Thanksgiving 2012

Before:

After:

We started a new tradition this year of growing a "Grateful Tree" during the month of November. Every night at dinner we each got to write something we were grateful for on a leaf and place it on the tree. The only rule was you couldn't write something that had already been pinned to the tree.
This year we were filled with gratitude for (in no particular order):

The Barn
Daina & Sarah (friends from the barn)
Dad
The Witches (imaginary practicing friends)
Heavenly Father
Golf
Brooklynn
Prayer
Happy little girls
Mesa
Mercy
1st time listening
Warm weather
Suzi
Down time
toothpaste that tastes good
milk
My bird (another imaginary practicing friend)
Forgiveness
kisses
the rain
mommy
my feet
getting better fast
hobbies
Big mermaids
time away from work
the Temple
Claire, Kennedy, and my books
Baby Blake

If you were the ocean and I was the sun
If the day made me heavy and gravity won
If I was the red and you were the blue
I could just fade into you
If you were a window and I was the rain
I’d pour myself out and wash off the pain
I’d fall like a tear so your light could shine through
Then I’d just fade into you


If I was a shadow and you were a street
The cobblestone midnight is where we first meet
Til the lights flickered out, we dance with the moon
Then I’d just fade into you


If I was just ashes and you were the ground
And under your willow they laid me down
There’ll be no trace that one was once two
After I fade into you

- Mazzy Star "Fade into You"

Brooklynn likes to dance like Olivia after every bedtime story . . .

my whole world.

This guy is darn stinkin' cute

Great babysitter. . .

"There's no other love like the love for a brother. There's no other love like the love from a brother." - Astrid Alauda

B's favorite things

My favorite part is that baby blake is swaddled. ;)

our own pumpkin

Halloween 2012

Favorite moments:
Brooklynn presenting herself to the downstairs group of admirers dressed in her costume for the first time, make-up and all. She exited the elevator, and in the most divinely over-dramatic way (cue angelic choir) stood in front of them with radiant happiness without saying a single word. This went on for some time as she let them admire. Then she turned, and very gracefully (and slowly) walked away (quite a contrast from the goofy jumping bean she typically is). SHE was FINALLY a real mermaid.

Getting out of the car in the dark of night to trick-or-treat in a nearby neighborhood, when the lights from the street lights caught her costume and shattered a million glistening sparkles from her mermaid tail. "MOM!" she said in whispered awe, "I am BEAUTIFUL!"

I made the mistake of dressing Blake before we got in the car to drive to Palm Springs. Of coarse, there was a blow out on the way, so we got to wear the costume long enough for me to take this photo. Lovely. :)

Pumpkin carving was absolutely joyful. Our first year of doing this tradition, because Brooklynn is finally big enough to participate. The smell of pumpkins as you spill their guts all over the table, the glee as Brooklynn picked out the face she wanted to carve, the spooky music in the background . . . it was a night full of joy.

So grateful for the simple beauty of a baby blessing.

Uncle Dave later recounted that Blake spit out his binky and spent the entire blessing smiling up at the men surrounding him. Just like my little smiler to share his happy self in such a special moment.

my goon.

Brooklynn: "Mom!!! That car is going to get candy, because it's wearing a costume!"

Little Man, 2 months old

Sea World with Cousins

Holy cow. Big moment for a little girl.

LOVE.

Perfect phonetics ;)

"Grandma Heidi,
Thank you for playing with me, and the pink umbrella. Brooklynn"

"Mck, Luke, Logan
Thank you for my birthday present. I love you. Love, Brooklynn"

"Mommy is a stinky face, Daddy is a stinky face."

Anyone is a great reading partner