Stripes...

...they do a picture good.

So much so that one is just not enough.

BOO!

HEAR YE, HEAR YE!

SissyMal is hosting a sale on her flower paintings TODAY!

Simply enter Mal's website, browse through her flower paintings, if there is something you like click the "contact me" tab and fill out the form. Be sure to note the title of the piece you are interested in. Mal will get back to you ASAP to let you know if that piece is still available and it's price.

Personally, I think 20% off a one of a kind floral oil painting makes a perfect Christmas gift!

Cutest

Three generations on the job site

The Witches Take-1

A slow day in Provo brought us up to Midvale

to see the witches at Gardner Village with Haley and Addie.

We introduced Samson to ketchup after our outing, and suffice it to say it was a hit. His sippy cup even called for a generous dip.

I've got quite the character for a kid.

My Betrothed

Remember that one time Lauren wooed me, drew me in, claimed that she loved me and then MOVED away!?

Such fond memories of our short time together.

Should've done an outfit change so we could pretend like we hung out more than four times.

A date night with the husbands.

One Hundred Bubble Pictures

Lindey entertained Sam for like an hour one afternoon with these awesome bubbles from Gymboree. They are super long lasting and sometimes don't pop for hours!

Naturally I took a million photos, so enjoy. Or don't.

Kangaroo Zoo Party

The dudes turned four this year and had their party at Kangaroo Zoo, which we loved!

Samson and I have been before, but that was a few months ago and this time he really wanted to play and had a great time! We even sent him down the huge slide by himself a couple times!

iPhone flash = sucky pictures

Baby Lucy

I just love how these two play together. And I can't get over Lyla's adorable piggies!

That little Nora girl had just started crawling a few days before this, so we all enjoyed watching her show off her new trick that night too!

Halloween Decor

I spookified our house this year, and I'm glad I did! Initially I considered not even pulling out my Halloween decorations at all until I realized all I had was a light-up pumpkin and those embroidery hoop things I made last year, and it hit me that I need to make holidays a bigger deal for Samson, and stop being a scrooge!

My favorite detail this year were the crows! Thank you Dollar Tree.

Haley and I got together at her house one night, I put Samson to bed there, and we put together a paper banner! Thank you Pinterest.

Driving home that night was a disaster. What normally takes me 45 min took two freaking hours! Thank you construction all over Utah. Samson finally fell back asleep after an hour and a half, poor kid!

The finished product!

Hmmm...just had a thought...what if I painted our built-ins white?

17 Months

Our little dude is 17 months today!

There's a few things I wanted to remember about

him during this stage of his little life.

.26 lbs and still has a healthy lookin' belly

.Added the following animal noises to his repertoire: cow, cat, bird, snake, turkey, monster, pig, and santa clause (although not quite an animal)

.Has recently become very attached to a baby doll my mom gave me three years ago and affectionately calls her "Bee". We've given in and let his attachment run wild. And it is adorable.

.Will walk around holding up anyone's phone pointing the camera at his face and says, "cheese!"

.Gets so silly sometimes and has such a funny personality

.Today he threw up twice in his crib (yes, it was such a lovely day), and the second time it happened I heard him chatting in his room, then it was quiet, and after a little bit I heard him say, "Eeewwww". Poor little dude.

.Brings me the remote and says, "choo choo" to watch Chuggington.

.Still loves fruit, and we discovered he loves frozen berries too!

.Doesn't like bread and cheese. So, I suppose that means he's not mine or Tadd's.

.Says, "YAAA!" when I ask him if he wants to brush his teeth.

.Gives loves and kisses when asked for them

.Still has a mark from his giant goose egg that happened over a month ago.

.Learned to jump last week, and if he works really hard at it he can get an eighth of an inch off the ground.

.Has really gotten into climbing this last month, which results in lots of falling.

.Says Nora, Lucy, Shay Shay, Addie, Lindey "Nee", thank you "Q", please "pee", outside "ahside", swing "wing"...and I swear there's more, but I can't think of them.

.Did the sweetest thing one morning. I made us a smoothie, and put two straws in it, and I held his straw while we both drank, and he studied what I was doing, and held my straw for me!

.Loves playing with his cousins

.Still gets needy around me, and sad for a little bit after I leave. And he and his daddy still log some serious bonding time 3 or 4 nights a week.

Goose Egg

Can you believe the size of this thing!

Please excuse the runny nose. Can't blame him though, right?

One bonk on his wardrobe was all it took, and no lie...30 second later this is what appeared.

And in true boy fashion, he added to it later that evening by falling down my parent's stairs. Bravo!

Down Syndrome Buddy Walk

An opportunity to show our support and love for these little dolls and so many others AND get a tee shirt? Well, we're there!

Why would Tadd have passed up an opportunity to cruise along on the razor? Oh, he wouldn't.

Even the little monster got a tee shirt!

We love our nieces so much. They truly carry the spirit of Christ with them and we feel so blessed that they are in our lives!

Jumper

When did he get so ding-dang big?