a little upset that they were not sitting next to each other, but we tried to tell them that across is just as good. Either way, I think he is just so happy she is there with him.

Great to be back... I just LOVE the Fall!

Beach House 2010

This trip took place over a month ago, but due to all of my vacationing and life I have not been able to get this post done until now. I feel like I have to devote a whole day to some of my posts, and I didn't even have to edit any of these pictures thanks to Lillie, my personal photographer and friend.
We did the beach house with the Biesingers for the second year in a row. I really look forward to it all summer. I worry about how we will be able to continue it for years to come with growing families, but we will manage somehow.
The weather wasn't the normal beach weather, but I loved that the kids never got too hot. We got to wear sweatshirts and cozy up by the fire at night. And best of all have a break from the desert in August.

these 3 kids play so well together

a picture of Lillie in action, its so nice when I can just piggy back off her photography

our hubbies, posed and all

One night we went to dinner at Cafe Rio, and then to the Spectrum for some shopping, carousel riding and dessert. Kim and Benton came to town that day so they joined for the night.

The mornings were so relaxing. The kids were content with watching tv and playing in the house until we were ready to venture outside for the day.

Ross was clever enough to design a little treasure hunt for the kids while they weren't paying attention. He told them a story about Captain Blackbeard, the pirate, and his buried treasure. It might as well have been Christmas morning for Sawyer. He was so excited about it... it was talked about for a long time after that!

We ate our morning breakfasts at Bagel Shack. YUM...what I would give for one now. It was cold and we could bundle up and order hot chocolate and a table full of bagels with all different kinds of spreads and toppings.

One morning we headed over to the San Clemente Pier. We people watched, walked around, and waited for the sun to come out.

my handsome husband

I bought these huge marshmallows to try for our smores. They were out of control. We would end up taking only part of it to avoid somewhat of a mess, and to still be able to taste the chocolate and graham crackers. I could never get sick of bon-fires and smores.

can you tell Magnolia is starting to want our treats

in this kind of setting I could sit and talk for hours...

Mags at 5 Months

Don't you just die over that smile, and those big chunky thighs. If only it was that acceptable as an adult!
As for this past month not much has changed other than her weight. We haven't been to the Dr. yet, but by the looks of her rolls I am sure she has gained a few healthy pounds.
She is loving her bumbo and her exersaucer, which I have to say I am loving just as much.
She is coveting our food, but not wanting the rice cereal that I give her. She sucked on a pickle all through lunch a few days ago, but then makes a sour face every time I give her the most bland tasting cereal there is.
She smiles all day long, unless we leave her alone in a room. And is really starting to enjoy the sound of her own voice. She could sing/babble for hours.
I am in love!

Summer in the OC

Kim and I spent most of the month of August at my parents house with our kids. I need an escape from the heat, and Tyler was doing a rotation for med school in Riverside, so Kim came to be as close to him as possible... and of course to join in our summer fun. It was a great month of girl time with my Mom and Ali while all of our husbands were away working. I think I could post for hours to catch up, but instead I have decided to show the highlights and hope that leaves me enough memories for later!

First major event: Benton's 1st Birthday!
I am so glad I got to spend this whole month with Benton. I really feel like we bonded. What a cute boy! He is so happy and entertaining. He sometimes looks like a Huish, and definitely acts like one with his love for fruit and desserts.

Next up, the Farmers Market. We went on Benton's actual birthday, and I loved this one. They had so many samples, and the best pita bread and dips. I also learned that I love pluots. They are my new favorite fruit!

One of the weekends we had everyone together. Collins drove down from Utah. Tyson, Tyler and my Dad were home, and my Grandma flew in from Utah. Sarah's family was staying at the beach house so we all went down one night for a BBQ. It was the first time that my Grandma got to see Magnolia, and it was fun that Sawyer was old enough to really get to talk to her. He became obsessed with his great grandma, and talked about her all weekend.

That Sunday we took a bunch of pictures of the family

Grandma with 3 of her great grandkids

4 Generations

We did quite a lot of swimming. The weather was absolutely perfect to me. It was chilly in the morning, so Kim and I would take our kids on a long walk through Marbella. Then the sun would come out about 10 and we would spend some time reading by the pool. Sawyer would swim, Benton would float, and Mags would dip her feet in. When Collins or Tyson were there it was so nice because Sawyer would swim all day and be so entertained.

Sawyer also learned to love laying out...and he learned from the best if I do say so myself!

Sawyer had a little bit of a hard time going to bed because he missed Tyson, and wanted to be part of the action down stairs. One night I was running up the stairs to put Magnolia down and almost stepped right on him because he had fallen asleep halfway up the staircase. I am just grateful there was no rolling.

We went to Farell's for Family Night and visited Ali working in her darling uniform

And we took Sawyer to Karate Night at Chick-Fil-A. They do a family night on Tuesdays where the kids get free kids meals, and they have some sort of activity. Due to his obsession with Karate Kid I figured I would take him. It was so fun. They had a whole bunch of guys there to help the kids with their karate moves, and then they did a little show for everyone. Sawyer loved every minute of it. And, oh how I love Chick-Fil-A.

We also spent some time at the park.

Thanks Mom for yummy dinners, and a fun month. Thanks Kim for yummy Sundaes or desserts every night, and for being my sister in law. Thanks Ali for letting me sometimes be annoying, but really just wanting to be involved in your life. And thanks to Tyson for understanding why I have to get out of the heat.