Sure, the counter is the natural place to read...nice try dude! (but it does make for an awesome camera moment) 

 Saintly neighbor tilling the ground to prepare the garden ground for next year

This is the 'before' shot of our leaves...doesn't look so bad in the picture, but if you can see that nice-sized pile that was just from the little green area you see surrounding it, maybe you can get an idea. It took almost 6 hours of blowing & bagging. Omagoodness it was a LOT of work (I also underestimated how sore my arms would be from holding the blower that long ooooohhh...)

Tree break

Back to work--one of the many many many bags full to the brim with leaf-i-ness

Full crew (gratefully Tony joined in for the last hour or so--he was doing mega homework--I don't think we would have made it without him). At one point I was raking by myself for like, 20 minutes, wondering where the boys were, getting first frustrated & then worried... Tony came out & went looking for them. Eventually they emerged (literally) from one of the monster leaf piles. What?! I told them it would have been a lot funnier if they had only been 'gone' for 5 minutes.

This picture is two-fold--first, the slobber--sheesh! Secondly to show how this dude sits up all by himself (though we don't leave him since his tip-over factor is still at 95%)

Halloween season

We start out October right with this guy's birthday. You wouldn't guess it by this fabulous picture, but he turned 35 this year! We're all in awe more & more each year of all the things he's capable of: making us laugh when we're all grumpy, sound effects/voices, stunts, all-around entertainment and of course...look at that hair, wow.

Still going strong on his 'no refined sugar' goal, we had this fresh peach pie & his fave berry ice-cream. The boys bought him the cartoon DVD "The Justice League," I got him a desired palm pilot ($10, thanks again Craigslist) since he's trying to organize things a bit more, as well as a few foodie-type surprises as he woke up & went throughout the day & of course we went on an official date to celebrate. Tony, seriously, you're the BEST!

We had such a fun Halloween season...we hosted a Buddy Party where each 'big kid' did all the party festivities with a 'little' kid & it was a blast (thanks Ginny for taking the amazing pictures)! Then we were invited to a friend's party, then the ward trunk-or-treat & Tony & I ended it out going to our friend's party (it was SO awesome!!). Can't wait for next year :)

Thanks Nana!

Thanks DI :)

My little bounty hunter & ninja, awwww....

Cuuummm get a treat from us, if you dare!

Kiddie pics

While these are 'old news' pics I wanted to post them because he sure spent a lot of time on his side like this strengthening those "turn over" muscles...

"Mom, can I have a mohawk?" Sure! For the picture...:)

Ma, my tongue is green (a.k.a. spinach leaf). Pretty convincing pal!

Pretending sleep is so much more fun than the real thing for some reason...especially when you have your finger up your nose...

The Fall-ness of it All

Pretty good pics for shooting them through the glass going 65mph--I couldn't resist, it's so beautiful!

See, I hadn't thought so very much about Fall until it happened in our front yard. Now I have all sorts of 'leaf' questions as I gaze up into our emptying boughs..."After already filling 20+, 30gal bags, how is it possible that the trees still look so full?!" "Will ALL the leaves fall?" "Why doesn't Grabill have a leaf pick-up like everywhere else...no bags, just pile leaves by the street & the 'leaf-sucker-upper' does its job?" "At what bag # will raking wear off as the 'chore of choice' by the boys?" In conclusion, suddenly, a blower seems more a necessity than a want and really, nature makes the best messes ;)

Have I mentioned I love where we live?

Family or what?!

It started with this picture (pardon the explicit 'diaper showing')...I came across this one & it startled me...sure enough, I showed it to Tony & asked him who he thought it was & without hesitation he said, "Ari." No, dear, it's our cute little niece, Kelsey (Tony's oldest sister's youngest :) Since Ari was 'handed down' this dress I thought it would be fun to do a little side-by-side. And to add to the 'fun'-niness, this dress is the one Kelsey wore to our wedding reception...which is why I have pictures of her in it :)

And while we're on look-a-likes...

This is my brother Spencer's baby side-by-side with his baby picture (being held by other brother Devin). Seriously, the last few months, every time I saw her in a picture I've done a double-take because I see so much Spencer in her. Congrats Spence you no longer have to wonder what you'd look like as a dainty, feminine version of yourself (hee hee)--the next one's for you Meagan!

Our Conference

Tony set up our computer screen on the piano bench so we could watch in comfort (there was no way we would have all fit in the computer/baby room, uh, uh, no way). Amidst the crazy kid-moments, we really enjoyed all of the amazing talks. So encouraging & a definite spiritual lift w/ some fun family time mixed in. The boys still say that conference is one of their favorite 'holidays' :)

For some reason Ari-kins consistently did not want to color on the printed side of conference coloring sheets...she preferred the totally clear side to express her inner creativity (at least she was coloring on paper rather than our walls, but that's a story for another day)

This is classic...Tony in the background being the shining example he is...oh, wait, he's trying to eat Jyson's ear...

And of course, what's conference without a few goodies...the top two were based loosely on something the boys had in Taiwan & loved. We froze Vanilla Almond Milk, then 'ice-creamed' it in the Vitamix & then had it two different days with different toppings: 1.) pureed mango & chocolate muddy buddies as toppers & 2.) our version of 'pina colada'--pineapple juice concentrate, whipping cream & banana blended up & topped with coconut & walnuts. Yummers
.

Friendly-type images

My super-hero son Jyson doesn't know his own strength...and since this isn't the first time his 'powers' have been manifest in my culinary creations I figured it was time to stop sighing in frustration & snap one for posterity

Good thing he knows how to warm me back up...surprise Mom, a near life-size version of you on the driveway! I sure love that kid!

Our ward did a service project to commemorate the church's welfare program. Too bad (?) the River Greenway was too gorgeous to need us...oh, well, it was a lovely walk & the boys enjoyed attacking renegade branches now & then

Rhett enjoyed it as well :)

Enjoying dinner with friends.

This lady is from Korea & Tony & she really enjoyed reminiscing. She's amazing--she just returned from her mission in Salt Lake City & she is so friendly & kind!

Busy Ari, yes indeed...

Ari's consistent ritual with poor little Rhett's feet...even while he slumbers

Yes, Mommy puts that stuff on her eyes too...thanks do go to Jaydon for trying to grab what he thought was a pen away from her

the only way to get her to stay still sometimes is to bury her with pillows...so the boys say

Hotwheels smoothie, mmmm...good thing she doesn't know how to turn the Vitamix on--that powerful thing would do it's best to pulverize the little guy, I'm sure.

The library had some markers (washable at least) at the lil' kids table. She sure enjoyed those. Luckily I had my camera in the diaper bag to catch the moment & save me from freaking out.

The toys & 5 minutes alone creates amazing results

This is her response to "come here Ari..." at the boys' soccer game

gotcha you cutie-pie-busy-bee...we love you but wow, it's exercise [in patience & the physical-type] keeping up with you!