Christmas Lists!

Every year I like to make lists for at least the kiddos, mostly because I have fun making them. Here are just a few ideas of amazingly adorable things that are out there, and maybe these ideas will help you, if there's a certain someone out there you're struggling to shop for! Merry Early Christmas!  xo -Liz

1. dress 2. books(I already have Heidi in this set and it's gorgeous!) 3.banner 4.toy shelf 5.pjs 6.shirt 7.sweater 8.swing 9.sandles 10.leggings 

11.framed art

1.backpack 2.flash cards 3.floor puzzle 4.book 5.pjs 6.leggo set 7. plain white tees 8.boxers 9. video game 10.motorcycle style trousers

1.xbox charge kit 2.xbox controller 3.button-up 4.jeans 5.hikers 6.shirt 7.destinty 8.halo V 9.pants 10.Halo

1.records 2.shirt 3.tote 4.pillow 5.copper cup 6.print 7.travel mug 8.book 9.bed sheet set 10.WARM sleeping bag

Warning: Graphic Photos(Our Halloween)

On Halloween we had a late start to the evening after cooking dinner, eating, and changing into costumes. We started at the school my aunt teaches to join their "Trunk or Treat" where my Grandpa was giving candy, as well, out of the trunk of his 1953 Ford. The had lots of games, treats, food, and fun! We then stopped by my other aunts for some of her homemade popcorn balls and then headed to my parents. Everett was totally inthralled in handing candy out there more than anything else. He said that he would rather do that than trick or treat. He sat on the porch all by himself on the edge of his chair ready to jump up at the sight of another trick or treater. We eventually made it to my grandma Kenna's so she could see the kid's costumes and we hung out there the rest of the evening while Everett and two of his cousins handed out more candy.

On Saturday we threw our third annual Halloween party and holy cow, it was a blast! We have a costume contest every year to encourage people to dress up and everyone did a fabulous job! Everett knocked it up a notch for the contest and dressed as his Grandpa. I loved all the Halloween themed treats that everyone made too. It was so fun, I already can't wait for our next one! 

The One Where I Talk About Dreams

(Pictures from our night in the desert last week)

You may love your life, that's really up to you.

If you do love your life, even try to live it to its fullest, there's still always turning points. Yep, of course, we all have turning points… realizations. You'll just be living your life one day and say, "Hey, I don't want to do this anymore, why am I living like this? I want something different." or maybe you've just gotten through something rough(sometimes it's that, that makes us realize it the most) and you have to take a step back to remember how to live life the way you want to. You have to choose which way you're going to go. Are you going to stay on your current path and let everything else run your life? Or are you going to be a little braver and take a step in the direction you've always wanted to try? There's usually a lot more risk or sacrifice if you change your life's direction. Maybe you're feeling you have a duty to stay where you are or the ones around you will take a toll. But you'll probably discovered if you just give it a try, the people around you will cope much easier than what you worried.

I had this dream a few nights ago that I was going down a road, the same old road I drive to take Everett to pre-school, two days a week. But in my dream I turned down a road I've never gone down before. At the end of the road were things I never imagined would be there. There were amazing people, fun people, people who taught me things. There were farms and a way of living I've never seen before. I spent way too much time hanging out down that road just enjoying and breathing everything in as much as possible. I felt like I was even getting on a few peoples nerves from hanging around so much, but I didn't even really mind that. I was just glad I had made the choice, taken the chance, to go down a road I had never gone before. The scale of the things I experienced, changing my route a little, far out weighed any fears I had. 

I drive my husband crazy when I talk about symbolism in my dreams or look to deeply into them, but I really believe that my dream was telling me something serious. To take the chance. Mix life up a little. Experience a little more of the unordinary. Add a little of something you've always wanted to try, or just something different. You may find a new love.

Maybe it's just the changing season, but I've been inspired to change things up a bit. And I challenge you to do the same this season. The best of luck on your new adventure! 

xo -Liz

Pumpkin Picking... Gotta love it

I've been seeing so many pumpkin picking photo's online, everyone is getting into the fall spirit and I love it! It's the best time of year! It's so exciting to get to do all these annual things especially when you have little ones around! 

We did our little pumpkin patch visit today and it was a blast. We went with my sister, mom, brother, his wife, and her family. I think we've all gone together for about 4 years so its become sorta a tradition...

 So here's a little taste of our visit to the farm today.

As Real as the Passing Time

There was a point a few months ago when it felt like Darby was supposed to stay a newborn for some time. I think it feels that way because you have a need to cope and enjoy everything about that time in your babies lives. But it passes. Much too quickly. You remember they only have one year of babyhood. And YOU only have one year to enjoy them being a baby. And suddenly they're almost a year old. Three more months and we'll be celebrating a life that has been here for an entire year. But mentally you just gave birth to her like… a few days ago… right? and how did she even come, because your first born was just a baby like a few months ago… right? When did he stop being so cute and start acting like a young teenager? Using the term, "That's not cool enough for me." and only being interested in things young dudes are supposed to like. But anyway I'm supposed to be talking about this actual, physical baby of mine right now. It doesn't even seem like she's supposed to be real sometimes like,
 Oh thats was just a long dream I had last night.

Not only is she real but she's as real as it gets. She laughs hard, jabbers too much, gets into anything and everything. Throws huge objects off shelves, or puts unsafe things in her eyes and mouth. To music she dances and sings, drums with her hands banging against the table, or falls into a deep coma sleep. Point being, she wants me to know music makes her feel good(join the club Darby).
 She MUST have her outdoor time. If it's getting later in the day and I still haven't taken her to sit in the grass or gone on a long walk with her she gets a little fussy, trying to tell me, "OK mom, I've had enough of this indoor crap, why don't you take me where I like." Silly mom doesn't know these things. But I'm figuring it out. Slowly. So, these are the kinds of small things moms spend so much time learning and then after years of growing up you wonder how your mom knows so much about who you are, almost more than you know yourself!

Darby, you're such a light in my life. I know it seems like it's taking forever to grow up and learn to do things like brother does but that same amount of time will pass before you in only a moment once you're older. And you'll hate it. But it will make you want to cherish and remember because it will make you realize in the end all you'll really have are the memories.
xo

Mesa Verde

My sister and I have been planning to take a trip together for a while we just had no idea where we were going. There are too many places out there we want to see! We got in the car on Friday at 2pm thinking we were headed towards some Utah Natuonal Parks but after two minutes of looking at the map and weather we suddenly changed our minds and headed toward Mesa Verde National Park instead! And let me tell you, it was the right choice!!! We took the route through Ridgeway, Colorado instead of the suggested Utah way and it was incredibly beautiful. On the way home we went though Utah thinking it would be less hilly for my zero powered car and perhaps a little quicker. Instead it took about half an hour longer, more fuel, and much less of a pretty drive. Needless to say, I highly recommend our first route!

We left town at 2pm and arrived at the park entrance at exactly 6pm with a short break in between driving. Not bad at all! I was a little worried about Darby not being able to handle the drive but she did great!

(Post bed flash photography and post sleep photos)

It ended up being a pretty chilli night(I desperately need a new sleeping bag) but it wasn't bad. Darby stayed really warm, maybe a little too warm, I was over concerned with her getting cold!

The drive from our camping spot to the actual dwellings is about half and hour but another beautiful drive. If you want to see all the dwellings you need to get tour tickets before you even enter the park. There are some amazing ones I wish we could have seen in person but we didn't have the money or time. There are so many places to stop along the drive and other places we could have gone too. You could literally spend three days there and still have stuff to see! At the main stop they have a museum, book store, and a few hikes. One leads down to a self-guided dwellings that you don't need a tour ticket for and another leads to petroglyphs. It was so incredible to see the "Spuce Tree Dwellings" and learn about how they used to live! It was a big-little village and they even had a little ladder you could use to go below ground and see some of their architecture. This trip was so worth it and I can't wait to visit again some day!

xo -Liz