productivity

It's not everyday that I'm so productive, so that's why I get to brag today.

First I was brousing Marshalls for a swim suit. Apparently they're all gone, but I did find a super cute skirt on clearance for 3$. Too bad it was a size 12. I bought it anyways, sat down to my sewing machine and made this super cute skirt a size Kristin.

Then I finally made over this frame. I'm sorry I didn't take a before picture, and I know this color frame doesn't stand out on this wall. But at least it's put together. I'm thinking I will repaint it though to make it pop on the wall. But I love the way the mat turned out.

Then we had leftover pumpkin from our roll last night, and so we made pumpkin bread. But this is not everday pumpkin bread. It's Orange Pumpkin Bread! And in this, you grind up an ENTIRE orange! I was super excited to get to use my new Vita Mix that I'd been saving all my dimes for. It was beautiful!! The vita mix whipped up that orange like it was nothing! The kids loved watching an entire orange get pulvarized into a smooth creamy batter. So this recipe is de-lish. It's what my neighbors are going to get for Christmas. Oh, but I left out the raisins to make it yummy, because we all know that raisins are gisgusting as Gwen would say. (She actually likes raisins though. The nerve!)

Then, we had a fantastic FHE where we started building our popsicle stick haunted house. Again, Gwen is so stoked for fall that we are baking pumpkin items and building halloween crafts. Here they are working hard and enjoying our orange pumpkin bread.

And here is just a sweet picture Gwen took of Drake today. Look how beat up he is!

Sunday night snack

Gwen is super excited for Halloween already. She seems to think it's just around the corner. Maybe it's because of all this cool weather we've been having. NOT!!!! (oh I'm so Jr. High) But seriously, 112º today!?!? Not cool. Literally!!! (oh man, I'm so witty too!) So back to what I was saying, she was begging to make a pumpkin something or other. We decided to go with Libby's pumpkin roll, a family fav.

What's better than spicy pumpkin sponge cake rolled up with cream cheese frosting?

Nothing.

Not new born babies, the smell of rain, or even winning the lottery.

Okay, maybe all those are better. Too bad I'm not speaking from experience for the last one.

preschool time baby!!

Drake started preschool today at the Montessori House (where Gwen is also going to school). He has been so excited for this day, and it was so hard on him that preschool started three weeks after K-6 started. So here's our little cheezeball's first day of school picture.

My little brainiacs ready to go learn!

My favorite thing was picking them up after school and seeing them sitting on the bench waiting with Gwen's arm wrapped around Drake. She has been so excited to teach him everything!

And about five minutes after school this is what Drake looked like. He had a good first day.

It was weird for me to not have my little buddy with me all day. I almost had a panic attack leaving the gym this morning and thinking "oh my goodness, I forgot Drake!!!!" only to remember he was at school.

Camelback

This morning we put on our tennies and loaded the kids up to go for a hike.

Gwen LOVED the camelback back pack and could not stop asking for a drink.

She was well hydrated for sure!

The hike starts out as gradual stairs. Really easy.

Then after the first little summit things get a bit tougher.

But the views are awesome!

click on this picture to see downtown Phoenix in the back ground, and Drake's sweet face!

Turns out Gwen is a little hiking machine and wanted to keep going. That meant Drake had to ride on Daddy's shoulders up these steep slick parts. Luckily for Drake, Ryan is as sure footed as a mountain goat! ;)

We had a lot of fun and luckily the kids had a good time too. Gwen kept saying she's going to be a hiker when she grows up, and if you fall down it's okay, you just get up and keep going. What a tuff girl!

2L

No longer a lowly 1L (law school talk for first year), Ryan started school again today!

Good luck Ryan!

Be nice to others, share your toys, eat your lunch, and remember who you are!

you're the birthday, you're the birthday, you're the birthday boy or girl!

Confused? That was from the Simpsons when they go to some place like Chuckee Cheese for Bart's birthday, and the robotic animals sing that song. Pretty funny... ahhhhhh welp, here's my birthday boy!

And for Ryan's 32nd, here are 32 reasons why I love him oh so dearly:
ahemmm:
1. your hot (I can't help it, I'm shallow. But I promise that's not the number one reason... even though here it is listed as number one)

2. when I asked you to grow a mustache, you did!

3. you're super smart

4. you are such a good daddy!

5. you help me do the dishes

6. you alway compliment my cooking (and have gotten the kids to as well)

7. you get me a card for every occasion

8. then you write really sweet things in that card

9. you proposed without knowing what I'd say!!

10. you're good with babies (not just ours)

11. when I get to have a girls night, I come home to a clean house!!

12. you work so hard in school

13. you have a perfect forehead ;)

14. you sing

15. you'll wear shorts I've patched up

16. you've got great style

17. you put in the dining room floor

18. you're ambitious

19. you have a strong testimony

20. you play the guitar

21. darth vador :) shhh!

22. you can quote any movie, even if you've only seen it once

23. you're super competitive (we make a lethal team!)

24. you always open the car door for me

25. you make me laugh till I pe... uh nevermind

26. you like good music

27. you love sports and know a lot about sports trivia

28. you like to go camping

29. you've given me great in-laws (I know you can't help this one, but you can't help having a perfect forehead either)

30. you'll go watch chick flicks with me

31. you are always looking for the good in other people

32. you're so outgoing

Well, there you have it. Ryan, I love you!! Happy birthday honey!

happy anniversary to us!

Today we are celebrating six years of wedded bliss!!! Of course there have been many ups and downs too- just like Elder Nelson said in the last General Conference, "Each marriage starts with two built-in handicaps. It involves two imperfect people. Happiness can come to them only through their earnest effort. Just as harmony comes from an orchestra only when its members make a concerted effort, so harmony in marriage also requires a concerted effort. That effort will succeed if each partner will minimize personal demands and maximize actions of loving selflessness."

So to celebrate, my honey took me to a the Montelucia, a resort in Paradise Valley. It was awesome, and gorgeous, and soooo good to have some time to just be with each other. (thanks so much Gavin and Emily for taking our babies) It was also good to see that we can still crack each other up. Ryan, you're my best friend-I'm lucky I get to spend eternity with you!

kindergarten

Gwen lived it up this last weekend before School started. We went to Sunsplash, she played with her cousins and friends, and got to spend the night at Gigi's! And then today I fixed her hair, packed her a lunch and sent her off to kindergarten. She's now off to school EVERYDAY as REQUIRED BY LAW!!! And I didn't even cry! (I got the tears out last night) But luckily she goes to a great school where she has great friends, and kindergarten there is only half day!

Drake was so bummed that he didn't get to go today too, but preschool doesn't start for a few more weeks.

Here's my big school girl in front of the flag pole.

There she goes, walking off to grow up.

artist

I came down stairs to find that Gwen had taken out my little easel and picture of Jesus from my primary lesson today, and she was sketching Jesus just like a little art student. It was too cute!

handy hubby

Yesterday we pulled out the gross carpet that was in our dining room, and laid laminate flooring. This was our first time, and I'm pretty proud of the job we did! It took us all day! It didn't help to get 4/5 (that's an exact measurement people) done and realize we had the space to lay the cover between floors wrong, and pull it all out and recut the ends! It was a good learning experience, and it's so nice having a floor that's easy to clean spills up from!

New Moon sneak peek

This is hilarious. Listen to the commentary and the screaming at Jacob!

AZ monsoons

I love nights like last night!

We could hear the thunder and see flashes of lightning all night.

I heart monsoon season!

images courtesy of AZ Central

twin cousins

If you didn't know, Drake was born on the same day as his cousin Jack. Not planned. Totally different due dates, but wound up being born 6 hours apart in the same hospital, by the same (wonderful) midwife. They just love each other, and luckily we have ichat to keep them connected since Jack moved to California a year and a half ago. So this year, Tara loaded up the kids and drove down to AZ-despite the 115º weather- so the boys could celebrate their 3rd birthday together.  

The first day, we went swimming.  

Jack wasn't having the pool, so he spent his time on the deck watching the landscapers.  

And Drake kicked it in the pool.

Well, they played and fought all week.

It was wonderful.  

Then the weekend started with the boys birthday.

We took them to Big Surf to cool off and play.

This time Jack enjoyed the water a lot more.  Maybe he was just so desperate to cool off.

This girl should be a swim suit model!

How cute are Eli and Katie?  (the answer is super)

What about this man-child: Kit? 

I did get a family picture with out Aubrey walking in front of the camera, but she conveniently covered Kristin in a swim suit, so this is the posted one!  ;)
Then after lots of really good ideas, and the procrastination to eliminate them all, we settled on a Cars themed birthday party.  They both love Lightning McQueen.

How cute are they?  We just did a family party at Gigi's, but it was great.

Then the weekend ended and it was time to say good bye.

We'll miss you guys!

morracanoil

While at the salon, I picked up a new product, and I'm in L.O.V.E!  

 It smells amazing, and leaves my hair so silky!

 Peace out Bumble and Bumble!

new hair

Tara's been in town for the last week. And together we had hair appointments at a fancy Scottsdale salon.  This is a big deal for me, because with the exception of about two hair cuts, I've cut my own hair for the last 10 years!  So for the last couple weeks, I've been thinking of what I was going to do with my hair, and for about the last YEAR, I've been wanting bangs, but I had convinced myself that my hair was too thin to do bangs.  So we go to our appointments, I mention my bangs curiosity, but he wants to do just long swooping bang type things and I agree!  So I got home, was disappointed in myself for chickening out, and took out my scissors and cut my own bangs after finally getting my hair cut by someone else.  But I like them!  And Ryan SAYS he likes them too.

Okay, so the picture is only okay since my hair's in a pony tail.  Let me try again.
Gwen's been so funny about my hair too. The first thing she said was "Oh, your hair is so pretty! You look like Hannah Montana!". Great. Then the next morning she says, "mom, you sound the same, but you look different". Silly girl.

Also, tomorrow my baby turns three!  I've been kissing my two year old baby good bye all day today, getting ready to never have my two year old Drakey again.

Wendy's Sweet & Spicy Asian Boneless Wings

When I saw the commercial for these, I was so excited! They look like Pei Wei's spicy chicken, at half the price! I was salivating and I couldn't stop thinking about them. So today Tawnya and I met at Wendy's to try them. Huge disappointment! I mean the sauce is pretty good, but do you know what they are?! They're the regular chicken nuggets that they shake up in the sweet and spicy sauce- that's it! I think there's 10 in an order for $3.99 (non combo price). Well you could get two 5 piece chicken nugget sides for $.99 each, then just ask for a side of the sauce!

it's hot here

This is what happens when you buy a huge thing of gummy vitamins from Costco, and they get left in your car for one day.