{Pumpkin Time}

It is pumpkin time again at the our house. I have yet to put up one Halloween decoration and tomorrow is the big day. I don't know why I haven't, I just haven't felt like it. A couple of weeks ago we were driving into our neighborhood and Meysa says to me, "Mom those people are decorating for Halloween really early." It was the middle of October. I had to laugh and tell her that they weren't early, we were LATE!! At least we did pumpkins and they are sitting on our front porch. We hit up Wally-world again for our pumpkins this year. I can't stand to pay $10 for a pumpkin that will rot in 3 days on my front porch. The kids don't care where they come from, they are just glad that they get one. Ryan was our carver while I was the gut scrapper outer/photographer!! The kids had a great time and they love lighting the tea lights each night.






I know this picture is kinda blurry but I had to post it. I love how each kid is doing their own thing. Meysa especially!! Again I could put up the sequence of her posing for each picture. The girl just doesn't stop!!

{Leaves}

Leaves are a part of Fall that is for sure. I don't remember having this many leaves on the ground last year but the trees have had a year to grow I guess. Ayden actually enjoys getting out and working if it involves the use of tools. He is a man-in-training ya know. Tools make the job a whole lot more fun! With Ayden's trusty sidekick Cayden helping, they raked up a neat little pile of leaves in no time. We only have one rake so Cayden used our trusty snow shovel. It may be the only action that thing sees all year!! When I came out to take some pictures they put away their macho egos and became the goof balls we know they are. (I love accumulating blackmail evidence for the years to come!!) I guess along with tools, friends make the job a whole more fun too.

{Christansen Family}

I am still finding people who are willing to be my guinea pigs. I took family pics for this great family on Saturday. Thankfully there was no rain and the kids cooperated pretty well. I hope the Christansen family likes what they see.

{A Natural}

The other day while I was snapping pictures of Mr. Piano Man, Meysa insisted that I take some pictures of her too. I said ok and snapped one. The click of the shutter went off and instantly she changed positions. So I took another. Click, she changed her expression. Click, she changed position. I kinda started to chuckle because I wasn't prompting her at all and she was doing her very own model shoot. The lighting was nice and so I clicked away. I am glad I did. These pictures are priceless. This is my Meysa. Smiley, serious and everything in between. With her large eyes and that blonde hair. Good heavens how I love this girl of mine. The more I have my camera out the more she wants to be in front of it. I think she is going to put her Dad in an early grave though with all this cuteness. I think he is already praying for zits (a little inside story...my Dad says he prayed for zits when we hit the teenage years so that no boys would want to ask us out, he swears it works!!).

{The Piano Man}

I have wanted a piano for several years now. I am not an accomplished pianist or anything. I did take lessons as a kid and I can play a few songs. I like to pick at songs from time to time and I would love my kids to learn to play. I wanted an older piano, not a keyboard and preferably an upright piano. I like the look of them, they remind me of days gone by. Also an older piano won't mind a few kids banging on the keys or bumping into it on occasion. Ryan cringed at my desire because he would be the guy moving the old piano and the older pianos weigh a ton!! Thankfully for him and me, my sister was getting rid of her piano. While it is older it doesn't weigh a ton (not a full upright so it is only half of a ton) and it is going to be perfect for our little family of heathens!! It needs a tune up, some keys need fixed and I am going to refinish it but I love it!! The kids have been plunking on the keys everyday and Ayden has even learned his first song. Wyatt though has been so adorable on it. I will sit him on the bench and usually he will sit and play, not even really banging but just plunking the keys. He will do this for a while before he starts howling for me to get him off the bench. Yesterday afternoon was one such day. The late afternoon sun was beaming in our back sliding door and he was picking at the keys. His little fingers were so cute as he played. Of course he had to climb on it first like a little monkey then he could get down to the business of playing.

Thanks sis for passing it onto us. We love it!!

{Baby Braxtyn}

My niece Mahaley also came over this weekend with her little man Braxtyn. He was born the beginning of September and I was so excited to see him for the first time. Mahaley wanted me to take some pictures of him before he got too big. We hoped that he would have been asleep for some of it but it was great to get some wide eyed shots too. Thanks Haley for letting me love on your babe. He is too sweet.

{Playing in the Rain}

My sister and her husband came over this weekend to go clam digging. We went over to Ocean Shores and unfortunately we were unable to find any clams whatsoever. Except for what we "caught" at a fish market on the way home. We still had fun but got rained on pretty hard. On Saturday we were going to try and get some couple shots of my sister and her husband since it had been a while since they had had any done and I am always up for guinea pigs to practice on. I checked the weather in the morning and it said 10am was the only time where the percentage of rain was less than 20%. So we booked a move over to Tolmie State Park to snap pictures. When we got there it was a slight drizzle, more like a mist actually. The longer we were there, the more the rain picked up and we had to eventually retreat to under the eaves of the little lodge there. And wouldn't you know it, later in the afternoon there was no rain, and blue skies. I had the best luck this weekend with trying to plan things. Oh well I guess, here are some of the pictures that we were able to get before the rain poured down. Thanks Amber and Jeff for letting me practice on you and dragging you all over in the rain!!

Family Pictures 2009

We did our family pictures for the year this last weekend. A BIG thank you to my MIL Margaret for coming and helping to take them. It was a lot of fun!! Lauryn had a better year with pictures, she didn't cry at all. Wyatt is now taking his turn as the booger to try and get to smile, look at the camera and/or not fuss while taking pictures. We at least got some that will work for our wall. This is not all of them but just a sampling. Enjoy!!