October

Wow, it has been a busy month!  I should stop trying to convince myself that life is slowing down.  I am getting used to being so busy, and quite frankly I quite like it.

First things first, the picture of the present I made my mom for her birthday:

Second our family Halloween party!  Another success!  It was more laid back this year, but still fun.  I did a Mad scientist theme.  Thanks to my mom for help getting props, and big thanks to those who helped with food, and Thanks to all for dressing up!  So much fun :)

I didn't post pics of everyone, but they all looked great!

Third, a fun girls night!  We decided on doing a craft this go round and since two of my friends are due this December with girls we made hair bows.  I am addicted.  Not quite sure what I am going to do with all of them... but I love to make them.  I should get a girl someday, right?

And finally!  drum roll please... FAMILY PICTURES!  I am loving how they turned out :)  I haven't seen all of them yet, but here is a sneak peek

HUGE Thanks to Brittany Hatch for taking them!

And of course, we can't forget the birth of baby Casper!

What a fun month!    I have to share quickly what my lesson was on today too.

Finding joy now, and through each stage in life.  This was great for me!  Not that I am not happy or anything, I am.  But sometimes I am thinking so far into the future, or yearning for the future that I forget to live in the now and be happy now.  I feel motivated to live one day at a time and cherish the time we have NOW!  It goes by so quickly.  I made the girls these shoes out of paper and told them to enJOY the shoes they're in.

The girls were so into the lesson, it was awesome!  Love that.

LONG POST!  thanks for reading

Birthday

Just had to share about my birthday this last week!  My husband never fails to make it amazing, every year!  I never used to care about my birthday... just another day really.  Until I met Ben, now every year he has me so excited about it!  If you know Ben, you know how observant and thoughtful he is.  I am always surprised on my Birthday.  I never come out and ask him for what I want, but he always seems to gift right on the money!  If you know Ben, you also know he is a bit of a jokster from time to time.  Well this year was a bit different than previous years.  Typically I am told happy birthday several times through out the week of my birthday and he teases me about what my gifts could possibly be.  Well this year, he didn't say much... or anything at all.  He just started a new job and is busy with projects so I didn't think anything of it.  The night before my birthday, he made plans to do projects after work.  I was kinda surprised, but his dad was in town, I figured he should use help while help was here.  No worries, we can go out another time.  So I tried to make plans to go out with my mom, just so I wasn't sitting home.  And of course to my surprise Ben showed up an hour early from work, we made dinner plans and he showered me with AWESOME gifts!  Ben is the best!  My best friend, the best husband, an amazing father!  Gol!  What more could I ask for on my birthday!  So you want to know what I got!?  I have wanted to do cycling classes again for some time now, and have tried to get Ben and I working out more frequently, so he got us gym passes to Golds!  So excited, and every monday we get to go to cylcing together :)  LOVE
My other gift was something I have been putting off for a while, but really wanted as well.  He did some research and got me an amazing sewing machine.  I'm so excited about it!  I really want to learn this skill.  I know the basics, but I want to learn to make cute fun things.  I already have lists of things to do.  Cant wait to get started!
For dinner we went to Setobello in Farmington.  Its real napoli pizza, so yummy ;)  Give it a go

Thank you Benny for another amazing Birthday!  I Love you soooooo Much :)

Well, it seems I was slightly off to think thing were winding down.  I'm glad to be busy for the most part.  Ben's parents will be coming later this week for conference weekend, then we have our Halloween party and Ben's sister will be in town for the week.  My sister Heather should be having a baby sometime that week as well.  We will also be doing family pictures that weekend (hopefully).  I am so excited about our pictures!  It will be the first time we have done them ourselves, meaning just my little family, wearing what we want in the setting we want.  I have been doing research and have so many good ideas!  I can't wait :)  I am also excited about some fun crafts I have coming up.  Girls night with my friends making Hair bows.  Two of them are having girls in December.  Bring on the bows!  The other craft is sorta a secret, I will have to post a picture when I'm done,  Its something I am making for my mom for her birthday.  I know she will love it, it involves two things she is crazy about.  Blake and Halloween.

Speaking of the Blakey Boy... He is getting so big!  He is so smart!  I am so in trouble when this kid figures out how to crawl.  He's getting pretty close too.  He is quite good at moving his one little thumb to push buttons and call people on Grandma's phone.  He loves anything with buttons... oh no!  I swore I wouldn't have kids playing video games all day!  The x box controller is one of his favorite things with buttons.   Luckily he loves to be outside too.  He loves the grass and we play (and pick it) quite regularly.  He is getting  so giggly now, his laugh is changing.  Instead of the little snickers, he squeals.  Its so fun to watch him grow and change.  Its crazy to look back at my little tiny newborn to my big (almost) 8 mo. old boy!  I can't believe how the time has flown!   I'm not very good at taking tons of pictures... I need to be, but here is one from the other morning.  We were reading books, like we do every morning.  Blake likes this book especially cause he can put it in his mouth.

His hair is starting to grow in again, and it stayed dark!  Yay!  Not that he wouldn't be super cute blonde, but I was hoping he would stay dark like I did.  He has lightened up some but I think he will maintain the dark for a while.  I will try to remember to post my cute crafts and of course the Halloween party!  I'm excited, we're doing mad scientist party this year with costumes.  Blake is going to be our little monster :)  Can't wait!