Halloween Cookies

There are some traditions you just have to keep up with...even if it means dealing with a big mess to clean up afterwards. It's worth it. The kids LOVE making Halloween sugar cookies. And who am I kidding...despite the mess, I sure enjoy nibbling on a warm sugar cookie covered with frosting, or two...or three...!! :-) And it's even more fun when you have friends over to share in the fun!

~Pumpkin Patch 2011~

It's tradition every year to head to a pumpkin patch. And this year, one opened up just 20 minutes from us. We had heard a lot of negative things but the close proximity sealed the deal for us and we decided to check it out anyways. And we enjoyed it. Yes, they were charging a lot for the activities going on but there were still plenty of FREE things for the kids to do. And we like free!!! The girls enjoyed picking out their perfect pumpkin and we had fun continuing on with our yearly "Fall" tradition...even though the 100 degree weather didn't really feel very fall-ish at all!

We will definitely be heading back next year!

Thanks Marana Pumpkin Patch for a fun afternoon!!

..::Tasty Toes::..

This funny boy has discovered his toes and boy does he LOVE them!!! He is constantly putting them in his mouth. And I just love that he can actually get them up that far with all his delicious rolls!! Look at that thigh....oh my, he's just so darn squishy and I can't get enough of smooching on this poor boy! One day he'll push me away, but for now, I'm gonna enjoy that he lets me do it!!

{Eating Crow}

It's NO secret...I've never been a big fan of minivans. Never liked them. Never wanted one. Never wanted to own one. It wasn't me. I'm more of a Tahoe kind of girl! Always have been. Always will be. And one day will most definitely own one! Howwwwwwwevvvvvverrrrrrrr.....at this present juncture of our lives, a Tahoe just isn't practical. And since having Barrett and squishing 3 car seats side by side in our Rendezvous, the picture became clearer and clearer that a van would be the most practical approach...for THIS season of our parenting. I stress THIS! As soon as the kiddos are big enough...you can bet we'll be shopping for a Tahoe! :-)

******

Anywho, onto the eating crow portion of this post...

MEET LUPE! (loop-ay)

She is the much younger, prettier sister of Kevin's car, Rosa!

And we are oh so happy to welcome her into our family! :-)

There...that's it...We. own. a. minivan. Crow eaten!!!

*****

Now onto cuter things...I was feelin' a bit festive this morning so I decided to put Barrett in a Halloween shirt. Good thing I was thinkin' ahead when I bought it several months ago and got the 12 month sized shirt otherwise it wouldn't be fittin' our little chunker-munker. Oh goodness...I could just eat him up!

I know I have my hard days....but I have been sooooo blessed! I get to call these three adorable kiddos mine, M-I-N-E, mine!

Happy October!

..::Barrett: Just Because::..

I LOVE THIS KID!!!!!

..::Barrett: 5 Months::..

5 Months! Wow! Really??? Could it be that I am starting to feel a bit more "normal" now after having a baby??? This feeling usually creeps in for me around the 5-6 month mark! And I am welcoming it with open arms!! :-)

****

The happenings for this month:

*He responds to his name - Aug 22nd

*1st trip to Canada - Aug 23-27th (got to meet MANY family members for the first time!)

*1st trim haircut - Aug 25th

*Found his feet - Sept 1st

*Started solid foods - Sept 1st

*Rolled over for his first SECOND time, back to front - Sept 11th (he rolled over at 12 days old and then nothing since)

*1st major haircut, we buzzed it! - Sept 17th

**** Barrett is sooooo social! He loves to smile and laugh at his sisters. And he loves to be held. And he loves to eat! As long as he's fed and being held, he's one happy camper! We are getting more use out of the exersaucer these days, which gives me a break from time to time....but any floor time ends pretty quickly as he immediately rolls over onto his tummy and then gets frustrated! We need him to learn how to roll back ASAP!! Barrett has also started sleeping LONGER stretches for me. While we were in Canada, he slept 10 hours straight one night and then 10.5 hours the next night. It. was. dreamy. But then we came home and he started waking up a couple time each night again. However, he's gradually worked his way back to giving us nice long stretches (some between 11-12 hours) the majority of the time. It really is heavenly! The girls didn't do this so young so I am seriously loving it! We all just love this little man so much. I know I say this every month...but I honestly don't know what I'd do without him in my life. He brings a smile to my face every time I look at him. I'm so grateful to be his mommy!

Here's a little clip of his latest rolling trick!

..::Barrett's First Haircut::..

When I was in Canada a few weeks ago, I gave Barrett his first "trim". I just took a little off the top so his curly fauxhawk wasn't so long. But his hair was starting to just get too long all over. I debated over whether or not to try and leave some longer on the top...but he was just too squirmy to try and create a STYLE. So a buzz he got!! But I think he still looks pretty darn adorable!

..::Can't Get Enough::..

Since starting solid foods a couple weeks ago, I can't keep up with bubba!! He. loves. it. all! You name it, he's eating it....cereal, fruits, veggies, meats! He seriously can't get enough. If I can't spoon it into his mouth fast enough, he cries. When I'm done feeding him, he cries. He just always wants more. I'm kinda worried about what life is going to be like when this little guy is a teenager!! He's already eating us out of house and home, I can only imagine what it'll be like when he's older and bringing his friends home!!! But I love having a good eater....I'll take this over a fussy one any day!

::Picture Perfect::

Alexa was soooo proud of the chalk-drawing she made on the back patio today. She grabbed the camera and took a couple pictures of it herself before I had a chance to help her with it. And then she insisted on being in the picture with her drawing. I loved though that she knew it probably wouldn't last long, being outside and all AND having a younger sister who likes to destroy things, and so she knew a picture would keep it forever!

***

Love my little lady and her boundless imagination. She continually amazes me with the stories, songs and pictures she comes up with!

~Camping~

So my idea of camping is a nice cabin on a lake somewhere with said cabin having running water and electricity. And perhaps a couple jet skis on the dock...one especially for me, and one for everyone else! :-) THAT is MY idea of camping. Unfortunately, that's not the type of camping we experienced this weekend. I must really love my husband! :-) I was able to get out of the Mortenson Family Camp Out back in June because I'd just recently had a baby, only to have it cancelled anyways...so fast forward a couple months and it's not so recent that I just had a baby anymore and my husband. just. really. loves. camping. And really REALLY wants to go. So we plan a camping trip with his brother's family and their parents. The girls are super excited. Alexa well remembers her camping experience last Fall with her daddy and grandparents and can't wait to go again. I'll admit...I got a little caught up in their excitement too. However, it. is. a. lot. of. work. I think that's my biggest issue with it....it's sooooo much work to get everything all packed up for one day, to get there and get everything all set up, just to take it all down, get it home and put it all away again.

That would have been all fine though....if the Monsoon that had been absent for the past 3 weeks hadn't decided to come back with a vengance THE day we planned on going camping! Despite being stuck in our tent from about 7:30pm on due to pouring rain, thunder and lightning, and it being a lot colder than we'd anticipated, AND not getting to make s'mores by the fire :-), we did have a fun time, and thankfully got our camp set up before the rain set in. The girls had a great time! We had fun cooking over the fire, making a swing, finding a little horny toad named "Flowers", eating marshmallows, seeing a flock of wild turkeys and spending time with family!

Oh and here's my hottie chopping wood for our fire!!! Love you babe....you may just get me to go camping again, maybe!! :-)

..::Tummy Time::..

..::baby food::..

After Barrett's check-up yesterday, and the doctor's advice to put some prune juice with some rice cereal to help out with our little man's bowel issues....we decided to start baby food today! Barrett wasn't so sure on the first couple bites. But then he LOVED it! Couldn't get enough of it. I'm pretty sure our bubba man is going to eat us out of house and home...!

~Until We Meet Again~

My dear, sweet Grandpa Leavitt passed away this past Monday. He is, without a doubt, one of the most amazing people I have ever known. He has been a true and wonderful example to me my entire life. The last time I saw him (pictured above) was almost 3 years ago at my little brother's wedding. His health went downhill after that time and I'm grateful that I'm able to remember him as the same funny Gramps he always was! After getting the news Monday morning, I spent the rest of the day crazily trying to arrange things so that I could actually go to Canada to be at the funeral. Thankfully, we had known it wouldn't be much longer and so shortly after Barrett was born, we applied for his passport so we'd be able to travel with him if something like this should occurr. But seeing as this was so last minute, only Barrett and I were able to go and so I had to arrange things for my girls while Kevin was at work. I am sooooo grateful for wonderful friends who stepped in and saved me this past week and helped us out so much! It wouldn't have been possible without them!

*****

So, on Tuesday morning, Barrett and I ventured off to Canada. Even Payton hasn't been to Canada (unless you count me being pregnant with her the last time we were there!!!), so hopefully she doesn't hold that against Barrett when they're older!! :-) Barrett was such a good little traveler! I was able to get a row all to myself on the plane and Barrett slept the majority of the time! LOVE him!!!

The funeral was a fabulous tribute to a wonderful man. My mom, aunts and uncles did an amazing job pulling this together so quickly. It was so great to be able to see my sweet grandma and so many other family members who I haven't seen in so long! How grateful I am for the knowledge I have that families are forever and that I WILL see my grandpa again.

After the funeral, I was able to go back to Calgary for a couple days and spend time with friends who I haven't seen in years as well!

And, of course, I spent more time with family! Barrett was seriously loved by all! I'm pretty sure he was the life of the party, the center of attention every where we went!! :-)

It was a fun, fast, long whirlwind few days but I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be there! I'm thankful I was able to see my family and good friends. And now I'm looking forward to taking my WHOLE family back to Canada next summer for the Leavitt Family Reunion.

'Til we meet again Grampa, 'til we meet again! Love you tons!

-Three Little Wildcats-

To say Kevin is excited for football season to start is a GROSS understatement!! He attempted to take Alexa to the scrimmage last year but it got cancelled ten minutes into the game, due to lightning. Soooo...with no rain or lightning in the forecast, he wanted us all to go. He insisted that Barrett NEEDED to go to his first football game!! I'm sure it's made all the difference in the world! He's sure to be even more of an Arizona fanatic now!! :-) Anyways, despite it being sweltering hot, we had a great time and we even got Coach Stoops to sign a little football after the scrimmage was over! Let's go Wildcats!

Don't we have the cutest little wildcat fans ever??!!!

.::Barrett: 4 Months::..

FOUR months have passed since Bubba joined our family! Our little man has certainly beefed up...his stats from his 4 month check up are:

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26 1/2 inches tall (98th percentile)

20.4 lbs (off the charts)

48cm head circumference (off the charts)

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He is just a BIG kid! I'm pretty sure his rolls have rolls! And I LOVE it!! I absolutely love how squishy and delicious he is. I sure enjoy smooching on those cheeks ALL day EVERY day!

*****

What's happened with Barrett this past month:

*He started sleeping in his own room - July 23rd

*His (and all of ours) 1st trip to the Grand Canyon - July 30th

*He met his Grandpa Baker for the first time - July 30th

*He started putting himself to sleep!!! (LOVE this one!!) - August 3rd

*Started blowing raspberries - August 8th

*Has discovered his feet

*Continues his love affair with his hands!

*****

It's been a fun month....OH, I think the biggest thing this month is that Barrett is now completely on formula. I started weaning him right after 3 months and we are officially done nursing!!! He was a great nurser and I enjoyed that special bond with him, but it was time. It has definitely helped me feel less overwhelmed...now that others can help with his feeding!

Barrett, we sure love you and are enjoying each new day with you!!!