Painting Pumpkins

Over fall break I had four days off. It was kind of a rough weekend due to some family events that have been occurring. So after a day of cleaning, I decided I needed some R&R.

Carter and I went to JoAnn's and bought some paint brushes and paints, then made a trip to Smith's for some pumpkins and a couple redbox videos. When we got home Carter went down for a nap, and I turned on a movie and started painting.

By the time Carter woke up, I had one done and he began painting with me. He LOVED it! He loved the water, the paint, the pumpkin, the water, the brushes, the relaxing, and did I mention the water. It was so fun!


A couple days later, during another nap, I finished my other two pumpkins and my other redbox and called it good. It was very relaxing and exactly the kind of unwind I was searching for.

Mommy Pillow

Today was a day. It was a day of very little of anything but cleaning.

I hired a helper and she came over and helped me get my house under control and deeply cleaned. I wanted my house to smell of Lysol, Clorox, and Pledge by the time my day was done. I am proud to say that is exactly what it smells like as I sit here tonight.

However, this post is NOT about Lysol, Clorox, and Pledge. This is about my Little Man. With him being two, we have our days. We have days that seem a lot more rough then others. Days when I am pretty sure I am counting 1...2...3...! More than anyone else on the planet. Days when time out is not doing the job, and I have no idea what to do. Days where I am on the verge of crying along with him because we have both hit the ultimate frustration point.

That was not today. Today was a good day. Carter was happy! He was full of energy and so much fun. He didn't spend ANY time in time out. Counting 1...2...3...! only happened a small handful. Laughter and giggles were in the air and his company was completly delightful.

Tonight I am sitting on the couch and he crawls up next to me, and lays his head on my arm. He then says, "Mommy pillow~" And at that moment, MY. HEART. MELTED!

I LOVE MY LITTLE MAN, and I so love moments such as these where I am reminded just how magical being a mom really is. I am often completely overwhelmed with all the responsibities on my plate and wonder how I will ever get things in a functioning routine. Tonight, I am not worried about anything but the time I have loving on my Peanut and getting to be Carter's mom!

Fishing at Strawberry

Late Friday night I got a call from Nathan saying he was going fishing with his brothers on Saturday morning, and asked if we wanted to go. Unfortunately, Dustin worked Saturday morning, but Carter and I were all in.

So, Carter and I left our house at 4:45 AM and headed to Nathan's. Nobody was there yet, Nathan was still asleep, but a few phone callswere made and we pretty quickly were getting ready to go. After a short stop to get coffee and snacks we were headed East to Strawberry Reservoir.


We got there about 7:30 and it was a whopping 31 degrees and BEAUTIFUL
!


Once we got the boat in, we buckled down and headed across the lake. I am so grateful Carter and I had warm clothes and blankets. I don't think either one of us ever got really cold!




It was then time to start getting poles ready and we all started tossing out lines. Nathan was the first to catch a fish. It was a good size and put the rest of us in fairly good spirits. Dave quickly caught a fish after that, which was even bigger and we were even more anxious to catch fish.



As we were trolling, which was something I haven't done in SO long, my pole about jerked out of my hands. I hollered, "I GOT ONE!" and started reeling it in. But the fish was fighting, and I was so far out, I was getting worn out. Nathan tried to take my pole, but there was no way I was going to give it up. When I finally got my fish in, he was HUGE! It was so cool, all the boys were blown away. I took pictures with it, and then after much debate on whether we should keep it or not, due to size, we threw him back in the water because we didn't have a measurement. Quickly after, the boys found a measurer on the cooler, and we now know my fish would have been big enough I could have kept it! I think they knew all along, they just didn't want proof of my ginormeous fish around! ;-)


Dave caught a few more and Jason caught one by the end of the morning. As we were trolling we looked up and saw a beautiful Eagle perched in the tree.






We were home by 1:00 and got the boat clean and said goodbye. It was such a great fall activity, and I so loved the outing. Thanks again boys for counting me in!

Birthday Halloween Bash

On Saturday, October 2, we started off the Halloween season the right way. We had a birthday bash. From my birthday to October 1, in our group of friends, we have A WHOLE LOT of birthdays.







So Saturday night our crowd gathered and we brought in October with a bang. There was costumes, food, friends, and a whole lot of laughs. It was very relaxed and the kind of gathering that should happen more often.







This year I am Gretchen and Dustin is the Tooth Fairy. We had a lot of fun in our costumes, this being the first year we actually have thought about what we wanted to dress up as and have a good time in.






IT WAS SO FUN!

Say No To Cows

A few months ago my sister, Stacy, started to put together a team to raise money for research for FAAN. FAAN, is the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.

My nephew Colin is deathly allergic to milk. This allergy has changed our entire families life. Anytime there is a family gathering my sister has to be heavily involved. My nephew will go into anaphylactic shock if he ingests any type of dairy. He is so allergic that if one has touched a dairy product and then him, he will break out in hives.

Last Friday we had a fundraiser at SOUPER SALAD! For three hours we bussed tables and talked to customers asking for money to help fund research. That night we were able to raise over $400 for our fight!



Saturday morning, we were back at Wheeler Farm and participated in the two mile walk. Our team "Team Coly Kai" raised over $1100, and was able to spend some time together. It was actually a lot of fun.



I fully believe this is going to become a yearly event for our family!

Lion King

In the begninning of August my mother told me to put in my calendar September 25, a few hours for her. I needed to make sure I reserved the day for her, but she wasn't going to tell me more because it had to deal with my birthday present.

Well, I was riding down the road with Stac and I heard the Lion King commercial, it gave the dates, and all of the sudden it clicked! I said, "Oh my god! Is that what mom is giving me for my birthday!" Stac did her best to cover it up, but I immediately called my mom, asked, and then celebrated when she told me yes!

Lion King is one of the very few Broadway plays I have really wanted to see. For years this is the one I have been waiting for! So, knowing that my mom had gotten me a ticket was the best birthday gift!

This morning I got up and got ready. It is always fun to be able to dress up a little, curl my hair, and put on some dressy shoes. Garry agreed to keep the Little Man for me, so I met them over there. Garry and Peanut came to lunch with us, and we were spoiled. Mom took us to the Grand America for the lunch buffet which is incredible!

I then kissed my Little Man goodbye and we went to the Capitol Theatre for Lion King. Let me just say, the first scene was AMAZING! It was nothing less than magic. The beauty, the animals, the sounds, it all brought chills to my body and tears to my eyes.

The play was wonderful. The costumes were spectacular. The music and voices were inspiring. The play was so good!!!! I. LOVED. IT!

I am so grateful to my mom for taking me for my birthday! It was such a fun outting with her!

Catch A Fish

Monday afternoon I gothome from work and made dinner. Dustin was home by about 5:30 and we ate dinner. As we were sitting there we decided we should take the Little Man fishing. After attempting to catch a fish in Duchesne, we decided we would go over to the park, that stalks fish, and see what we could find

We first went to Wal-Mart to get bait, and I needed a fishing pole...It's pink! No big deal...just pretty awesome! We then got hooks, bobbers, a little tackle box, and one spinner. We then popped over to the pond and setup.


Dustin helped get our rods put together, and on my first cast, I caught a fish! It was ginormeous! Maybe 3 inches long. Carter came over and reeled it in. Once we got the little fish in, Carter and I stopped long enough to take a picture.

We continued to throw the line out, and had the opportunity to catch two more itty-bittys. After the first one, Carter had zero interest in looking at the fish again.


Shortly after 8:30 we packed up and headed home. Carter kept telling us about "catch a fish." "Mom, fish in da water." "Mom, fish" then he would make the fish face! He was darling and has wanted to go fishing every day since..