Halloween

Here is our CUTE little bumblebee! I love kid Halloween costumes. It was so fun having him wear it the last couple of days, I hate to have to put it away & never see it on him again. I took this side picture so you could see the wings.

Here he is standing up (with help!) This is how he prefers to walk everywhere right now. He took his first steps last week & now gets really excited whenever he takes a few steps by himself :)

Cute little shy smile

I helped my good friends kids make these cupcakes for their Halloween party.

...and I spent a couple days helping her decorate her garage. Here is Vic & Tommy at the party. It was really fun with a spook alley, pumpkin carving, & lots of yummy food.

Here they are again a little earlier before it got dark.

This is the next day at the ward party. Vic is a killer doctor if you can't tell what he is supposed to be!!

Here is Tommy and I on our front porch. I wanted it to be fun for the trick or treaters this year. Tommy LOVED answering the door. He tried to crawl away with every kid that came to the door & whenever I lowered my treat plate for the kids to pick their bubbles, teeth, spiders, etc. Tommy would grab some for him too!

Here is the porch without the flash (looks a little spookier!) Plus if you can see, there was a little strobe light right by me & every time a kid walked up spooky sounds would come out. Tommy loved that too, but it did scare one little 3 year old so I felt bad for that! Holidays are so much more fun with kids! I can't wait for next year that Tommy will actually be able to run around!

Oh ya, I have to tell a quick story about the 2 year old chicken that made my night. I asked her what she wanted & she silently stuck out her bag so I put some bubbles in it. I wasn't expecting her to talk & she then stared at me & said "bubbles" clear as day so I gave her another one. Then she said "spider"- gave her that, then "candy" SO she got all three.  That little chicken came out good. HAHA! If only every kid was that stinkin' cute!

Tommy's 10 Month Pictures

I bought this cute little outfit for Tommy's 9 month pictures & fully planned on taking him into the studio, but now I don't need to! I really love the ones we got of him tonight. It was sort of rushed & done in only 15 minutes, but they turned out pretty stinkin' cute. 

This one turned out so fun & bright :)

I know I'm biased, but ...CUTE right?!

This little guy is the happiest baby ever & I wanted to capture that :)

This one isn't as posy, but I thought it was cute to capture him enjoying himself in the grass.

He had a lot of fun waving this leaf around, it was one of those I more needed a video of.

He didn't really smile in this one, but I love how he's almost standing on his own & that I didn't have to change a thing about coloring or brightness, just came out perfect. Wish I got more of those!

This one was really dark & I had to lighten it a lot so it's poor quality, but I love his expression.

Life Update

This summer has flown by way too fast. I felt it was stressful having Vic looking for a job & then traveling every day I wasn't working so I am WELL ready for a change of pace & we are going to get one because..... Vic got a job! I am so excited because I have now officially moved to working only 2 days a week. It feels weird since I've only ever worked full time. Today was my first workday off while Vic was working. It wasn't the glorious relaxation I envisioned as Vic kept up perfectly with the laundry, garbage, & cooking the last 3 months, but as for the toilet scrubbing, bathtubs, mopping, dusting, window washing, drawer organizing, etc... well that is what I did on my first day off & I feel more exhausted than when I was working! HA, funny how life is always greener on the other side! No, I'm sure it will be great, but I just HAD to get caught up & feel like my house is perfectly clean how I like it.... and I will sleep better knowing I have nothing to clean tomorrow :) The only tough part now is that Vic was hired as Kmart's assistant manager, but they want him to train in Idaho Falls for THREE months. So, it will be hectic trying to work here two days (not in a row) and drive back & forth 2 1/2 hours a couple of times a week, plus live out of a hotel room. We'll see how it goes, but as much as I'll miss Vic, I also don't want to stress Tommy & I out trying to be together. Choices, choices! We'll just keep taking life week at a time & see where it leads us!

I can't have a post without a picture so here is the latest of Tommy:

I wish I had fun stuff to post, but mainly we've been sweating over cleaning up my Grandma's house.  It was a HUGE project that we could easily put another 50 hours into, but at least it is now presentable to sell.  It was probably the hardest I've ever worked on a service project!  Vic & I literally couldn't lift our arms at the end of each day. 

Last week was my birthday so we headed up to Boise to hang out with our good friends, the Hiatts.

I went shopping with Jess half the day until our feet dropped off, then had a free meal on Red Robin. Afterwards we let Tommy crawl around on the grass, but he thought their flower gardens looked more exciting.

4 Year Anniversary

Vic and I have been married 4 years now! Our first year of marriage was so special so it is crazy to realize that every year has just gotten better and better! Our trip was actually a couple of weeks ago before my Grandpa passed, but I still wanted to make sure and share our joy! Vic planned a trip to Costa Rica, but with him having no job... Boise sounded like a good replacement. He did great booking the hotel and planning the trip by himself.

Here we are by the Boise river. I wish upon wish that we had something like that here in Twin!

This picture we took at sunset so it's a little dark, but I still really like it.

Vic started the trip off with the BEST dinner we've had in a LONG time: 

I'd say this is a must experience for everyone. My only regret is that I didn't starve all day for it! Plus I fell in LOVE with the Filet Mignon, I've never even been a fan before this trip, and then I saw this post on their site saying it is only for a limited time.... WAH :(

I've been dying to go the beach so leave it to Vic to find me a beach in Idaho! We went to Sandy Beach by Lucky Point. It was a cute man made beach with a giant fountain in the middle of the lake. Tommy loved experimenting with the feel of the sand between his fingers.

Both times Vic has planned a trip, he's booked the "Themed Suites" Last time he picked Egypt & Romeo & Juliet, this year..... Romeo & Juliet! Haha, at least it was a different place so it was still a different fun experience, especially trying to sneak our baby in :)

We also went to Roaring Springs Water Park. Tommy loved having his own little fountain to play with.

This ride was by far the best, it made me scream EVERY time!

This is Vic going on it, but let's take a close up look of this picture....
This is the BEST

part about the  ride! ...

HAHAHHAHAHAHA! Look at that absolute look of terror!

The next day we went to Boise's botanical garden. It was great to try out our new BOB outback stroller. (Totally worth the money). Plus I got to practice taking flower shots with my camera which is always a plus for me :)

I couldn't resist a phot shot of Tommy.

That concluded our little anniversary getaway :)

Then started one of the longest weeks of my life. It was very stressful, but my Grandpa's funeral was very uplifting and everything a funeral should be, remembering what a great guy he was.

We couldn't resist a matchy matchy family picture.

Me, Katie, Ben, and Mom

We saw a lot of family in one week cuz as they say you only see some people at weddings and funerals and well, we had both in one week. (Thank goodness on opposite sides of the family.)

Here is Vic's neice Tausha & her bridesmaids outside the temple. She was so beautifully in love :)

And to save the best for last... I got to meet my newest niece, Evie. SO precious and tiny :)

Also, Tommy started waving yesterday, cutest thing in the world.

He grins and gets so excited every time :)

Dear Grandpa

Dear Grandpa,
I MISS you.

It's only been 48 hours since your death and I miss you already. My mind is filled with thoughts of why I love you so much and how you've formed my life. I can't stop shedding tears in your memory & that is why I am up at 2 am when I am exhausted & desperately need some sleep. I figure if I wrote you a letter & straighten out my thoughts then maybe it'll help give me some closure.

You know my own Dad hurt me dearly in my youth so you were there for me. You are the father-figure that I looked up to. You made sure I knew how important it was to always get the most education I could, get straight A's and that it wasn't good enough until I strived to be the best I could be and then as a sweet reward you would slip me $20-$100 for my reward. It was always a surprise and it made me feel special because I knew you didn't always do it for my brothers & sisters as you did for me, especially when I was in college. Every girl wants to be "Daddy's little girl" and since I wasn't my Dad's, I was yours.

I knew I was because you always told me how proud you were of me. Every time I came to visit I was always welcomed with a smile & a hug. Even when you got old & it was hard for you to stand up, you still always insisted on standing up & giving me a hug, even when you got so old I had to help pull you up. Every time I visited you, you never missed the opportunity to tell me how beautiful you thought I was and that I was making the perfect decisions in life. I loved that you were so proud of my biggest decision, Vic, we both agreed that he was the best thing that ever happened to me & I couldn't have done better than finding such a "fine" man. Thank you for always letting me know that you approved of who I was & what I was doing, that probably means the most to me.

We were the only two early birds in the family and that left a lot of time for us to talk alone before the rest of the family was up. I'm going to miss those talks. You always loved to tell me the stories of your life and now I desperately wish I would have been taking notes so I'll never forget your adventures, your hopes, your memories, the things you wished you could have changed, and your love for life. You were so proud of your accomplishments in this life & I hope that at the end of my life I will be able to feel the same. Life is good, enjoy it, live it to the fullest, that is what you taught me.

You had a passion for working in the garden and I'll never forget the summer I spent working with you. You taught me to work and to love it and be proud of my accomplishments at the end of the day. Luckily, I learned a thing or two from you so that I can work on making my garden just as beautiful. Again, I wish I would have been taking notes all of these years. I never did because I loved being able to just ask you.

The more I think about your personality, the more I realize where I got mine from. I took the good... and the bad from you! The only bad being that I somehow absorbed being stubborn and telling how it is, no white lies for us! haha :) But truthfully, the good.... You had class. I truly admire that about you & I hope that one day I'll be as classy as you. You loved your clothes & I remember you telling me one time that you took the time to count all of your shirts and you had 360 someodd shirts on hangers! Ha! I can only wish that someday I'll have that many shirts, shoes, & suits that I love. One day I'll hopefully have it together enough to always come to the breakfast table dressed without a hair out of place. I always loved that about you.

I love that we had silly similarities: like that we were both dental hygienists in our youth, that we loved the same colors, we loved admiring beautiful people, furniture, yards, and houses. We both love to dress up fancy & go out. We tend to be perfectionists and liked to spend hours organizing our stuff. We both love having company over and being tickled pink that our guests had a good time, even if we didn't because we were too busy running to the store or worrying what to do to make sure everyone else had a good time. You've given me so many books to pass on your passion of reading, hey I've watched enough golf with you that I can even see how such a boring sport could be interesting to watch. I don't mind watching westerns either. You were my perfect pal no matter what we watched or talked about.

Thank you for all of the financial advice you gave me. Vic is always asking me where I learned to be thrifty & good with money and I am just now realizing it is from you and your many "father talks" that you gave me. This has helped me already more than you know. Thank you for passing on your love of hiking and the outdoors. There is nothing more refreshing and replenishing to life than the natural outdoors God gave us.

So many memories & thoughts are running through my mind as I write this letter, but most of all I can't stop thinking about how proud of me you were. It hurts to know that one of my biggest fans is gone. I always feel inadequate, but you knew how to make me feel good enough. I'm going to miss your encouragement & love, but most of all I'm going to miss your smile.... and no, I'm still not wearing fake eyelashes.

Dearest Grandpa, you told me more than once that you wished you wouldn't have left the mormon church when you were a teenager. I wish so badly that you would have come back in this life, but I pray that in the next life you have accepted the truth and that I'll be able to live with you again... and make you dinner, your favorite :)

I hope your memory never fades. With your passing, it has made me realize that I need to get on the ball & start living more like one of my biggest heroes, you. If I wasn't up at 3:30am writing this I'd even get up early & go walking in your honor. I'll start exercising like you soon, I promise. I want to be like you in a million ways so please take that as life's greatest accomplishment. You did good Grandpa & I will always be proud to call you mine.I love you.

Love, your Fancy Nancy

Island Park

We are so lucky that my parents have such a gorgeous cabin on the lake to go to; it is the perfect vacation getaway. This year was the double the fun since we didn't go on the water while I was prego last year. Here is a picture of Tommy's first jet ski ride!

I was surprised that Tommy was okay with the cold lake water, he wanted to walk pretty deep in it.

This little tube is a mommy/baby double tube & was an afterthought on the way there, but Tommy sure loved it.

Tommy & "Daddy"

Tommy & my mom hanging out in the kitchen.

My mom wanted this pictures taken as evidence that she attempted to get up on waterskis! 

She did do great ont he tube though :)

I love this cute smile, I wish it showed his little tooth popping through.

Tommy loves to stand, here he is living life on the edge (literally!)

On the way to Island Park we stopped to have lunch with Heather, my college buddy, and here is Tommy with her adorable 2 kids. They loved Tommy, I love how kids love babies.

My niece went through the temple for the first time yesterday & while we were waiting for her to come out I snapped a picture of the flowers along the side of the temple. They are so bright & beautiful, I wished my flowers looked this good!