Annual Painting of the Pumpkins!

The girls were so excited to finally paint their pumpkins that they picked out at the pumpkin patch a couple weeks ago! One day they'll actually get to carve their own pumpkins, but for now...painting is MUCH safer, so we'll stick with it for a few more years!

Primary Program 2011

Today was Alexa's second Primary Program at church. She was sooooo excited about it. We even had to cut our trip to Gramma & Grampa's house short so we could be back for today, otherwise we knew Alexa would be heartbroken. She loves to get up in front of our congregation and sing her little heart out. She works hard all year to learn the songs and she memorized her little part. She's such a confident little girl...had no trouble or nervousness over getting up in front of all those people, unlike her mama!!! I sure hope she can keep that confidence as she gets older! We're so proud of the little lady she's growing into!

To Grandma's House We Go...

We ventured down to Elfrida this weekend to visit Kevin's parents. It had been way too long since our last visit! And the girls had a blast! I was a little wary, seeing as both Payton and Barrett had their flu shots on Friday morning, as well as Barrett's 6 month shots, and you never know how kids are going to react to shots. But they were troopers and handled it like pros! And we all had a great time. We played with the bazillions of grasshoppers in Gramma and Grampa's yard, jumped on the trampoline, rode horses, gathered eggs from the chickens, rode tractors...just to name a few things!! It was a fun-filled, activity-packed 24 hours!

Thanks Gramma & Grampa for a fun weekend!!

..::Barrett: 6 Months::..

HALLELUJAH....Barrett is 6 MONTHS OLD!!!!

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I look forward to this milestone like none other!! Yes, half of my baby's first year is over....but that also means that HALF OF MY BABY'S FIRST YEAR IS ALMOST OVER!!! :-) I do enjoy the tiny-ness and snuggles of a new baby but everything else that goes along with having a newborn in the house...not so much. But now that we've reached 6 months, not only am I feeling more sane and more in control after having a baby...but Barrett is getting to a point where he's just easier. He's always been a good baby...but now, he's started to play with toys more and is interested in things around him and has started to eat baby puffs which helps for times when I'm making dinner and just need a few more minutes before feeding him. It just seems like things get a little bit easier each and every day, starting at 6 months.

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His stats at 6 months:

Weight: 22.5 lbs (98th percentile)

Height: 28" (95th percentile)

Head: 46 cm (98th percentile...yay, he's actually ON the charts now!)

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Milestones this month:

*Rolled over back to front - Sept 22nd

*Starts shaking head side to side - Sept 29th

*Has started eating baby puffs

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Barrett, we love you more than we can possibly imagine. Our family would be lost without your funny little personality, your sweet smiles and snuggles, your adorable laugh, your squishy-ness!!! We just can't get enough of you!

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! :-)

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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!!!

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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!! :-)

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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!

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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::..