One Year Older and Wiser Too

Today is my little brother Blair's birthday. By turning 27, he has successfully made me feel old. Thanks for nothing.

There are a few reasons, however, why I will forgive him for this major trespass against me.

And they are (in no particular order):

He is crazy. Seriously, he makes me laugh so hard. Between his spot-on impersonations of random people (B-rad from our cruise) and random things in life (our Grandma Hazel's golf swing), he can get us rolling on the floor in no time.


He married one of the cutest, sweetest gals I know. We love Kim and are so glad she chose Blair (although, really, how could she not?).


He is a GREAT uncle. I know those of us who have kids in our family feel so grateful for the relationship both Blair and Kim have with our kids. They truly are the fun couple and the kids flock to them. I am so grateful for what a sweet uncle Blair is to my kids.


Blair, you truly are one of my most favorite people in the world and I am so grateful you're my brother.

We love you!

Do You See What I See?

I looked out my front window this morning to see this:


Okay, so that's not exactly the quaint little view from my front window (it's actually the Norsey Wood in the UK but pretty, right?) and we didn't exactly get that much snow (but it would be cool, right?).

But it's snowing! Has been snowing lightly all day!

Usually I'm not a big fan of snow coming so early but I am this year because that means the seasons are changing and changing seasons means the bun in the oven is one season closer to being born! Wahoo! But seriously, if I had to live through one more Indian Summer day of beautiful temps in the 70s I was going to kill myself.

There's something about the first snowfall that makes me want to do crazy things. And Henry too, apparently. After staring at it out the window, he turned to me and said, "Mama, we need to put away this Halloween stuff and get out our Christmas decorations."

I think he's onto something.

Just don't tell Scott, he's weird about putting up Christmas decorations in early October. Sometimes I just don't get him.

I love Fall (not falling DOWN, but the season)

We spent a glorious General Conference weekend last weekend in Yellowstone Park and then at the cabin. I love the cabin. How could you not when it looks like this?
Watching the wildlife

Overlook of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone


Watching two "unique" sisters gazing at the waterfall in an inappropriate embrace
(Is it mere coincidence that Kate asked me this weekend if I thought they were weird?)
Enjoying the overlook with my original baby
Watching Old Faithful (which, by the way, is becoming less and less faithful. What is happening to this world when even Old Faithful starts letting us down?! First the economy and now the geyser!)
Helping Grampy Hal stain the deck
(Henry and his Grandpa call each other "Good Helper Guys." Henry becomes Hal's shadow whenever there is work to be done around the cabin.)
Enjoying Disney's pure digital magic inside while it rains outside
Just melting my heart, chapped lips and all

Unbelievable Fall colors
(I told Scott on the beautiful drive home that the colors of Fall prove God's existence. If it were up to simple nature and evolution, the leaves would just turn brown, die, and fall off. But of course God could do much better than that. I'm so grateful that God thought of making our Earth more beautiful, even when things have to die.)

Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Exhibit C

Parenting Ruminations

Today I was running errands with Ruby, just trying to kill time until Henry's preschool let out.

At 10:55 a.m., I felt the need for some nourishment and coincidentally happened to be passing McDonald's. I'm usually not a big fan of Micky Dees but I needed SOMETHING. So Ruby and I made a quick stop through the drive-thru, ordered a medium Diet Coke (it's slowly sounding more appealing to me -- I'm comin' back to my old self!) and cinnamon roll (mmmm) and as we're pulling out, I heard it ... a little voice from the back seat saying,

"I wanna fench fie!"

How is it that my not even two year-old daughter has gotten so accustomed to drive-thrus and their evil purpose? How is it that there are some people in this world who only feed their children organic foods and then there are others, who shall remain nameless, whose 22 month old kids recognize drive thrus and beg for french fries?

Look at them! They're darling!


I seriously started wondering today, am I failing them? I don't mean to be all dramatic. I'm not going to draw a juxtaposition between feeding my kids fast food and giving them cigarettes but stilll ... I can't help but wonder ....

Slightly Belated

Yesterday was Henry's 4th birthday.

I could easily write a very long list of why I love him so much but I have one main reason,

God chose him to make me a mother and for that I will be eternally grateful.

Here are a few highlights of the day.

Making his birthday cupcakes
Finally getting the fire truck he's been asking for for months

Learning to ride his new bike


Enjoying one of the last warm days of summer

Pure joy over one lonely cupcake (Reason #233 that I love easy-to-please little kids!)

We love you Henry!