Ooooh SCARY!!!

10 reasons why we're excited for Halloween...

1. We get to take Em's tricking treating for the first time. Chad is trying to talk me into letting him take his own trick or treat bag......for some reason he doesn't think he's too old.

2. Not only will Emyri be excited to come home with a huge bag of candy, but so will we....Cuz you and I both know we'll probably eat more of it than she will: )

3. Seeing Emyri in her costume, which we finally decided she's going to be a scarecrow! Chad likes more scary costumes for halloween so we may have her make-up be scary....a little.

4. Our hometown trunk or treat

5. Our own little pumpkin carving contest. (We're probably going to go with something from here for us and something from here for the little one)

6. Decorating the Mortuary for our sweet upcoming Halloween Party. (our friend is a mortician hence the "spooky" location of the party.........no actual bodies are stored there, just in case you were wondering)

7. Dressing up for our sweet upcoming Halloween Party. (Chad's going to be a Gangster and I'll be his flapper girl. Now these aren't our real costumes, but you get the idea. We actually got our costumes at a Second Hand Store (Smith's Seconds mind you) for a sweet price of $10.50 each. And of course we won't be just any gangster and flapper, but zombie gangster and zombie flapper. We'll be sure to take pictures to let you see how that exactly turns out: )

8. Seeing what everyone else dresses up like for our sweet Halloween party.

9. Watching what takes place during the "Fear Factor" event at our sweet Halloween party. I wonder if anyone will throw up?

If you can't tell we're pretty excited for the Halloween Party.

10. That we're that much closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas: )

HaPpY OcToBeR eVeRyOnE!

Just Some Toughts...

Just wanted to say that General Conference was great for me in so many ways. Just what I needed. This time more than usual I was able to recognize the simple and peaceful feeling I'd get just upon hearing the choir or the speakers voices. Even just thinking back on conference these past couple of days brought with it that same peaceful feeling. For me, it's just another quiet witness that President Monson is the Prophet; that the church is true; that all I've been learning, experiencing, and believing all my life are true. It was the perfect refocus. There was a talk about gaining testimonies as a lot of times being a quiet gentle process rather than one grand experience. That's exactly how it's been for me. A life time of gentle experiences with my Heavenly Father and Savior. A life time of small answers to my prayers. A life time of things working out in the most peculiar, but perfect ways; tender mercies. A life time of little reminders that God loves me and that He loves others. A life time of simple truths being whispered to my heart and mind. There have been moments of intense learning, but even still it has been a life long gradual process.

And now I look at Emyri and know with all my heart that Heavenly Father is there and He and His Son Jesus Christ love each of us perfectly, that families and life are forever, that this love I feel grows and goes on forever, that there is definite purpose, that through Christ there is a perfect plan.

I was grateful for the reminder of where my testimony came from and how it grows; simply and quietly, with an occassional intensity. I was greatful for a hundred reminders with conference.

Plus it was so fun and neat watching Emyri kind of get this conference experience. Even though she either played or napped most of the time, she loved and sang along with the primary choir, folded her little arms for prayers, and got the concept that we were listening to the Prophet. I love her.

As my friend melissa put it, life is good.

Question?! Is anyone else excited for the new season?

Chad and I got married back in 2005 and since then we have almost never had TV. So, needless to say, we have constantly been behind on the TV happenings. Friends and family are often coming up to us asking if we have seen the latest program craze. When we tell them no, their look of shock is inevitable. They let us borrow the previous seasons on DVD and we then understand the reason why they were so disgusted with our ignorance. My sister in law Aleesha introduced us to the the hilarious world of "The Office". Every night since August we have been watching the older seasons on DVD and now TONIGHT is the season premiere of this great show. So, I'm writing this in anticipation of the (for sure to be funny) season premier. Here is a list of some of our favorite quotes from "The Office"

Dwight Schrute Quotes:
1. In the wild, there is no health care. In the wild, health care is, 'Ow, I hurt my leg. I can't run. A lion eats me. I'm dead.' Well, I'm not dead. I'm the lion. You're dead.

2. I have been Michael’s number two guy for about 5 years. And we make a great team. We’re like one of those classic famous teams. He’s like Mozart and I’m like...Mozart's friend. No. I’m like Butch Cassidy and Michael is like...Mozart. You try and hurt Mozart? You’re gonna get a bullet in your head courtesy of Butch Cassidy.

3. Dwight: ["steering" the ship] Don't worry Michael, I'm taking us to shore!
Micheal Scott: It's a fake wheel, dummy!

4. I can travel anywhere, except Cuba, and I will travel to New Zealand and walk the Lord of the Rings trail to Mordor and I will hike Mount Doom.

5. (After he didn't tip the sub man) Why tip someone for a job I'm capable of doing myself? I can deliver food. I can drive a taxi. I can, and do, cut my own hair. I did however, tip my urologist, because I am unable to pulverize my own kidney stones.

6. He was already dead, and we Schrutes use every part of the goose. The meat has a delicious smoky rich flavor. Plus, you can use the molten goose grease and save it in the refrigerator, thus saving you a trip to the store for a can of expensive goose grease.

Michael Scott Quotes:

1. Abraham Lincoln once said that "If you're a racist, I will attack you with the North," and these are the principles I carry with me in the workplace.

2. Nobody likes beets, Dwight! Why don't you grow something that everybody does like? You should grow candy.

3. I’m an early bird and a night owl. So I’m wise and I have worms.

4. Presents are the best way to show someone how much you care. It is like this tangible thing that you can point to and say “Hey man, I love you this many dollars-worth. So Phyllis is basically saying “Hey Michael, I know you did a lot to help the office this year, but I only care about you a homemade oven mitt’s-worth”. I gave Ryan an iPod!"

5. New York, New York. The city so nice, they named it twice. Manhattan is the other name.

6. Dwight, The kids don't wanna hear some weirdo book that your Nazi war criminal grandma read to you!

I wonder how many people will be tuned in to NBC come 8:00 tonight....?

I somehow found this family's blog today and have spent the last hour reading through this mom's heartaches. She lost her little baby boy this June and shares so much of her thoughts and feelings and lessons learned. I don't know this family, but even in this tiny peek into their lives they seem incredible in so many ways. I just wanted to share it with you, because already it has helped me think and rethink and feel and re-feel so much.

Emyri just woke up from her nap and I can't kiss her and hold and look at her enough.

So I wrote this whole heartfelt, self revealing post about my fascination with and love for creating music......but when I came back to complete and post it I found somehow it had never saved.

Now (for the moment) I am too sad : ( and tired to rewrite it. So, just to give you a taste of what it was about I'll post a few of my favorite youtube clips featuring these homemade artist.

(this one melts my heart every time...in fact, it melts emyri's heart every time too. When I
listen to it, she'll come sit on my lap completely captivated....maybe she feels it too?)


(incredible)

acoustic Hey Ya
(never mind the funny inclusion of the real outkast video)

really though, I will rewrite this post....it's something I want to share, so once again.....to be continued: )

*FALL*

Each year as the smell and feel of Fall comes around I can't help but smile. I love Fall. It reminds me of the start of a new school year and all the exciting feelings a fresh beginning brings. It reminds me of colorful changing leaves and crisp air. It reminds me of comfy hooded sweaters and worn in jeans. It reminds me of High School football, rowdy crowds, and crimson and gold. It also reminds me that the holidays are just around the corner; Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. It reminds me of all the traditions that surround the holidays along with laughter, family, fun, and memories of years gone by. Man, I love Fall and I love that I get to share it with Chad and Emyri.

Chad loves Fall because it means he can start thinking of what crazy character he wants to be for this years Halloween party. I think the official verdict for this go around is a "Crazy Ol' Prospector". Hence the picture.
This morning he told me we should dress Emyri up as a hobbit; hair on feet included: )
So much for the girly princess costumes that most little girls like to wear....last year she was a hunch back. The funniest little hunch back you've ever seen at that: ) At least she's original. And honestly, Chad's enthusiams for the holidays is one of those things I absolutely love about him. I shake my head and smile when the day after Christmas he tells me, "Only 364 more days until Christmas!" I know he's just joking around, but I also know there is a part of him that is excited that Christmas is only 364 days away: ) I just love knowing he will always make the holidays fun for our kids.

Chad also loves Fall because it reminds him of watching "Lady in White", "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles", "Christmas Vacation", and "Elf" with his family.


Although, recently we watched "Lady in White" for the first time in years and came to the conclusion that it has to be one of the corniest, most low budget films of the eighties, but at least we got a good laugh out of it: ) As a side note, we've also come to the conclusion that most movies you thought were totally awesome when you were little turn out to be some of the corniest, yet entertaining, movies ever made. For example: Never Ending Story I and II, Weekend at Bernie's, UHF, Labrynth, Big Trouble in Little China, the Garbage Pail Kids, and the list could go on and on: )

Anyway, now that I have a little girl of my own, I hope I can help her to love this change in season as much as we do. I hope we can carry on the fun family traditions we grew up with and even start some of our own.

So, I guess I'm wondering and gathering up some ideas. What kinds of traditions do you guys have for the holidays? What fun stuff do you do, what foods do you make, how do you decorate, etc. What is it that you love about Fall?

Here's How We Roll

Random update continued.....


Introducing the "Vulch" as Chad has already endearingly started calling it: )
The funny thing is that before we got married Chad said we'd never get a mini-van. It had something to do with putting a damper on his manhood. Yet, it turns out the first car we bought together was this little mini van beauty. Ahh the irony: ) But seriously we love it. There is so much room and it is so easy to get Emyri in and out of the car seat. The gas mileage is great and we got such a good deal....so honestly, the "Vulch" is treating us well: )
Emyri loves her new set of wheels: )

Okay, this next little gem gets me laughing every time. My sister in law Aleesha introduced us to Yearbook Yourself and Chad and I have been having a hay day ever since. This is only one the pictures I was able to save, but seriously, give it a try. You won't be disappointed and will actually most likely come out with a greater appreciation for your current style and fashion. This is my sweet self in 1989.

Then for an update on how potty training is going...
Well, if she hasn't learned what the primary use of the toilet is, at least she's learned it's secondary purpose: )


And also, for Emyri's birthday, her friend Dayton got her this awesome baby stroller and Emyri was giddy with joy about it. She even made me put it right by her crib when she went to sleep that night. The funny thing was when I went in to check on her in a little bit I found this...Apparently, it's not good enough to have your amazing new stroller by your crib while you sleep, but to thoroughly enjoy it enough you have to use all of your tiny muscle strength to pull the stroller over and into your crib with you while you sleep: ) She cracks me up!

And finally to complete this random picture update...
This is our new little bun in the oven: ) Sorry the picture is so bad. It's a picture of a picture so you know how that goes. But yeah, we are expecting and we are really excited about it! I'm actually about 16 weeks along now and have finally stopped gagging over everything. I even think I felt the little bean move the other day. Emyri loves the thought of a new baby and talks to and kisses my belly all the time. Chad and I can't wait to find out if the bun is a boy or a girl: ) Either way we are just excited to have another addition to our crazy little family.

Hope all is well for everyone!