October (sans Halloween/Parties)

October was a busy month! It seems each month every year gets busier and busier. Since our families are continually growing and Addie goes to preschool, we are always going somewhere or doing something for the next upcoming holiday or event. This month was quite eventful and I totally slacked on blogging, so I'm breaking it up into this post and another of just Halloween-related fun. Sorry, I'm aware I've got a ton of photos....this is nothin', I had over 300 on my camera...

October Birthday bashin'

 We got together at Jason's house to celebrate my dad's, Emily's,Tammie's and my birthday.

We went for a walk in the sunshine, but Addie pretended it was raining. 

Feeding the ducks :)

 Addie protecting London from the pretend rain...

My 29th (what the what?!) Birthday

It was spent with these two cuties...this was in some terrible lighting at Farr's Fresh but we didn't go for the lighting, Addie said we had to go since it was my birthday and all ;) Grammy Rees came too!

We went to dinner with Jed's parents and came back to our house where Jed made us all chocolate souffle 

It was SO good...especially since I've been dieting this month (more on that madness another time)

It feels very strange to know that I'll be 30 next year. I don't feel remotely that old. I know that's what everyone who's that old says....but it's true! I totally think I'm 26 lol. Ah well....here's to one more year in my twenties! My goal is to be under my weight from last summer before I hit 30!!

 A Sunday walk in the leaves....

Seriously....I need a better camera because mine doesn't do those eyes justice :)

 Me and my girl 

(yes that's an Easter basket that she used to collect leaves)

Jed and his mini me. Seriously, could they look more alike?

All of Addie's pretty leaves.....

That's also the last time that we visited Gramp as a family before he died. Thankfully he was pretty up and happy that day and able to talk pretty well. We love him and miss him a lot already.

 Preschool Fun

Addie and I decorated a pumpkin for her "homework". It was a part of the Syracuse Pumpkin Walk, which unfortunately we couldn't attend because it got SOOO cold that week and Dalton was/still is sick.

She was quite pleased with her pink pumpkin! Mommy owns a can of spray paint, booyah.

 Field Trip to Black Island Farms

We prepared for cold....but not enough. I felt like we should have been seeing Christmas lights. Seriously. My fingers were numb and ears were in pain they were so cold....So glad I bought Dalton a hat the day before that. Bless you Target for my shopping weakness in your premises.

Did I mention it was WINDY?? Uh, yes it was.

 The best shot I could get on a bumpy freezing trailer....

This dude talked waaaay too long about stuff kids could care less about....come on dude, wrap it up!

 After a stop at their pumpkin patch, Addie finally (an hour after it began) got to go down the slides that was the only part she cared about. Weee.....now let's get outa here! :)
I'd like to go back next year early in the month, you know when it's 60 not 30 degrees.

I hosted baking club this month too...

Union Grill's recipe for Caramel Bread Pudding. Turned out divine.

Playing with London

 Addie adores London! She likes to pretend she's her big sister. I'm okay with it. 

She sings her songs and it's pretty dang cute.

Dalton thought she was interesting too. Every time I'd lay her on the ground, he'd army crawl over there to see her....I think he wanted to eat her though.

He's also quite motivated to crawl for iPads....even across my dining room table. 

 Costume- Making

I completed the costumes a couple of weeks before Halloween. Good thing, because our ward's primary party was the next day! Addie was happy with her ladybug costume, so I was too :)

I may be biased, but I don't think a baby Chewbacca gets any cuter than this....

I've got a whole bunch more pictures of parties and Halloween...that will have to wait til later! 

Our Gramp

Our family lost a great man today. Jed's grandpa Darrell, or Gramp as we all call him passed away. We will miss him dearly. He was such a wonderful father, grandfather and great grandfather. Not many kids get to have a close relationship with their great grandparents, but Addison has spent a lot of time with Gram and Gramp since she was a baby and Gramp loved her and each of his great grandbabies to pieces. He was always so excited with the arrival of a new baby and was usually one of their first visitors :) 

I was welcomed into Jed's family not only with welcome arms, but arms that felt like I was already a part of. Gramp isn't just a grandpa to Jed, I feel like he's always been mine too. 9 years of adulthood is definitely long enough to have a person become an important part of your life. We had many visits, parties and holidays with Gramp and each one is filled with memories of laughter and happiness. I'm so grateful for the amazing family that I married into and the opportunity I've had to be a part of Gramp's life.

It's been difficult to explain his death to Addison. She's had a lot of questions and I know that she'll miss him a lot. I'm glad she was able to see him one last time yesterday and give him a love. His grandkids and great grandkids were always a bright spot in his day. He was able to live to see every one of his grandkids married in the temple. Two of them were just a few months ago. Over the past few years he's always said he needed to live for certain things, such as babies being born, missionaries coming home, or weddings. I think he finally felt like he could let go and we're grateful that he's not in pain anymore and he's with his daughter again. He will be missed by many, but the memory of him will remain in our hearts always. 

Septembre

So apparently September came and went without me taking the time to blog about what we've really been up too. I have a lot of pictures, but not a lot of time and energy at the moment, so here's what you get.

September was a month of:

Starting Preschool

Excitement for starting dance classes

Multiple beach and boating excursions

 Finding the one day this month it wasn't clear and hot....when at the beach

(got pounded by rain as we loaded the boat up out of the lake) 

Fair attending

and fried oreos eating....

(I gave these a meh, could have been better)

 Hair chopping

Duo shopping cart riding

Double drink sipping

Birthday party attending

6 month checking up

(18 lbs 13 oz of cuteness)

Duck feeding....and running away from

Aerospace Museum wandering (aka chasing Tristan)

Bathtub exercising

Peaches being turned into a variety of deliciousness 

attempting to crawl

and finally...

Ending with an absolutely gorgeous day!

I can't believe it's already October! I love this month. It's already off to a great start. Conference weekend is always so nice. We have a lot of fun planned this month. I'm trying to focus on that and not think about baking ha ha. I'm starting a diet/weight loss program tomorrow, so my posts may be free of baked goods for awhile, sorry! ;) 

Here's a peak at what October has already brought....baby London loves!