On Cold Days

It's always a challenge to find things to entertain my little wild things on the days it's too cold to go outside and play.  I was feeling courageous a few days ago and decided to do some Thanksgiving crafts with them.  We started by coloring turkeys.  Sophie has long since been banned from any coloring tools except crayons.  Jonah used watercolors on his and I was very impressed by his coloring each feather a different color and staying inside the lines for the most part.  His scribbling days are past.

Since the coloring pages didn't last more than 15 minutes and we still had hours to kill, I took it a little further and helped them make pilgrim hats.  Picture what you will, but it was not all pleasantries and Martha Stewart-like, it was more of me scolding Sophie for eating the glue stick, stealing the scissors repeatedly, or constantly ripping her head band apart (resulting in a head band with about 50 staples in it).  I'm glad we did it, though.  I want my kids to remember these kinds of things.  I have been trying to spend more one-on-one time with them instead of just sending them off to play (although they enjoy that quite a bit).

Ethington Kids

My awesome sister-in-law asked me to do a little shoot with her beautiful kids last week and just in time! The weather has taken a turn this week (I still love the rain and snow so I'm not calling it "bad" weather).

Happy Halloween!

This year we got to trick-or-treat with Buzz Lightyear and our very own giraffe! Jonah adores his Buzz costume that Mimi and Grandpa got him. I had to limit the times he wore it before Halloween just so we could make sure it wasn't ruined by then. 

Sophie wore Jonah's giraffe ("raff") costume this year and it makes me crack up every time I see her walk in it. It has a nice padded rear end so it looks like she has humongous hips!

We went to a Halloween party at my father-in-law's student ward and the kids had so much fun. Jon and I just thanked our lucky stars that we were in that single's scene anymore. It was also a dance, so I got to observe the awkward behavior from the side of the dance floor. We didn't dance but Jon did bust out a few of his old dance moves that lured me so long ago.  No one does a better body roll than Jon Bush.

On Sunday, we had our usual family gathering for dinner and all the cousins came in their costumes so Mamou and Grandpa could see them all.  They even trick-or-treated in some of the rooms in the house.

I dressed as a garden gnome this year and made my pointy had with some felt I purchased at our very own and brand new Hobby Lobby (love).

I love this!! LOL..."Mom, do I have to???"

More Olives please!

Its so nice to have a variety of beautiful subjects to photograph so close by.  Laura asked me to take a few of Olive recently and she was the perfect little model.  What a beautiful baby!  She reminds me so much of Laura when Laura was a baby.

Its fall and we're happy!

Fall is my most favorite time of year.  I love the cloudy days and the mild temperatures and the beautiful colors.  I love sleeping with my window open so I can snuggle into my honey and my down comforter and how the room is cool in the morning and it's more cozy to burrow into your bed. 

My kids give me the opportunity to do more festive things during this time of year and to do them with childlike excitement.  Here are some of the things we've been doing around here:

Last week we went to Pumpkin Land with Jonah's preschool.  Sophie and I tagged along and we all had so much fun.  We walked through the corn maze, saw the pumpkin patch, played on the playground, visited the animals, and picked out pumpkins!  I let the kids get a baby pumpkin since I knew we'd be getting big pumpkins later.

I forgot my camera for the Pumpkin Land trip but I did capture them painting their pumpkins.

Jonah always has his tongue out for concentration.

Just a few days later, we made another trip to Hee Haw Farms with the cousins.  I threw a cardigan over my outfit and dressed the kids in long-sleeved shirts but the day ended up being like summer (which I wasn't happy about) so we were hot and tired by the time we left.  The kids had a lot of fun, though, and were completely exhausted by the time we left.

Trusting the Tripod

A student's budget doesn't support a lot of extras.  So in lieu of having our pictures taken by someone else, I gathered the family and we headed up to South Fork to admire the fall foliage and to attempt a family picture.  I knew this would be difficult and it gave me some anxiety but we did mange to get one picture that turned out alright.  Then I coaxed the kids into a few pictures.

Jonah was pretty grouchy the entire time, hence the face.

Dolly came with us on the hike.  Sophie is a good mommy.

Someday I'll be able to pay for family pictures, until then, we'll make due!

Evening Activities

We've really enjoyed the cool evenings lately and have been spending them outside while the kids play and ride bikes.  We also love our evening walks--pulling Sophie in the wagon while Jonah rides his bike or scooter along side us.

Jonah is a master at riding a bike.

Riding with Daddy. It looks so uncomfortable but she loves it!

Nice. Why can't kids give a real smile when you tell them to smile?

Bundled for our walk in the chilly, fall weather.

Last Days of Summer

Just playing at the park.