Happy Monday Everyone!

I am typing with gloves on so if there are any typos, that's why! I'm freezing!! Our house has stayed at a lovely 59 degrees all day today! Yeah. Not so cozy. =) And the worst part is that now I'm competing with Suzanne to see who can go the longest without turning on the heat so it's become a matter of pride. I absolutely can't lose! I figure that people who lived in those log houses back in the day survived - so I probably can to. Just 2 more days!! BURRR!

We did our pumpkin carving last night! It was so fun this year because Anika was actually willing to get her hands dirty! She did a great job of cleaning out Nathan's pumpkin. He always does fancy carvings. I'm pretty boring and just stick to the triangles. =) Keslie was my partner but she wasn't very interested so I had to carry the work load. We had fun and Nathan made his traditional baked pumpkin seeds. Anika was so cute and jabbered on and on. At one point she said "Thank you Daddy! That was very thoughtful of you." I got a kick out of that!

BubbleShare: Share photos - halloween photos



On Saturday I was walking through the girls room and stepped on something sharp! It stayed stuck in my foot as I lifted it to see what it was. Nope - not a nail or a pin. It was a DEMON plastic dinosaur similar to the one pictured. It's TAIL stuck all the way into my foot and I had a limp for a good two days! I just wanted to post about it because it hurt. =)



Things about Keslie - at her 2 year check up she was low in iron. She has to take an iron supplement for the next few months to see if it helps. It's a huge pain because I have to give it to her an hour before she eats OR 2 hours after. I hope it helps! She gives the BEST hugs EVER! She holds on tight and wraps her entire arm and hand tight around the neck. It's so sweet. I especially love it when she is patting my shoulder with her other hand. She knows a lot of her colors and shapes. The way she says triangle is BEYOND cute. Her favorite color seems to be orange and when she is feeling lazy she calls everything lellow. She is actually starting to drink milk! The only downside is that she thinks she needs a cookie to "dip in it". She also likes to hold her drinks in her mouth and then slowly let it leak out. I'm not a big fan of that trick!

Anika has said a few things lately that I actually remember so I thought I would share!
The other day Nathan told me that he was planning on studying all night and I was being dramatic and said "Oh Anika! My heart is broken because Daddy is going to study!!" And she said "My heart is not broken!! I have more hearts in my heart for you. But there is not blood in it yet." Hahaha! We had a good chuckle about that! She is wanting to help more and more with getting dinner ready. I need to be more willing to let her help. Sometimes it's just easier to do it myself. She wants to help with everything - dishes, preparation, table setting. It's so cute! The other day she wanted to spread the peanut butter and jelly for me. She is obsessed with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! She would eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
I got to experience Nathan's dental skills first hand last week when he cleaned my teeth! He does a great job! I don't think he was very pleased with my dental hygiene. Apparently, I brush too hard and too fast. He was asked to be the new President of the Pediatric Dentistry club at school! Pretty cool!

Anyway - I hope that everyone's week is off to a fabulous start! I'll be posting more as the weeks goes on - what with Halloween and all!!

The Onion, Finger Painting and Eating Worms Yesterday

OKAY - for starters - Nathan found this website called The Onion. I can't say that I recommend the site - I saw a couple things that I wouldn't have wanted to click on - but we did watch a HILARIOUS video from today. This is a site devoted to giving FAKE news. =)

Here it is:


Preemptive Memorial Honors Future Victims Of Imminent Dam Disaster

On Monday we did a little finger painting out on our porch. Here are a couple pictures from that:




Anika dove right in with her pointer finger but didn't go all out until the end. Keslie wouldn't have anything to do with it at first but when she finally decided to go for it she really took the plunge. She got paint all over everything. I think that stuff is washable???!


Yesterday was a "nobody likes me, everybody hates me, think I'll eat some worms..." kind of day. Mostly I was just feisty and tired of doing the dishes and feeling like a grouchy mom. Call it PMS or blame it on the drizzly weather - It makes no difference to me! Anika has been acting like a moody teenager all week. In between her tantrums and whining she is the sweetest little angel you will ever meet though. =)
THEN - I've been all worked up about vaccinations (Pretty much a whole other post). Suffice it to say that I wish parents would make educated decisions about getting their children immunized rather than not doing it because of stories they've heard or the "risks" they think they are taking and not ACTUALLY doing the research. I have bunches of studies and articles and ACCURATE stuff about vaccinations. Nathan's learned a ton about it in his medical school portion of dental school too. I think he gets even more worked up about it than I do. I'll have to post my stuff eventually. Can you tell I am PRO Immunizations?? It's a hot topic with me.

THEN - I have been SO confused by the responses I've heard regarding Julie Becks talk at General Conference. Almost everyone I've talked to was bugged or annoyed by it or didn't think she meant it the way it sounded. I just remember loving it. So, I just reread it a few minutes ago and I still just loved it. I think she meant it exactly the way she said it. I think her talk was really motivating and I know I have a long way to go but everything she said goes along with what past and present apostles and prophets have said. Read it or listen to it again - it really is great. I think sometimes our defenses go up when we think someone is telling us how we should be doing something and it isn't exactly how we are doing it or want to be doing it. That doesn't mean that what she said isn't right or good. It's easy to accept the things we agree with - but not so easy when it doesn't match up with what we think. Any thoughts? I spoke my mind - now you speak yours!

I've probably said WAY too much and I will have a FOR REALS "nobody likes me" day tomorrow! I heard on the radio this morning that it boosts our immune system when we share our true feelings. =) So, there you go! My white blood cell count probably just doubled. =)

We had Mom and Dad West here for a visit last weekend and it was such fun!! Nathan got to choose a place to eat for his birthday and it was really yummy! La Casona - Nathan was able to order an AUTHENTIC Colombian dish! It looked pretty weird to me and I tasted the plantain and didn't think to highly of it - but hey! He was beyond happy and enjoyed eating food that reminded him of his mission. We also got some empanadas that were seriously good! That night we watched Transformers (sort of - Nathan and I were pretty sleepy!). I love that movie! On Saturday we went to Rose's Berry Farm for pumpkins and it was SO beautiful! The weather has been amazing!! 77 degrees today! Hello!! I really might just make it until November without the heat! We had a great time at the pumpkin patch! The girls especially loved the little homemade slides they had. It was so cute watching them slide down! I can't wait to carve our pumpkins! We watched WILD HOGS that night and had some good laughs. =) They left early the next morning. The weekend went so fast! I'm so glad they came though! Here are some pictures!

BubbleShare: Share photos - Here comes Halloween!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATHAN!!!!!!!

HE IS:

* 28 years old!!
* my very best friend.
* an AMAZING daddy.
* a great conversationalist.
* a VERY hard worker.
* smart as all get out.
* hilarious!!
* the best laugher.
* a 3rd year dental student.
* a lover of candy.
* a lover of music.
* a total hottie.
* a huge help around the house and with the girls.
* very patient.
* fun to watch funny movies with because he has the BEST laugh!
* a pro tennis player (on the wii)
* great at quoting movies or tv shows - even if he's only seen it once!
* not very good with directions. =)
* an artist.
* very money smart. A total budget man.
* realistic.
* funny about cream cheese.
* very encouraging and supportive.
* totally habit free. I'm not kidding - he doesn't bite his nails, pick his nose, chew with his mouth open or anything!!
* so cute with babies.
* hoping to have a SHAR-PEI someday. (not happening)
* very clean.
* my confidant.

And there you have it folks! 28 things about my cute hubby - 1 thing for each year he's been alive! We'd be lost without him!! I LOVE YOU NATHAN!

Did you know...

That you can turn your blog into a book?? So - there is a site that will let you either ARCHIVE your blog into your computer and if you want you can PAY to have it PUBLISHED. HELLO! I am so excited! This is where I put everything! Don't you think it would be a great gift to give to your kids when they get bigger? I love looking at old things my mom wrote about me! Anyway - check it out!!

http://www.blurb.com/create/book/blogbook

Calling All Pumpkin Recipes!!

So - I am in a REALLY pumpkinish mood and I want to collect all the pumpkin recipes I can! If you have a yummy one that you wouldn't mind sharing with me I'd appreciate it! Just post it in my comments section! Thanks!!

ALSO - What is Facebook?? Everyone is talking about it and I keep getting added to people's friend list...
What's so cool about it??

Thanks!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET KESLIE SUE!!

My little miss turned 2 today!! It's so weird to me! I look back and these past two years are a BLUR! It went so fast and now she's a walking, talking toddler! We love her so much.

She's had a crazy, spread out birthday! She had a little playgroup party last Wednesday. Yesterday, we went and ate a special birthday lunch with daddy at school. Today we did presents and tomorrow is cake and ice-cream. I get a little more organized when they turn 3. =)

Here are some pictures from our "pumpkin head/birthday party" playgroup and from today. I know - I'm not the best photographer in the world and I'm way too tired to go edit them. =) I'll probably post some more tomorrow when we do the cake!

BubbleShare: Share photos - halloween photos


Keslie has her 2-year check-up on Monday so I'll be sure to give the full report.

At 2 years old she loves:
BABIES, dressing up and dancing, picking up Anika (EEKA) from school, FRUIT SNACKS, singing, reading books, playing hide and seek, coloring, playdough, swinging on the swings, Nemo, Teletubbies, The Wiggles and snuggling.

We can't imagine life without our Keslie. She is so much fun and brings so much laughter into our home. I really like this mom stuff a-lot! =)

Without further adieu...

After much encouragement from family and friends I have decided to sell my bows! I've started an inbetweener (is that a word???) website until I get my official one up and running, so check it out!

Sweet Susie Boutique


Spread the word!!

Thanks!!

The COWS and CONFERENCE

We had such a nice weekend! There were some wonderful talks given at General Conference and I can't wait to read some of them over when the Ensign comes. On Sunday we had the traditional BIG breakfast! It was so YUMMY! Thanks Amber for the new recipes! I especially loved the apple-cinnamon syrup! After breakfast we went for a little walk through the "center" and looked at all the cows. =) Sunday evening was fun because we had dinner with our neighbors! We have such great neighbors. Saul - if you are reading this - DON'T GO TO FLORIDA!! We'll miss you too much! =)

Here are some pictures from our cow walk! AND there were so many more cows that we didn't photograph! Isn't this a funny tradition? There are new cows every year!

BubbleShare: Share photos - Share your baby pictures

One Last Burst of Summer!

The past couple of weeks have been heavenly! I love the crisp, cool (but not cold!) air that comes with Fall. I love the nostalgia! I love the beautiful, colorful leaves and watching the girls jump in them! I love pumpkin spice and apple cinnamon smells! I love the hot chocolate! I love going on walks and feeling the breeze! I love the cleaning motivation that always hits me around now! I love that it's birthday season (for us) and Halloween time and Thanksgiving (almost)! I love the yummy food! I love how full my heart feels. Maybe it's the nostalgia that always gets me thinking about my life and just feeling so happy and grateful for all that I've been blessed with.

The number one thing I don't like about Fall is that Winter follows close behind. Winter definitely has it's perks too! Christmas! Family! Christmas music! Sledding and snowmen! BUT - I don't like the CONSTANT runny nose and the wealth of sickness that spreads from child to child. I don't like how barren everything feels. I hope we get more snow this year because last year it was just barren and cold - with the occasional snow shower. Anyway - I was pretty excited about how warm it's gotten the past couple of days! I LOVE IT!! Plus, Nathan said I can earn some money if I make until November without heat! SWEET!

So - a couple days ago after we dropped Anika off at school, we came through the gate just as Saul was turning on the sprinklers so Kes got to have one last wet and wild sprinkler fest! Here are some pictures!






AND here is a video of her after her jaunt through the sprinklers!




AND here are a couple more with all the animals. I pick those things up a MILLION times a day!




Anika is loving every minute of preschool! She is so funny when I ask her how her day was and try to get info from her. She usually says " I had SO much fun!" and then I'll ask her what she did and she'll say "lot's of fun stuff". On the way home the other day she was singing a song and I asked her if she learned it at school and she said "yeah" and I said "what other songs do you sing?" and she said "Um... the cutest songs that you ever singed!" Haha! She's cracks me up. =) Kes is doing much better! Maybe it's not so bad to hang out with dear old mommy after all. =)

Well - enjoy your weekend and if you are watching General Conference - enjoy that!! There were some great talks today. =)