my 4 year old

I can't believe Sawyer is 4. In some ways I feel like he should be 10, because it feels like forever ago that I had him. But it also feels like he should still just be a baby.
We decided to celebrate his birthday a few days early this year. He had his party last thursday so we figured it just made more sense to pretend that was his birthday. Its not like he is aware which day is actually November 1st...

He opened presents in his presents in the morning. We got him a little digital camera because he is obsessed with taking my cell phone and taking a million pictures of nothing. And Tyson also wanted to get him a cap gun... but Sawyer was not a fan. He told me that I gave him a good present, but Dad didn't. He is just like me...so hard to please, and very particular.

Tyson's Mom and Charles came that afternoon, so we went to dinner with them and Colby and Sarah. Sawyer got to choose... his choice was the Yard House. He wants to be just like Tyson, and so his choice was where the hot wings are. Not that he eats them. Then we got some ice cream for dessert since we had already had cupcakes at his party.

I am so lucky to have such a sweet boy. He is always trying to make me happy. He absolutely loves Tyson and Magnolia. He is obsessed with Scooby-Doo and Harry Potter. Loves to play with his friends. And makes me happy everyday!

superhero SAWYER

Sawyer had a superhero party for his 4th birthday last week. He has been wanting this since the summertime, and talks about it quite frequently. I was back and forth on making the capes for all the kids because my life has been a little bit crazy and chaotic, but when I told him I might only make masks he was devastated. How can you say No when they get so sad over something with their birthday?
I was so glad that I made them in the long run because how cute do all those kids look running around in matching capes and masks. It was such a perfect day.

I wrapped each of the kids mask and cape so that they could open it when they arrived...

Sawyer requested pepperoni pizza for lunch, and cupcakes with sprinkles. Too easy!

He was a little anxious throughout the whole party to open his gifts. Some of his friends were just as anxious. Oh, to be 4 again, and have a plastic toy make your day.

I made S shaped Rice Krispy Treats for all the kids to take home

what a fun party, and a fun day.

I had a hard time at first when we moved here because I worried that there wouldn't be enough good kids for Sawyer to be friends with. Boy was I wrong. We have such a great group of friends, I feel so lucky.

halloween

We had our ward trunk or treat last night, and we did a little trick or treating tonight, so we really feel like we got our fill of costumes and candy. Although... I do have to admit I was sad that Sawyer didn't get a single snickers for me to steal.
Sawyer dressed up like a cowboy. He decided this months ago, and has been wearing his costume almost everyday since we bought it in August. This was the first time for the mustache though, so I guess it made it a little more real.
Magnolia was a black cat. Her little beanie was my favorite part of the costume, but you can't see it too well in the pictures.

Lee Ann and Charles have made it a tradition to come out for the weekend to see the kids trick or treat and to celebrate Sawyers birthday, so they joined us for our ward party.

I wanted something for dessert tonight that would feel a little holidayish, but Tyson is not a big pumpkin fan, so I decided to try this recipe I found for a chocolate cake with and oreo buttercream frosting. I dyed the frosting orange, and used halloween oreos too. It was so yummy!

great grandma

My Mom and Grandma came to visit last weekend to help me with Sarah's baby shower. It was such a fun day and a half of chatting, and baking, and sewing, and eating. I have always had a really close relationship with my grandma so it was fun to see how much Sawyer loves her too.
He only wants to call her great grandma, and loved that she wanted to read him book after book, and teach him to count all of his money, basically do all the things that I have no patience for.
I am so grateful that my kids can know her, and what an amazing woman that she is. As well as my own Mom of course.

pumpkin patch

I probably look forward to this day more than most people, but the pumpkin patch means its Fall, the weather should be cooler, I can wear jeans and maybe a sweater if I'm lucky, we are going to get some sort of family picture, and spend the day together as a family... which might sound silly, but doesn't happen too often.
We went to the Live Oak Pumpkin Patch for the 3rd year in a row, and it really is such a great one. The pumpkins are all spread out so the kids can run and play in them. They have some fun games, but a little pricey when you really break it down, and it is not in the desert which I love!
All day I thought about the warm clothes I wanted to wear, but as the day went on I just got hotter and hotter to the point that I could not fathom boots or a sweater if my life depended on it. But as we started driving we ended up in this dark cloud that left us cold and in heaven.

Can't wait til next year!

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...